21. Hunter
Chapter twenty-one
Hunter
I wheel the wheelchair down the hall as we head towards Crow’s room. It takes everything I have not to laugh at how impatiently Bethany is jittering around as she walks beside me, trying to get me to hurry. She is going to spring into action the minute she gets through that door and launch herself at Crow when she sees him.
Hell, he looks awful but so much better than I thought he would. He’s healing quickly. Apparently, while they were inside fixing the damage inside him, he started bleeding from somewhere. It took them a while to find and repair the damage, so he’s got a pretty gnarly scar and doctor’s orders to take it easy. They even gave him a thick pad of instructions to aid in his recovery.
Saint has already vowed not to let him do anything that leaves Crow worse.
But today is the three week mark.
Crow is coming home.
I bite my lip so I don’t laugh as Bethany bounces. We have a bet. If she leaves my side during this walk to the hospital room, then she cooks tonight. If she can make it, I’ll cook.
She gets almost to the door, and then takes off.
I burst out laughing and slowly approach the door. But I’m just as anxious as she is. I’m just hiding it better.
Saint is sitting on the bed, Crow beside him. For the first time since he came in here, he’s in his own clothes and looking like himself. Bethany leans over him and kisses him softly.
“We have everything. Let’s go home.”
Bethany slides her hand into mine and rests her head on my shoulder.
“Feel better now he’s home?”
She nods her head and turns to me. “It feels like it will all be okay now.”
“It was going to be okay before. You know that, right?”
She sniffs. “I keep dreaming about the accident.”
I wrap my arms around her. “It's over now.”
I lift her up, and she wraps her arms around my neck. I carry her down to the bedroom and set her down on the bed. Crow is lying beside Saint, who is tracing his fingers down Crow’s upper arm.
I don’t know if he’s asleep or not, but when Bethany kicks off her slippers and crawls up the bed to lie in between Saint and Crow, he opens his eyes.
I set about turning the lights off and getting ready for bed.
Crow has lost weight. He seems smaller in my arms, and I don’t like it. But though I haven’t said it, I’ve been struggling being apart from Saint and Crow. Saint stayed with him at the hospital almost every night. So the strange absence of both alphas has left me out of sorts.
Saint has been next to saintly looking after Crow. He was steadfast in pushing Crow into taking his meds, bullying him into his exercises, and making sure he had everything he needed.
Crow shifts, and I can feel through his bond that he is gathering himself for something.
“Bethany.”
I hear her breathy sigh. “Yes?”
“I want you to know that we-”
Bethany sits up and presses her fingers to his mouth. In the dim light, I can just see her movements.
“You don’t need to say it. I know that you love me. It’s in the way you take care of me, the way you speak to me, listen to me, the way you treat my family, and the way you look at me. I know you all love me. As much as I love you.”
Part of me isn’t surprised at all that she’s figured us out. The other part is stunned that it was so obvious to everyone but us.
“Be our pack. Bond with us. Let’s make it forever,” I say on impulse.
I can feel a tremor through the bonds, but it settles with a hum of satisfaction.
“Yes,” Bethany says. “The day Crow gets a clear bill of health, I will bond with you.”
The doctor walks outs.
And Crow stands up and starts stalking our omega. He has no tact or patience. My sniggers catch her attention, and she glares between the three of us.
“What are you doing?”
“You said the day-”
“He hasn’t even left the house yet!” Bethany protests, but it’s a breathy, insincere protest.
Saint captures her before she can run, running his hands along her wrists as he pulls them above her head.
“It’s time, little queen. I want my bonds,” Crow purrs.
She smiles at us as she walks backwards, but Saint refuses to let go of her wrists and simply tugs her back.
“Bonds, Omega, no more waiting,” Saint drawls.
She lunges forward and bites the skin of Saint’s chest. He shouts and releases her, looking down at the teeth marks in shock.
“What was that?”
She bites her lower lip and flicks her hair over her shoulder. “Practice.”
Saint growls.
Her eyes get big and black, and then she takes off. I’m too busy laughing at Saint, but Crow races after her.
“She bit me!” Saint says, outraged.
“She needs to practice,” I tease.
Saint grabs me by the throat and pulls me up against him. “That so?”
“Mm-hmm,” I say, breathless, because the way Saint is looking at me is making me forget what’s so funny.
“Maybe I should practice on you?”
I lean in, brushing my lips across his. “Anytime you want, Alpha.”
He growls again and forces his tongue into my mouth. I cling to him, and when he lets me go, he smiles smugly.
“After I’ve bonded her, I’m going to mark you both up.”
I trail after him, thinking that if he follows through, we’ll be in for a great evening.
Crow has our omega naked and bent over the kitchen table. He trails his tongue down her spine, and then slaps her ass hard enough that she yelps.
“I’m thinking of biting you right here, so every time you sit down, you think of me,” he growls.
I snort a laugh, but I’m distracted as Saint wades in. He leans down and looks our omega in the eyes.
“Do you want to try again?”
She shudders. I wish I could see her face.
“Give me your cock and let’s try for bite two?”
I wince, but Saint laughs.
Crow backs off, but before Saint can do anything, she’s up and shoving him backwards.
He hits the bench and stills, shocked, she peels his clothes off with a single-minded intensity until he’s naked and silent, watching her with strangely vulnerable eyes.
She stares up at him. “I’m claiming you, Keller Saint. I’m claiming you forever and ever, and I’m not giving you back.”
He blinks at her, and I can tell she’s taken him by surprise. She licks a stripe across the skin and then rubs her face against him. Scent marking him. I feel like I need to sit down, but I don’t want to look away to find a seat.
“This spot over your heart is mine because you need to remember you have one.”
Saint splutters, but it turns into a groan as she sinks her teeth into the skin over his heart. He lets out a feral hiss and reaches for her wrist, pulling her hand to his mouth. He bites her palm.
I feel the bond flare up between them. I stagger a bit but catch my balance.
Saint pulls her up, and they make out, almost like they’ve forgotten the rest of us exist. He lines himself up and impales her.
Crow and I walk out, giving them privacy.
An hour later, I can feel her wandering around. Crow looks at me. I nod to the doorway, and he gets up anxiously, and then vanishes, leaving me alone.
I feel the second set of bonds flare up, but I don’t move from where I’m sitting, pretending to read a book. It feels like a month has passed.
My patience expires, and I stand up and walk to the door, finding her standing in the shadows on the other side.
“Bethany.”
She cocks her head to the side and shrugs. “I was waiting for you.”
I close my eyes, her perfume surrounds me. “I didn’t keep you waiting long?”
“Dale Hunter. I am your omega. I would be yours until the end of time. Please, will you give me your bond?”
I lift my hand slowly until I have her throat in my hand. “I won’t ever let you go.”
“Good.”
“Good,” I echo.
She smiles and leans into the hold I have on her.
Where…where am I going to leave my mark? I consider all the places slowly, but there’s only one spot that makes sense, right under my hand. I release her throat and grab her wrist, dragging her to the bedroom with me.
Our hands are all over each other.
Every pant and groan.
I move in her, and she rocks her hips, meeting each thrust. My perfect omega.
I bring my lips to the spot, licking, teasing. Every inch belongs to me, every breath, every sound, every mewl.
No words are spoken. No words are needed.
I sink my teeth into her neck when she comes, and distantly, I feel the bond cement as her own teeth sink into my shoulder.
I lay there in the aftermath, my knot buried deep inside her, the bond thrumming with our happiness.
“Happy, Omega?”
She sighs, her eyes closing. “I am so happy.”
“That’s good,” I whisper, leaning down to kiss her gently.
“That’s really good. Now, about that practice,” Saint says from the other end of the bedroom.
Bethany’s eyes pop open and gleam.
Yeah, we are very happy.