Alphas obedience, p.7
Alpha's Obedience, page 7
But Enar was careful, waiting to see how he would react. There was this hitch, this slight hesitation until Palani opened up, invited him in. Even after all this time, Enar’s fear of rejection lingered, and Palani vowed he’d show him how much he loved him and wanted him until all Enar’s doubts were gone…and longer.
So he took his time, pushing Enar down onto the couch and positioning himself on top of him, kissing him until they ran out of breath. Then he slowed down, making love to his man’s mouth. Enar was pliant under him, lifting his hips and grinding into Palani while making these sighs and whimpers that made Palani want to bury himself inside that tight ass. He’d forgotten all about his tiredness, and he was about to push those sexy scrubs down when someone cleared his throat.
He looked up, annoyed, straight into the face of Bray, who had one eyebrow raised. “Bad timing?”
Behind him, Palani’s brother Kean held a hand in front of his mouth, but he shook with laughter. Their omega, Ruari, was smiling as well, carrying his son, Jax, in a sling against his belly.
“Cockblocked by my own brother,” Palani muttered as he pulled Enar’s scrubs back up. Dammit. “You guys have the worst timing in the world. That’s, what, the third time in two weeks you walk in when I’m about to get it on?”
He leaned in for a last kiss on Enar’s swollen lips, then sat up.
Kean grinned. “They invented this really handy solution for that. It’s called a bedroom.”
Palani raised his middle finger. “Fuck you.”
Kean’s grin widened. “Three men still not enough for you? You need to add a little brocest to that?”
Palani was sure there was some joke he could make, but he couldn’t be bothered. “You wish. I give fantastic dick. Ask my men.”
Enar, ever loyal, nodded. “He does,” he said as solemnly as if it was a job interview, and Palani had to kiss him all over again for being so damn sweet.
As much as he resented not being able to have his way with Enar, Palani loved hanging out with his brother and his men. And when a few minutes later Grayson walked in with Lars and Sven in tow, it was even better.
Grayson put a big pillow for Sven on the floor and helped his pregnant omega sit before he settled down on the loveseat and pulled Lars onto his lap. It was a familiar sight by now, Sven content at his alpha’s feet, leaning against him with Grayson’s hand stroking his head and Lars needing his Daddy’s embrace. The beta had changed, and while he’d never be a ray of sunshine, he was a far cry from the rebellious, recalcitrant boy he’d been when he’d arrived.
They needed this, Palani realized as they’d all found a comfortable spot, spending some time together. They were family, connected by blood as much as by being pack. “How have you all been?” he asked, repositioning Enar between his legs so Enar could lean backward against Palani’s chest, which he loved. The man craved being held, and there were few things Palani loved doing more.
“Dane’s not doing well,” Grayson said with sadness in his voice. Dane was his youngest son, who was physically and mentally disabled after suffering oxygen shortage during delivery. Grayson’s first husband, Brannan, had died giving birth to Dane. “His long term care facility called me that he had to be admitted to the hospital, so Lucan and I went there this afternoon. He’s declining.”
Palani’s heart was heavy for the alpha. Grayson had mentioned before the prognosis was that Dane would pass away soon, but to see it happen had to be the hardest thing. Even more because the contrast with Sven, who was about to give birth to his baby, was so big. Life was complex.
“Be careful when you visit him,” Lidon said. “The situation in the city is unsafe.”
Grayson nodded. “Yeah, it’s not good. We saw plenty of evidence for that.”
Silence hung heavy in the room, and Palani’s heart was a little lighter when both Lars and Sven gave Grayson some physical affection. Grayson kissed Lars, then look down at Sven with a soft smile. “The good news is that Sven’s checkup today was perfect,” Grayson said. “Enar said everything is going well.” It was telling that Enar hadn’t breathed a word to Palani, keeping confidentiality, even to his mates. “He’s still tired, so we’re happy to have Gia running the kitchen now.”
Gia was one of the newer arrivals on the ranch, an omega who’d been rescued by Lidon’s former partner, Sean, from being raped. Together with Felix, a beta, they formed a throuple that seemed to be thriving despite having only been together for a short time.
“Those three are settling in well,” Palani said.
“Sean has been a great help to me,” Bray said. “He’s steady and experienced, and I’m confident that with a bit more training, he could function as my right-hand man.”
“He’s a good kid,” Lidon said. “Great instincts.”
“Gia has been killing it in the kitchen, and Felix has been doing great work in the clinic, calling insurance companies and filing claims on omegas’ behalf. And he’s looking into some other stuff for me,” Palani said.
“The attack on York?” Grayson asked, referring to the brutal attack on the Prime Minister’s compound, which had not only taken the prime minister’s life, but that of most of his security team as well.
“We need to know for sure Ryland was the driving force behind it and there wasn’t anyone else pulling the strings,” Lidon said. “It’s the most logical conclusion that he acted on his own, but we need proof. Facts.”
“That will also help us figure out what their next step will be,” Palani said. “There’s a power vacuum right now, no matter how hard the government assures everyone everything is okay. It’s not. I’m waiting for something else to happen.”
“A coup?” Bray said. “That would be a ballsy move, using the military. It would also require a ton of planning ahead.”
Lidon looked pensive. “Ryland used to serve. I can’t remember what branch, but maybe the army? If so, he might have still had contacts there.”
“York wanted to let omegas into the armed forces,” Kean said. “There was a lot of backlash from that.”
Palani nodded. “Yeah, and the military is not known for being progressive in general. Change moves at a snail’s pace there.”
“So Felix is trying to see what he can find out?” Bray asked. “He could talk to Duer again, see what he knows.”
Enar made a noise of protest, before speaking up. “Tread lightly there. Duer is not doing well. Bringing up that topic may cause considerable harm to him.”
A silence descended on their group. Palani’s heart went out to the beta who had survived what no man should ever be subjected to. He’d made it out alive, but barely, and his mind had been hurt as badly as his body. “Is there anything we can do for him?”
“We need a trained psychologist,” Enar said. “He’s not the only one struggling with overcoming a traumatic event.”
Palani’s eyes drifted to his brother, who had held Lidon’s cousin Jawon as he died, an event that had left him shaken to his core. “I’m okay,” Kean said, meeting his eyes.
Bray reached for Kean’s hand, showing once again how much he had changed. “You still have nightmares,” he said, his tone soft.
Kean’s eyes hardened, his pride kicking in, Palani assumed, before he gave in. “I know. But it’s not as bad as it was before.”
“That’s not good enough,” Enar said. “We need professional help. Maz and I, we do what we can, but that’s not our specialty.”
Palani pressed a kiss on the top of Enar’s head. “We know, and we don’t expect you to do more. We’ve been looking for someone, but it’s not like we can call random psychologists and ask them to join.”
Lidon gave Palani a brief nod. “Agreed, but let’s make this high priority. Duer needs outside help.”
“I’ve been wondering about the healing thing,” Vieno said, his expression pensive. All faces turned toward him, and Palani felt a rush of pride that they’d built a pack where everyone dared to speak up and was taken equally seriously. “We know we heal faster when we shift. Kean’s physical injuries were healed when he shifted.”
“Mine too,” Lars said. He had been shot in his shoulder during the attack. “There’s barely a scar left.”
Palani didn’t miss the flash of emotions on Grayson’s face. They’d all gone through hell that day, wondering if their loved ones would make it. They’d been lucky, but the loss of Jawon still weighed heavily on them all.
“And my postpartum depression was gone much faster than Enar had expected,” Vieno said. “It makes me ponder if shifting would bring healing for Duer.”
It was an interesting thought, Palani mused. Because they were still figuring things out, they weren’t sure what shifting did and how it worked. All they knew was that only mated pack members could shift.
“Sean, Felix, and Gia haven’t shifted yet, correct?” he asked, though he already knew the answer. Nothing happened in the pack without him knowing. Still, it was good to verify.
“No,” Lidon said. “Because we told everyone to stop shifting shortly after they found each other. They never had the chance. But I know Sean wants to alpha claim his men. He’s waiting for us to give the green light, because they’ll want to shift.”
“And we assume they’ll be able to?” Grayson asked.
Palani shrugged. “That’s what we’re thinking. Our theory is still that you have to be in an alpha-beta-omega relationship to shift, so I don’t see any reason why they wouldn't shift.”
“Would Duer’s mind heal when he shifts?” Vieno asked, bringing the discussion back to his earlier statement.
They all looked at each other. “It would make sense,” Grayson said. “And yet it feels too easy. If shifting could heal everything, pack members could never die, and that seems a stretch. Maybe it would speed up healing?”
Something niggled in the back of Palani’s mind. Grayson was right. It did seem too easy if they could heal everything simply by shifting. “Would that be true for Naran as well?”
He winced a little as he thought of his cruel warning to the man. He’d been way out of line, and even though he’d apologized, it didn’t seem enough. His only excuse was that he’d grown frustrated with the alpha who flat out refused all help or even attempts at doing something for him. Didn’t Naran see that they wanted to be there for him? That they would be his friends, hell, his family, if he’d only let them?
“How is he doing under Sivney’s care?” Lidon asked.
“Sivney says he’s coming around. He got him to shower and change his bed linens,” Enar said, and Palani smiled at the hint of pride in his voice. Enar had quickly connected with the pregnant omega. Palani’s gut instinct that Sivney was no pushover was confirmed by what he’d accomplished with Naran. “Which reminds me, he requested we send someone tomorrow to do a thorough cleaning of Naran’s room, including his bathroom. Apparently, it’s in a rather sorry state.”
Damn, he should have thought of that. The rule was that everyone cleaned their own room or house, regardless of their status, but Palani hadn’t even considered Naran was unable to do that. He’d been so determined to keep everyone at bay and refuse all help, that Palani had given up.
“If Sven can watch Hakon, I can do it,” Vieno said. When Palani opened his mouth to object, Vieno sent him a sharp look. “You know I don’t mind cleaning, and you also know no one will do a better job. The place will be spotless by the time I’m done.”
Valid point. “But will Naran allow it?”
Enar chuckled. “Sivney said he’d take him out of his room for two hours, so I doubt the man will have any say in it.”
“I like him,” Palani decided.
“Me too. I never expected him to get through to Naran, but it seems he has a magical touch,” Enar said. “That was a good matchup you made, baby,” he said to Palani.
He held up his hands. “I can’t claim credit there. You didn’t want him to work in the clinic, and Maz told me Naran needed someone to help him, so it was all I could think of.”
“Well, it worked, so that’s one problem solved,” Lidon said.
“Not quite,” Enar said, his voice softer now. “Just like with Duer, I can’t share too much, but Naran is not doing well either…and not just physically.”
Silence filled the room, and Palani had little doubt their thoughts all went in the same direction. They owed Naran for what he had sacrificed to locate Melloni. He’d paid a high price for the professor’s freedom. No wonder the man’s mind had taken a beating from what he’d had to endure during his forty days of captivity.
He made eye contact with Lidon. “I’ll make finding that psychologist the highest priority, alpha.”
Lidon nodded. “Thank you.”
That was something his alpha had changed in. He remembered the little things now, the saying thank you and please, and it made all the difference. “How’s Lev working out?” he asked Bray, changing the topic.
Bray shrugged. “He hasn’t fallen asleep yet on the job, so that’s something, I guess.”
Kean elbowed his alpha. “Don’t be so hard on the kid. He fears you, you know?”
Bray harrumphed. “He should. I’m his boss, and I told him that if he so much as looks in the wrong direction, I’ll kick him out.”
“Baby, I think you’re misjudging him. He’s not a bad kid,” Kean protested.
“He’s not a kid.” Bray’s voice was decisive, curt. “He’s an adult, and we should treat him as such. And let’s not forget that until we took him from that place, he was more than happy to work for Bennett Wyndham.”
That name alone sent a shiver down Palani’s spine, and he wasn’t the only one. That one man had cost them so much. Too much.
“I think there’s more to that story. I don’t know him at all, but when I talked to him a little, he came across as a scared kid. A hurting one.”
Palani loved his brother for speaking his mind, even if it meant disagreeing with his alpha in public. Bray’s jaw tensed for a moment before he relented and reached for Kean, pulling him closer. On his other side, Ruari snuggled in as well, and Palani smiled. Who would’ve ever thought Bray would be good for his brother? And Kean for him because there was no denying how much Bray had softened, mellowed.
“You always see the good in people, my love,” Bray said, then pressed a kiss on Kean’s head.
“He’s not wrong,” Enar spoke. “I can’t help but think we did Lev wrong, somehow. We cheered Naran on when he told us he was seducing a guard to get information, never thinking about what that would mean to that guard. We knew he was most likely another alpha and what shame it would bring to him if it ever came out, but we didn’t care. All we could see was the bigger picture: Melloni. But Lev was hurt in all this, regardless of who he worked for.”
He was right. God, he was so right. Palani had warmed up to Lev already, sensing no threat from him and wanting to provide him with a place in the pack. Lidon had followed his recommendation, like he usually did. But not once had Palani considered how ashamed and humiliated Lev must have felt…must still feel.
“We owe him an apology,” Palani said, and that earned him an approving look from Lidon. “I’m on it.”
10
Lev rarely set foot in Jawon's House, the main house of the ranch. Unless he was required to be there, he stayed away. He couldn't explain it, but he didn't feel like he belonged there. Not like everyone else, who seemed to have no trouble walking in and out. He'd never been told he wasn't allowed in or anything close to that sentiment, but he'd never felt wanted.
He'd been on the PTP ranch for over a month now, and no one had ever commented on him not joining in communal activities. Everyone seemed to drop in for meals, for companionship, or—if the rumors were true—to watch some sexual activities. Word on the street was that none of the men living there made a big secret of said activities, and rumors were flying high about who had witnessed what.
Lev had never joined in those conversations. On the contrary, he’d always pretended he wasn't interested, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He'd listened to all those stories with rising attention. And a rising something else—not that he needed much on this ranch to get excited anyway. That, too, was something the men talked about, how living here had changed their libido.
Shifting was the worst. Or the best, depending on your definition. Every time the pack shifted, it sent a wave of power through everyone. In the house where Lev was staying, the other alphas didn't even bother to hide their reaction anymore. After the shift, sounds of sex exploded everywhere, whether solo or with multiple men.
In Lev's case, solo. Of course it was solo because no one on the ranch would even look at him twice, since they all knew what had happened. How he'd let himself be used by Watkins. How he’d let another alpha take him. And no matter how progressive they were, how liberal in their thinking, that was still something shameful.
No, if he ever wanted the opportunity to start with a clean slate and find himself a mate—or two mates if he wanted to be able to shift—he would have to seek elsewhere. He'd have no other alternative but to leave the ranch and go someplace where people didn't know his story, where they didn't look at him with that mix of pity and disgust.
His only other option was to wait for new members to enter the pack, like Sivney. They didn’t know his history and might be more inclined to give him a chance. Though his conversation with Sivney hadn’t gone to plan either, since for some reason, the omega had concluded Lev was in love with Naran, which was ridiculous. It pissed him off because he’d hoped that maybe he and Sivney would hit it off.
He didn’t mind that Sivney was pregnant. He’d always loved babies, and he couldn’t wait to start his own family. If he could make Sivney like him, all they needed was a beta to be complete. And then they could shift. But this was all a pipedream, of course. Sivney would have his choice of alphas in the pack, so there’d be no fucking way he’d pick Lev. Why would he?
