Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“He didn’t do anything to me, Dad. I keep telling you that. He’s my mate.”
“Are you also going to tell me the entire Golden Valley pack wasn’t hostile during the visit? Alpha Berger shared details with us. We know all about their behavior.”
“Um.” Ricky’s gaze hadn’t left Morgan since he had entered the room, so Morgan could see them widen. “That’s… That’s more complicated than Alpha Berger probably realizes, and it may take some time to sort it out but—” Ricky’s voice got smaller and then trailed away as he curled in on himself.
The sad, dejected actions triggered all of Morgan’s protective instincts. Having never wanted to lead a pack, he hadn’t put much stock in his Alpha role. He gained no personal fulfillment from physically dominating other Alphas in battle or from seeing pack members kowtow to him. But he had paid close attention to Ricky’s every word and expression, and his mate felt most comfortable in those old, traditional roles. With that in mind, Morgan lowered his head and then gently mouthed Ricky’s throat as a reminder that he was here, he was in charge, he was Alpha, and Ricky was safe in his protection. His instinct was proven correct when his Omega relaxed, his heart rate slowing and his panic-scented pheromones receding in reaction to his Alpha’s dominance.
“Son, did they force you to go to Golden Valley? I can notify Alpha Berger. He’ll bring you home.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Morgan said as he put his hand on the phone.
In response to Morgan’s direction, Ricky immediately relaxed his grip.
He gently handed Alex to Ricky and then raised the phone to his ear. “Mr. Marx, this is Morgan Peters, your son’s mate. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I’m sitting next to him so I heard your question.” Although Ricky’s father didn’t speak, the loud breathing on the other side of the line indicated that he hadn’t disconnected the call. “I understand your concern. We didn’t represent our pack well during Alpha Berger’s visit.” Ensuring that his mate had physical proof of his strength and their connection during what was clearly a stressful situation, Morgan curled his hand around Ricky’s thigh and squeezed. “Golden Valley suffered a great loss at the hands of a male Omega. I should have done a better job healing my pack from that long ago. My failure is the reason my pack remains fearful and that fear is the reason we were less than cordial to Ricky and Brian. I can assure you that it won’t happen again.” Once his pack got to know Ricky, their wariness toward him would abate. One way or another, Morgan would ensure that Ricky felt safe and comfortable in his new home. “You and your mate have an open invitation to Golden Valley, and I very much hope you’ll give us a chance to show you the wonderful aspects of our pack.”
“Wow.” Ricky’s father drew in a loud breath. “I don’t believe I’ve heard an Alpha take the blame for a situation quite so succinctly and completely.”
“Posturing is a sign of weakness.” Morgan gazed meaningfully into Ricky’s eyes and smoothed his palm across Ricky’s inner thigh, enjoying the heat coming through his jeans. “I can’t promise not to make mistakes, but I can assure you that I’ll own them and I’ll learn from them.”
After only a short hesitation, Ricky’s father said, “We’ll need to talk with Alpha Berger, but hopefully my mate and I can be in Golden Valley by this evening.”
“Ricky will be happy to hear that, Mr. Marx.” He gazed down at his mate, whose cheeks were now tinted with an attractive red and whose lips were parted as he blew out soft gusts of air. Continuing to rub Ricky’s leg, Morgan moved his palm higher. “And I’m very much looking forward to meeting both of you.”
“I’m surprised to say this, but I look forward to meeting you too, Alpha Peters.”
Slowly, but steadily, Morgan moved his hand up until he cupped Ricky’s groin. With their son awake and Ricky’s father on the phone, Morgan’s goal wasn’t to initiate a sexual encounter, but he suspected his Omega would find comfort in any action that showed Morgan’s dominion over him. “Call me Morgan. We’re family now.”
His Omega’s arousal was clear from the hardness beneath his palm, and Morgan relished his ability to evoke that reaction in his mate. But what pleased him to his core was how thoroughly Ricky’s nerves had eased and his stress had evaporated. Mere hours earlier, this man had exuded anxiety, guilt, desperation, and discomfort at such high levels that he had trembled and his muscles had twitched. Yet now Morgan scented only the sweetness of lilacs and jasmine as his mate smiled up at him.
“That we are. We’ll see you in a few hours, Morgan.”