38. Nelly #2
I swallow hard. My word, he looks so handsome. He's got on basketball shorts and his shirt is slung over his shoulder. Sweat drips down his face.
"Are you competing?" I ask.
Levi grins. "Just hot."
I nod. "Ah."
"So?" he asks as he passes off the food and continues standing there. "You okay if I join?"
"Girl, come on," Lo whispers as she nudges me.
It rips me out of my filthy trance. "Yeah, yeah. Sure. You're good."
Levi shimmies in next to me. "So, what's all the cackling over here about? Sounds like a good time, and I love a good time."
"We're watching everyone warm up for the games," Tansy says as she waggles her eyebrows. "Your Nelly here's gawking at the sheriff."
"I am not!" I squeal.
"Ahhh," Levi says with a dramatic nod. "He still warming up?"
"He is," Lia says. "Are you not competing?"
"Nah. Though, Nash over there thinks stretching for forty-five minutes gives him an advantage," Levi says with a smirk.
"Stretching helps," Lo says.
"It absolutely doesn't," Levi says with a chuckle.
"He's doing this running backwards thing in the water, too," I say.
"Has he tripped yet?" Levi asks.
I nudge him as I giggle. "You're just here to watch him bust his face open, aren't you?"
Levi holds up his fingers, pinching them together. "Maybe a smidge."
I shake my head, even though I smile. "You're horrible."
"And you look beautiful today."
"Awwww!" Tansy exclaims.
Levi snorts and I can't help but blush even harder.
"Did Beau come with you?" I ask.
Levi looks over at me warily. "He did."
I pause. "Why that look?"
"You haven't found him yet?"
"What does that mean?"
When Levi points, I whip my head so quickly that my neck cracks. And when I find Beau, I realize why he looks the way he does.
Beau's standing over by the sign-up tables for the games.
With his mother.
"Oh, no," I murmur.
"Yeah," Levi says. "He came with his whole family. They're all competing today."
"Of course they are," I say with a sigh.
"What's going on?" Tansy asks.
I nod toward Beau. "One of my packmates, Beau, is a Beta who comes from a family of Alphas. I have a feeling they're harassing him over at the tent to sign up for something."
"Wait, Beau Talcott?" Tansy asks as she turns her head in the direction where we're looking. "I thought there was another Beau I didn't know about or something. I didn't know you packed up my accountant!"
My eyebrows raise. "Beau does the bakery's finances?"
"Been a fucking lifesaver," Tansy says. "I think we should go save him."
"I'm wondering if we should do the same thing," Levi says.
The bond twists painfully beneath my sternum, and the second I see Beau's head drop, I'm on my feet.
Not today, stupid fucks.
"Go get 'em!" Tansy says as she whoops.
"Let's make some room for him. Quickly," Lia whispers.
I storm toward where they are only to realize Beau isn't just standing with his mother, but his entire family.
His father's there, along with his two brothers, and they come out of the sign-up tent looking as pompous as ever.
Something cold settles in my chest as Levi looms behind me, moving fast as we skim the water's edge.
I don't like the way Beau's standing. His hands folded. His head lowered. Barely speaking while his mother lectures him.
I've stood like that before with my family when I was a little girl. One too many times.
Beau won't stand like that any longer.
The closer we get, the tighter the knot in my chest becomes. Beau isn't saying a damn thing, just standing there and taking it. And his mother? With her silver-blonde hair twisted into a severe knot at the base of her neck? I can already hear the clipped precision of her voice.
"… and another thing, I don't believe you've actually marked someone. You are the one that's marked, not the other way around. But if you have, Beau, proving your physical worth to them is essential to keeping the bond alive."
My pace quickens as she continues.
"You will sign up for one of these contests with us. Just one."
Beau opens his mouth. "But I don't—"
His mother puts up a finger. "We'll do it as a family unit, just like we always do, and then you can go frolic or do whatever it is you do in your spare time. But we're putting up a good front for one game. Just one. So, get in that tent and go pick and we'll sign up behind you."
"You'll do no such thing," I say through my panting as I rush in front of Beau.
Levi stands behind him, cloaking him in shadow.
All four of his family's heads turn toward me.
His mother's gaze narrows. "And you are?"
I lift my chin. "His Omega. Who the hell are you?"
His mother freezes before her gaze sweeps over to Beau. "You bonded an Omega. Do you even know how to take care of one?"
"My Beta will do nothing he doesn't want to do today." Someone else jogs up toward us, and I don't have to turn to know who it is. I already smell Nash's musky scent. "This is a day of celebration after being cooped up for over a week. You won't bully him into a competition he doesn't want to do."
The woman's gaze travels along my form. "I don't recall inviting outside opinions."
I fire back. "And I don't recall Beau asking for yours."
Her lips thin. "This is family business."
"And so is this," Nash says from Beau's right.
"Hey, guys," Beau murmurs.
"Morning," Nash says. "Is there an issue I can help with?"
Her eyes widen a tad. "Sheriff. What are you—?"
His father is the next to speak. "You packed up."
Beau lifts his head. "I did, yes."
His mother almost looks… hurt? "And you didn't tell us?"
"Can you blame him?" Levi asks.
His mother snaps a look toward Levi, but I whistle to get her attention. "I think we'll be taking Beau with us for the day. We'll be cheering you guys on."
His father takes a step toward us. "My son needs to learn that he has responsibilities to this family."
"I know my responsibilities, Dad," Beau says.
"Then, you'll sign up," his father says.
"No," Beau says. "I won't."