Winter's End Read online

  Well, at least one of them was enjoying this. X buried his face in the pillows and moaned—not from passion but from mortification—and was relieved when he felt the young beta shudder and fill his ass with spunk.

  When Christopher pulled out, the alpha rolled onto his back, cock limp and arm thrown over his red face. Chris took X into his mouth and began sucking, but X stilled Chris’ head with his hand.

  “It’s okay. Just give me a minute.”

  X could hear Christopher panting from his exertions. When the alpha finally took a deep breath and removed his arm from his face, Chris was staring at him with a tormented expression.

  “You didn’t enjoy it.”

  “I did. Sort of.” Even if X wanted to lie to Christopher, his limp cock wouldn’t let him.

  “You want to fuck me. I know you do. Please, can we try?” Christopher’s eyes darted from X’s eyes to the alpha’s awakening erection and back again.

  Xavier bit back a moan. He wanted to so much, but he couldn’t stand the thought of hurting Christopher.

  “Please? I’ve had three treatments. It’s time we try again,” Christopher pressed. “You know they’ll ask us about it when we go for the next one.”

  Christopher’s pleading words and teary eyes swayed the alpha.

  “You have to talk to me,” X said. “I won’t stand for you lying to me about how much it hurts. I never want to see you crying because of something I’ve done again.”

  “I promise to be honest,” Christopher said, pushing his hair from his face and wiping away his tears.

  X frowned. “How can I believe you’ll do it this time?”

  Christopher looked away. “That was different. I didn’t want you to know I’m not normal. But you know now, and I’m promising you I’ll stop you if it’s too much.”

  X softened his tone. “Chris. You know none of this is your fault. Someone fucking darted you and poisoned you.”

  “They think.”

  “They’re pretty damn sure. They found traces of a chemical in your system. The same stuff that they found in Gabriel’s, Sam’s, and Sawyer’s.” He took the beta’s hand. “These treatments you’re getting are going to work. But we have to give them time.”

  Christopher gently ran a finger over the alpha’s muscular thigh. “We won’t know if it’s working until we try though, and we don’t want to have to try it there, do we?”

  X moaned, blood surging into his cock as Christopher trailed his finger to the alpha’s balls.

  “Please, X?” Chris leaned down and licked the tip of X’s cock.

  Gods help him. X gave a curt nod, biting his lip while watching a smiling Christopher use extra lubricant to ready himself. The sight of the beta’s long fingers stretching his hole brought the alpha to full hardness.

  X watched as, slowly, Christopher lowered himself onto the alpha’s thick shaft.

  A shudder ran through Xavier at the tight warmth gripping him. Gods, it felt so, so good. The need to drive inside and pump furiously consumed him, but he held himself still until Christopher’s body came to a rest. The beta took in a deep breath and let it out.

  “Okay?” X asked, sounding strangled.

  Christopher nodded, and the alpha tugged him down for a kiss. He couldn’t tell if the expression on Chris’s face represented passion or pain.

  “You sure? Seriously, Chris. You promised.”

  “I-It hurts, but I’m fine.”

  “Don’t lie to me.” He continued to lay perfectly still as Christopher took another deep breath and let it out before relaxing.

  “It’s not like it should be, but it’s better than before. Really. I want to keep going.”

  X couldn’t say no. Not with that tight heat wrapped around him and the hope in Christopher’s eyes.

  He leaned up and pecked a kiss on Chris’ mouth again. “Okay. But go easy. You’re in control.” He eased back on the pillow and rubbed the beta’s thighs comfortingly with his palms.

  Sweat formed on Christopher’s brow as, gradually, he began to ride X.

  “Don’t keep going if it’s too much,” X warned again when Christopher made a pained sound.

  “I’ll stop if I need to,” the beta said, voice slightly strained. He continued to undulate over the alpha, squeezing X’s cock in a tight grip with his body until the alpha couldn’t help but give into the pleasure.

  Closing his eyes, he moaned. “Chris—” Groin tingling, he thrust upward. He couldn’t help himself. “Are you sure this is…this is okay?”

  “Before I couldn’t have done this. I’m sure.” Christopher kept riding, body moving up and down in gentle movements that were driving the alpha crazy because he needed more.

  “Don’t take my knot. It’ll be too much,” he warned, even though he wanted nothing more than to knot inside the beta. The weight of Christopher’s ass on the growing bulge was a temptation difficult to ignore.

  Planting his hands on each side of X’s head, Christopher began to bob a little faster. X opened his eyes and took in the determined look on his lover’s face. He should put a stop to this, but he couldn’t. Not when…

  “Oh…oh, Fenrir’s pups, that’s…that’s fantastic. Oh, shit…” X lost it, his climax pouring over him like warm honey, lasting several long, delicious moments. “So good,” he finally breathed when the residual tingles had faded. When his eyes adjusted, Christopher’s long hair hid his face.

  “Hey.”

  X lifted the beta’s chin, and when he got a look at Christopher’s blotchy, wet face, he growled.

  Christopher shuddered and pulled off X’s cock, letting out a sob before sinking into the big alpha’s arms.

  X cradled him. “Love. Why did you keep going if it was hurting you?”

  Christopher cried into the thatch of dark hair on Xavier’s chest. “I wanted you to enjoy it. I’d been…p-praying it wouldn’t hurt this time, but it did. Not as much, but…Oh, gods, when is this going to stop? Sam got better faster, and I thought…” He cried brokenly, tears warm on X’s skin. “I just want to be normal.”

  Heart breaking, X tangled his fingers in the beta’s silky hair. “Shh. It’s okay. Haven’t you enjoyed what we’ve been doing up until now?”

  “Sure, rubbing off on each other is nice, and the blow jobs too, but I want you to be able to fuck me. You’re an alpha, and you need that.”

  X would be a hypocrite if he said he didn’t, but he would go without for Christopher. Running his hand soothingly over Christopher’s back, he said, “I’m perfectly content with what we’re doing. Those things feel so good, don’t they? And when I fuck between your thighs—that’s almost as good as being inside you.” X kissed Christopher’s head. “Baby steps, my love. Don’t give up hope. We’ll get there.”

  X snuggled Christopher into his arms, trying not to dwell on how good it had felt to move inside the beta again. He told himself when they got to Cascade City again, he’d have another talk with the doctors, just to make sure they were doing everything that could be done.

  Because X would do absolutely anything for Christopher.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Gabriel

  Gabriel was among the first to welcome the omegas Keith and Elliott when they arrived from Cascade City. Not wanting to overwhelm them right off the bat, he’d asked only Justin and London to accompany him. The Human/Werewolf Congress had sent a couple of betas to escort the Cascade City omegas to Angel Hills, and after introductions, Milo had taken them up to the caves to stay with the beta guards until they’d left for home the following day.

  “We’re so happy to have you here,” Gabriel said to the new omegas as he gave each a fierce hug.

  “We’re happy to be here, and it’s nice to meet you,” Keith said. He was about the same height as Gabriel and at least a decade older, with blond hair and dark hazel eyes. Elliott was thirty-ish, taller, dark-headed, and fair-skinned. They both looked around the compound with interest.

  “We really wanted to come when we’d first
planned,” Keith said, “but after Trevor was kidnapped, we just couldn’t. Then they found him, and we felt we needed to stay and give him support before we left.”

  “We all understood,” Gabriel said. “How is he doing now?”

  “Better,” Keith said. “It was traumatic, but he’s a fighter.”

  “I’m glad.” Gabriel couldn’t imagine what it had been like to be kidnapped and sold for sex. Poor Trevor. And there had been ten other omegas rescued with him, including Nick, a member of Cascade City Pack. Nick had gone home, and the other omegas were being taken care of by the Congress.

  “This is Milo’s mate, Justin, and this is London. He’s mated to one of our blacksmiths, Tarz. They own that stable right there.” Gabriel pointed, and Keith and Elliott exclaimed over the beautiful horses in the pasture.

  “We’re three of the omegas who came here from River Wolf Pack a few years ago,” Gabriel explained. “It was a scary change for us, but everyone here is wonderful. I’m mated to Grey, our pack alpha. Well, obviously, as I’m the first omega.” He still didn’t feel worthy such an important role in the pack.

  “We met Grey when he visited River,” Elliott said. “He’s awesome-looking.”

  Gabriel wasn’t sure what to say. On the one hand, he wasn’t sure he appreciated the other omega admiring his mate, but on the other hand, Grey really was awesome-looking, and he could hardly fault others for noticing.

  So he smiled at Elliott. “Yes, he really is. I have another mate, too, and Ian’s just as gorgeous.”

  The group showed the newcomers the dining hall and library, as well as the cannery and greenhouses. They passed the lake and walked around to where Vince and Vaughn lived with their mates, then circled back and spoke to the blacksmiths Rick and Bruce. Next, the five omegas walked to the schoolhouse where Canaan was just closing the door for the day.

  “Canaan,” Gabriel said, stepping onto the porch. “This is Elliott and Keith, our new omegas from Cascade City.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Canaan shook their hands.

  “Do you teach?” Keith asked.

  Canaan nodded and smiled. “The younger kids. Ace teaches the older. He’s already left for the day.”

  Elliott’s eyes widened as he looked behind Gabriel. “Who is that? He’s gorgeous!”

  Gabriel turned to see Duncan striding toward the schoolhouse, strawberry-blond hair whipping into his frosty blue eyes.

  “Hello.” Duncan smiled at the new omegas with more charm than Gabriel thought the normally grumpy alpha possessed. “I’m Duncan.” He stood at a respectable distance as Gabriel introduced him to Keith and Elliott, but Gabriel could tell Canaan felt it wasn’t distant enough. The beta bristled like a porcupine. When he turned to go back inside the schoolhouse, Duncan’s hand shot out and grabbed Canaan’s arm. Canaan stared back at Duncan with obstinate green eyes, tension crackling in the air.

  “We’ll just be going,” Gabriel said, shooing them all away from the schoolhouse and whatever weirdness was going on between the alpha and beta. When he looked back over his shoulder, Duncan and Canaan had both disappeared inside the schoolhouse.

  “Wow. Is that alpha mated?” Elliott asked. “Because if he isn’t...”

  “Duncan isn’t interested in omegas,” Gabriel said.

  “What do you mean? All alphas are interested in omegas.”

  “Not that one,” Gabriel said.

  They headed for the nursery where they picked up Justin’s five boys.

  “You’ve been busy since you got here,” Keith said to the smaller omega.

  “Both sets of twins are from a mating at my former pack,” Justin explained. “Cal here is my only son with Milo, the alpha you briefly met when you got here.” He lifted the little boy into his arms.

  “Your mate’s gorgeous too,” Elliott said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t wait to see the eligible alphas.”

  “You won’t have any trouble finding a mate here,” London told him. “Just stay away from mine.”

  Gabriel hid a smile. Mating had made London decidedly forward about things that mattered to him.

  “Gotcha.” Elliott grinned. “Tarz the blacksmith is off limits.”

  “Come on, London,” Gabriel couldn’t help teasing. “You won’t share Tarz? I’m sure he’s man enough to handle two omegas.”

  “Shut. Up.” London playfully shoved Gabriel’s shoulder. “Like you would share Grey and Ian.”

  Gabriel shook his head, laughing.

  After they’d dropped Justin home with the kids and London headed for his house, Gabriel took the two new omegas to the omega den where Christopher was pulling a roast out of the oven.

  “Smells wonderful,” Gabriel said. “Chris, this is Elliott and Keith. As you know, they’ll be staying here until Grey finds mates for them.”

  “Welcome,” the beta said with a smile.

  “Christopher lives here and helps out,” Gabriel told the newcomers.

  “Hope you’re hungry because I made a lot, and it looks like no one else is showing up for dinner,” Christopher said.

  “Starved. And it smells wonderful.” Keith and Elliott took seats at the table.

  Over the meal, the four chatted about different things. Although Keith brought up the subject of the humans and the current situation with the antidote, Christopher didn’t offer any information about his own situation, and Gabriel wasn’t going to do it for him. He knew the young beta was embarrassed. He wasn’t particularly eager to talk about his difficulties with pregnancy himself.

  “How is Sam?” Gabriel was interested to hear about all the omegas in Cascade City Pack. He missed them a lot, especially Sam, possibly the sweetest omega Gabriel had ever met.

  “He’s doing well. His health has been improving since he started the antidote, and he should give birth soon to his second pup.”

  Gabriel resisted looking at Christopher. From what the first omega knew, Sam had only had one or maybe two more treatments before Christopher started his. Gabriel had no idea if the antidote was working for Chris or not, but the fact the beta wasn’t talking about it didn’t bode well.

  “Oh, and you probably know Josiah’s pregnant again,” Keith said. “He’ll be giving birth a month or so after Sam.”

  Gabriel’s mouth fell open. “What? Really? I didn’t hear about that. That’s wonderful!” He’d begun to wonder if Josiah and River’s twins had been a fluke.

  Keith nodded. “River’s beside himself with happiness.”

  “I imagine he is,” Gabriel said with a smile.

  After dinner, the four sat in front of the fire and talked some more until a knock at the door followed by Ian’s call brought Gabriel to his feet. Quickly crossing the room, he opened the door and smiled at his beta mate. Ian looked disheveled and dirty, which was unusual for him.

  “Been working with Darien in his greenhouse?” Gabriel guessed.

  Ian nodded. “And I can’t wait to take a shower. You ready to go home?” He looked past Gabriel to Keith and Elliott. “You guys must be our new pack members.”

  Gabriel made introductions. “I’ll see you two tomorrow. I’ll swing by and take you to the dining hall for breakfast.”

  “You didn’t have to come escort me home,” he told Ian as they walked together across the compound.

  “I wanted to.” Ian laced their fingers together. “It’s nice to spend some time alone with you.”

  Gabriel couldn’t help smiling. “You’re such a romantic. Are you feeling better?” Ian had been out of sorts the past week, although he claimed nothing was wrong.

  Ian stopped on the path and turned. “I’m fine.” Leaning in, he kissed the omega softly and seductively, setting Gabriel’s body thrumming like a live wire.

  When they entered the front door of their home, Grey called to them from the living room where he sat on the couch reading. Finny and Forrest played with their wooden trucks at the pack alpha’s feet. Both jumped up to wrap their arms around Gabriel’s legs. Ian swun
g Forrest up in his arms and blew raspberries on his belly, making the toddler giggle.

  Gabriel kissed Finny on the head. “Did you two get fed?”

  Finny nodded. “Daddum made us salad and chicken.”

  “Mm, sounds good.” Gabriel ruffled his oldest son’s bright hair.

  “The chicken was. Not the salad.”

  Gabriel chuckled. “Well, you ate it anyway, right?”

  Finny nodded.

  “Did you eat dinner?” Grey asked Gabriel.

  “Yeah. Christopher made a roast. I talked to Keith and Elliott for a long time. They’re settling well.”

  “That’s good.” Grey turned his head up for the kiss Gabriel bent to give him. “And what about you, professor?” he said to Ian, using his nickname for his bookish mate. “Good day at the greenhouse?”

  “Yep. Darien and I got a lot of plants repotted. I need a shower.” He kissed Grey before straightening and heading to the bathroom.

  “Come sit.” Grey patted the cushion beside him, and Gabriel sank down, leaning into his alpha. Grey wrapped his arm around the omega and began playing with Gabriel’s long hair, which Gabriel loved. Not only did it feel good, it showed the pack alpha’s softer side and made the omega feel cherished.

  They sat in silence watching the boys completely immersed in their game.

  “Keith and Elliott seem really happy to be here. I took them all around the compound, and I could tell they were impressed,” Gabriel said after a few minutes.

  Grey only grunted, but Gabriel could tell his alpha was pleased. He knew the pack alpha worried constantly about his pack. He supposed every pack alpha did, but Grey even more. Ian had once confided once that Grey had never thought himself right for the role, which should have gone to his older brother, had he not been killed in a mining accident. Gabriel thought the misgivings ridiculous, as Grey was a wonderful pack leader—everyone said so.

  “Are you going to arrange something like you did for us when we came from River Wolf Pack? Have them meet everyone who is interested in mating them?” Gabriel asked just as Ian came out of the bathroom wearing only a robe. The omega was momentarily distracted by Ian’s long legs lightly covered in dark hair. A decade older than Grey, Ian was every bit as sexy as the pack alpha, just in a slimmer, more bookish way.