by Erin R Flynn
“Fuck your Alpha and you better deserve it,” I growled as he rolled us.
“I love you,” he moaned as he thrust in me. It was quick, heated… And loud. Even with the extra soundproofing there was no way they didn’t hear us.
“So that explains this overdrive of hormones at least,” I panted when we were done, thanking him when he cleaned me up.
He snorted as he fixed his jeans and eyed me over. “I always feel this with you, Sera. I just have less control over it now and the energy to keep acting on it.”
“You’re such an ass,” I chuckled, full out laughing when he tried to reach for me again. I rolled off the bed and darted out of the room, my face completely flushed as I walked back into the dining room.
“And that will take a few months to wear off,” Eva practically sang. “Even if you’re not mated with the bite, you will feel that more than if you just sirened him we already guessed.”
I lost my mirth and glanced at Brian as he came into the room. “Do you remember how hurt you were when Dain and I bonded?”
“Shit,” he hissed. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Mr. Havers called after him.
“Down the hall to tell the twins I’m not stealing Sera from them,” he yelled back.
I smiled as I sat down. “That’s why I love him. He’s so damn fair and honorable that of course he would think of that immediately.”
“We definitely don’t object to adding him to our family,” Eva praised. “We do need to discuss though what it will look to others if you acknowledge a newly infected shifter as your Alpha Mate.”
I groaned. “Crap, someone will try and invade tomorrow because I’m weak to accept a newb and all that bull I hate.”
“Unfortunately,” Eva sighed, giving the Haverses an apologetic look. “People are petty and assuming, you know this even if you don’t fully understand supe politics.”
“They are,” Jimmy grumbled, something in his tone that worried me. He saw me looking and sighed. “I have some friends in the Chicago coven. I was interested in becoming one, maybe. Before you even got turned. Once you did and was friends with Vlad, it seemed good but then—”
“We weren’t friends and either they would have been put in the middle to use you or didn’t want to go there,” I guessed, wincing when he nodded. “Sorry, Jimmy.”
He blinked at me and nodded. “Not your fault, but thanks.”
“You want to be a vampire?” Mrs. Havers asked, her tone very careful.
“I don’t know,” Jimmy admitted. “I thought maybe, like when I was Brian’s age now, but Annie was really, really against it.” He winced. “I know you guys think it was all about sowing my wild oats and whatever, but I told some of that to Brian and friends but it was more than that. I realized that after I tried to get her back.”
“She’s not a fan of supes,” Eva picked up, shooting me a glance. “She assumed Jimmy sowed those oats with your wolves and that made her not want to take him back.”
“You really are good,” Jimmy whispered, blinking at her in shock.
She shrugged. “I’m almost a thousand years old. You get really good at using your gifts when you’ve had them that long. Plus, you’re young so you’re easy to read. Something you should remember when you spend time with vampires. We like the ones under Noah and in Chicago, even the ancients now here, but most are not so…”
“The old-world ones are terrifying,” I filled in, shivering as I thought of Igor or even a few of the council. I glanced at Jimmy. “If you’re really interested and want more info, you should go visit President Nuri and see all the shit they put up with. I’m glad Brian was saved or even made the choice, but I’m all about people getting the full picture before choosing. I require it even of Milo, who was dying.”
“And that’s very responsible of you,” Mrs. Havers praised, the others nodding as well.
“Except then there won’t be any grandchildren if Jimmy can’t have children,” Alena told me, picking up that from Mrs. Havers.
I winced, realizing it was time to admit something we’d been keeping quiet. “Almost dying when I was kidnapped, the healing from it, healed my infertility.” I glanced at the Haverses’ hopeful looks. “We have Topher and I’m cool with you guys being the grandparents, I’ve shown that, but right now, I’m not in the position to have kids.”
“That’s completely understandable,” Mrs. Havers said quickly. “And maybe you and Brian never will. It hurt us that the choice was taken away, especially now that you’ll have immortal lives.”
“There’s certainly no rush then,” Grammy agreed, giving me a wink. “You are a wise woman to admit what’s too much. You do important work and help a lot of people. Life may change your mind and it’s good you have that choice back.”
“That’s our stance too,” Brian said as he rejoined us with the twins and Dain.
Reagan plucked me out of the chair and kissed me gently. “Thank you for realizing this would worry our wolves. You couldn’t smell it with how much you were crying and we didn’t want you to spiral out again when you realized it, but it was hard to see your bond already working last night.”
“I’m not rushing to marry or name anyone,” I promised them. “I think I shouldn’t, just like Melicent said that once you name a husband or mate, everyone assumes you needed one to be Alpha or even like the Alpha of Moscow was saying that Eugene mated me and took over because I was too weak to hold it.”
“He what?” Reagan seethed.
I sighed, scrubbing my hand over my head. “Yeah, the wolf elder did more than insinuate Eugene was taking over while I was on the mend, but we mated and he did. Oh, and apparently there was no way I’d ever leash someone from his royal and insane bloodline.” They winced and I sighed. “Which of course you guys knew. I didn’t.”
“Because family is a sensitive topic with you and him and you better than anyone are gentle with that which he needs,” Dain explained. He leaned in and kissed my cheek before Hagan kissed me as well. “How about a Topher break? Alena and Eva are dying to meet him, which is part of why Alena rushed.”
Alena winced and I felt better that was part of it instead of upset we didn’t check with her or whatever.
“It’s okay with me here?” Brian checked.
“I’ll stay near you and I can feel what you are before you even realize it,” Dain promised.
I smiled at Dain when I felt the relief coming off of him. He’d needed to hear that Brian wasn’t taking top spot as well. Oh, so much drama we didn’t even realize.
We went down the hall to the apartment Maya was living in with Topher. We hadn’t found anyone to replace her yet… Because of her. She refused to even consider the first few applicants after meeting them. She also stopped reminding us she couldn’t come out of retirement so either she’d really missed it or no one was safe from the cuteness monster that was Topher.
He was up and let out a squeal when he saw me. I took him from Maya and danced around with him, way more confident—but still terrified most days—than I was to start.
I waved Brian over and leaned against him so we were both holding Topher. “Just keep someone with you like this. You’re worried and that will make your wolf anxious, so just chill and he’ll still see you. You’re not banished to the basement.”
“Thanks,” he whispered, leaning over me and kissing Topher before hugging me, the three of us dancing together. “Time to meet your other grandparents, buddy.”
Topher was all smiles when he saw Zeno and if he really remembered him, I had no idea but part of me thought it was what we picked up. It was like he knew that mind, that signature of thoughts or images. Maybe? All I knew was it was easier for me to get things from him as his brain developed.
“He’s beautiful,” Alena rasped as she took him from me. She lowered her forehead to his and whispered in Greek to him. I caught enough to understand she was saying he was adorable and good stuff.
I took off my ri
ng and touched his arm just to make sure he was okay, get what he was feeling, and burst out laughing. “He likes your voice. It makes him feel snuggly like his favorite blankie.”
“Well, we’ll have to make sure you hear it more,” she told him, wiggling her finger that his hand was wrapped around. “Delicious. You are just delicious.”
However, he did not like Eva holding him, letting out a wail, and I immediately grabbed him out of instinct, much to her shock. It took me a moment to calm him down and figure out what was going on.
I glanced at Eva and smiled. “The woman who can see so much can’t seriously be afraid of him catching something, right?” I chuckled when she flinched. “He’s not going to find out your darkest secrets, just what you’re currently thinking and you were thinking—or what he got from it—was you were scared of him. He doesn’t get the layers.”
She let out a slow breath. “I was raised to be so afraid of those with your gift that it’s—I realized it and then couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
I nodded, knowing we’d had lots of tripping where people thought about the first thing they shouldn’t because they were worried he’d see something bad. “He’s too young for anything Nina could make for him like my ring. She’s working on something like a brooch, but my ring has to be worn, just not on my person. We’re all busy though so if she can, great, if not, he’s fine.”
She nodded and came closer, smiling at me. “For someone who did not wish to be a mother, those were some fast reflexes for your child.”
I heard the compliment but gave a half shrug. “We’ve had a few misfires like that so I was ready, but I’m like that with the boys too. Being Alpha means jumping in.” Eva still seemed hesitant and I waved for her to come into the nursery. “Start easy. Hold him and look at the stencils and think of the live animals you’ve seen like them. Think of the shifters of Greece and a fun day.”
“That I can do,” she agreed, taking him from me, and this time Topher was all smiles, giving her another chance.
“So your mother was the one with the clairvoyant gene or whatever?” Jimmy asked, and people froze or flinched as I felt myself go pale. He met my gaze and nodded. “Got it. Your dad did but you’re using your mom’s side as cover and we never tell anyone Topher’s like you.”
“Yeah, not ever, Jimmy,” Brian whispered as if saying it any louder would make it any less scary if people found out.
Jimmy nodded. “Got it.” He gave Brian a serious look. “I got it, Bri. I get I’m an immature jealous dick a lot but he is a baby and her son—basically your son now, my nephew. I won’t ever let anyone hurt him, okay?”
I walked over to Jimmy and hugged him, feeling bad I’d ever doubted him. Well, he’d deserved it but I was glad he was stepping up now. “Thanks.”
“No problem, sis. Thanks for making my brother so happy.”
“Yeah, he’s nuts like that I guess,” I chuckled, getting an image from him as I pulled away. “No, you cannot grab my ass now that we’re in-laws and not get decked. Brian would probably deck you before I could now that he’s a wolf and we’re territorial.”
Jimmy just shrugged. “It was just a thought. I mean, you do have the twins—”
Grammy Havers smacked him harder than I would have thought a woman her age could have.
Nice.
5
“You were the one who turned down the candidate I sent to be a nanny for Topher?” Alena checked with Maya.
Oh, crap.
Maya dipped her head. “Yes, Queen Alena. I felt that she needed more practice and training. She has good instincts but she was overly nervous with Topher as he is human and admitted she had no experience with humans. That can lead to mistakes and her English skills were subpar and could draw attention to Topher in a way we do not want.”
“Very good, I will explain to her parents, as they were disappointed with the outcome,” she said after a moment. “And I thank you for taking Topher’s safety and care so seriously.”
“Any child is a precious gift and must be protected, cherished, but there is an increased level given he might be one of the last clairvoyants left given both his parents had the gene.”
“Both parents?” Eva asked, waiting until I nodded. “I didn’t know that. Your birth father refuses to speak to any of us who welcome you in our family but otherwise behaves well and does as asked.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want to discuss him or even think of him around Topher,” I said, shutting down the conversation. “Dain looked into the mother but she didn’t have any other family left like Clayton either so I still would have been the best option.”
I noticed Brian snuck out for a few moments when we were playing with Topher and that agitated me for some reason. I wasn’t sure why and that annoyed me, but then I realized it was like after Dain and I mated how I wanted him near. Well, we’d have to work on that to get back to our lives.
I was still a bit in my head on that when it was time for Topher’s nap and we headed back to my apartment.
“She’s mine,” Brian snarled, grabbing me away from someone.
I kept spinning us and moved him up against the fridge. “You’re mine.”
“I am,” he agreed, heat in his eyes. “I’m not starting trouble. I smelled Jimmy’s interest in you.” He flipped us. “You are mine. He cannot touch you.” He mashed his mouth to mine as I heard his zipper.
I tripped him so he landed hard on his ass and then took my weight. “Just because we’re bonded doesn’t mean you stop asking.” I snapped at him when he growled. “Brian Havers would never be presumptuous and just fuck me. Tell your wolf to back the fuck off and respect me and your Alpha.”
He let out a slow breath and nodded. “You said ‘always,’ I can always have you, and he’s—we’re just—fuck, Sera, this line is—”
“I know, believe me, I know,” I murmured. “My answer will always be yes that I’m yours, but tell him firmly to ask.” I waited until he nodded again. “Now show your Alpha your throat and apologize.” I let out my power with the order and he did.
And I rewarded him with sitting on his dick as I licked his neck. “Good wolf.” I moaned as I moved his hands to my ass. “Yes, I’m yours, but you are always mine first. That’s what it means to be in your Alpha’s bed.”
“I love you,” he groaned, thrusting up as I dug my nails in his shoulders. “Shit, my head is all over, Sera.”
“I know, I know it is, and I didn’t even have to deal with this part,” I whispered, kissing him deeply. “We’ll get through it. We always do. I have to be harsh so he doesn’t misbehave at the wrong time.”
“Yeah, I’m abused,” he chuckled as I bounced on him faster.
I leaned over and buried my face against his neck to keep quiet as we finished, not sure why I bothered when we’d done that in front of everyone. Hopefully they at least went in the other room.
Or watched. Whatever, I didn’t care about anything more than Brian in that moment.
“Sera, will you marry me?” he whispered when I sat up, reaching in his pocket and pulling out a ring.
I gasped as I laid eyes on it, but then smacked his chest. “Right now? Really? We just had sex in front of everyone and you ask now?”
“Yeah, because normal is boring and you are never boring,” he muttered as he sat up. “And I love that about you. I love you and I need you forever. Marry me?”
I let out a shaky breath and nodded, my hand wobbling as I held it out to him.
He chuckled as he cupped my hand, sliding the gorgeous ring on my ring finger. It was a perfect fit, letting me know he’d sized me somehow. He kissed my hand and smiled at me. “You like it?”
“I love it,” I gushed, studying it in the light. It was a thick platinum band that had a large sapphire emerald cut with an east-west setting like I liked much better and several smaller emerald cut diamonds on either side of it. “I will beat you if you were insane and spent three months’ salary or whatever they say on it.”
Where he took me again.
“Oh good, they got to hear that again,” I said when we were done, not fully swallowing the giggle that slipped out.
“Whatever, they said we’re honeymooning or whatever.” He threw back his head and laughed. “I don’t care. You said yes. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you at Quantico and it’s taken me almost a decade but you said yes. Fine, it will be a least a decade by the time we marry as you’ll want a long engagement.” He laughed that rare, full Brian laugh I adored before he lifted me up and spun me around.
“I love you too, goof,” I murmured when he set me down. “Let’s clean up and I’ll try not to melt into the ground.”
“Or we can do it again,” he growled, chasing after me as I darted into the bathroom. “Just once more?”
“No, everyone’s waiting,” I reminded him, smacking his hands when he came for me, both of us smiling and laughing.
Which was a miracle since he’d almost died less than two days ago. My heart hurt even thinking of it and he nodded, knowing where my mind went. He held me as we both teared up, having come too close to never getting this moment and both of us relieved the worst didn’t happen.
I hid behind Brian when we rejoined everyone but they were more focused on the ring and congratulating us instead of mentioning what we’d been up to. The boys came from down the hall and were bouncing around, completely thrilled we were engaged.
“Okay, we need to start planning right away, and will you invite the president to the wedding as that will be a whole other level of event then?” Jared asked, completely serious in his question.
“Long engagement and don’t freak out Sera,” Brian cut in fast. “She needs baby steps. We have forever and we can be engaged for years until she’s ready and more is settled. Plus, I’m not the only one in her life she might want a wedding with.”
I winced and glanced at Dain. I loved him for fielding that one.