Chapter 12
CHAPTER
TWELVE
GLENN
The scent of him lingered on my skin for the rest of the night. It drove me wild as I tried to sleep, my hand sneaking into my boxers, getting myself off to the thought of him riding my cock like he was bent over in a dirty bathroom.
I can’t believe he was going to go to Pit Stop and get railed by some stranger.
He deserves better.
Although with the way I’ve been treating him, I guess he felt it was necessary.Leona is only a friend. Apparently, he thought otherwise, but I quickly corrected that misunderstanding.
With my dick.
I step into his office and inhale. It’s no longer the petrichor scent that was lingering here for several days. Every time I smelled it, I felt sad. Sad that I was putting up a wall between us, that my actions hurt him just as much as his hurt me.
I had to do it. To protect myself from someone who clearly didn’t value me.
But my possessiveness got to me last night. I took what I wanted, and fuck, it felt good. Only problem is, I’m not sure I trust him.
I want him, though. That much is clear.
My mouth waters slightly as his body gives off the sweetest scent.
“Morning,” I murmur, walking to the coffee machine, adjusting myself slightly at the mere sight of him. I need to pull myself together. Last night got me good. I fucking lost control. Watching him flirt with Tater, seeing the way those lips looked wrapped around the straw, how pink and wet.
It pushed me over the edge.
And now I have to live with my actions.
But with the way he’s looking at me, the warm scent of him floating around the room, it makes me want to put my ego aside and move past what happened that day in the woods.
He did it for a reason. I need to understand why.
I step toward the desk, the cup of freshly brewed coffee in my hand. He glances up at me, his cheeks pink, his ass wiggling in his chair.
I know the effect I’m having on him.
He’s doing the same to me.
His eyes flick up and down my body quickly, and the intake of air lets me know that he’s seen the bulge at the front of my pants.
“What’s on the agenda today?” I ask, and he composes himself and shuffles some paperwork. He rattles off the list of things that still need to get done before the weekend. I take it all in, putting it in the back of my mind for later.
I hear the rumbling of trucks outside as the crew arrives, and I take another sip of my coffee.
“Had fun last night,” I say when he’s finally done.
He sits back and blinks up at me.
“Me too.”
“Want to come to dinner at my place tonight?” It’s an off-the-cuff invitation, and I hold my breath while I wait for his response.
His eyes widen a little, surprise lining his face. Fuck, I messed up. I shouldn’t have kept him at arm’s length so long. I should have just let it go. But what’s done is done. We can only move forward.
His throat bobs, and he swallows. “That would be nice.”
I blow out a breath. “All right. Great. Italian okay?”
His head wobbles. “Yeah. Should I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.”
“Perfect.”
I eye his lips, and his eyelashes flutter.
“See you then, Boss.”
I say it dryly, and he must notice because his lips twitch.
“See you then, Mr. Barrett.”
During my lunch break, I decide it’s past time to call Skye and get his opinion on everything, especially with dinner looming.
I really thought I could manage this on my own, that I knew enough by having a brother who was an omega, but I feel out of my depth.
And there are parts of Arbor that remind me of my brother.
Skye’s always felt like he’s had to prove himself, never wanting to be constrained by his omega nature.
Arbor is like that. He’s so much like him. I’ll never truly understand, but I can try.
“What’s up?” Skye says, his voice a little husky over the phone. “You okay? You never call, so now I’m worried you’re dying.”
I let out a laugh. “No, just calling to ask some questions. Now a good time?”
He hesitates and then assures me that now is as good a time as any. I can hear Maverick in the background, murmuring something, but then there’s rustling and the sound of a door squeaking shut.
“Okay, Mav’s graced us with some privacy. What’s up?”
“I’m seeing an omega I work with who reminds me a little of you.”
“This the boss?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmph, there you go. An omega bossing around a bunch of alphas. That’s a fucking chore.”
“We’ve been nice to him.”
“Have you? Because sometimes alphas think they’re being nice but…”
“I’ve been fucking nice, okay? I even get on my knees for him.”
Skye is silent. “Right, well, don’t tell me any more details, bro. I don’t need to know, but yeah. That’s a good start. Show some more submission. Show it as often as you can, actually. It really does it for us.”
I can so fucking do that. I don’t mind it at all.
“So, how does he remind you of me?”
“Well, he hates being an omega and is always trying to prove himself.”
Skye huffs, and I realize my words might have offended him, but he lets out a laugh a second later and sighs. “Oh man, yeah. I get that. I so do. You alphas are insufferable.”
I roll my eyes but say nothing. “Just want to know how to make things work when he fights so hard against being an omega. When he almost seems to resent it.”
“Yeah, I mean, just don’t be an asshole, I guess.”
I make a face, and Skye adds, “Just treat him with respect. Be patient and accepting. It’s so fucking hard to get any of that, especially with alphas.
They just see you as a hole they can knot.
They look down on you. It’s super shitty.
But…” He hesitates a moment and then adds, “You’re a good guy, Glenn.
I mean it. One of my favorite brothers. I’m sure you treat him well.
I’m sure you always will. And he’ll see that. I know he will.”
I clear my throat when it suddenly becomes hard to swallow. “Thanks.”
“Of course. Love you. I know we don’t say it often, but I do. You’re a great guy. He’ll be lucky to have you.”
I can barely speak anymore, my eyes suddenly stinging. “Thanks. Love you too, Skye.”
He lets out a small laugh. “Awkward, right?”
“You made it that way.”
“I always do, but keep me updated. Let me know how it goes.”
“I will,” I say, ending the call. The conversation leaves me with a lot to think about, but one thing stands out—I’m on the right path. I just have to keep going.
What I thought would be a nice, romantic dinner ends up being a lot more. I forgot I told Forest to come over so we could talk, and, of course, River’s car is sitting outside my place when I get home, which means he’s already inside, rummaging around like a raccoon in my cupboards.
Not to mention, the werewolves are lingering on my porch, waiting to be fed. They’re like the stray cats I’ve collected over the years. I fed them once, and now they won’t leave me alone.
I’ve been feeding the three of them, along with River, almost every day this week. My grocery bill is through the roof. The nice thing is they’re not breaking into my place and ruining it.
But I really need them to find another home. One that’s not mine.
I was hoping that if I ignored them tonight, they’d leave, but that was wishful thinking. They seem content to stay here for the time being.
Marlow sniffs as I walk up the steps, grocery bags in hand.
“Meatballs? Garlic bread?”
I sigh. “Yeah. You guessed it.”
Vick licks his lips. “Delicious.”
“You get dessert too?” Corvin asks, and I glower at him.
“You could help pay for this, you know? It wasn’t cheap.”
“We’ll pay you in friendship,” Corvin adds with a laugh.
I roll my eyes just as Forest pulls up. The motorcycle he’s riding is far too loud. My ears twitch, and I see birds fluttering in the surrounding trees.
“Hey,” I say, and Forest eyes the werewolves sprawled out on my porch. Corvin has a feral kitten on his lap, petting it gently.
“Who the fuck are they?” Forest asks, his eyes meeting mine.
“Unwanted friends, but friends nonetheless. Come on in. River’s already here.”
“Why is he here?”
“He’s hungry.”
Forest lets out a laugh and nods, following me up the steps. When I catch Marlow’s gaze, I add, “My omega is coming over. Don’t scare him away, or no food for you.”
He salutes me, and I nod, moving inside. Like I thought, River has already made himself at home, boxes of food on the counter, and an open drink in his hands.
“Hey!” he says with a grin when he sees me and Forest. “Look! It’s a family reunion.”
Forest moves over and pulls our brother in for a short hug.
“Yeah, didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I invited myself. I’m hungry.”
I set the bags of food onto the counter, and River pulls everything out, wetting his lips when he takes it all in.
“Gods, you’re too good to us,” he murmurs, and I swat his hand away when he tries to pull a piece of bread from the bag.
“Save it for dinner, asshole.”
He pouts, but moves away, grabbing another beer from the fridge for Forest. Forest pops it open and takes a seat, sprawling his legs out in front of him. His jeans are slightly dirty from working on his motorcycle, but I don’t mind it. Besides River and Sage, we’re all blue-collar workers.
“So, you have an omega coming over? Was this supposed to be a date, but you forgot you invited me over, too?”
“Maybe,” I grumble.
“Good thing you always overbuy shit.”
“Fuck you.”
Forest laughs and then cocks his head. “So, who’s the omega? Man or woman?”
I wet my lips and then murmur, “The guy who brought me the cheese.”
“He’s his boss,” River chimes in, and I eye him in annoyance. “He’s the one he took during The Den’s Heat Hunt.”
“Seriously?” Forest chuckles.
“Yeah, didn’t know he was gonna be my boss until he showed up one day. But it works.”
“You fuck him at work, then?” Forest asks, sitting up in his seat a little.
“None of your business.”
He lets out a laugh and takes another sip of his drink.
“Well, thanks for the invite. Things are weird at Dad’s right now. It’s nice to get away.”