Alec shrugged.
“For fuck’s sake, Alec.”
“I told him to be careful.”
Tim stared at him, incredulous. “Oh well, that’s okay then. As long as you told him tobe careful.”
Sighing, Alec met Tim’s gaze. “What should I have done, then? He’s old enough to make his own decisions.”
“That’s such bollocks, and you know it. He’s what, twenty-three, twenty-four years old?”
Alec nodded.
Tim swore under his breath. “Fuck. You should have forced him to stay away from his pack building until your scent faded.”
“And how would I do that exactly?”
“I don’t know, but you can’t just have your fun and then throw him back into the lion’s den.” Tim sighed when Alec didn’t answer, but what could he say? They both knew Tim was right. “Do you think Newell would punish Mark? I mean, Cam didn’t seem unduly concerned.”
Alec’s laugh was hollow. “Newell is not Cam.”
“No, he’s not. Do you think he’ll believe that it was just sex? No nefarious plan on your part.” At Alec’s raised eyebrow, Tim swallowed. “Yeah, probably not.”
Even more reason not to see Mark again. “Let’s hope he has the good sense to avoid his alpha until my scent wears off.”
Tim glared at him, still looking pissed off. “Yes. Let’s hope.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Hey, Mark?”
Mark startled awake to find Will peering round his bedroom door.
He yawned, sat up, and groaned. “I feel like shit. What time is it?”
“Ten past twelve.” He came in and shut the door behind him. “Jason’s here.”
“Arse.” Mark lifted his shoulder and tried to sniff his skin. “Can you still smell Alec on me?”
Will walked over to him, shaking his head. “The things I do for you.” Stopping next to the bed, Will leaned in, gave him a sniff, and grimaced. “Yeah. You still smell like the good time you had last night.”
Mark smiled, remembering, then glanced towards the door. “Is he in the living room?”
“Yep. Asked me to come and wake you up. Said he had something important to talk to you about.”
“Fucking hell.” Mark bent over and grabbed his jeans off the floor. “Well, I was thinking about telling him anyway. Decision made.” Pulling on his jeans, he met Will’s gaze. “How do you think he’ll take it?”
“I don’t know, but for what it’s worth, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
While Mark agreed with him in principle—he disliked the idea of keeping secrets from his beta—it didn’t mean he was looking forward to telling him. “Come on, let’s go get this over with.”
Jason glanced up as they entered the living room. Will allowed Mark to go first, and Mark saw the exact moment his scent registered with his beta. Jason’s nostrils flared and his gaze shot to Mark’s, eyebrows raised comically high. “Something you want to tell me?”
Mark sat in the chair with a sigh. “Actually, yes.” Will sat next to Jason and gave Mark a small smile of encouragement. Might as well get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid…. “I had sex with Alec Knight.”
“I see.” Jason wasn’t surprised by the words.Shit, do I still smell that strongly?“And are you planning on seeing him again?”
“No. I think it was a one-time-only offer.”
