Adam laughed as he passed the coffee pot to Clint while ignoring Cain. They’d all slept in due to the late run they’d had the night before. Cain, Kurt and Clint had volunteered for guard duty so that more of the Pack could run together. Adam really owed a lot to the three men.
Now they were enjoying a calorie-filled breakfast to replenish what they’d burned last night.
Clint and Cain were picking on each other, which kept the rest of them highly amused. It was only him, Tasha, Larry, Laura, Kurt, Clint and Cain for now, but there was no telling who else might show up. Laura and Tasha had made enough pancakes, eggs, bacon and cinnamon rolls for an army. Adam took a drink of his coffee while putting his arm over the back of Tasha’s chair. She leaned into him, laughing at something Laura had said.
The bonds that had started to form as soon as he’d taken over were stronger now. He’d never felt anything like this before. He could actually tell who was close by and how different people were feeling. Not everyone at the same potency. It seemed as if the more emotionally involved he was with the person, the more solid the link. He needed to talk to his dad. Adam wanted assurances that he was doing things right.
Adam’s cell phone rang and he almost laughed when his father’s name flashed across the screen. Tasha tilted her head back and looked at him with a furrowed brow.
“Dad,” he greeted happily.
“Hello, son,” Christian said. “Just calling to let you know that we’re almost to the front door and we have a very excited young lady who can’t wait to see her sister. I wonder if she’s there with you.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “Tasha is right here and she can’t wait to see Crystal again, either. We’ll meet you out front.”
Tasha was already on her feet.
“See you soon, Dad.” Adam rose as he turned, disconnected.
“I guess you heard,” he teased Tasha.
“I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed my sister,” Tasha said. She looked a little embarrassed.
“It’s all right,” Adam told her. “We understand.”
“I can’t wait to see Crystal again,” Laura said. “She’s one of the brightest girls I know.”
“She’d love to hear more about the history of the Packs,” Tasha said.
Laura nodded. “I’ve been thinking about what you all said last night. It might be a good idea to teach the younger shifters about where we come from.”
“Let us know if you need any help,” Kurt said. “The library at the Council compound is extensive. I could talk to the Council about letting you borrow some of the books.”
“That would be awesome!” Laura bounced in her seat.
Adam grinned down at his sister.
A horn honked outside and Tasha squeaked.
“Let’s go welcome Crystal back,” he suggested.
The rest of them rose and followed them to the front door.
Christian was opening the back door for Crystal while Logan was exiting the driver side when they reached the front porch.
“Tasha!” Crystal ran to her sister who already had her arms open and welcoming.
Adam moved aside so the two women could have a private moment. He followed the others down the steps. Laura was hugging their dad so Adam met Logan in front of the hood of the SUV. They shook hands before Logan pulled him forward and pounded his back in a manly hug. Adam was both surprised and pleased. He was relieved that Logan wasn’t holding Adam’s first reaction about his father’s relationship against him.
“It’s good to see you,” Adam said sincerely.
“You, too,” Logan replied.
The others were gathering around so Adam turned to his father to be lifted in a giant bear hug.
“Son!” Christian exclaimed. “I’m already hearing such wonderful things about you. I’m so proud.”
Adam grinned. He never got too old to hear that his father was proud of him.
“Breakfast is still warming in the kitchen,” Laura said. “Are you all hungry?”
Logan nodded. “I could eat.”
“If you wouldn’t mind taking a walk, Adam,” Christian said. “I can grab something later.”
Adam glanced between Christian and Logan, but both men seemed relaxed. “Sure.”
“Come on,” Laura encouraged with her hand on Logan’s arm. “Let’s catch up.”
Tasha still held Crystal, but she nodded to Adam. “I’m going to take Crystal home.”
He froze. Was she leaving already? Hadn’t they talked about her and Crystal staying with him? Was she even going to talk to Crystal about it?
“We’ll be back for lunch,” Tasha said with a wink.
“Okay.” He relaxed. “We’ll cook out again on the back porch.” He turned to his father. “You’re staying the night?”
“Yes,” Christian said. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
“Great,” Adam told him.
“See you soon,” Tasha called before leading Crystal away.
Adam was alone with his father. “You wanted to walk?” he asked. He didn’t know why he was nervous all of a sudden.
“Come on, son,” Christian pulled Adam to the north side of the house.
He followed along, not knowing what his dad wanted to talk to him about. Christian wasn’t saying anything, though, as they strolled along the side of the house out toward the clearing.
“So…” Adam drawled.
“Patience,” Christian said, then chuckled.
“Right.” Adam stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
The walk wasn’t long and before he knew it, they were standing in front of the ceremonial circle.
“I can smell the connection between the Pack and you. You did a good thing last night,” Christian said.
Adam looked around the small clearing. The different scents of the Pack members mingled with nature. It was the smell of home.
“You have the support of the Pack,” Christian said. “The final phase of coming into your powers is complete.”
“I wondered,” Adam murmured. “It’s stronger this morning.”
“Yes,” Christian said. “You accepted your place.”
“I’d already done it,” Adam said.
“No.” Christian shook his head. He strode over to a fallen log and sat before motioning Adam over.
Adam huffed but followed his father. “What do you mean?”
Christian gazed out at the land that surrounded them. “You accepted the position. You agreed to be Alpha and you promised to protect everyone, but you hadn’t actually joined with them. Now you have.”
“I don’t understand,” Adam admitted.
“A true Alpha, one that this Pack needs, must do more than accept the job. You have to bond with the Pack,” Christian told him.
“The run did that?” Adam asked.
“No,” Christian said. “Or not just the run. It’s everything combined. You became the leader you were meant to be.”
“You knew this would happen?” Adam peered at his dad.
“I hoped,” Christian admitted.
“You could have stayed Alpha while keeping yourself separate from the Pack,” Christian said. “A lot of Alphas do, but the Pack deserves the real connection with an Alpha.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Adam would have done everything he had to in order to be the best Alpha he could be.
“Because it has to come from your heart. I could have told you and you would have struggled to force it. This is something that has to happen on its own,” Christian told him.
Adam sighed. There was so much more to being a good Alpha than he’d thought. He didn’t know if he’d ever have things figured and now he knew his dad wasn’t telling him everything. “Am I ever going to work this out?”
“You already are,” Christian said.
The breeze picked up, bringing with it the sweet smell of grass. He hadn’t sat out here by himself yet but he could tell this was a good space to think in. Since the area was raised, he could see pretty far. The back of the house was visible and he could see Cain and Larry working out with Hector again. Kurt, Clint, Laura and Logan sat around the large backyard table. The only ones missing were Tasha and Crystal. He didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t see the two young women.
Adam shifted around until he faced the section of the property where the houses and cabins were located. The trees blocked his view, but he knew where each residence was situated.
“You’ve also become quite close to Tasha, as well.” His dad broke the silence.
“Yes,” Adam admitted. “I asked her to move in. To bring Crystal and stay at the main house with me.”
“I thought you might,” Christian said.
“Do you think it’s too soon?” he asked.
“Does it matter what I think? What anyone else thinks?” Christian questioned instead of answering.
“No,” Adam told him. “She’s who I want.”
“In that case, it isn’t too soon,” Christian said. “Take it from me. You don’t want to wait years to tell her how you feel. I could have had something great with your mom and Logan. We could have figured it out. Instead, I only got a few years with the two of them sporadically. I’m trying to make it up to Logan and he’s been more than understanding, but I still feel bad.”
“Better late than never,” Adam said. He didn’t know how to make his dad feel better about it. Sure, Christian had made some mistakes, but he was correcting them. “All that matters is that you’re together now.”
“That’s what Logan says,” Christian said.
“He’s a smart man,” Adam said. “Maybe you should listen to him.”
Christian chuckled. “Fine, and I wanted to talk about you and your girl, not my relationship, anyway.”
“What about us?” Adam asked.
“I want to get to know her and Crystal better.”
“You know them. They were part of your Pack,” Adam pointed out.
“But I want to get to know them as part of my family,” Christian said.
“Oh, wow.” Adam didn’t know how to respond.
“It’s okay.” Christian patted his shoulder. “We have time, but even though I’m not living here anymore, I just want to make sure you still talk to me.”
“Always, Dad,” Adam promised.
* * * *
Tasha kept her arm around her sister until they were in their own living room. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed Crystal until she had her sister in her arms.
“I’m so glad you’re home,” Tasha told her.
“Me, too,” Crystal said.
They were sitting beside each other on the couch and Tasha looked at her sister. Crystal had always been pretty, but now she seemed happier and that made her entire presence brighter.
“I know I said this before, but I’m really sorry about running away.” Crystal reached out and placed her palm over Tasha’s.
“It’s forgiven,” Tasha said. “Just don’t ever do it again.”
“I won’t,” Crystal promised. “But I want you to know that it’s not your fault.”
Tasha jerked a little. Why was Crystal even bringing this up? “It’s over and we don’t need to talk about it.”
“I think we do,” Crystal said.
“Why?”
“Because I had time to think about it. About what my running must have been like for you. I was selfish,” Crystal stated.
“You’re a teenager,” Tasha pointed out.
“Yes,” Crystal agreed. “Only a little bit younger than you when you had to start to take care of me. Well, officially, anyway.”
“That’s what sisters are for.”
“You didn’t have to,” Crystal said quietly. “You were so young and had your entire future in front of you. Instead, you became my parent.”
“Where’s this coming from?” Tasha questioned. Crystal had never sounded so serious and it was scaring Tasha.
“Like I said.” Crystal squeezed her hand. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. You grew up fast because you had to. Instead of recognizing your sacrifices, I acted like a spoiled brat.”
“No,” Tasha couldn’t take any more of this talk. “You acted like a frightened girl who didn’t understand what was going on. I wish I could have done more to help.”
“But you did!” Crystal cried. “That’s what I’m trying to say. I want to thank you.”
Tasha scooted closer to her sister. “You don’t ever have to say thank you to me. But you’re welcome.”
Crystal smiled. “Talking to Marissa the last couple of days really helped. She’s been through a lot of what I have. Her sister also is the only family she had before she met Gage. She helped me see that even though we’re different, we’re also luckier than most people in the world. Because we never stopped being loved.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Tasha said honestly.
“So.” Crystal took a deep breath. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. Now that I’m back, I want to concentrate on helping other non-shifters like Marissa. I also want to get more involved with the Pack. I need to talk to Alpha White about what I can do.”
Now would be the perfect time to being up Adam’s offer to move into the main house. Tasha nervously ran her hands over the knees of her jeans.
“What?” Crystal asked. “Is he mad at me?”
“No,” Tasha assured her. “He’s not mad at all.”
“So why do you have that weird look on your face?”
“Well.” Tasha had no idea how to bring up her relationship with their Alpha.
“Is this about you sleeping with the Alpha?”
“What!” Tasha shrieked.
“Marissa helped me concentrate on my senses. I’ll never be as strong or as good as a full shifter, but I’ve been practicing. I can smell the Alpha on you.”
“Adam.”
“Adam,” Crystal repeated. “So, tell me about Adam. But leave out the gushy parts. I am still a teenager.”
Tasha laughed. Crystal and she used to be able to have these conversations and tease each other often. It was only in the last year that they’d drifted apart. “I don’t know really where to start.”
“You weren’t seeing him before I left, were you?” Crystal asked.
“No,” Tasha assured her. “I wouldn’t keep something like that from you.”
“What then, you connected when you were looking for me?”
“There was always something about him,” Tasha said.
“Oh, I know,” Crystal teased. “I remember how you used to look at him.”
“Well, it seems that he was looking at me, too. I just didn’t know it.”
“So you’re really together?” Crystal squealed. “I’m so happy!”
“We are. In fact, there is something I need to talk to you about.”
“What?” Crystal asked, frowning.
“Adam wants us to move into the main house,” Tasha blurted out.
Crystal laughed. “Wow!”
“Sorry I didn’t mean to just throw that out there.”
Crystal nodded. “He wants us to move in?”
“Yes.”
“Wow!” Crystal said again. “What are we waiting for?”
“Really?” Tasha tried not to sound too shocked. “You’d consider it?”
“Consider it?” Crystal repeated. “I’ll start packing.” She jumped up.
“Hold on!” Tasha grabbed her arm. “I think we need to discuss this.”
“No, we don’t,” Crystal argued. “You want to do it. I want to do it. What is stopping us?”
Tasha had really expected needing to talk Crystal into moving. “Well, this is our house. We wouldn’t have to sell it, but it’s ours.”
Crystal sat back down. “You mean it’s where we lived with Mom and Dad?”
How in the hell did her sister get to be so smart? “It’s been our home for a long time. I don’t want you to think we have to leave. Adam and I can work out other arrangements.”
“Why would you want to, though?” Crystal asked. “The Alpha house is awesome! He has a pool and plenty of room. There’s always masses of food already made in the kitchen. We wouldn’t have to live on mac and cheese.”
Tasha laughed. She wasn’t the best cook and they both knew it. It was a joke between the two of them. “It might be hard on you,” she said seriously. “You’re already different from the other kids. I don’t want you teased because of my relationship with the Alpha.”
“Well, whether we move in or not, you’d still be in a relationship with him. You would just be hiding it,” Crystal said. “That won’t work for long. Even I know that’ll lead to nothing but trouble.”
Tasha shook her head. “You’re right. But this is about me. It’s my job to take care of you.”
“I say we go,” Crystal stated firmly.
“I guess we’re moving!” Tasha cried.
“Yeah!” Crystal jumped back up. “This is going to be great.”
“Okay,” Tasha agreed. “Go pack a bag. We’re supposed to be there for lunch and we can spend the night. We’ll work out a schedule on getting everything else we want moved over.”
“Be right back.” Crystal ran toward her bedroom and Tasha had to laugh.
She hadn’t expected it to be so simple. Maybe it was too easy. Things were changing fast and Tasha’s head was spinning. Tasha wanted to move in with Adam, but she was just expecting something to stand in her way. Why was she expecting that, though?
Tasha stood, then strolled over to the window. She couldn’t say that she really cared about leaving that house but she’d thought Crystal might. Since she’d had to step up and take care of her sister, Tasha’s life had been nothing but hardship in the place. Honestly, before it was just her and Crystal, it had really always been just her and Crystal. Her parents had never been the loving, caring type. Tasha had looked out for Crystal the entire time they’d been growing up. She’d always been the one to make sure Crystal had enough to eat and clean clothes. It hadn’t been a shock that in the end she was all Crystal had left.
Or she had been.
Now, they had Adam and the rest of the Pack. That was something. They were growing into a real family and Tasha should be excited, not scared.
“I’m ready!” Crystal yelled coming down the hall.
“Okay.” Tasha laughed. “Let me grab a few things.”
“What have you been doing?” Crystal complained.
“Nothing,” Tasha said. “Just give me a few minutes.” She headed toward her own room so she could pack some clean clothes. She already had some of her stuff at Adam’s, but if she were going to move in, she would prefer her own toiletries. Not that she had anything against Adam’s place, but his soap was a little too manly for her. Plus, it dried out her skin.
“Hurry up!” Crystal shouted. “I didn’t get breakfast.”
Tasha grinned. It looked as though her sister could still act like a kid sometimes.
* * * *
“I cleared out a couple of drawers,” Adam said, pulling out one to show Tasha. “At least until we get your furniture over here. Or maybe we’ll want to buy something new for us.”
She nodded, still glancing around the room.
It was the first time they’d been alone that evening and he was weirdly nervous. He loved his section of rooms. Casual yet comfortable. He couldn’t tell what Tasha thought about the space, though. She hadn’t complained or commented when she’d been staying over, but now that this was going to be her home, too, he wished she’d say something.
“There’s also plenty of room in the closest,” he added, waving his hand over in that direction.
“Okay.”
Adam spotted her bags on the end of the bed and strolled over. Cain had been the one who had brought up her stuff as he and Tasha had shown Crystal to the bedroom that would be hers.
Crystal hadn’t been shy in showing her excitement. She’d practically bounced on the bed while talking at what sounded like a hundred miles a minute. Adam grabbed the closest duffel.
“I’ll help you unpack,” Adam offered.
“Stop,” she said quietly.
Adam froze. That didn’t sound good. He slowly released his hand before he turned to her. “What?”
“Just…” She stopped to take a deep breath.
Adam didn’t know what else to do other than to stand there like an idiot as whatever Tasha was thinking about bothered her. Had he pushed her by asking her to move in so quickly?
“Are you sure about this?” she asked softly.
“Sure?” he questioned. “About having you and Crystal here? Of course!” He stepped forward. “Honey, I want you here, with me, every night. I want to wake up each morning and talk over coffee before we both go about our day.”
“I want that, too,” she said. “But if for any reason you change your mind—”
“I won’t.” Adam tugged Tasha against him. “I know that I won’t.”
Tasha nodded. “I guess I’m just a little more nervous than I thought I’d be.”
“Yeah,” Adam said. “Me, too.”
“Really?” She sounded happy about his confession.
Adam sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her between his legs. “I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone before. I had a crush on you before we went looking for Crystal. It’s still hard for me to believe that you share my feelings. But I’m happy. We both agreed to give this a try. I want it to work.”
She leaned forward to brush her lips over his. “Thank you.”
“Now,” Adam said. “What should we do first? Get you moved in?”
“No.” Tasha shook her head. “I think we need to christen the bed.”
He laughed. “I think we’ve done that.”
“We did when this was your room. Now it’s ours.”
Adam couldn’t really argue with her logic. Plus, he wanted her. It seemed as if he couldn’t get enough, in fact.
Tasha grinned as she lowered to her knees. Adam watched her, his smile growing.
“Take off your shirt.”
He complied quickly.
She unlaced his boots before yanking them off, along with his socks. Adam flexed his toes. Tasha was rubbing his calves while he peered down at her. Her bangs had fallen over her eyes so he brushed away the silky strands.
“Pants,” she murmured.
Adam leaned back before he unsnapped his jeans and pulled down his zipper. He lifted his hips and her hands were there to help him peel off the denim. He wasn’t wearing underwear and Tasha moaned in approval.
“So sexy,” she said.
Adam raised his head off the mattress. She was the sexy one, sitting back on her heels while gazing up at him. Adam couldn’t keep his hands off her any longer. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pressed.
Tasha lowered her head as she wrapped her right hand around the base of his cock.
“Suck me,” he whispered.
Her eyes flashed with arousal.
“Please.” Adam needed to feel her mouth snug around his cock.
Instead of taking him deep like he wanted, Tasha licked at the head of his cock.
He grunted while bucking his hips. Adam added a little more pressure to try to convince her not to tease.
Tasha ignored his direction. She ran her tongue along his length before lapping at his balls. He jerked and grunted. Damn, this feels good. Tasha giggled, then did it again.
“Tasha!” he called out.
She was really lavishing his sac but ignoring his cock. He didn’t want her to stop what she was doing, so Adam palmed his erection and began to stroke. She still held on to the base of his cock, but Adam was still getting good friction.
Tasha moved just behind his balls to that thin strip of flesh that was overly sensitive. She ran her finger along the skin before mouthing him.
“Jeez!” Adam cried. He sped up his hand.
“Don’t come,” Tasha told him. “I want to ride your cock.”
He let go of himself immediately. If he hadn’t, then he would have erupted at her words. “Climb on,” he begged.
Tasha placed a soft kiss on the head of his shaft before clambering to her feet. “Stay right where you are.”
Adam fisted his hands in the sheets while Tasha undressed. He couldn’t not help. Adam started to sit up.
“If you move,” she warned, “I’ll play with myself and leave you there wanting.”
He groaned but dropped back down. Tasha was the one in control and he was amused, aroused and frustrated.
Once naked, Tasha stepped up onto the mattress with her legs on either side of him. Adam went to reach up for her but she shook her head. Adam sighed, his shaft so hard he actually ached. Well, if she wanted to play, then Adam would have to enjoy himself, as well.
Adam licked his lips as he made sure to keep his gaze on hers. Tasha’s pupils grew and her breaths came quicker. Yeah, she was going to give in.
“Come down here,” he ordered.
Very slowly, she began to sink down above him. She settled on top of his thighs before grasping his cock and pumping.
“I thought you were going to ride me?”
“I am,” she answered. “I’m just making sure you’re ready.”
Since he was already dripping with a small amount of pre-cum, it was obvious he was ready. Adam didn’t hold back from moving against her hold. She smirked while stroking him but didn’t say anything about him moving.
“What are you waiting for?” he growled. He was trying his best to hold back his climax, but the edge was getting closer and closer.
“That sound,” Tasha said. “I love that husky sound to your voice.”
Adam groaned, but finally, fucking finally, Tasha got up on her knees and scooted forward. He waited as patiently as possible as she positioned the tip of his shaft at her entrance. Adam gripped her hips before Tasha lowered herself. She did so slowly and it was absolute torture. He gritted his teeth to keep from thrusting up hard. He wanted to be buried inside her, now.
They both moaned. Adam at the feel of her soft inner muscles clamping around his cock. Tasha placed her hands on his chest before she lifted, then slammed back down. So good. She laughed and repeated the move. Adam could only hold on as she rode him hard and fast.
Each time Tasha plunged down, she scraped her nails across his chest. He hissed, bucked and grunted. Tasha threw back her head. She looked like a siren flowing up and down. It was the most erotic thing that he’d ever seen.
He shuddered, but that was the only movement he made. He stopped thrusting up and instead tangled his fists into the sheets and stilled his hips. The pain from being so aroused was almost unbearable. He needed to come, but he didn’t want this to end.
Adam bit down hard on his lower lip.
“Okay?” she asked between pants.
“Dying,” he managed.
Tasha lowered her top half down, her breasts against his chest, and kissed him hard. Adam closed his eyes even though he really wanted to watch her some more. He was just afraid that if he did, he’d come before her.
Tasha nipped at his mouth before plunging her tongue inside.
He wrapped his arms around her back before he started to drive up. He couldn’t stand it any longer. Adam had to take control.
“Harder,” she demanded.
Adam rolled them so she was underneath and sat back on his heels. He yanked her up by her arms so that she was sitting on his lap. In this position, he could thrust hard while she slammed down. They moved with such a smooth rhythm that Adam was having trouble catching his breath. Hell, breathing was overrated. Nothing was better than sliding in between her slick folds to claim her in the most intimate way.
“Yes,” Tasha hissed. She lowered her mouth to his shoulder and bit down.
Adam roared as the orgasm rushed out of him. He was taken by surprise at the intensity. He gripped her hips, but Tasha was still riding his cock. He stayed half-hard with the pleasure coursing through his body.
When she started to mutter, he threw her back on the mattress and plowed forward over and over until she screamed.
Her climax shook her body.
Adam kept sliding in and out until she dropped back, limp.
Fuck, if they weren’t careful, they were going to hurt each other.