7. Beck #2
The Alphas peer over at us then share a look between themselves.
The one Alpha who’s been mostly quiet steps toward her, and where his packmate hesitated, he has no such qualms. His hand slides along her jaw until his fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck.
Her lips part, and I hear the audible hitch in her breathing as he leans in and whispers something in her ear.
She nods, and when he retreats, he makes a point to slide his jaw along hers, marking her with his scent.
My jaw clenches as the need to rush over and replace his scent with mine damn near bowls me over.
Kash’s hand lands on my shoulder, stopping me from making a complete fool out of myself.
But fuck. This is torture . She’s right there.
Close enough to see and smell and touch, yet I can’t do any of those things because she’s not mine .
“We’ll see you tomorrow night, Juliette,” he murmurs.
Then the other pack slowly walks off, but not before shooting what I’m sure they think is an intimidating look our way. Too bad we don’t scare that easily. We’ve survived Jack Ford, after all.
“Okay, sweet pea. It’s time to go.”
“But, Mama?—”
She walks over to Kash, eyeing her daughter with a mom-look so serious that even I straighten slightly. “No buts. We need to let these guys get back to their night. We’ve taken up enough of their time.”
I scoff. “No way in hell am I letting you walk home after that fainting episode. We’ll drive you.”
“Really, I said I’m?—”
“Might as well listen to him, hotshot. When Beck sets his mind to something, ain’t nothin’ gonna change it.”
Her eyes dart to mine, and she swallows harshly before she straightens her shoulders. “Fine. I suppose you can drive us home since it’s on the way to the Ford estate. I assume that’s where y’all are stayin’.”
Kash nods.
“Then, thank you.”
I head for the driver seat, not trusting myself to sit beside her and keep my hands to myself.
There’s shuffling in the back, and when I check the rearview mirror as I settle in, I see they’ve strapped Charlotte into the middle seat with Wyatt and Juliette on either side. Kash gets in the passenger side, and I can feel his stare but choose to ignore it.
The Callahan estate is next door to the Ford estate even though roughly a mile separates the two drives.
Kash pointed it out when we first arrived, and my brother and I knew better than to ask any more questions.
Juliette has always been a sore spot with him, and now I’m wondering what in the hell that will mean for our future.
As I carefully make my way through town, I admit to myself that that’s what I want.
A future. With her. My mind spins a million miles an hour.
My Omega is here . I’m betting the little girl with her eyes already getting heavy is my daughter .
No matter what happens from this point on, my life will forever be changed.
I just have to figure out how to convince the two friends-turned-enemies that becoming pack is the only logical option.
“So what’s going on with Pack Ancient tomorrow night?” Wyatt asks.
I catch Juliette’s eye roll in the rearview mirror. “They’re not that old.”
Kash scoffs. “Bullshit. They’re our fathers’ age.”
“They’re mature .”
“That’s one word for it,” Kash mutters.
“One that you obviously need to learn the definition of,” Juliette snipes back.
“Okay, children. Let’s dial it back.” I can already see I’m going to have my work cut out for me with these two. “What are you doing with them tomorrow night?”
“They invited me to their house for dinner.”
“And you’re going?” Wyatt asks.
“Of course. They’re courtin’ me. Why would I not go?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe because being an Omega alone in a house with a pack of Alphas doesn’t seem like the smartest thing to do?” The sarcasm in Kash’s voice is impossible to ignore.
“They’d never misstep. They respect me, unlike another Alpha I know.”
Kash’s growl fills the interior of the rental just as I pull through the gates to the Callahan estate. “Respect is earned in my book.”
“And what in the hell did I do to lose yours?” she growls back.
There’s quiet for the span of two heartbeats.
Kash’s voice is low and gruff when he finally responds. “You left me behind without a single word.”
The sprawling mansion comes into view as a tense silence falls over us.
It lasts until I pull up to the circular drive right in front of the grand double doors.
Watching in the rearview, I see Juliette unbuckle her seatbelt, then Charlotte’s, who is now fully asleep and leaning against Wyatt’s sleeve.
With little effort, she shifts the little girl into her arms with her cheek resting on her shoulder and opens the door.
Seeing the two of them cuddled together like that sets off a fierce possessiveness I’ve never experienced before.
Those are my girls right there.
Just before she exits, she takes a deep breath and exhales.
“Not that it will matter, because you’ve obviously already made up your mind, but I didn’t have a choice, Kash.
So, despite your pity party for one, I suffered too.
” She glances at me with a wary expression.
“We’ll have that talk. I just…need a little time. Please .”
Without saying anything else, she slips out and closes the door behind her. I watch the two girls until they’re up the stairs and through the front door, feeling a pit form in my stomach once they’re out of reach once again.
Kash’s expression is one I rarely see.
Regret .
I open my mouth, fully ready to discuss this absolutely unbelievable situation we’ve found ourselves in, but he holds up his hand.
“I know, but not tonight, Beck.”
I release the pent-up breath I’d been holding. “Fine. But only because I need some time to process too. Tonight changed everything, brother.”
“I’m aware.”
While we drive the short distance back to the Ford estate, none of us say a word because none would suffice.
I’m sure they’d agree, though Kash would try to deny it at first, that the only thing running through our minds is the spectacular fucking woman that just threw all of our carefully laid plans right in the trash.
Funny thing is, I can’t drum up even a single damn to give.