by Erin R Flynn
“Thanks,” he whispered, giving me a soft kiss. “It will be an adjustment. I just didn’t know it was one we’d have already or he was planning so soon.”
The rest of that thought being he would have liked our relationship to have been more stable before Brian became one of us. I could understand that. There was a lot going on and balls in the air. But Brian also didn’t have to ask their permission or get approval.
Yeah, tricky for sure.
“You might not want to be submissive with him until he’s a bit more adjusted,” Dain warned me under his breath so the boys couldn’t hear. He nodded when I gave him a shocked look. “If nothing else, it will help his new wolf learn boundaries and get the lay of the land faster than how you wavered being most powerful and fighting for power.”
“I’m a wolf and still can’t always hear you guys?” Brian asked, frowning at us.
“I would say it in front of you but the boys are a bit young to hear everything,” Dain defended. “We can discuss it later.”
I nodded, thinking he had a point there and at least more experience than I did. I thought about it while we ate the burgers that had been delivered. Brian was used to being the boss of me and even in our relationship I let him take the lead in a lot. Hagan and Reagan wouldn’t be the only ones worried about this change and Dain was right that it was best to lay down firm lines.
I glanced at Brian and shivered. Yeah, I wanted to. He was my wolf and I wanted him to know where his place was, who I was.
“We’re going to be here this weekend,” Hagan told us when we were cleaning up. “Let us know if you need help.”
“Thanks. Talk to Dain but I agree and I’ll start tonight.”
“Good,” he sighed, giving me a kiss. I fed and then went to Reagan. I took his hand and brought him over away from the others.
“Do you love me?” I asked him.
“Yes, I love you so much,” Reagan whispered, worry in his eyes.
“I love you too and that hasn’t changed,” I promised. Relief filled me when he leaned in, brushing his lips over mine. “We’ll get past this too. I want you but we’re both scared. That’s what you feel too?”
“Yes. I can’t hurt you again, Sera.”
“We will hurt each other and we’ll fix that too.”
He searched my eyes, understanding lighting up his. “You talked to Phobie about this.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I was scared you fell out of love with me that we kept backing away.” I rolled my eyes when he snorted. “That was her reaction too. She assured me you were still very much in love with me.”
“Always. You’re my mate, I know it,” he breathed, giving me another kiss and letting me feed. “You have to love me forever.”
“Keep being you and I’m sure I will,” I muttered, not sure what else to say to that. Hell, I got super extra brownie points for actually bringing this up instead of running from talks.
Super, super extra brownie points.
Once we were alone, Brian came for me, shock in his eyes how fast he could move. He growled when I held up a hand to stop him… And then looked horrified.
“That is what Dain mentioned,” I explained. “Your wolf is very clear that I’m his but I’m Alpha and we need to make some things clear so he behaves in front of others and people don’t worry this upsets the pack structure or whatever.”
“Okay, whatever’s best,” he agreed.
I licked my lips and took off his towel. “Offer yourself to your Alpha. You belong to me.” I smirked as he went over to my bed and lay down. I took off my towel and bit back a shiver as his eyes ate me up. “Are you mine?”
“Yes.”
I let out my power and he showed me his throat, knowing what we felt now. “Who’s Alpha here?”
“You are. Shit, I’m so fucking turned on, Sera.”
“Good wolf,” I purred, getting on the bed and straddling him. I leaned in and licked his neck, nibbling on his ear. “Your place is under me, isn’t it? You live to please your Alpha now and behave so you can have the gift of being in your Alpha’s bed?”
“Yes.”
“Should you demand anything of your Alpha?”
“No,” he whimpered, sounding confused and worried.
“Should you beg your Alpha to please her?”
And did he ever. Brian definitely aced his first lesson of pack hierarchy for sure. He also enjoyed every second of it.
And when we did it again after a nap.
Another nap and he started with the begging and eating me out, murmuring his Alpha needed more pleasure before he could get his. Brian believed that as a man and I wasn’t a selfish lover, but like my wolf had needed to see and learn truths I knew as a person, his wolf needed that education as well.
Plus, it really, really turned us both on.
4
The next morning the doorbell rang way too early and I hoped at least someone was bringing breakfast. At the last second I remembered to grab a robe and slid it on as I stumbled to the door. I frowned as I smelled something funny, my nose still a bit stuffed from all the crying I’d done the day before.
And then I caught Alena’s scent.
I opened my eyes and blinked at her.
“So clearly they told you I was coming,” she chuckled. “And that robe is sheer, Daughter. You’ll need real clothes.”
I glanced down and winced. “Sorry, hi, no one told me.” I sniffed the air. “What am I smelling? Did you get Topher?”
“No, but I can’t wait to meet him,” she said, leaning in and kissing my cheeks before hugging me. “Clothes, we brought food.”
“Why are you here?” I mumbled even as she pushed me. “Are the Haverses here?”
“Yes,” she said. “Dress.”
I nodded and hurried back to the bedroom. “Your family is here and so is mine.”
“Am I safe to be around them?” he worried as he rolled out of bed and went to his drawer in my dresser. He grabbed pants but then got distracted when he looked at me. The next thing I knew he was kissing me good morning and all I wanted was to go back to bed. “Wait, wait, parents.”
“Right, parents,” I agreed, slightly growling in frustration. “And you’re not supposed to be doing anything strenuous.”
“He said for a day. Fine, tonight I plan on doing everything strenuous to you,” he muttered as he yanked on boxer briefs and jeans.
I threw on undergarments and a sweater dress and licked my lips as I stared over his naked chest. “Put on a shirt at least or I’ll get distracted.”
“I feel the same about seeing your legs,” he grumbled as I strolled out of my room.
I swallowed a laugh and hurried to greet everyone, starting with Eva and then Zeno, still confused why they were all here.
“I believed them but seeing you are okay is different,” Mrs. Havers choked out when Brian came out of the room.
“Wait, am I safe to be around them?” he asked me again before glancing at Grammy Havers, his parents, and his little brother Jimmy.
“Yes, you’ve not even shifted yet,” Alena promised. “If you feel itchy or an instinct to back away, do it. Shifters have accidents because they don’t listen to themselves or believe too much in their strength. Sera easily admits when she might need to step back and that’s why she’s never been close to losing it, as when you get close you panic.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks. That’s a really great explanation for me to tell others too. I never thought of it like that just how powerful your bloodline is.”
“It’s a combo, but a powerful bloodline infected him too,” Zeno added.
Grammy Havers came over and kissed me full on the lips. “Thank you for saving Brian again.”
I smiled at her. “I’m sorry he needs it because he’s around me.”
She flicked me in the forehead. “He was Army and FBI before you. There was always the danger that even you can’t try to take blame for.”
I nodded, shocked she did that to me like she d
id Brian and Jimmy. I watched as Mrs. Havers broke down, hugging Brian and then again when she saw his eyes.
He pulled away and backed up, rubbing his arm. I went to him and moved in his view. “You’re still their son even if your eyes are more vibrant. Wasn’t I still Sera but with bluer eyes?” I waited until he nodded. “You don’t know what you’re sensing but it’s overwhelming and it agitates your wolf. This is what the boys feel, as rabbits are ultra-sensitive to mood changes and that’s why they shift fast.”
He searched my gaze. “You’re distracting me with information until I settle.”
“It’s what helped me,” I admitted. “Even having read all the FBI briefs and files, I missed when I started itching as the sign to shift and—you know applying what you’ve learned isn’t always easy.”
“Your eyes are stunning and of course you’re still our son,” Mrs. Havers assured him. “I was thinking I really like them but then maybe that was disloyal to say as they’re your father’s eyes.”
“That’s what I was getting,” he sighed, scrubbing his hand over his head. “Wow, it’s such a mix.”
“Yeah, but you did it perfectly,” Alena praised. She went over to him and hugged him, kissing his cheeks.
“Wow, I feel the power now,” he gasped, glancing at Eva. “Holy fuck, you ooze it. I thought it was a sensitivity or something I just didn’t get, but now it’s like a whole other sense I didn’t know I was missing that I was really just prey to not have.”
“Welcome to the family,” Alena chuckled.
“Of wolves?” he asked, glancing at me before her again.
“Oh, they don’t know yet,” Eva muttered, sighing when we gave her confused looks and glanced at each other. “Let’s sit and eat but make sure Brian is at the end.”
I nodded but when I went over to Brian, my nose picking up something. “I’m still stuffed up. I’m not used to your new scent yet.”
“Something like that,” Eva sighed and guided me away from him. We sat down at my dining room table and I smiled when there was McDonald’s and Starbucks, as they weren’t just my favorites but Eva, Alena, and Zeno were always eating at both places when they visited as there were Starbucks all over Greece but not near their castle. And only one McDonald’s if I remembered, but it wasn’t the same.
“What’s going on? Why are you guys here?” I asked them after my first breakfast sandwich.
Alena cleared her throat and glanced at Eva before looking at me. “Something happened when you were saving Brian and Theon infected him.”
“Bad?” I worried, my heart racing. “He’s not immortal?”
“No, he is, he’s of Theon’s bloodline,” Zeno promised, covering his hand with mine. “He smells of you.”
Brian figured it out first. “We’re mated? You welcomed me to the family.”
“You smell like hers, yes,” Alena confirmed.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, blinking back tears. “Brian, I’m so, so sorry. I would never have done that without—”
He yanked me out of the chair and kissed me as he lifted me up and around him. “You apologize again when I have a ring to propose to you and I will think you wouldn’t have married me.”
“I didn’t ask, Bri,” I rasped, leaning my forehead to his. “That’s the difference here.” I gasped and looked at Alena. “The others smelled it. That was what was up with Hagan and Reagan.”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Theon realized it and called us before Brian even woke and warned the others. Their wolves will have some problems. I would guess it’s why Eugene and Axel didn’t greet you yet as their animals are aggressive.”
“So he’s not just sirened to me, but we’re mated,” I whispered, feeling lightheaded when they nodded. “Oh fuck.”
“We’re missing pieces here,” Mr. Havers admitted.
Brian hugged me to him while Alena explained the difference, waiting until she was done to speak. “I’ve said it several times that you should mate all of us you want, Sera. This doesn’t change this in my mind. You love several of us and don’t want to pick one as favorite. Thank you for that as that would kill me. Fine, Dain and I are your husbands. Maybe I will be legally.”
“I didn’t even ask you,” I sighed, leaning my head to his shoulder. “Your wolf was getting aggressive with me and now I don’t—”
“He was?” Alena asked, her tone worried.
I nodded, looking at her as I tapped Brian to set me down. “I acted a bit submissively when we got back and then he was being aggressive, not a lot, but like that confused near the full moon agitated. Dain said I should make it clear I was Alpha and that…” I glanced at Brian.
“It helped.” He frowned. “I think.” He shrugged. “I was her boss for years. It makes sense that my new wolf would pick up on that, right?” He looked at me then. “Feeling your power helps.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.” He cupped my cheek when I just nodded. “Babe, I’m not upset. I already decided on this and love you. Screw the label.”
I nodded, letting out a slow breath. “Okay.”
“Yes, we heard you had decided and asked Christos before speaking with us,” Alena said, her tone a bit frosty.
I blinked at her but Brian replied. “I was going to give you a heads-up, but if I asked your permission as clearly is your tradition, Sera would have kicked my ass and as I wanted her to be my wife, and not you, I do what she wants.”
Alena gave a firm nod. “I understand your modern-day progress and equality but it’s not asking for her hand like it’s ours to give, but yes, after becoming engaged would have been fine.”
“For what?” I asked, sitting again.
She sighed. “Sera, you’re rich. You’re our daughter and we run Greece and more. Do you not think that all a factor here?”
I swallowed my latte loudly. “Um, like a prenup?” I gave Brian a freaked-out look.
“There is no divorce,” she reminded me. “By wolf law, mating gives him access to everything of yours.”
“Oh fuck,” Brian whispered, sitting down in his seat heavily. “Oh fuck.”
“I will smack you,” Grammy warned.
“She’s a gazillionaire,” Brian groaned, moving his hands to his forehead and scrubbing. “She inherited millions of dollars by those broken deals and then taking over other packs.”
I cleared my throat and shot him an apologetic look. “More than millions.”
He blinked at me and then went pale. “Tell me Melicent was kidding that it was trillions of dollars, right?”
“I didn’t take possession of it all,” I muttered, nodding towards Alena. “I would have had to pay taxes then. They don’t, but Igor was over four thousand years old, Bri.”
“Why are you so angry?” Eva asked Jimmy, making me realize he was. She frowned before he even answered. “Sera, do you know Jimmy’s profession?”
I opened my mouth to answer but then frowned. “No. He worked for a bank I think when we met. Real estate?” I glanced at Brian. “Should we have bought land through him?”
Eva nodded. “You thought she knew you were in investments and everything and handled other FBI pensions and helped people in Brian’s office, but she never even consulted you when she got all that money. Petty, but understandable.”
He blinked at her. “I can have a whole conversation with you and never even open my mouth, huh?”
She smirked at him. “Something like that.”
I looked at Jimmy. “I didn’t know. I never got the extra stuff with retirement because I never thought I’d live to retire.”
“I hate when you say that,” Brian grumbled.
I shrugged. “It’s the truth. I figured I’d be dead before forty because of bad intel and I went on the most dangerous assignments because I didn’t have family or like friends. It was not a slight against you even with how we met. I didn’t know and I’ve not handled much since. Dain has with Alena as it’s a lot and I get overwhelmed and dodge the topic whe
n I can.”
“Yes, always,” Alena chuckled. “This brings us to why we’re here and the difficult conversation we must have.” She set a binder on the table and slid it to Grammy Havers. “As your son is now a Dorcus—”
“Wait, back up,” Brian interjected, looking as freaked out as I was. “Okay, wait, even I need a time-out now.” He even made the time-out sign and I felt better. “Alena, you’re going too fast.”
“Thank fuck you said it,” I muttered. “I’m still stuck on you almost dying.” I saw from his family I wasn’t the only one, Alena nodding that she would slow down. “I need you to explain this line. I didn’t bite Brian. Shouldn’t there be a mating bite?”
“Yes,” Zeno answered, turning and showing the Haverses his on the nape of his neck that Alena had given him. It wasn’t easy to see as it basically looked like a very old scar of teeth marks that you had to look for to even see or it would be a huge way to catch shifters as shifters. “But his scent is of you and not just you’ve sirened him. It’s deeper.”
“But not fully how Zeno smells of me,” Alena clarified. “So maybe I’m jumping ahead to you as this is normal even if you would siren someone. You didn’t acknowledge us as your family when you bonded with Tristan and Riley. Noah and Dain have no family. Goran as well.”
“Plus we assumed if he was asking you were going to say yes and mate,” Eva added, nodding to something else Alena had near her.
She shrugged. “You and Father bought us an estate when we mated. I figured a yacht for them to have some private newlywed time the best option given she already owns two apartment buildings and a mansion.”
I barely heard what they said and what they were talking about after, staring at Brian, his eyes only for me as well. I couldn’t take it anymore, out of the chair and dragging him with me as I muttered we’d be right back. I practically threw him on the bed when we reached my room, kicking the door closed.
He was in the same spot as his jeans were open and ripped off my panties when I got on the bed.