Pack Apollo (North Five University)

Chapter Ten

Billie

It's been three weeks since my amazing weekend with the betas of Pack Apollo. Every second that I can spare that hasn't been spent on work or school, has been with them. I've gone on a couple more hiking trips with Cordell, and Brent has stepped up his bath time game by joining me the last two times. Though, as much as I enjoy the latter, I still leave disappointed since we've yet to do anything. The most contact we have in the water is pretty much playing footsie from opposite ends of the tub.

"Do you think it's odd that I've had sex with only the betas of my pack?" I ask Millie-Jane as we're walking to the dining hall one morning. We've come a long way getting to really know each other. Guess it comes with the territory when you eat breakfast with someone every weekday. I'm pretty sure I've told her most everything. Probably more than she wanted to ever know.

She thinks on it before replying, which I appreciate. "No, I don't think that's weird at all. Pack dynamics are weird anyway. You're going to feel a pull toward a different person everyday. At least that's what the center has said might happen. It's why, if you sign up for them to try to have you scent match, they give you scents for everyone in the pack. Not just the alphas. And, they make you do it over a days or weeks worth of time so that you don't say yes today and absolutely despise one of the other scents tomorrow. At least I think that's what they mean. Can we just go back to how you just called them your pack, please? That's so stinking cute."

She does a quiet little squeal of delight that slaps a grin right across my face.

"If you would've told me that I'd have a pack courting me when I first started here, I would've said you were crazy as hell," I tell her. "It was the very last thing I wanted."

"Do you still hold onto any of those feelings?" she asks curiously.

I don't even have to think about it before shaking my head. "No, I don't. I'm sure there are skeletons in their closets that I can't possibly learn about in the little over a month we've been together, but they can't be worse than what I already know. I hope anyway. I don't think I have any reason to fear they'd do me like my mother's pack did to her."

"Oh, so you mean the two men I've personally seen fawning and tripping all over themselves for you aren't just magically going to fall out of love with you and leave, huh?" she teases.

I freeze so fast that she takes a few steps before she realizes that I'm not with her anymore. She's still talking, but her voice seems far away in a tunnel. I watch as she turns around with a quizzical stare and asks what's wrong.

"I don't think they love me yet," I say quietly, thinking I'm stating the obvious.

She guffaws so loud that people look our way. "Girl, you're truly in worse denial than I thought you were if you believe that."

Opening my mouth to say something, I close it just as fast and she jumps in, "I can only base my opinion on the ones of the pack that I've personally observed, but if the others are as smitten as they are, then yes, I do believe you've turned them head over heels."

"Ah, speaking of which," she adds with a quick nonchalant nod of her head behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, my heart does a stutter in my chest as I watch Brent and Palmer strolling our way. Surprisingly, they've got Jake with them today, too, which after one look at him, I'm reminded of our weekend. It sends a jolt to my belly. Then, of course, my eyes wander to the other beta. They're as different in bed as they dress. Palmer's relaxed ‘college kid in jeans and t-shirt’ refuses to be compared to Jake's ‘suave black slacks and button-down shirt rolled up to his biceps.’

My heart does another skip in my chest when my brain finally catches up. Watching them walk toward me, each wearing their own version of a smile meant just for me, I know I'm screwed, because I think I might be falling in love with them, too.

"They look like they might be on a mission," Millie-Jane states. "I'm going to head out so you guys can chat."

"Wait, are you sure?" I ask. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind joining us for breakfast, or even doing their own thing so we can eat together."

"Nah, I'm sure," she says with a wink and a quick thumbs up.

I'm laughing when I turn back around to find the three of them have closed most of the distance between us.

"Hey," Palmer calls out, "where's your friend going? Jake won't bite."

"Not her," Jake says, giving me an evil grin.

As they make it to me, he's the first to scoop me up into his arms. "You, on the other hand, are not safe. Might just gobble you up."

Cue instant panties wetting. I would legit skip class to sneak off with him so he can do just that, even if said class is with his pack mate standing at our side, eyes daring me to try.

Jake drops a kiss on my lips and steps back so the others can get in a hug. I'm tucked safely between him and Brent when we start walking before I ask, "Not like I mind in the least, I'm very happy to see everybody this morning, but to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"These two were jealous that I get to stare at your beautiful face for over an hour today and decided they just couldn't wait until later to see you," Brent says motioning between the others.

Jake tucks me underneath his arms, pulling me as close as I can get. "He might be exaggerating a bit, but he's not lying."

It makes me laugh again. Thinking back to what Millie-Jane and I were just talking about, she wasn't wrong. It's easy to see that they are completely as addicted to me as I am them.

We walk into the dining hall and all go separate ways to find food. Once I get mine, I turn around to find them and my heart spills over. Brent and Palmer are already sitting with Millie-Jane. Being the kind-hearted souls that they are, they probably didn't like her sitting there alone. Jake smiles at me from across the room where he stands paying for his food. Yeah, I am so far gone.

All of my days have started running together. Having my time divided has been a challenge for sure. Not only is there the pack, but also, school, work, and running three social media pages. The last of which hasn't been too difficult per se. I'm able to get good shots every weekend of the bar, and the other has been consistently sending me content. Not to toot my own horn, but their following has already grown by a few thousand since I started. Part of the contract for payment stated that there would be bonuses for how much the following grows, and I've already hit the first bonus mark. The only one that is suffering is my own personal page. That's only because I refuse to share anything about the pack yet, and that's where the majority of my time goes these days. In the grand scheme of things, my life is going pretty amazing right now. It's why I should've known that something would go wrong.

It's Friday night in the bar again, and I'm exhausted already. A part of me wonders what it'd be like to quit and not have to dance on a bar all weekend. Then I remember how much I get paid for every night of it, and I put one foot in front of the other and endure it.

I'm halfway through my shift when I spot the alpha from a few weeks ago sitting alone at the end of the bar in the same place he and his friend sat. Somehow, I know he's here for me.

Helping customers as I make my way down the bar to him, when I finally get there, I don't ask him what he wants or speak at all...period. When he just sits there and stares at me, I go to move back down the line, and he finally stops me.

"Maureen. That's your mother, right?" he asks, confirming what I thought I'd heard him say the last time he was in here.

"And if it is?" I ask right back, trying not to yell to be heard.

"I knew her a long time ago," he admits. "Who is your father?"

"Don't know," I tell him, adding, "He's a piece of shit who left her when she found out she was pregnant with me."

"That's not the way it happened," he says so quietly that I almost don't catch it. "I never would've left if she would've told me. She pushed me away."

"You're wrong," I tell him, my heart racing. "I'm not who you think I am. I need you to leave."

"Wait," he shouts as I'm already walking away. "HEY!"

Ross already has his phone out probably, hopefully texting security to kick the guy out.

For the rest of the night, there's an unsettling feeling in my gut that causes me to mess up a few drink orders and almost fall off the bar at one point during a dance. By the time the doors shut, I'm ready to leave. The others ask what was going on, but I just tell them it isn't anything. Just a rowdy customer. As soon as Ross places my money in my hand, I make a beeline to the door.

My first step outside, I breathe in the fresh air that's been getting chilly as of late. The pressure still rides my shoulders, and I second guess myself about my job for the second time tonight.

I'm not even halfway to the spot Palmer normally waits for me when I realize he's not there. Pulling out my phone, I see several missed calls from him and a text saying he's running a few minutes late. I smile as I try to think of something witty to say back to him. That's interrupted as a shadow moves in the corner of my eye and a voice calls out to me.

My body jumps straight into fight or flight mode, choosing the latter. I spin and take off at a sprint back toward the door to the bar, forgetting all too late that it's locked. I bang on it, hoping someone inside will hurry.

"I wasn't trying to startle you," the stranger says, not moving from his place next to what I'm assuming is his car. "I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes somewhere it wasn't so loud."

I can hear voices on the other side of the door, and I guess he can, too.

He takes a small, white card out of his pocket and places it on the hood of the car beside him. "Please, I won't ever come back here and scare you like this again. I truly just want to talk. Please call me and we can meet in a very public place. You can even bring someone with you, if that makes you feel safer."

After that, he gets into his car and is pulling out of the lot as the door opens behind me.

"You forget something?" Trinity asks laughing. "No surprise with the way you ran out tonight. Hey, where's Palmer?"

"Ah," I bumble, "I thought I did, but I found it. He's on the way just running late."

His car pulls in just as I finish speaking. I don't know what drives me to do it, maybe curiosity, but I jog over to the other car and swipe the card off of it.

"Hello, gorgeous," Palmer says as I slide into his seat. He leans over to give me a kiss but stops. "What's wrong? You're as white as a ghost."

I think about not telling him for a minute, but I don't have to be that person anymore. The one who keeps everything bottled up inside because I have no one to talk to. I fill him in about the alpha. I tell him everything. From the first time he showed up weeks ago to tonight when he was waiting for me, and everything he said about the possibility of him being my father.

"Fuck," he snaps out. "I'm so sorry. I will never be late picking you up again. I should've never been late."

"Don't blame yourself," I tell him through a few sniffles as my tears had started somewhere in the middle. Obviously, my adrenaline is wearing off, and it's chosen the outlet of tears to flow out of me.

He hugs me tight, and I make a request, "Please don't tell anyone yet. I don't know what's going on and would like to speak to my mom about everything first."

Letting out a deep sigh like he doesn't agree, he tells me, "Only on one condition. You tell me or one of the others if he comes back here again. You need to tell your boss, too. Just in case."

"Okay, I will. I promise," I tell him, sucking down his relaxing spearmint scent.

The next day, I'm pacing the floor of my dorm room, glaring at my phone on the bed next to the little, white business card like they're both about to burn a hole through it. I know they'll burn the piss out of my fingers if I touch them. I just know it. I wonder for a second if I call the stranger claiming to be my father, if that counts as breaking my promise to Palmer. I can't bring myself to do it either way.

Picking up my phone, I sit down on the edge of the bed and dial my mother's number.

It rings many times before I get the automated message of her voicemail. Hitting end, I promptly redial her number. Sometimes it takes calling her four or five times before she answers.

"Hello." Her voice says from the other line after about three rings and some loud rustling around. I wouldn't be surprised if I woke her up. Even if it is the middle of the day.

"Mom," I say, hearing her sigh on her end.

"Yeah," she says. "Need something already? I don't have any money to send you. I told you not to go to that place, but you didn't want to listen to your mother, because I know nothing."

"I don't need your money, Mom," I tell her, trying my best not to get angry and remind her who is currently paying her bills, not the other way around.

"Well then what is it?" she asks snarkily. "I had a long night last night and need to go back to sleep."

I've been holding onto the anger and disappointment for too long. Or, maybe it's finding people who actually give a shit about me. I snap. "Your daughter is doing great and getting along at school very well. Thanks so much for caring to ask."

"Don't you go and get an attitude with me, young lady. I brought you into this world and raised you. You don't talk to me like that," she snaps back.

Knowing I'm losing an already lost battle, I concede, "You're right. I'm sorry. Look, I just called because I was wondering if you'd want to drive up for lunch tomorrow afternoon. I'll pay for gas and for lunch, and even a hotel if you wanted to stay the night and drive back Monday."

"Billie, I don't know," she starts. "You know I don't drive well anymore as it is."

"I'll order you an uber or a taxi if I have to," I offer. "Please, Mom. I really want to see you."

Her sigh is loud through the phone. "Okay fine. Just give me the time and place and I will meet you there."

I text it to her as we hang up so that she has the information, knowing good and damn well that I'll have to text her tonight and tomorrow morning again to be sure she doesn't forget. Wouldn't be the first time at all. Though, I have to admit to myself that the call did nothing to alleviate the worry sitting in my gut. I'm not sure if it's because of what I might find out, or what answers I may not get.

I'm still perched on the edge of my bed with my phone clutched tightly in my hand when it vibrates. It's a text from Cordell.

Good afternoon, babe. I have a favor if you're not busy.

I'm not doing much of anything actually. Just have to work later. What's up?

Feel like making a quick trip to the city to see if you can persuade Roz to come home? He's not supposed to be working today, but has been there for hours.

The thought excites me. To think that I'd be able to influence the alpha in any kind of way is crazy, especially when it comes to his work since he's a damn workaholic. The temptation to try is simply too much to pass up on.

Sure!

Great, thanks! I'll be there in twenty to pick you up.

Twenty minutes. The man must really think I can work miracles at this point. Bring Roz home and be ready to go in twenty? I jump up and get to it, hoping his faith in me hasn't been displaced.

The ride to the city is quiet as I'm lost in thought and Cordell lets me think in peace. He seems to know that I need it. Every so often, he'll bring our joined hands together and kiss the back of mine. I try to apologize for not being chatty, but he brushes it off easily.

"Are you staying at the pack house tonight after work?"

"Yep, I had planned to," I reply with a smile.

"Will you stay with me?" he asks, not looking at me, as though he's worried that I'll reject him.

"Of course," I tell him easily. In all the weeks I've been staying every Saturday night, it's always been with Palmer. Not that I haven't wanted to stay with the others, it's just habit at this point. Plus, most of them are already in bed by the time we get there. None of them have asked and neither have I.

"Palmer will just have to share for one weekend," he says, shooting me a grin and rewarding me with that dimple. I give into temptation and lean over to kiss it, not fully moving back to my side. I didn't realize just how much I needed comfort today. Until this very moment, I didn't even realize how much I've needed it all my life.

"Thank you," I tell him randomly.

He doesn't question it, like he already knows. I'm sure it's one of those alpha senses. Knowing what I need before I know I need it. Giving my hand another kiss, he lets me go back to thinking in peace.

When we get to Roz's building, I'm excited to see that it's a giant skyscraper. I've never had reason to be in one before.

"Please tell me he's somewhere close to the top," I murmur, looking all the way up.

Cordell snickers slightly as he parks at the curb and gets out. Coming around to my side of the car, he opens the door for me, locking it behind us.

"I have to walk you in to get you through security since we're letting you surprise him," he tells me as we walk inside the building.

Its interior is just as impressive as the outside, and I start to worry that I'm extremely out of place. Not just because I chose a mini skirt with a button-down dress shirt tucked into it with my ankle boots, completely unprofessional for a place like this, but also, because I personally don't feel that I'm professional enough. I touch the buttons on my blouse to make sure they're all done up.

Cordell bypasses security with a wave of his hand and walks us over to the elevators. He presses the button to go up and it immediately dings, not surprising since we seem to be the only ones in the building. I'm too distracted by the opulence of the elevator to notice what button he presses before he steps in front of it blocking my view.

"Stop fidgeting," he commands with no bark. "You are absolutely beautiful. He won't be able to say no to you. If I wasn't worried about messing up how perfect you look, I'd prove it to you. I've been wanting to steal a kiss since laying eyes on you."

I glance up to lock eyes with him and give him a secret smile. "My lipstick is long-last, no smear."

That's the only thing he needs to hear. Tucking an arm around my waist, he tugs me in close and drops his lips to mine. Our lips part and tongues stroke each other as I feel like I'm being devoured by him. His spicy aftershave scent fills the small space mingling with my own. He doesn't pull away until the elevator dings.

Stepping to the side, he waves me out with a hand. "All the way down the hall. Last door that you will come to straight in front of you. Have fun."

And with a wink as I walk out and turn back around, the doors close on his still smiling face, leaving me in an empty hallway. It's almost creepy in the way that there are absolutely no people and no noises coming from any of the closed doors.

I don't make it far before the room opens up into a reception area that takes up what has to be the majority of the floor. There are glass conference rooms strategically placed to make it appear even more open. Glancing around, I notice more hallways leading off to more closed doors.

Following Cordell's instructions, I keep heading straight until I come to the door of a massive office. The name tag on it reads Rozwell Marsden. I take a deep breath before tapping on it lightly.

"Come in," he calls out instantly.

My nerves almost get the best of me, but I tamp them deep down as I open the door and swing it open. Surprised isn't a strong enough word to cover the emotion that flashes across his face as he sees me. Then it drops into an understanding smile.

"You're the calvary, huh?" he asks, leaning back in his chair and locking his fingers across his stomach.

The simple position turns me on so much that I almost forget who I am.

"Something like that," I tell him, shutting the door back and walking over to his desk to perch on the edge of it. I cross my legs at my ankles and get the satisfaction of watching his expression darken as his eyes work up from there, across my bare legs, the skin exposed in the v of my blouse and then up to my face.

When it seems like he's not going to say anything, I ask, "Why are you working on a Saturday, anyway?"

He scoots his chair over until he's directly in front of me. "Sometimes we don't have a choice when we've got responsibilities."

His foot reaches out to tap my foot that's on top until I uncross my legs. He taps it again, making my legs spread further apart. Leaning forward, the back of his hand rubs up from my calf and doesn't stop until it's at the hem of my skirt.

"What did you think was going to happen when you came in here?" he asks gruffly.

My heart is pounding in my chest. I've done my best to try to ignore his scent since I stepped foot in here, but it's impossible with him sitting so close now. I have to clear my throat a bit before I'm able to answer, "That I'd be able to sweet talk you into coming home. Maybe see if you wanted to go to dinner before we did."

"Hmm," he murmurs, "I don't think I really need to go out for dinner when I've got a feast right here in front of me."

Blood rushes to my face, and I try to hide the quick pace of my breathing.

"Do my words bother you?" he asks.

Instead of replying, since I don't trust my voice not to quiver, I spread my legs further for him. His nostrils flare, undoubtably scenting my arousal.

"Up on the desk," he demands.

I hop up on it and scoot back a little, thankful that he doesn't have a cluttered desk or any whatnots littering it. He stands, hovering over me for a few seconds before sliding his hands behind my knees and lifting my legs until my boots are propped on the edge. I lean back on my elbows and drop my knees open very slowly, his gaze tracking the movement. His fingers are a tease around the lace thong I chose to wear.

"I think you were lying to me," he says, one finger slipping beneath the lacy material and stroking my clit. "I think you wore these for me."

Oh my God, the magic of just one finger and his voice is almost enough to make me come instantly. Especially being so cocky as he does it. Of course, I wore them for him. I dressed how I did to tease him enough to come home. Did I anticipate being spread out on his desk, hindering his trip home? Not exactly, but a girl could always hope.

"I did," I tell him honestly. "Do you like them?"

"Thongs are my favorite," he admits, moving that single digit down until he reaches my entrance.

My head falls back with my moan as he slips it inside. Only the one, though. Then just as fast as he's there, he's gone again. Raising my head, it's in time to catch him lifting his finger to his lips and sucking it inside.

"Just as sweet as you smell," he says.

He steps back and sits back down in his chair, scooting it back up to the desk. Moving my feet to the arms of his chair, he pulls my body until my ass cheeks are partially hanging off the edge, and the alpha sets to feasting on me as he promised. His lips and tongue work a magic that I didn't know he possessed. All with only sliding my lace out of his way instead of removing it.

Working two fingers inside of me as he sucks on my clit and then grazes it with his teeth, he purrs a sound of approval that makes my back arch off the desk. I'm right on the edge of orgasm when he pulls away, leaving me bereft. A surprising whimper slips from my lips.

The sound flips whatever switch of control that he's had so far. Standing so fast that his chair rolls away to bang against the wall, he yanks me off the desk, turning me around and bending me over before I even know what's happened. He rips my shirt over my head. I hear the zipper of his slacks come down, and I can literally feel slick starting to drip out of me running down my lower lips.

Obviously having noticed it, too, he takes a long lap of it with his tongue before I feel him pressing against my entrance. One quick thrust and he's buried to the hilt, stretching me as far as I feel like I'm able to go. The feeling almost makes me turn feral. I go up on my toes so that I can rock back against him every time his hips thrust, forcing his cock into me harder and harder.

He grabs a fist full of my hair and pulls it back, making me cry out. His other hand closes over my hip as his thrusts become violent, slamming me against the desk. What little is on top topples over and rolls everywhere. Fuck it, though, because I can feel him starting to swell at the base of his cock. For a second, I panic and want to tell him I've never taken an alpha's knot before, but I don't want him to stop.

Instead, I keep giving him as much as he's giving me until he swells out to the spot inside of me that is meant for alphas like him. As soon as his knot locks into place, I come harder than I've ever in my life. I cry out loud enough that I'll worry for my voice later. He shouts right along with me as I feel him shooting inside me. Jerking a couple more times, not only confirms that he's not going anywhere, but it sends small aftershocks through my body that almost feels like a second orgasm.

He leans over my back pressing kisses across it. "We may not be home for a while."

I laugh lightly, breathing through the pleasure I'm still riding with him still inside of me. "How long?"

His breath stills on top of me. "Have you ever been knotted?"

Shaking my head, I answer him honestly, "You're my one and only."

Dropping his forehead to my shoulder blades, he presses a few quick kisses there. "You can't possibly be any more perfect."

Grabbing my stomach, he pulls us upright before taking a seat in his chair, taking me with him. Leaned back against his chest, my breasts stick out like I'm doing it on purpose. His thumbs play across my nipples through the lace.

"It's never too late to change your major, by the way," he says randomly. "I might know a place looking for legal aid assistants that pay very well."

I laugh, making me acutely aware of where we're still connected.

He's interrupted by whatever he's about to say next as his phone rings on the desk. "Grab that, would you please?"

I stretch to reach for it, pulling on his knot and making us both groan. I don't even bother looking to see who it is before handing it over to him.

Answering, he puts it on speaker, Cordell's voice sounding out in the empty office. "Hey, man. Billie left her phone in my car. Would you ask her if she wants me to hang on to it or bring it up please?"

Butterflies burst into flight in my belly. If he brings it up, he's going to see us stuck together. Not going to lie, the thought turns me on enough that I shift my hips on Roz. Glancing over my shoulder, it's to find him watching me with an eyebrow raised in question like he's letting me decide.

"Roz?" Cordell calls out worriedly.

"Bring it up," he tells him, refusing to look away from my gaze.

"Okay, be there in a few," he says, hanging up.

"Want to put your shirt back on?" he asks gruffly.

"What's the point?" I reply.

"You are just full of more and more surprises," he says.

Leaning back against him again, automatically his hands find my breasts and go back to working them over. It's only a few minutes before there's a knock at the door. Unlike me, Cordell doesn't wait to be let in. He knocks twice and strolls right in, stopping before he makes it two steps. His nostrils flare, and I immediately see him hardening under his slacks.

"You just going to stand there?" Roz teases.

The words wake him up, and he slowly walks over to us. He peers down to where my skirt has ridden up to my hips and I'm fully exposed with Roz stuck inside of me. Licking his lips, he slowly sets my phone down on the desk.

"Get a taste of our omega, Cordell," Roz commands.

Cordell drops to his knees and walks on them, closing the distance between us. From how I'm angled, I can see every move he makes as he carefully avoids the other alpha while his tongue sneaks out to lap at my clit. He doesn't stop at a lick or two. He continues his onslaught until I am a writhing mess riding both Roz's cock and his face at the same time. When I come, my eyes roll back in my head and all I see is black. I'm pretty sure I black out for a few seconds.

He rises slowly and moves up my body to place a kiss against my lips, letting me taste myself. "I'm so glad you gave me a reason to come back up here."

"Me, too," I tell him, pulling him back down for another kiss.