Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jeremy
Cass seemed done with my moping and apologizing. The muffin that had hit me perfectly square in the face was my biggest clue. It looked sad where it lay on the kitchen floor, the muffin now a crumbled mess.
Sighing, I scooped it up and dumped it in the trash.
“I’m—”
“If you say you’re sorry again I’ll throw something heavier at you,” Cass threatened.
Holding up both hands, I was about to do just that, but his eyes squinted in a glare, making me snap my mouth shut.
“You’re right,” I agreed, letting out another sigh. “I just promised myself I would take good care of you—”
“And that, you did,” Cass interrupted me, his smile knowing. “Really well if I recall.”
That last part was purred and it awakened something inside of me, something only Cass could bring out.
“Oh,” I said, smirking right back. “Is that right?”
He nodded. “Hmm. Want to show me? Just in case I missed something? You know from the hard pounding you gave me?” He blinked innocently while fluttering his lashes.
Biting my bottom lip, I was about to say ‘hell, yes’ and pounce on him, but Dad seemed to know just when to show up.
Three loud knocks on the back door were enough for him, it seemed, since he simply opened the backdoor and slid in, not caring if we were decent for company or not.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Dad grumbled when neither of us seemed happy to see him. “Nic told me what happened.”
Nic moved fast, then, considering he’d left around thirty minutes ago. I hadn’t even had breakfast yet, and Cass had only eaten around three muffins. He needed all the healing they offered for him to be able to take my cock again later today.
I’d already texted Greg to please bring us more.
“It is nice to see you, Paul,” Cass said, sounding genuine. I eyed my mate suspiciously. Was he that good a liar? Or was he truly happy to be interrupted in what I knew would be a perfect second claiming?
Dad beamed at that, striding further into our living room. He was wearing some of the pants I had stored outside, making me oh-so-thankful.
“I came to congratulate you both,” Dad said, sitting down in one of the armchairs next to the couch.
We joined him, both of us sitting on the couch. He could definitely sniff out where we’d claimed each other, but I didn’t really care about that. He hadn’t been invited, after all.
“Thank you,” Cass smiled. “And the pack is okay with it?”
I knew Cass still worried about that, even more so after what went down with Marcus and Fillian.
Dad gave him a kind smile. “Of course. Anyone who dares say anything will be without a pack, or their life, however they wish to deal with their issues.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, giving him a nod. “I know you’ve longed to retire as Alpha, and I’ve had to bring you back in because I had too much to deal with myself. I’m sorry for that.”
Cass sent me a glare, but I just rolled my eyes. I was allowed to say the words ‘I’m sorry’ I just wasn’t allowed, apparently, to say those words to Cass.
Dad waved that off with one hand. “I don’t mind helping out when it’s needed. But I am disappointed that it had to be me. I’d hoped Milo would step in and be your second in the pack.”
We were all silent for a bit after that.
“What happened between you two?” Dad finally asked the question Cass and I wanted the answer to ourselves.
Shrugging, I answered honestly. “I became Alpha. At least, that’s what I think his problem with me is. Before that we weren’t close, which you very well know, but it wasn’t this bad.”
Dad nodded, deep in thought. “I spoke with Darius.” He sighed. “Milo feels guilty for how he behaved, but I doubt he’ll be able to tell you the reason anytime soon. One of the reasons why I hoped you already knew.”
Cass shook his head for us both. “I think it has something to do with Darius, but I’m not entirely sure.”
Dad nodded. “I just hope one day you’ll be acting like the brothers I know, and hope, you can be.”
It didn’t feel fair to put that on me, like I was the one in the wrong here. I was 99% sure I hadn’t done anything to Milo, but I still nodded.
Dad stood. “There’s a party tomorrow, inviting the Brown Pack in as allies. Spend the time today to celebrate your mating. Tomorrow you’ll be back as Alpha and Alpha’s Mate. Show them you’re strong. The pack needs that.”
With those parting words, he left, leaving the pants on the back deck and shifting.
“You’re practically glowing,” Darius noted gleefully.
I’d bumped into him, not able to stop smiling.
Cass and I had spent yesterday in pure bliss as we fucked in every room.
It seemed I would never be fully sated when it came to Cass, and I was so okay with that.
It only meant more claiming was needed, and he seemed just as willing and needy as I felt.
Darius was helping me bring out the cooked dishes for the party, and of course he needed details.
“Was it good then? The mating bite?”
I nodded, not wanting to tell him anything about my Cass.
He whined. “Oh, come on, man. I want to know these things.”
I was about to remind him that he had Milo to test it on, but even with things seeming to go better between them, I didn’t want to bring him up.
Milo had yet to apologize, or speak to me really.
I’d wanted to thank him for saving my mate, but I was still hurting from how he’d treated me.
Cass had thanked him, so at least one of us had. Although Cass disliked my brother, too.
“What happens between me and my mate, stays between us,” I stated firmly. I was his best friend, true, but I was also the pack Alpha.
“Fine,” he relented. “I just love seeing you happy, is all.”
I smiled at that. “I am happy,” I agreed, feeling the honesty of my words.
“Good,” he grinned. “Now, tell me why we have ten different muffins?”
An hour later, Silas found me in the backyard where I’d snuck out to get some fresh air.
It wasn’t that I disliked my pack mates, but I was only a man.
I simply needed some space to breathe in once in a while.
And with me being the Alpha, everyone wanted to talk to me and have my undivided attention.
The party had been going for a little over two hours at that point, both our packs mingling and having fun, like they were meant to be together.
“Hey,” he said, patting my shoulder.
“Hey,” I greeted back, smiling at him.
“So,” he began, looking nervously around us. “I was hoping to ask you a favor?”
“Okay?”
“Would you mind…” he sighed. “Taking over my pack, too?”
Blinking, I stared at him. “You want me to fight you?”
“Gods, no,” he hurried to say, his eyes wide. “I would never do that to you.”
I laughed at that. “Good to see your confidence is through the roof on that.”
He tilted his head, then seemed to understand what he’d said and joined my laughter. “Sorry about that.”
I waved that off. “What did you mean by it then?”
“I meant that I wanted to hand the pack over to you. No fight, just agreement. Our territories are right up against each other and both are smaller than normal pack lands. Combining them makes sense.”
“It does,” I pondered. “But wouldn’t your pack fight against it?”
He shook his head. “I already asked them. They want a fresh start from all the horrible shit my father put them through. Making them into a bigger pack with an Alpha who knows what he’s doing seems like the best option for them.”
“But what about you?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Because I’m handing you the title, I can step down and just be a part of the pack. If you’ll have me?”
“Of course,” I stated, surprised he’d even ask that.
“Then, how about we let the packs know tonight?”
My first instinct had been to ask Dad for advice. Then again, I had to trust my own instincts for me to grow as the Alpha. My instincts told me to go for it, to bring these shifters together and become one big happy pack. So, I nodded, feeling confident in my decision.
Silas and I walked back inside the community center, seeing our pack dance and mingle was both heartwarming and reassuring.
“Everyone,” I said, using my Alpha voice to carry through the whole room.
Our ballroom could house around a thousand people, if not seated, of course.
But even with the Brown Pack here, we were only around six hundred now.
Holy… I was taking on another pack right now, meaning I would have double the shifters to protect.
Everyone gave me their full attention, even those from the Brown Pack, who couldn’t be faulted for not obeying my command.
“Alpha Silas and I have come to an agreement. We believe our packs and territories would flourish better as a united pack. Therefore, I’ve agreed to become the Alpha of both packs, combining them into a brand new one.
” There was some excitement murmuring between the shifters, I even caught Greg bumping his shoulder against Cass, both of them smiling happily from the news.
“Are there any objections to this?” I asked, daring them with my glare to test me on this. I really wasn’t up for another fight just yet, or ever, to be honest.
No one spoke, making me smile with pride.
“Then allow me to introduce the new pack going forward. Welcome everyone to the Groove Vale Pack.”