Chapter 18
T he ranch was beautiful, but seeing Holt open up was even better. The way he dropped to his knees with the cow, talking so gently, told me that there were sides of him that I just hadn’t been given a chance to witness yet.
As we took the truck over to the packhouse, I was struck with how much I liked this. We weren’t far from the lakehouse, but this ranch was their home, and the others had a business here, too.
I couldn’t help but feel like I was monopolizing their time and forcing them to make changes they couldn't make easily.
Holt’s job was here. Seeing how much this place meant to him had me worried that I was making all the wrong choices.
Either way, the lakehouse was ours. It could still be a getaway, a place to unwind and stay on nights we didn’t have other responsibilities, but maybe it didn’t have to be home.
“Here it is,” Mathias said, giving my hand a squeeze. There were questions in his eyes but I just gave a smile, unsure what to truly say yet.
I needed to see this packhouse before I jumped the gun. What if it was gross and bare, with a mismatch of furniture like a true bachelor pad? Mattresses on the floor, gross bathrooms, maybe.
When I saw the gorgeous packhouse I knew I was wrong. It was beautiful. The grounds were pristine, with a small pond in front. The house was white and had a wraparound, covered porch. The pastures stretched around it with trees dotting the edges. It felt so serene and secluded.
The pretty navy shutters and dark-gray roof made the white stand out. They took care of their place, not a speck of discoloration in sight on it.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Ash said. “How is a badass guy like Ash, who works on dirty motorcycles, at home in a nice place like this?”
“I did wonder,” I teased, pausing and waiting for him to say more.
“It’s close to the animals for Holt’s work. Our shop is just down the main road, and it’s beautiful. Even a bad boy like me can see that.”
“It is beautiful,” I agreed. He stepped forward, his question coming through the bond. If it was so nice, why was I so conflicted?
“What if being at the lake isn’t the right choice?”
He smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of my blonde hair out of the way. “Princess… if we have you, there are no wrong choices here.”
“He’s right,” Holt said. “The lake isn’t far. Yes, we’ll have to get back into the swing of things before too long, but I’ve got staff to handle the day to day. I had already taken a step back before you came along.”
“But, being close is important if things go wrong with your animals,” I pointed out. “This is closer.”
“It is,” he conceded. I appreciated that he wasn’t trying to lie to me or sugar coat it. Holt was blunt, but not unkind.
“Let’s look inside before you overthink it,” Mathias said, moving between the alphas to take my hand and pull me with him.
We pushed open the navy-blue front door with a cute little wreath on it, to reveal the interior. There was a staircase leading up, with a pretty navy blue patterned rug decorating them. The foyer led further back to a back door, and a huge archway to the left revealed the dining room.
To the left was a small office, papers scattered on the darkwood desk. A bookshelf was behind it and from here I could see they were animal oriented. This must be Holt’s.
"The kitchen is through here,” Mathias said. “We kept all the main common rooms down here when designing it.
“You guys did all this?” I asked.
“Everything from the blueprints, to helping build, to decorating,” he confirmed. There was a spark of pride there.
“It’s incredible,” I said as I let go of his hand to explore. The furniture was all nice, but comfortable. Nothing was fancy or over the top. It was cozy and felt like a home.
“We love it, but we’ll love it more when it has your touches, too.”
That had me fighting off tears. It felt like they truly left space here for their omega.
Not wanting to be sappy and ruin the moment, I continued taking it all in.
The kitchen was bigger than I expected, ending in a dining room. Everything here was also top of the line. Likely, courtesy of Holt.
I peeked out back to see the porch led to a big backyard, an outdoor cooking area setup and a fire ring and chairs off to the other side.
The lakehouse was where we met, a home away from home. But this place? It was the kind that had a foundation you built a life on.
I could picture kids running the halls and a swingset out back. Boys and girls just as rugged as their dads and helping with the farm.
The more I explored, the more that future solidified in my mind, building brick by brick until I knew it was exactly what I wanted.
“Upstairs we each have a room. The omega suite is untouched. We wanted to save it for when we found you,” Mathias said.
“Not untouched,” Ash grinned, pulling me past their open doors to the end of the hall.
The suite was gorgeous. The walls were a dark blue with white accents, giving it a cozier vibe. It wasn’t gloomy having dark walls when the windows spilled in sunshine. Though, I could see light-blocking shades at the top that would pull down.
There was an insanely big four-poster bed with bohemian-style pillows and throws and a big fluffy white comforter.
It was the pictures hanging above the bed that I knew Ash was grinning at. One was of him leaning on his bike. Another of Holt leaning on a fence overlooking the pasture. The third of Mathias, wearing a mask as he sprayed paint on a car. It was them, at their happiest, with an empty spot for me.
“I love it,” I whispered, before turning to look at them. “Truth or dare?”
Holt was the one to answer. “Truth.”
“When are we moving in?”
I’ve never seen alphas and a beta smile so fast. Soon, I was scooped up and squeezed between them.
I guess they liked this plan.
“Really?” Holt asked, like he was afraid to hope.
“I mean, this feels like a home. Maybe weekends by the lake, I’d still like my shop to be in town there, but this feels like more of a real home. Why choose, right?”
“I’m just happy you’re thinking of our future, princess,” Ash grinned as he pecked me on the lips. Our bond was thrumming with his excitement.
“It might be complicated, but I kind of like the best of both worlds,” Mathias admitted. “Let’s sleep on it, but for now, I’m starving.”
Twenty minutes later, Holt was standing behind the grill at the main house, and the scent of hamburgers filled the air. A few of the farm hands came by and introduced themselves and stayed to visit as they waited on dinner. They had a gorgeous cooking area and pavilion right out the back door.
“Do you cook like this every night?” I asked, as I walked up beside Holt. It felt as natural as breathing to wrap my arms around him and lean into his side, my cheek brushing the soft flannel of his shirt, the blackberry-cobbler scent relaxing me further. It all just felt so domestic.
Is it weird that I love it?
He flipped a burger before answering, “Yeah, most nights. I like to keep the hands happy and their bunkhouse isn’t too far on the other side of the barn.”
“How’d you go from being an asshole in college to such a great guy?” I questioned. Not trying to be harsh but he wasn’t the same Holt I remembered.
“I think working hand in hand with everyone here helped. And all the day-to-day as well. If I was always an asshole, no one would stay and this place is bigger than just me. It takes a village to keep all our animals safe and healthy. I respect anyone who cares for them like I would,” he explained as he plated a few burgers.
He leaned down and brushed a kiss over my head, breathing me in as he did. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one constantly breathing them in.
“Want to come check on the babies with me?”
“Yeah,” I said a bit too quickly, making him chuckle and give me one last squeeze before turning to the others.
“Ash, can you man this?”
My other alpha gave him a nod and ended the conversation he was having with Buck.
“Taryn and I are going to check on Daisy and the twins,” he told him as he gave him the spatula.
Holt held out a hand for me and I slid my hand in his as we walked back to where Daisy and her babies were.
“I really love it out here,” I said as I took in a breath of fresh air. It was different here than at the lake, but I still loved it. “I don’t know much about farm life, but I think I need a pair of boots.”
“Anything you want,” he smiled indulgently at me. “You’re still going to chase your dreams, but live on mine.”
“So, you’re okay with me setting up shop thirty minutes away?” I asked as he pulled me into the barn.
“Of course, darlin’. That little town could do with some fresh revenue. Plus, it’s better than having you up in a big city where I can’t be close to you,” he said as he stopped in front of the gate that kept the cows in.
Daisy was letting one of the twins nurse and the other was running around. They all seemed a bit better than the last time we were with them.
“There ain’t nothing cuter then calf zoomies,” Holt said, smiling at me.
“That’s what it’s called? Zoomies? It’s almost as cute as the babies are,” I laughed, breaking away from his stare that had my chest warming, to the babies again.
“Do you want to pet one?” he asked, unlocking the gate to enter.
“Will momma like that?” I asked as he slid in, my own movement hesitating until he answered.
The calf that had been zooming around slowed their speed as it noticed Holt was getting nearer.
Daisy gave off a warning moo to Holt but he crept forward to his girl.
“Did you think that I just came for the babies? You should know me better than that,” he told her as he gave her pats on the head.
There was a different moo from her now and Holt reached out for the little one that was moving closer to him. It sniffed his hand and backed up a little. The nursing one stopped to see what was going on and it had a little milk on its nose. I wished that I had my phone so I could capture this sweet scene but I was just glad that I could witness it at all.
Maybe I needed to add a few rancher books to the mix so I could shoot videos out here.
“Do you know if the babies are boys or girls?” I asked as Holt kept his hand out for the baby.
“This is a girl, here. I have to check the other one,” he told me.
“What are you going to name them? Or do you name them?” I asked, leaning on the gate.
“Well, we don’t usually name them. Most of the babies are raised and sold. We do keep a few, but mostly just the girls,” he said as he got ahold of the baby. He picked it up and walked towards me.
“How do you know this is the girl?” I asked as I reached my hand towards Holt and the calf.
“She has the same markings as her momma, the other one has a solid face, like the dad,” he answered and stepped a little closer to the gate. “Let the baby sniff you before you try and pet her.”
“So, are you going to keep her?” I questioned as I did what he asked.
“I wasn’t planning on it, but after I almost lost Daisy, I think I will. Do you want to name her?” he countered as the little girl let me touch her.
My fingers stroked gently over her soft fur, emotion swelling in my chest. It might seem like a simple offer to let me name her, but I knew it was so much deeper. He almost lost his girl and was keeping this one because it was such a close call. I felt honored.
“What about Buttercup?” I asked.
“Buttercup it is. What if the other one is a girl and we keep her, too? What are you going to name her?” he asked as he let the baby down and returned to my side.
“I’ll have to think on it,” I told him, eyes shifting to the other baby.
“How about we eat and then we can head to the campsite for some s’mores and your first video that I owe you,” he smirked at me.
“Hell, yeah, I like the sound of that,” I answered as my brain started going crazy with ideas to torment him with.
It didn’t take us long to get back and eat but it felt as if it was forever. I was ready for s’mores and Holt reading. All I could do was picture him in firelight, reading one of the smutty chapters I had in mind.
When it was finally time to head to where Holt had Buck started a fire, I ran off to grab my e-reader for him to read.
As we walked the little distance to the campsite, I was searching for perfect paragraphs to be read, ignoring them all for a few minutes.
Ash took my hand after I stumbled over my own feet and a rock since I wasn’t watching where I was going.
“Thanks and sorry. I’m a little excited for the reading. I think that the lighting will be perfect, so I want to get a good section for it,” I told him.
“I mean Holt in the campfire light is brilliant, don’t want to scare the audience with him full on,” Ash joked.
“Keep it up, mister and you’ll be reading with your motorcycle helmet on,” I warned him.
“And cover this face?! Ouch. There ain’t no way,” he complained as we stopped to take a seat.
“Where do you want me?” Holt asked. “I don’t want marshmallows on my face when you record.”
I laughed a little at them but I didn’t want the followers to focus on food on his face, either, but his words.
“Sit on the other side of the flames, leaning on that log,” I pointed across from me. “I’ll zoom a little and record from here.”
“Here’s your tripod,” Mathias said, having it all set up for me already. The way they were all supporting me with my work without an ounce of hesitation, made my heart happy..
“Thanks.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek. He blushed as I took it from him.
How sweet was that? I didn’t even ask him to grab it for me but they’d paid attention. They had no idea how much these little gestures were making me swoon.
“Please take a seat,” I said to Holt as I did the same, placing my phone in the tripod’s holder and aimed it at my cowboy.
He fit the look I was going for, jeans, a white tee and his hat and boots.
“Ash, can you give this to Holt?” I asked, handing over my e-reader.
“What, no book?” Holt countered as he took the device from Ash.
“I wasn’t prepared, so we will make this work. Pull up one leg to rest the reader on. When you’re ready, start at the top of the page,” I told him as I zoomed in and got just a little bit of the flames in the screen, but it was mostly Holt reading.
Edging closer, I moved him a bit, shifting until it was perfect. I was being picky but I needed this to be how I pictured it and I knew that the extra care would put it over the top.
Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything hotter than this.
Even if I didn’t feel it at first, I was one lucky omega.
“I’ll be overlaying audio so you don’t have to be silent, just don’t make him laugh,” I ordered, glaring at Ash to drive the point home. If I didn’t say it, he’d be the one to take it as a challenge to break Holt’s concentration.
“What if he looks up at the end, right at the camera, and gives a smirk or a wink or something?” Mathias mused. His voice was right behind my head and I jumped, but brushed it off as I considered his opinion.
“Let’s try it,” I agreed. “If it looks off I can edit it out.”
“Just tell me when,” Holt said, keeping his posture exactly how I positioned it.
“I will. And three, two…” I waited a beat before I hit record. My smile widened as I watched the fire flicker and Holt’s strong hands shift, finger swiping to the next page. Despite himself, a grin broke over his face and his eyebrows rose. I gave it a few more seconds before calling out. “Alright, now.”
He turned to the camera, giving it the look meant for me, a sly smile that turned downright hungry at the end, a wink, then I cut it.
Damn.
“Holy shit, have you guys read these books? Here,” Holt said, swiping back a page before handing it over to an eager Ash. He read it, a bark of shocked laughter ringing out before turning to me and wiggling his eyebrows.
Then it was Mathias’s turn to read. Only, he didn’t let up, he plopped down on a log and continued, his face growing more red by the page swipe and he had to adjust himself more than once.
“Is this what you dream about, baby?” he teased, voice breathless and needy. “Your pack claiming you at once, making sure you come until you’re shaking and begging for us to stop?”
“Damn,” Ash cursed, adjusting himself as he watched me, waiting for my answer.
I have no idea what possessed me to do it. Maybe it was the security of knowing Holt’s workers were at home, or the fact our packhouse wasn’t far away, or the cover of darkness.
But the moment he said that, I slowly started to peel off my shirt, leaving me in my lacy bra. Their eyes were transfixed, mouths open as they watched.
“Holy shit,” Holt grunted.
“I do,” I admitted. “And so much more. But I think I want to wait for my heat for us all together. In fact, I think we need a bit of friendly competition, don’t you?”
My finger trailed down the valley of my breasts and continued downward toward my stomach.
“Yeah,” Ash grunted, voice pure gravel. “So, what do you have in mind, princess?”
“Whoever catches me, wins, but I get a head start.”
Holt’s growl was feral as I turned and ran. I hopped over fallen limbs and rocks as I careened toward the trees. I had no idea what I’d face out here but I swear the growls echoing in the night, the adrenaline, and the pure fucking lust pulsing through my veins, had slick soaking my underwear.
It was giving them a pure trail of my scent to follow, but they still had to fight off each other.
“Go, princess, go! They’re gaining on you!” Ash cheered. I guess he sat this one out as my only bonded mate, giving the others a chance to have me for their own.
A stick cracked behind me and I squeaked out a yelp as I pushed myself further. I was sweating now, and glad that I at least worked out sometimes or I’d be in a world of trouble.
“Fuck,” Mathias cursed, his voice too far behind now.
Holt was gaining on me and I knew I was in trouble now.
“You know, if we fuck every time we make a thirst trap, we’re going to get tired of making these videos!” I screamed as I ran even harder.
“Good, darlin’,” Holt growled as he lunged. I turned around to see him flying my way, encircling me in his arms and shifting so we hit the ground with a grunt.
“No,” I cursed, shaking from all the adrenaline but a grin was on my face.
“Want me to fuck you right out here, or can I take you up to my room now?” he asked, the deep rumble in his voice making me shiver.
“Inside,” I managed to get out. He easily scooped me up and carried me inside. Not waiting for him to kiss me first, I crashed my mouth to his, teeth clacking but our kiss was hungry, starving, really. It was like neither one of us could wait a second more before consuming each other.
I wanted to bottle his scent up, commit it to memory. His usual blackberry cobbler scent was so fucking sweet now, a hint of spice warming it up underneath now that his alpha was out to play.
He didn’t falter as he continued to his room, slamming the door closed behind me before dropping me on the bed. His eyes were focused, yet glassy, like his alpha was more in control than the man himself.
His strong hands ripped away the clothes remaining on my body. My heart was pounding, mouth dry.
Fuck. Every nerve ending in my body was burning for him, my skin prickling in anticipation as I watched him put the fabric to his face, breathing in deep, that rumbling purr in his chest hitching louder.
“Mine.”
“Yours, alpha,” I promised, spreading my legs so he could see exactly what was his. It was all for him, I really needed his tongue on me right now, to ease the ache burning in my core.
The slick on my skin had me shivering now that it was exposed to air, but he merely let out a grunt and dove for me, settling there and warming my thighs as he spread me open further, his tongue lapping up every drop of slick that coated my thighs and lips.
My whimpers were needy, but I didn’t bother to quiet myself. His purr was louder than ever as he tasted me and I knew he wouldn’t want me to hold myself back.
Holt wanted me, raw and unfiltered, and I wouldn’t hesitate to give him that.
Letting my thoughts fall away, I focused completely on the alpha between my thighs. My fingers tightened in his hair, pulling hard as he sucked on my clit and slid his fingers into my pussy, fucking me on them as he focused his attention purely on making me come.
“Fuck, alpha,” I cursed, panting and grinding on his face. His beard burned deliciously at my thighs as his teeth grazed over my overly sensitive flesh.
My orgasm hit me hard and fast, stealing my breath as my body bowed off the bed. He doubled down, sucking harder, pumping his fingers faster and curling them, teasing that spot inside me that was made for his knot.
I cried out against the intensity of it as I sucked in a breath. He was unrelenting, not giving up until I was trying to squirm away and tug at his hair.
He protested with another grunt. He hadn’t spoken a word since we were outside and it was like he was in a rut now.
“Alpha, I need your knot,” I begged, pulling him in and kissing him hard, teeth biting at his lip, demanding enough to refocus him.
He leaned back, ripping at his own clothes, buttons flying as he tore at his flannel. His undershirt was shredded under his hands, before he was pulling away his jeans, chest heaving as he fought his way out of their confines.
I don’t think my heart has stopped racing since I ran. Even now as I watched him fight to get back to me I couldn’t help how my body reacted. Not scared, but on high alert, anticipating my alpha’s next move.
And fuck, he was perfect. Every inch of his suntanned skin was rippling in muscles. His thighs and arms just as strong as the abs under a dusting of dark hair. His cock was weeping for me, the bead of precum on the end making my mouth water.
Before he could take back over I rushed off the bed and onto my knees. He froze, his chest still rising and falling too fast but his eyes were on me, watching as I wrapped my fingers around his girth, shocked at how fucking big he was.
My tongue darted out, swiping up the precum and humming at how fucking good he tasted. Salty but sweet, laced in his scent and all mine.
Fuck, I was starting to understand his possessive nature. If anyone came near us now I knew my omega would tear them to pieces. We were feral for each other, my omega reacting to her alpha’s rut in a way that would leave us both shocked.
My eyes locked on his as I wet my lips and leaned forward, letting him slip past my lips while I flattened my tongue. My eyes rolled back as I pushed forward until I was gagging, savoring his taste and scent that was so strong here I was falling into it, drowning in Holt.
He let me have my moment, groaning as my mouth slid over his length, tasting and teasing him like he’d done to me.
But the moment his knot reacted, he stepped back, picking me up and kissing me hard before throwing me back on the bed.
Before he could demand it, I rolled over and presented for my alpha, on my knees, legs spread wide so my pussy was exposed, face in the mattress.
“Fuck, omega. Look at how wet you are for your alpha. Are you sure you’re ready for this knot?”
I glanced back at him, watching as he palmed his dick and his eyes cleared enough to get my consent.
“Yes, alpha. Knot. Now.” My words were choppy as I tried to catch my breath. That was all he needed to press himself to my ass, lining his cock up at my core and teasing the head through my slick.
Then he was pressing inside of me and I nearly passed out. The stretch burned but it also felt so fucking good at the same time. Each inch he pressed into me was more intense, my own pleasure climbing as I quaked under him.
When my body resisted, he pulled back just a little before slamming his hips forward, his knot pushing past my tight core until it was notched inside.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.
All I could do was take everything he gave me. His thrusts were shallow now, pushing his knot further into me, claiming me from the inside out.
The sound of my whimpers, slapping flesh, and his deep groans were something I would never forget. This was the most intense sex of my life and I wanted to savor it.
Holt shifted, hands around my waist and lifting me slightly as he drove himself even deeper inside of me. The orgasm that was building pulsed through me as his knot swelled, pushing me over the edge so waves of pleasure had my body relaxing enough for him to swell fully.
“Fuck, fuck,” I whimpered out. It felt like he was ripping me in two.
“Shh, you can take me, omega. This pussy was made to fit me inside and you’re doing it so beautifully. God, you’re choking my cock, squeezing me so fucking hard,” he gritted out, fingers running gently over my back as he continued to fuck me into the mattress.
His hands teased over my ass and around to our front, shifting between my legs to circle my clit. My body was worn out, the orgasm that he was building almost painful as I tensed against it.
I don’t think I’d ever come so many times.
This time when I came, body pulsing around his full knot, he couldn’t deny his own. I felt his hot cum filling me, as he draped himself over me, teeth teasing at my neck. The one not marked by my other alpha.
“Let me mark you, darlin’. I want to make you mine.”
“I’m already yours,” I whispered. “Bite me, Holt.”
His teeth sank in, the blinding pain and intense pleasure making my vision go dark as I collapsed onto the pillow. My orgasm continued to tear through me as he came again, my last thoughts were simply, ‘what a perfect way to die.’