Chapter 19
Ethan
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning,” I note wryly from my spot at the stove as Teddy enters the kitchen, whistling to himself.
He snorts. “O’ course I am.”
Yeah. Of course he is. He spent nearly half the night coaxing the damn sexiest cries I’ve ever heard out of our omega, and the other half of the night shut inside the nest. Presumably snuggling, given the lack of moans.
I wisely used the time to look into the families Wren told Maverick about in regards to blackmailing her parents. Things are going much quicker than they would have without Wren’s help—the names she gave Maverick really allowed me to make decent headway.
“Don’t know wot you’re on about, mate.” He winks, going to the pantry opening the doors. “We got shite to make pancakes? Got to feed my omega after all the…strenuous exercise from last night.”
Bastard.
Joke’s on him, though—I’m already one step ahead. “Nope,” I smirk before taking a spatula and lifting a pancake from the pan on the stove, adding it to the stack on the counter.
Now that we know everything her parents did, I’m determined that she be able to eat all of life’s guilty pleasures—without the guilt.
He snorts as his eyes land on the plate. “Good one. Thanks, mate—” Teddy reaches for the plate stacked with pancakes, and I swat his hand with my spatula.
“No,” I growl as he pulls his hand back in shock. “You had your date last night, you don’t get to monopolize the morning too.”
“Ohh, what smells so good?” Wren’s damn perfect voice calls from the doorway. She’s dressed in the fox onesie, looking cozy as hell, and I just want to wrap her up and hand-feed her pancakes all morning. My expression transforms from grumpy to elated at the sight of her.
“Pancakes.” I grin, jerking my head to the table. “Why don’t you sit? Breakfast will be ready in just a few.”
Teddy winces, his voice going quiet so only I can hear him. “Sorry. I wasn’t tryin’ to—”
“I know.” I sigh, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to snap. I just…” I fix him with a look, “didn’t get much sleep last night. And I can tell you that Maverick and Brennan are probably in the same boat. So do me a favor, you lucky bastard, and set the table?”
He winces again, before reaching into the cabinets to grab plates. “Fuck. Alright. Got it.”
Yeah. Being in a pack is going to take some getting used to, for all of us.
A moment later, I’m bringing the pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs to the kitchen table.
Wren’s eyes are wide as she watches me grab the bottle of maple syrup and set it next to the pancakes.
I sit down next to her, clearing my throat a little awkwardly. When Teddy fed her dinner the other night, he just pulled her into his lap. But…she and I don’t know each other quite that well yet.
Something I fully intend to change.
Until I can do that, though, my alpha is raging at me to feed my omega. To take care of her. To satisfy every want and desire until she’s a writhing mess beneath me—
Pancakes, dammit.
Start with the fucking pancakes.
“Wren?” I glance at her, pulling a few pancakes onto my plate. Teddy looks at me like he wants to wring my neck for serving myself first, but if she agrees to what I’m going to ask, it’ll be her plate.
“Yes?” Her voice is so damn sweet, it makes my heart flutter. Or maybe I need to go to a cardiologist—I wouldn’t know, my heart has never fluttered before.
“Can…” Dammit, why is this so hard to say? Teasing I can do. Lighthearted fun? Sure. But a genuine request from the very base of my alpha needs?
Fuck.
Just say it. I want to feed you.
Wait. That sounds weird.
I want you to eat from my hand?
Fuck, no. She’s not a zoo animal, and we have cutlery, like civilized people.
She’s staring at me expectantly, and the words are stuck on my tongue. This is exactly why I stick to my computers. I don’t have to think about if a code is awkward before I type it. Shit. Teddy is going to start laughing at me at any moment, my face is burning— “Will you eat my hand?”
Wait, what?
Teddy bursts out a laugh, and now my face really is flushed.
Wren’s expression turns confused for a split second before her eyes dart from the food to me, and she seems to understand what I was trying to say.
But I need to say it right, dammit.
“I mean…can—”
“It’s okay,” Wren says gently, reaching for my hand. “I know what you meant.”
And then, the little brat gives a devious smile before lifting my hand to her face and gently pressing her teeth to the meaty part between my thumb and palm.
My cock stirs.
“Like that?” she asks innocently, fluttering her lashes at me.
“You really are a brat, aren’t you?” I rumble, and her cheeks flush as I reach for her waist and pull her into my lap. Her eyes widen, and her scent grows stronger as she feels my hardening dick under her ass, but it’s no secret the effect she has on me.
On all of us.
“Why do you say that like it’s a good thing?” Her breath hitches as she looks up at me.
“Because it is,” I grin, all nervousness gone now that my omega is in my arms and looking at me like I’m the only thing she sees, “if you’re comfortable enough to be a brat, it means that you feel safe with me. With us.”
Her eyes dart down to my mouth. “I know you would never hurt me. Any of you.”
“Good,” I murmur, leaning down and brushing a kiss across her lips. “Now, will you let me feed you?”
She stares up at me, all sparkling amber eyes and flushed cheeks. She nods without a word, and I grin, keeping her in my lap as I pick up a fork and knife to start serving my omega breakfast.