Chapter 33 – Cannon Nash
Cannon Nash
"J eremy fucking Northbrook," Jasper hisses in my face.
My jaw drops. "How did I not recognize him?"
Jeremy was the quarterback for our football team for years. He's local, he grew up around here just like I did. I was at Jermaine’s party last night, but I never saw Jeremy. Even then, I should have recognized him that day at the restaurant.
I'm literally baffled. How the hell did I miss that?
"He's got a full fucking mountain man beard going on, he's shaggy as fuck.
He's also gained a lot of weight since he's no longer playing.
It's probably why you didn't immediately know who he was," Jasper says like he can read my mind.
He goes on to fill me in about Tyler Davidson and the shit they spewed as he and Riley were leaving the hotel.
"That's unreal," I say, pacing around the kitchen. "We need to ensure those girls are protected."
He's even more connected than I ever dreamed possible.
"I've got a call in to my grandfather," Jasper says, shaking his head.
"He's the only person I know who might be able to sway the Northbrooks to keep Jeremy on a fucking leash.
He smelled her and he wanted her, even after everything he put her through.
I've never wished to be another dude so hard in my fucking life.
I can't take out Jeremy Northbrook, but Killian fucking could. "
I snort. Fucking hell, I guess I did miss Jasper.
"I'm sorry for everything in the past," Jasper says, folding his arms over his chest. "I'd like to say I wouldn't do it again, but then there's a chance we might not end up here today."
"Don't try to give me that everything happens for a reason bullshit," I snap.
Jasper sighs, shaking his head and staring at the ceiling.
"No, fuck no. That's not what I'm saying at all.
If you and whatever the fuck her name was had ended up serious you'd never have packed up with Finn and Killian.
You certainly wouldn't have invited Riley to live with you, if you had a wife. "
He doesn't even remember her name. Christ, it doesn't seem so important to me either anymore.
"She was constantly trying to fuck me," Jasper says, sighing heavily.
"I tried to tell you and you wouldn't listen.
I wasn't the only one. What I was , was the only one dumb enough to be honest with you about it.
Only you turned on me instead. I expected you to find me and apologize after she ditched your ass.
Only you didn't. And then, you kept blaming me for her bullshit when I never even fucked her.
I never wanted anything to do with that chick.
I wanted contact with her father and I wanted you to see who she really was. "
" Christ Jasper," I say, shaking my head. I'm pretty sure I forgave his ass years ago. More than anything I was hurt. "Thought our friendship meant more to you than a damn business contact."
"It did," Jasper says, frowning. "It does . You never apologized either. Never answered the phone when I called to try to clear the air. You didn't think it was suspicious she dropped you for me right after I told you she tried to climb on my dick?"
"I don't even know anymore," I say, blowing out a heavy breath.
"I think I fell in love with Riley," he says.
He's staring at the ceiling like it might give him some insight into his emotions.
"Pretty fucking sure that's what this is.
I saw Cynthia and realized you were right.
What I felt for her was lust, but honestly?
" He shakes his head. "I loathed her as a person by the end.
She was never who she pretended to be in the beginning.
The woman I fell for didn't exist and I was too blind to see it until it was too late.
Then I think I was embarrassed or too stubborn to admit everyone else was right. "
"I'm sorry," I say, swiping a hand over my face.
"She made me think she needed me. That I was the only one who got her," Jasper says, sounding totally defeated.
"She knew how to play to your impulses. It happens to the best of us," I say, shooting him a meaningful look. "I forgave you a long time ago."
It's the truth and he's probably right. I never confronted his ass. Any time he tried to talk to me for years, I shut him out. I've held myself back from everyone since the shit he pulled.
"Jasper, you need to hear me when I say this…" I sigh. "I won't forgive you if you fuck up with Riley," I tell him, staring him dead in the eyes. "But otherwise, we'll leave the past where it belongs. Is that good with you? Sound fair?"
"Yeah," Jasper says, nodding.
"Be very sure," I tell him. "Riley's been hurt in ways-"
"I'm sure," Jasper says, raising his eyebrows. "And I know she has. Are you guys willing to accept me? Let me be part of the pack?"
"That's Riley's decision," I say, smirking. "We aren't one of those packs where we all do our own things. We'll be up in your business. And don't expect us to let you get away with any of your old bullshit."
"Good," he says, throwing himself at me for a hug. I squeeze him tight. I've been a bastard to Jasper for years. I sure did miss him though. It's been hard seeing him floundering on his own.
"That sounds really good," he says, his voice raspy with emotion.
"I was pretty awful to you," I say, shaking my head. "I'm sorry for that."
"It's in the past," Jasper says, patting my shoulder. "We're leaving all that there. Remember?"
We grin at each other.
“Now might not be the best time to admit it, but I don’t actually have a basement.” Jasper grimaces.
I did wonder about that, but he bought that house after our friendship fell apart so I couldn’t be sure.
I snort. “Yeah? I’m shocked.”
“I was worried about Riley and the girls being around Killian,” he says looking guilty as fuck.
“Let’s keep that part between us,” I tell him. Not only would it piss off Riley, it would hurt Kills.
“Yeah, definitely,” he agrees.
"Guess what," Sunde says, skipping into the kitchen in pajama pants and nothing else. We both track his progression with flaring nostrils. He smells like slick omega sex. "The darling omega loves Kills and me!”
"What?" I hiss.
I fucking missed out on declarations of love? For Jasper? Ugh, right. I'm not allowed to be a dick to him anymore.
"Yeah, you really missed out," Sunde says.
Yeah, thanks fucker. Rub it in.
"Not just on the declarations of love, but also a quite satisfying threesome." Sunde grins. "I'm to find you and send you in. The nest is lacking in your scent and our neurotic little omega needs your come to add to the smells."
Jasper snorts at that, clapping me on the back. "You just got tagged in buddy," he says, shaking his head.
"She asked about you too," Finnegan says to Jasper's retreating back.
Jasper freezes, turning around with a hopeful look on his face. "You're serious?"
"Truly," Sunde says, nodding. "She's begging for bites. Don't think it'll be long before Kills caves. He's staring at her with hearts in his eyes."
I'm in motion before I can stop myself.
"Bring water," Sunde says, chuckling. "She needs hydration."
"I need to speak to my parents and grandfather," Jasper says, weakly.
"Join us when you're done," I call.
Jasper's face lights up and he nods before heading off.
* * *
"Thank fucking Christ," Killian groans. He leans over kissing Riley's forehead and bolts. Never seen the big fucker move so swiftly in my life . I laugh, swiping a hand over my face. One curvy omega changed fucking everything … and I couldn't be happier about it.
"She won't stop begging and my teeth are aching," Kills says, scrambling away.
Riley sits up jabbing a finger at him. "I'm not foggy, you're just scared."
Uh-oh. She's feisty. I've heard omegas can get moody in between rounds during a heat.
"Keep talking sweetness and I will tan your backside," Killian rumbles, jumping into his jeans.
"Promises, promises," Riley huffs, taking the open bottle of water I hold out for her.
Killian grunts and abandons me in the nest with a very pouty omega. So much for tanning her backside.
"Wanna shower with me while you're settled?" I ask, offering Riley a hand up. She takes my hand, blushing furiously. I guide her down the hallway and into the massive bathroom.
"Shower or bath?" I ask when I see her studying the massive jacuzzi tub with undisguised interest.
"Either," she says, shrugging.
"Omega," I bark.
"Bath," Riley blurts out, frowning at me. "You barked at me."
I laugh behind my hand. "Sorry, beautiful girl," I tell her, kissing her forehead. I flip on the tub, I avoid the bath bombs because if we get frisky in the bath… yeah.
Riley's soft hands skate up my side as I turn back to her. She helps me out of my shirt. I kick off my shoes and let her handle my belt. She bites her plush lower lip as my jeans fall to the floor. Her cheeks are pink and her chest rises and falls in quick movements.
"Are you working up to another round already?" I ask, brushing my fingers over her cheek. My heart thumps in my chest as I study her beautiful face.
Riley nods. "I blame you guys," she says softly. "It's never been this bad before."
"I'm sorry," I tell her, brushing my lips over hers. "But we're all here to take care of you. Does that help?"
I pull her into my chest. She's not short for a woman, but she's small compared to me. My dick brushes against the soft skin of her lower stomach. It's hard to hold back the groan that wants to escape at the contact.
Riley nods, breathing in my scent. "It's biology which is not your fault. It's just a little crazy."
The water cuts off on the tub and steam rises in the cool air of the bathroom.
Guiding her over to the tub, I say, "Test it. See if it's too hot."
Omegas are extremely resilient to heat. She'll likely think it's perfect.
"It's great," she moans.
Spinning around, I grab a hair tie and offer it to her. She's got a huge mane of hair and I doubt she wants to deal with it being wet after this. She ties it up quickly.
I help her into the tub and grab a couple towels before climbing in next to her. Her muscles need the heat and a chance to relax.
Riley rests her head on the cushioned headrest and floats in the water. I sit across from her at first. Grabbing her foot, I dig my thumbs in, massaging and rubbing.
Riley groans.
"That's some good shit," she says, laughing. Her eyes pop open and she grins over at me.
Seeing her happy is like a drug. I crave it more than anything else.
I'm attracted to her on a baser level I didn't realize existed.
Seeing her take care of her girls? Watching her light up at one of Sunderland's cheesy jokes?
Knowing she trusts Kills despite his massive size?
Or the way she gives Jasper the benefit of the doubt when so many of us have warned her away?
All of it draws me to her and makes me yearn for her in a way I can't explain.
My dads used to tell me and my brothers that you'll know you've found the one when their happiness becomes more important than your own.
I scoot across the tub and pull her face to mine.
We smile through the kiss and the next thing I know, I'm on my ass in one of the seats and Riley is kneeling over me. She brushes her cheek to mine.
Her pheromones are heavy in the air despite the bath. I'm a little disturbed by how strong her scent is and how violent my response to it is. And yet, I don't hesitate. I snarl, yanking her to my chest.
Riley just grins.
"Are you still clear headed?" I ask, brushing away a strand of hair that didn't make it up into the tie.
"Reasonably," she says, resting her hands on my shoulders.
"Need you to know." I swallow thickly. "I think you're supposed to be with us. I want to bond you, make you mine, love you for the rest of my life."
"Cannon," Riley whimpers. Her mouth finds mine. We kiss and my dick bumps up into her sex.
"I do love you," I murmur into her mouth. "That's not a down the road statement. I'm talking about right now. I love you and I want you with us forever. You and the girls."
"I love you too." She blinks up at me with a look of total sincerity. "More than that." She swallows thickly before continuing. "I trust you without question. That's something I've never given someone before I met you guys."
"Let's get clean and get out of here," I say, my voice low and raspy. That admission has me foggy as fuck. My desire for her is through the roof.
Riley simply nods, leaning over to grab the body wash.
She just gave me the ultimate compliment that you can give an alpha. Our impulses and urges are different, but compatible. Knowing she trusts me to look after her, without question? I'm practically rabid, barely able to ignore the ache in my teeth to bite into her soft flesh.
I shake my head, trying to resist the urge to keep talking. I'm able to control my mouth, but just barely.
Don't let any crazy talk escape—nothing about my urges to own her or how I'll never let her get away.
Being an alpha can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I want to love her and take care of her, but my fucked up brain also wants to breed her and never let her go. To snarl at anyone who gets too close and claim my omega so thoroughly no one will have a single doubt about who she belongs to.
I'll also do everything in my power to give her anything she wants and needs .
I wonder if those thoughts would scare her? My parents weren't exaggerating about the complicated power dynamics at play in a pack.
She'll own me and I'll own her in return. That's fair right?