Chapter 23
REED
Nine AM Statistics class is the last fucking place I should be right now.
I broke a three-year truce, and here I sit, calculating p-values while a guy a few rows back snores softly.
What the hell am I doing here?
I should stand up and walk out. I have a club and an omega to protect.
Instead, I sigh and try my best to finish the problems without distraction.
“So you’re gonna tell me what’s going on or…” Casey asks as I meet him outside the Sociology building.
“It’s nothing,” I say, shaking my head, but Casey raises his eyebrows and laughs.
“You playing me for stupid? Come on. Tell. We can’t fix anything if we don’t know what’s going on.”
As if the issue is something he could help me fix. I’m an asshole, making dumb decisions every time I draw a damn breath.
Nothing I can fix. It’s a state of mind.
Along the walkways of White Pine Crest University, there are picnic tables and plenty of trees for shade. The fall is here in full force, so it’s finally not too damn hot to sit out here.
We pick a table outside, and Casey pulls out his laptop. I don’t bother with my books, sitting on the table and leaning back on my hands. Letting the bits of sun peeking through the trees warm my face.
I wonder if Esper’s around.
I really need Neven to get her schedule for me.
Or I guess I could just ask her directly. No need to be a damn stalker.
Pulling out my phone, I shoot out a text to her. It’s such an odd feeling to have so many people in my circle now. Having people you just text randomly throughout the day. The kind where you aren’t worried you’re bothering them. The kind you wish was here with you instead of away.
“Okay, seriously, tell me. Is it that omega you matched with? Give me something, man.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” I nod toward his computer and he quickly shuts his laptop screen.
“Not anymore.”
“I… I found my scent match. Matches. A… Pack,” I say, waiting for my phone to buzz with her response. “I’m a Packed-up Omega.”
The words fall in the air between us and for once, they don’t weigh me down. Instead I actually smile.
Smile at having a Pack. Who would have thought this day would come?
“That’s amazing.” He squints his eyes at me. “So what’s the problem?”
“You know how I want to be president of my dad’s club?” He nods and I continue. “Well, having a Pack changes that.”
Casey leans his crossed arms on the tabletop, face and voice serious. “Sounds like it comes down to what matters more?”
I sigh at the question. Trying to put to words how I’m feeling.
I never thought I’d have to choose. And even if I did have to choose, I never thought I’d choose … my Pack.
If I’m willing to choose my Pack over my MC, am I really worthy of being Prez?
“The position would traditionally go to my alpha, if I had one. And now I do. Two. Including a fucking lead alpha.” Neven being the perfect option for lead alpha only makes the boiling lava in my stomach hotter.
It would be easier if he weren’t a good candidate. Except then that’d mean I’d have to get rid of them in a way that wouldn’t hurt Esper. I can’t risk her being led and hurt by someone who doesn’t even deserve the damn title.
So, maybe hard was better after all.
“Since when has anything about your club been traditional?” Casey asks.
He’s right. Of course he’s right. My dad was never a traditional man, and neither was Queen a traditional Prez’s wife.
They adopted a random boy they found on the street.
They mandated a high school education for everyone.
They build homes, communities. They ensure clean drugs are sold on the streets and pay attention to those falling to addiction.
The Midnight Wolves were never traditional.
Yet my throat closes. In a way, I can’t keep these feelings down anymore. Casey watches, fully intent. His eyes peer into me as if my body is flayed open just for his viewing.
My instincts beg me to pull away. Shy away from the spotlight shining on my problems. In any other case I probably would.
But this is Casey.
The guy is a walking ball of sunshine who genuinely cares about his friends.
But that’s also why I like him. Wish I was more like him. Maybe people would be more open to me if I was more like him.
“I can’t help but feel… undeserving. Like if I wasn’t the Prez’s son, no one would even consider me. I wouldn’t even consider myself.” Running a hand through my hair, I gaze up at the sky. The sun becomes more and more hidden as it sets, the leaves falling as the crisp wind comes through.
“You’ll figure it out, you always do. Because you do deserve it. You can lead, you know that.”
I scoff at my friend’s words. Neven said the same thing, almost verbatim. Of course that jerkwad is lead alpha. He’s literally the perfect candidate. I’d vote for him if I could.
I guess that’s my real issue.
I wouldn’t vote for myself.
How could I expect others to believe in me when I don’t even believe in myself?
I have to start acting like a leader. Right the fuck now.
Or I’ll lose everything.
“Do you know that man?” Casey asks, pointing to something behind me. Turning my head, my gaze lands on a storming Asher.
He has his hood up, nothing underneath based on his naked chest peeking from the unzipped part of his hoodie. His six-foot-five height looms over a lot of students, making him stand out even more. He looks rugged, angry even, and fucking sexy as hell.
But what is he doing here? I clench my teeth as he gets closer, fighting back my smile.
Perfect fucking person to practice leading on. Storming toward me at lightning speed.
“Yeah, I do,” I say as Asher makes it to me. His hand grabs mine. A seemingly feminine move I would cuss his ass out for a few weeks ago, but now—
Now I can recognize the content feeling in my chest as one of my alphas wordlessly drags me away.
“See ya later, Casey!” I shout as Asher heads straight back into the building. I can hear Casey’s laugh as the door shuts behind us.
Asher’s head is on a swivel, searching for something.
I let him lead, let him figure things out as I watch him.
It’s what Neven would do for sure. Dad would do that too.
He isn’t the kind of leader that bosses everyone around all the time.
He lets people have free will, guiding when he needs to. Putting his foot down when he has to.
That’s the kind of leader I’d want to be.
Fair and fearless.
The first closet door Asher finds, he yanks it open, pushing me inside and closing it behind him. He pulls the small shade over the skinny rectangular window. Darkness encloses us, and his pomegranate scent is filling the air rapidly. The only sound in here is the sound of our breaths.
His scent is potent, spreading, choking me in the most delicious fucking way—
Oh shit.
He’s experiencing a rut.
And he came to me. Me. His… omega.
“Ash—” I try to talk but his hands are around my neck, nearly choking me as he slams his lips to mine.
His kiss isn’t soft. Isn’t sensual. It’s rough, demanding.
He presses his body against mine. I step back at the force, bumping into the shelving unit behind me.
Bottles fall to the ground as I let my alpha take what he wants.
What he needs. A need only I, his scent match now, can help him with.
I meet his lips with as much force. I may be an omega, but I can give and take rough in equal measure. Esper will have the softness covered. Asher needs something different from me. Always has.
I can be as rough as an alpha. As rough as I want to be.
Our tongues clash. His hands grip my throat, tightening, and fuck, I love it. My dick hardens against him. Being nearly the same height means our dicks rub fucking perfectly against each other. My omega purrs, so restless inside.
Gripping his hips, I force him closer to me, grinding against him. He lets go only for a second to throw off his hoodie, and I smirk.
“Need me?” I murmur, breaking our lips to look at his eyes. His perfect eyes that used to… well, that still piss me the hell off at how damn beautiful they are.
How the hell have I gone this long not having a damn clue we were scent matches?
All that changes today. I have to claim my Pack and my role in the MC. Starting today, both of them are mine.
Omegas can have whatever they want, so they say. It’s about time I start acting like it.
“You gonna be a good boy?” I ask. Tracing my lips along his cheek and down his neck. His soft smooth skin catching on my chapped lips. Making me want to rip at his skin and leave my mark on him. I consider it. I really fucking consider it. But when he grinds back, my mind goes blank as I moan.
“I’ll be the best fucking boy,” Asher moans, his lips parted on a breath.
“Only good boys get prizes. What makes you deserve one?”
“I made it here, didn’t I?”
I hum, shaking my head. I get so lost in his alluring scent I almost miss the knock on the door.
“Are my Packmates in here?” a soft voice calls, and I freeze for a moment. A small body slides through the door, careful not to open it too much. Her cranberry scent announces her presence in my clouded brain, and a rush of euphoria hits me as she steps up beside Asher.
Her eyes are hooded, the light rosy tint to her cheeks visible even in the dim lighting from the covered window.
Esper Malent is nearly as needy as her alpha right now. And I’m the damn lucky omega who gets to take care of them both.
Asher turns, his face flushed as he looks down at her. He has the nerve to look sheepish, but a rolling wave of pain must hit him as he hunches forward with a grimace.
“I don’t have much time.”
“Time for what?” Esper’s voice is so husky, her need dripping from her voice.
“We don’t have time to explain. Asher, pants down,” I order, grabbing Esper’s hand and crushing her lips to mine. Her lips are the missing softness we needed. Her body instantly melts with mine.
Her moan gets caught in her throat when I slide my hands around her thighs and have her jump so she’s in my arms. Her sweet pussy meets my dick and god fucking dammit I can’t wait to taste her again.
I slam her body against Asher’s so she’s squeezed between us.
The room explodes in moans, and my lips don’t leave hers.
My tongue caresses hers, so different from the fight with Asher’s.
“You want to help me take care of our alpha?” I whisper against her lips. She nods, her hair falling in her face a bit.
Asher takes her hair in his hands, holding it up as his lips run along the column of her neck, sniffing her before kissing her.
God, this fucking sight.
“He’s rutting,” I say and her eyes go wide as she realizes what this means.
“He’s—we’re not in heat.” Her eyes are wild as she takes in the situation, her eyes searching around the small storage closet.
“You’re not losing your virginity in a closet, don’t worry,” I say, and her shoulders relax a bit.
Asher’s head collapses on Esper’s shoulder. “I… I have a condition.” He lifts his eyes, his worried eyes meeting mine. I nod, trying to give him confirmation that it’ll be okay.
“Maybe this is why we have two omegas,” I chuckle, thanking fate for their forward thinking. “Did you bring anything?”
With all this damn slick leaking from me, we may not need any damn lube. Between their scents and touches, I’m already so close and I don’t really want to think about what that could mean.
I set Esper back on her feet. Not moving my hands until I know she’s firmly on the ground. Her eyes watch mine as I shuck my pants down.
Asher’s hands are hot on my skin. My omega purrs at the attention as I accidentally lean back, my ass more than ready for his dick.
He tries to line up with my asshole, dragging his dick in the mess my slick made between my thighs. I force myself to lean forward though, not letting him enter me.
“Fuck. That’s not how we do this, Asher.”
“It’s been a few weeks.”
“The date, smartass. Hurry the fuck up,” I demand. Esper leans against the shelving unit. “Touch yourself, Princess. Show me how fucking wet you are.”
She lets out a little whimper as her hands drop to the bottom of her skirt. I can smell her slick before she even moves her skirt up. The sweet yet strong scent of cranberries mixing with pomegranates into the best damn fruit bowl.
Her eyes bounce between us.
“The—ugh—fuck. September, ugh….” His hips rub against my ass. Not entering like a good fucking boy. “Nine, eight, twenty-twenty—”
Good enough for me, I reach back and line his dick up, snagging some of my slick and coating him as much as I can reach. He takes over. He groans as he jerks himself with my slick and slowly enters me.
This position used to feel so… submissive. It makes me so damn angry to be used. So angry I love it.
But Esper’s moans, seeing her fingers work faster as he enters me, changes something about this. Something about me.
Asher pumps and I fall forward. My hands gripping the metal shelves around Esper. Trapping her under me. Her eyes meet mine.
“Reed,” she moans. My name sounding perfect on her lips. Asher nips at my neck as he thrusts.
“Yes, Princess, fuck. Faster.”
She grips my shoulder as she props a leg on a bucket on the floor.
“I’m so close,” she says, her nails digging into me, and Asher groans hearing her voice.
“Fucking perfect omegas,” he mutters, causing my face to blush like a fucking schoolboy. Fuck.
He slams his dick forward now that I’m more than hot and fucking slicking, he feels fucking amazing, and Esper holding onto me is the icing on the top of this damn cake. Asher grows wilder, rougher as he nears knotting, and I pray we’ve done enough prep for this.
I push back against him. “Knot me, Alpha. Be the best damn boy and do it.” My ragged breaths fall over Esper, our faces so close.
“Esper, come,” I whisper, and she whimpers.
Her eyes wide as her breath halts. Her chest is rising.
Asher’s knot slides in and catches. It locks, so intense I can’t feel my own cum shooting over Esper’s tan legs.
Her breaths slow as she recovers. Asher is stuck in my ass. He hugs me from behind despite his shaking legs.
She brings her slick and cum-covered hand up between us. I snatch her wrist, bring her sweetly sticky fingers into my mouth.
“Three fingers, Princess? Wow, you are more ready for a dick than you think.”
She smiles sheepishly, but when I twist my tongue around her fingers, trying to get every fucking drop of that cranberry cum off her skin, her eyes darken.
“Fucking share,” Asher says and lifts her hand to his lips over my shoulder. He licks, tongue flat against her fingers, then swallows them into his mouth. “Delicious omega."
“Very fucking delicious.”