Adam glanced at his watch. It was only a few hours after dinner and he wanted to speak to his father before it got too late. Christian had been looking so well earlier, but as they’d eaten, he’d seemed preoccupied and worried. Adam hoped nothing was going wrong. He’d been so excited that his dad was happy and healthy. Somehow Logan and Gage’s territory had soothed Christian and Adam was going to do everything in his power to make sure his father made it through this trial.
He quickly made his way to his father’s room, knowing Christian had been turning in early. Still resting, Logan had told Adam.
Instead of knocking, he walked into the bedroom like he’d always done and found a sight that shocked him to the core. His father had his arms locked around Logan as they shared a deep, intimate kiss. The two broke away when Adam entered.
Adam squinted. His eyes must be betraying him.
“Adam, close the door,” his father told him quietly.
He would have loved to, but the shock and confusion that clouded his mind kept him from moving. Christian hadn’t let go of Logan.
“Adam!” his father snapped and, like a curtain lifting, his vision cleared.
There was his father, the greatest man he had ever known, standing shoulder to shoulder with another man, who was obviously his lover. There was no doubt in Adam’s mind that they were lovers. Logan’s scent was all over his father’s room. All over his father. This hadn’t been a one-time incident. And why had he never noticed that before? Sure, he had been busy, but something like his dad taking a lover should have been extremely obvious. That could only mean that his father had taken great pains to ensure Adam hadn’t found out.
His dad didn’t trust him, was keeping secrets from him.
Adam grew lightheaded. How much of his life had he screwed up? He just wanted to be a good Alpha. To show his dad that Adam was going to take care of his legacy. But Christian obviously didn’t think Adam could be trusted with really important matters, like Christian’s love life.
Adam’s eyes burned with tears. The ridge between his father and him might be too large to come back from.
A sharp pain in his chest had him gasping. All his hard work and he’d lost his dad.
Christian took a step forward and Adam panicked. “Stay back!” he ordered. He felt so hurt, so betrayed.
“Close the door and we’ll talk about this,” his father assured him calmly.
“Talk? You want to talk about this?” he questioned, his voice rising above his normal tone. “Now?”
“Yes, talk. Like adults, which the three of us are.”
He jerked, feeling as if he’d just been slapped. His father was reprimanding him? What was happening? He was an Alpha now, but his father had turned his back on Adam.
“Yes, we are adults.” The cool, calm voice couldn’t have come from his mouth. Not with the way his body shook. “Although it doesn’t look to me as though the two of you do much talking.”
His father didn’t pull his gaze from Adam’s. “I was going to explain—”
Adam barked out a bitter laugh. “Explain? Why would you need to explain anything to me? Keeping Logan here as your little dark secret is your own business.”
Christian’s eyes flashed. “You will not disrespect him.” His voice rose, as well.
Adam turned on his heel and stalked out of the door. “I don’t have to respect him, either, neither of you.” With the last word, he slammed the door behind him and headed toward the back of the house.
Lucky no one was around, since Adam felt inclined to bite the head off any person who stood between him and his freedom, because the only thing he knew for sure was that he had to get out of the house. His long, angry strides ate up the distance until he stood once again at the edge of the woods. He quickly tore off his clothes and knelt, calling to his brother wolf. With a cry of anguish, he let the magic sweep over his body and, for the second time of the day, changed into his other form. The wolf wanted to run. To get away from the worry, the doubt, the pain that he felt.
Without someone else slowing him down, he took off.
Why wouldn’t his dad tell him that he’d fallen for Logan? It was an amazing thing and Christian should be proud. The two men would make one hell of a team. Even if Christian didn’t want anything to do with Adam, then at least he would have a strong partner at his back. Adam wouldn’t have to worry about his father. Christian could get a new start with a new Pack or Logan could join theirs. Adam was looking for strong shifters to fill his inner circle. Logan would have fitted in perfectly, but if Christian and Logan couldn’t even talk to him about their relationship, they must not trust his judgement.
Adam had never felt more alone in his life. Not even after he’d lost his mom.
He spotted a narrow trail and, even though he didn’t know where it would lead, he changed direction toward it. If he were in his own territory, he’d head for his favorite ridge. The place that allowed him to look over his own land.
There were people whom he’d left behind who needed him. Even if Christian was no longer trusting Adam’s judgement, that didn’t mean that Adam was going to turn his back on those who did need him.
The trail was taking him deeper into the woods and, as the area surrounding him darkened, he began to calm. He always felt better when he spent time in nature. Now that the territory belonged to him, the more time he spent roaming the land would help soothe him when he was tied up in knots.
If Christian needed space from Adam, then that was something he could give his father. Adam was still his son, wanted to make his dad proud. Maybe it would be easier if they were hundreds of miles apart.
Adam needed to collect Tasha and Crystal and get them home. In time, he’d try to mend the fences with his father.
He must have run for over an hour. Adam had enough sense to stay within the Pack territory but went as far from the main house as he could. It wasn’t until he was completely exhausted that he stopped and collapsed next to an old, tall oak tree. His heart hurt more than his body.
The shift back came slowly, but sooner than he wanted. Once again in human form, he sat naked with his back against the tree. He heard his visitor before he saw her.
“Go away,” he ordered and hoped she would listen. Adam just needed a little more time to get his head on straight. Just peace and quiet.
Instead of doing as she’d been told, Tasha stepped into view with her hands on her hips. Oh, this wasn’t what he needed.
“Don’t you bark orders out at me! Do you know how long I have been trying to follow you?” she asked.
Adam couldn’t help it. He laughed. It started with just a chuckle and grew until he had to put his hand on his stomach to calm himself down. Here he was, pouting in the middle of the woods, and his lover was reprimanding him. His life was turning into a huge mess, but Tasha was pulling him from his hurt.
The entire time, Tasha stood in the same pose, frustration evident in her expression.
Adam waved a hand in front of his face as he gathered his senses.
“I’m so happy you find me funny,” she remarked, but her lips twitched as if she were holding in a laugh.
“I’m not fit for company right now,” he warned. He didn’t want to screw things up with her, too. “Go back to the house and I’ll return shortly.”
When he didn’t hear any movement, he looked over. She was still there.
“No,” she replied simply, then walked forward and knelt in front of him. She lifted a hand to his face, but he caught her wrist.
“I’m not having a good night,” he said. “Just let me be.”
“No.”
Adam only grunted in response. She was a stubborn woman, but that was one of the things he liked best about her.
Tasha came even closer until she was almost straddling him. “Well, let’s change that, why don’t we?”
He shook his head. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Really?” She lifted an eyebrow before grabbing the hem of her shirt. She whipped the garment over her head. “Guess I’ll just leave you alone.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when he pounced. She fell back and collided with the solid ground as his body covered hers. He slammed his mouth on hers, demanding entrance. When she didn’t open fast enough, he bit her lower lip, causing her to gasp. Adam thrust his tongue inside, dominating everything he could. The blood in his body burned and throbbed as he situated himself between her legs. His cock pressed against the zipper of her jeans when he ground himself against her, showing her that he wasn’t playing games. He was already naked.
He ripped his mouth from hers when she pushed back against him. Adam stared down at her abused lips. Guilt flooded him immediately. “I can’t be gentle with you right now. I don’t want to do it this way and hurt you.”
Tasha launched herself up and attached her mouth to his neck. She sucked his skin into her mouth while running her nails down his back. He hissed and arched from the slight bite of pain.
“I don’t want gentle. I want you to take me right here and now. Fuck me, Adam,” she whispered in his ear.
God help him, he couldn’t resist her. She had given him permission to use her, to ride her hard, and he wasn’t going to pass that up. He pushed her back down and quickly went about removing her clothes. She lifted her hips to help him pull down her pants, then reached and removed her bra as he yanked off her panties.
“You’re going to have to start buying me new underwear if you keep doing that,” she teased.
Adam growled and buried his face in her stomach. “Shouldn’t wear any ever again.” His response came out muffled.
He tried to slow himself down, but he could smell the heat and juices from her sweet pussy. She was just as hot as he was. The wolf inside was almost at the surface and the animal wanted to come out to play.
“Adam…” Tasha wriggled under him.
He pulled back and settled more firmly between her legs. Cupping her bottom, he lifted her up and brought her hot core to the tip of his hard shaft. He was going to give it to her hard, but he wanted her to enjoy it, as well.
“Look at me,” he demanded. “Watch me as I take you. As I fuck you any way I want.”
Her eyes widened, her breath quickened and she nodded. His words were obviously turning her on.
Adam plunged inside with a howl, catching her scream by slamming his mouth down on hers.
Tasha’s inner muscles squeezed and tried to hold him inside, causing Adam to close his eyes and wait. The peacefulness that overtook his body now that he was buried inside threatened to bring tears to his eyes.
“Adam.” Tasha reached up to brush the hair of his forehead.
Adam opened his eyes and saw her smile. “It feels like home.”
Tasha nodded in response to his declaration. “I feel it, too.”
Adam started to withdraw from her but thought better. He leaned down and kissed her with all the passion and love he felt. Tasha opened for him immediately. When she lifted her head to deepen the kiss, he nipped her bottom lip.
“I have to move now, baby,” he told her honestly.
Tasha’s response was to lift her legs higher around his waist. “Get busy.”
He laughed as he pulled out and slammed back in. Her breath stuttered and he did it again. Adam started with long, deep strokes, trying to draw out both their pleasures.
Anger and confusion no longer ate at him. Now it was only the need to take care of his woman.
Tasha’s nails dug into his shoulders and he continued to plunge inside her, but it wasn’t enough for him. He quickly left the hot haven of her body to flip her onto her stomach. She was barely in position before he grabbed her hips and thrust back inside. He rode her hard, enjoying the small sounds escaping her lips. When her body began to tremble, he reached around and rubbed her clit.
“Yes,” she moaned.
Adam continued to play with her until his balls drew up. Knowing climax was only seconds away, he pinched her clit hard. She screamed before exploding. Adam followed her into release, his seed filling her, before they both collapsed forward.
Tasha recovered first and wiggled out from under Adam. He wrapped his arm around her, shifting onto his side. Her sigh was enough to calm his beating heart.
“That was great,” she said dreamily.
Adam laughed. “It was that, indeed.”
She crawled up until she was resting her head on his chest. “Are you feeling better now?”
He couldn’t resist. Adam lazily ran his hand over her bottom, delighting in the shivers he caused. “I feel great,” he commented.
Tasha giggled before slapping his chest. “I meant about what happened earlier in the house.”
Adam removed his hand and started to sit up. “How much did you hear?” he asked.
Tasha dropped her gaze and reached for her pants. “Everyone heard quite a bit, but your dad told me the rest.”
Adam cursed and started to move her away. “I screwed up. I don’t know how, but my dad doesn’t trust me.”
“No! Your father loves you. He’s so proud of you.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“Just because he hadn’t told you about Logan doesn’t mean—”
“Doesn’t mean what?” Adam snapped. “That he is hiding his relationship from me?”
“I’m sure he had his reasons,” Tasha said.
“Yeah.” That was the problem, wasn’t it?
“You should talk to him,” Tasha suggested. “Just hash things out once and for all.”
“I can’t,” Adam confessed. It pained him to say the words.
“Why not?”
“I can’t stand to see the disappointment on his face again,” Adam told her.
“What disappointment?”
“He doesn’t think I’m doing a good job running the Pack,” Adam said. “He’s sorry he turned it over to me.”
Tasha laughed.
He jerked back as if he’d been slapped.
“I’m sorry.” She giggled. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“So why hasn’t he told me about Logan?”
“He was scared,” she said.
“Scared of what?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You dad’s life is changing. He gave up his position of Alpha up. He’s fallen in love with a man. Someone who’d been his friend his entire life. If he’d told you about Logan, it would have made their relationship real, and if he and Logan don’t work out, he’ll lose that friendship.”
Adam sat stunned. He hadn’t even considered the fact that his father was dealing with uncertain feelings. He’d been so wrapped up in his own insecurities he’d majorly dropped the ball. He’d said such horrible things to both his dad and Logan.
“Fuck.”
Tasha shook his head. “You get it now?”
“I get it.”
“So, does that mean you’re okay with your father and Logan?” Tasha asked.
“Of course. I just want him to be happy.”
“Maybe you should tell him that,” she suggested.
Adam smiled. “I will, right away.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Thank you.”
Tasha’s grin brightened her face. “I’m so relieved. Everyone here is so great and…I really like Logan.”
Adam nodded. “So do I. He’s always been a great friend to my father. I probably shouldn’t be surprised their relationship turned into more. They do make a handsome couple.”
“They’re both dreamboats.” Tasha climbed off his lap and this time he let her. “So are you ready to go back?”
He watched her shimmy into her clothes. “Yeah, we’d better go in before they send out a bigger search party.”
Tasha hummed, smiling. “Just don’t greet them the same way.”
He was amused, loving the playful side she was sharing with him. “Get dressed, my little minx.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Crystal,” she said once she was ready to leave.
“She okay?” he asked worried.
“I was talking to Marissa and she suggested that Crystal stay a couple of weeks.”
“Stay here?”
“Yeah,” Tasha said. “Crystal doesn’t have to be at school for another month. Marissa wants to show her the new chat room set up for non-shifter teenagers that she oversees. I guess Marissa has several programs in place to make sure what happened to her doesn’t ever happen again.”
“That’s great,” Adam told her. “It would give us a chance to come back up here. I don’t want to lose touch with my dad. Show him and Logan that I support them.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Tasha said. “It will give Crystal the opportunity to spend some more time with Marissa while giving you a reason to return here.”
“I’ll discuss this with Gage.” Adam nodded at the Alpha who stood at the exit of the woods.
“Well.” Tasha laughed. “I guess I’ll let you too talk.”
By the glare on Gage’s face, Adam wasn’t really looking forward to hearing whatever the Alpha had to say. Tasha had said that everyone had heard the fight. It couldn’t really be a surprise that Gage was going to come to his Beta’s defense.
Gage nodded to Tasha as she passed him, while Adam stopped walking. He waited until Gage had almost reached him before he acknowledged the other Alpha.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” Adam answered, surprised. He had expected Gage to be angry, not wearing a look of concern. “You knew,” he accused but without the anger he’d felt earlier.
Gage nodded. “I suspected. They still haven’t told me, but it’s not something that you miss when you are with them every day.”
Adam shook his head. “I should have been paying better attention.”
“No,” Gage said. “You have your hands full. A new Alpha and this problem with Crystal. It’s understandable.”
“He’s my dad,” Adam said.
“So Christian knows how to hide things from you,” Gage said.
“Yeah.”
“Do you know what you’re going to say?” Gage asked.
Adam shook his head.
“Your father is happy for the first time in months. Logan is a good man and a close friend. I just don’t want to see anyone hurt.” Gage looked sincere as he spoke.
“Don’t worry, Gage. I screwed up, but I’ll fix it. My reaction actually has nothing to do with their relationship.”
Gage nodded and looked back toward the house. “You want to talk about it?”
Did he? Gage was a wonderful Alpha and Adam really could use his advice. “If you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.” Gage waved him toward to a couple of benches located close by. Adam followed him over and took a seat where he could see the back door where Tasha was entering.
“She’s a great woman and Marissa already loves Crystal,” Gage said. “You’re very lucky.”
“I am,” Adam agreed. He stared after Tasha even though she was no longer in sight.
“It’s not easy starting a relationship when you’re an Alpha,” Gage said. “But I assure you, it’s worth it.”
Adam snapped his head back to his companion. Gage was smiling at him. “I’m having trouble believing that she really wants to be with me and doesn’t feel obligated.”
“Oh, she does,” Gage said. “We can all see that.”
“Really?”
Gage smiled. “Women are tricky creatures. Marissa had it in her head she was going to leave even after we became mates.”
Adam looked up. He hadn’t known that. “How’d you make her stay?”
Gage shook his head. “I didn’t. She knew her place was with me. Her head and her heart just couldn’t agree. At least Tasha seems dedicated to her family and you.”
“Tasha and Crystal have already had a rough time of it. I’d hate to cause them any more pain.”
“Who says you’ll cause them pain?” the other Alpha asked thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s you she’s been waiting on to take the pain away. It’s not easy taking care of people. You’re seeing that yourself. Imagine doing it all alone with no support.”
Adam leaned back and paused. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. Tasha is a great sister, though.”
“She’s smart and caring. Much like you,” Gage said.
“Thank you,” Adam said, a little embarrassed. “That compliment means a lot coming from you.”
“You’ll make a good Alpha. You’re kind and caring but strong. All you have to do is believe in yourself.” Gage met his gaze.
“I have some big shoes to fill,” Adam admitted.
“Yes, I know. I’ve been there. And, like me, you already have a big supporter in your corner. Your father wouldn’t have left the Pack to you if you weren’t ready. Son or not.”
“I want to believe that,” Adam confessed. “But this happened with Logan and he didn’t tell me.”
“It’s not easy when your entire life is changing,” Gage said.
“Which is exactly what Tasha just told me. Instead of considering what Christian was going through, I panicked and hurt him. I was so worried about how I was doing as an Alpha.”
Gage laughed. “You’re going to make mistakes. More than you think you’ll be making.”
“Great, you make it sound like so much fun.”
“It is,” Gage assured him. “Every day will have trials and every day will have greatness.”
“I can’t wait to experience that,” Adam said. He really meant it, too.
“I figure you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Yes,” Adam replied. “In the morning. I still have decisions to make.”
“Putting together your inner circle? If you need anything, please let me know,” Gage offered.
“Thank you.”
“But I think you need to have one more conversation tonight,” Gage said. Adam followed Gage’s gaze.
His father and Logan had just stepped out onto the deck. Christian looked uneasy. Logan immediately slung an arm around Christian’s shoulder to show support. That simple action proved the two men had more than just a sexual bond. Adam liked seeing that Logan would publicly comfort Christian.
“Logan won’t leave your Pack,” Adam whispered as the realization hit him.
“No, he won’t. I’m sorry, Adam.”
Christian said something to Logan, then began the short walk to him.
“I’ll give the two of you some privacy,” Gage said before he patted Adam’s shoulder.
Adam couldn’t believe how nervous he was. This was his dad, the man who’d raised him. At one time Adam would have told his father everything. He stood, waiting for Christian to reach him.
“Join me?” Adam waved to the bench that Gage had just vacated.
“Thank you,” Christian said, rubbing his hands together.
This was a lot harder than Adam could have imagined. There were a thousand things that he wanted to say, but he couldn’t seem to make himself speak. The lines of stress plain under Christian’s eyes were because of him. He felt terrible.
“Adam.”
“No!” He almost yelled.
Christian flinched.
“Shit.” Adam rubbed his hands roughly over his face. “First, I apologize for the outburst earlier. I was taken by surprise, but I didn’t mean any disrespect toward you or Logan,” Adam started. “It didn’t even have anything to do with you or Logan. I’m an idiot and all this stress has been getting to me. I panicked and know that even if you don’t love me—”
“What?” Christian blinked at him and shook his head. “Adam, slow down. You’re not making any sense.”
Adam couldn’t sit still, so he rose and began to pace. “I shouldn’t have run off that way. I acted like a child.”
His father sighed. “I’ve wanted to tell you so many times. I didn’t want you to find out like this. I can understand why you reacted the way you did.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why keep this a secret?” That was the question that kept circling in his mind. “Are you embarrassed of Logan or me?”
“No,” Christian said quickly. “You were so young when your mother died. I know you don’t remember much about her.”
“My mom?” Adam didn’t understand what his mom had to do with anything. He started to ask, but his father held up his hand.
“Just let me get through this.”
Adam nodded, so Christian continued, “I met Logan a couple of years before your mom. We connected immediately. But when my father made a deal with the Alpha of the Pack to mate me with his daughter, I had to give him up,” Christian explained.
“You were with Logan before Mom?” Adam couldn’t help but interrupt.
“Yes. It was hard, but I finally came out to my father. He took it much better than I could have ever hoped. When I told my father that I loved Logan, he had already made the deal. He felt bad, but there was nothing he could do. He would have lost the Pack if he’d broken the arrangement.”
Adam opened, then closed his mouth. His mind raced. In truth, he hadn’t thought of his mom in so long. When he’d seen his father with Logan, he still hadn’t thought of her. “There had to be something you could have done.”
“Things were different back then. Two men didn’t openly date or even think about going public with a relationship with another. And I did need a wife to give the Pack pups.”
“Did you see Logan when you were mated to my mom?” He had to know.
“No.” Christian shook his head fiercely. “Logan left the Pack and joined this one. I told your mother the truth right after we were mated and she seemed okay with it. Even asked if I wanted to see him.” Christian laughed. “Your mother was wonderful. She never made me feel bad about my feelings for Logan. After we’d been together for ten years, she went behind my back and contacted him.”
Adam gasped in astonishment.
“Yes. I was quite shocked myself. She knew that I loved her, but, without Logan, I was incomplete.”
“What happened?” Adam’s voice was just above a whisper. He had so many questions. He’d always heard how his mother had put everyone above herself. She had been one of the most unselfish and caring persons anyone had known. Stories from his dad and others in the Pack were all he really had of the woman who’d given birth to him, but they had always made him feel closer to her.
“Well…Logan came to visit.” Christian’s eyes clouded as if he were revisiting a memory. Adam found himself scooting closer, wanting to share it. “At first, I was so mad at her I could have strangled her. But then she calmly told both of us that we either needed to get over each other or admit our feelings out loud and in front of her.” Christian met his gaze. “So we did. And do you know what your mother did?”
Adam shook his head. There was no telling.
“She kissed me.”
Adam only frowned. What could he say to that? “And?”
Christian laughed deeper than. “She asked Logan if he wanted to kiss me.”
“He did.” Adam knew somehow.
His father smiled. “He did. When we finally broke apart, we turned to your mother and her smile was as big as the state.”
“She was happy about it?”
“After we kissed, she walked up just as bold as can be and kissed Logan.”
Adam jolted. “What?”
“It seems after years of me talking about Logan, then getting to know him herself, she had gained feelings for him, too.”
It was too much. Adam jumped onto his feet and backed away. “Are you telling me that the three of you…?”
His father nodded. “Until she died.”
“I don’t think I want to hear anymore.” Adam put his hand on his stomach and turned away. It wasn’t as though he was new to the world of ménage. He’d even participated in a few. But they were talking about his mother here. “Why did you tell me this?”
“Because I wanted you to understand I am not betraying your mother. I loved her very much. And she loved both Logan and me.” Christian stood and stepped closer so he could grasp Adam’s shoulder. “As Alpha of the Pack, I had to hide my feelings for him. I won’t hide them any longer.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Adam said. “I would never ask you to. But that doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me at least.”
“I wanted to give you time to adjust to your position. You’ve been worried sick about me,” Christian said.
“I have.”
“I’m sorry, Adam,” Christian said. “I have been going crazy with guilt keeping this from you.”
Hysterical laughter escaped until Adam thought he’d fall over. “I thought you wanted to end your existence!”
“No, son. This is such a mess. I just didn’t want to see disgust in your eyes when you look at me. I love you and I couldn’t take that,” Christian admitted emotionally. His father’s eyes teared up.
“I just want you to be happy. I don’t care if it’s with Logan or half the men in the Pack.”
His father embraced him. “Don’t let Logan hear you say that.”
Adam slapped his dad on the back. “You got it.”
“We should have talked about this earlier,” Christian said. “All of this confusion would have been avoided.”
“Yeah,” Adam agreed. “But it wouldn’t have been as much fun.”
Christian laughed. “You’ll come back soon?”
“Of course,” Adam said. “We’re actually letting Crystal stay here for a couple of weeks. We’ll be back to pick her up.”
“And Logan and I will come see you.”
Adam glanced up and saw Logan was still on the porch, wringing his hands. “Maybe we should let him come join us. He looks like he’s about to have a fit.”
“He’s scared that he’s going to come between us. Or you hate him. Or—”
“I get it.” Adam waved off his father. “Logan!” he yelled and gestured. “Come here.”
Logan jumped and, even from where Adam stood with his father, he could see that the older man blushing.
“Ah, that’s so cute,” Adam teased.
“Oh, shut up.” Christian hugged him, though.
Adam leaned his head on his father’s shoulder, happy and content.