"I'm an idiot." I swallowed hard and dropped back against the couch. "I complained about him buying me. That's exactly what Clint thinks he did to me. Claimed me without my consent."
"You're not an idiot," Sebastian disputed immediately. "Things just went off track. Now we fix it."
"How?" I groaned miserably. "How do I convince the Alpha that I love that he didn't claim me against my will after everything I've done lately backs up his belief that he did? It'll never work."
"Trevor." Thane shoved his way into the conversation from where he stood by the window. "When Drey was cooling his heels in a detainment cell and I was determined to save him, did you tell me to give up?"
"No, of course not."
"No," Thane agreed. "You hustled up a ride and told me that you wanted to help. You said we'd find a way." Thane looked around the room, meeting each being's gaze. "And we did. Now it's time for us to helpyoufind a way."
I followed his eyes around the room, considering the lessons that each of them brought to the table. Vlad and his message of self-worth. Spencer and courage. Cian had strength of spirit. Thane brought determination. Kenny had surprised me when he stressed communication. Young Quinn and his easy understanding of perseverance. Sebastian who had tied it all together.
That left only one. The only being who hadn't had a story to tell. Hedidn't need one. After all, I knew Colby's story as well as I knew my own. The white wolf who had watched the proceedings with sharp cerulean eyesneeded no excuse for his presence at my side. Colby was my strength.
My friends gathered around me and began to brainstorm as a plan to convince my Alpha to reclaim his mate slowly took form. The pounding in my head started to ease.
I started to laugh when Colby gave me a roguish wink.
"That Alpha's not gonna know what hit him."
ChapterTwenty-One
Clint
There's an old saying about many hands making light work, and that couldn't be much truer than when you get a group of Alphas together. There's no chance in hell that we're going to talk about our feelings, so if you throw in some tools and a plan, shit's gonna get done.
The exterior of the third bedroom had gone up in record time and was almost complete when Omegas began filing out of the house into the bright mid-morning sun. I was surprised by the gentle smiles and light touches as they passed me to collect their Alphas and head back to their respective homes. I'd expected something more along the lines of a battle attack once they knew the situation.
In short order, it was just Rafe and me again, driving the final nails into the trim on the walls.
"You need another pair of hands?" Colby called out as he clomped down the porch steps and headed our direction.
"Naw," I drove in the final nail and tossed the hammer to the ground. "This part is all done. I think I'm gonna get some sleep."
Colby nodded and clapped me on the shoulder. "He still loves you. Don't be a dumbass."
Before I could answer, Rafe reached for his Omega, grabbing him by the belt and hauling him against his body. "You ready to go?"
Colby smirked and leaned forward, whispering something in his Alpha's ear that made his lips spread in a dirty grin. Then they were back on the bike and heading down the road in record time.
I spent some time cleaning up the mess and putting the tools away, hopefully giving Trevor time to fall asleep before I finished.
~*~
The house was quiet when I finally slipped in. I lifted the pups from where they were curled around each other in a pile on their bedroom floor and tucked them into Adrian's bed, smiling when they immediately burrowed into the covers. They both reminded me so much of Trevor when they did that. Through the half-open door, I could hear Trevor moving restlessly in the bed. That wasn’t good for him or the pup. I frowned to myself and rushed through a shower as quickly as possible, scrubbing the sweat and sawdust off.
Trevor was still tossing and turning in the bed when I finished, so I gave the sleep pants and t-shirt that I usually wore a considering look. I was pretty sure that he had figured out what I was doing, but if he woke while I was cuddling him, I didn't want him to question my motives. Still, Trevor was unsettled and the more direct skin contact we had, the more benefit that Trevor and the baby would receive in the short amount of time I had with them. With that justification buzzing in my head, I left them in the chair.
I lifted the covers and eased into the bed, careful not to wake him. When I reached for Trevor and my hand slid over soft, silky skin instead of the cotton I'd expected, I froze. Before I could pull away, Trevor murmured a faintly welcoming sound in his sleep and his hand covered mine on his hip, tugging me closer as he snuggled back against my body, bringing my hand up to rest over his heart and holding it there.
He sighed deeply and relaxed against me as I fought to control my body's physical response to feeling almost all of him against me. With Trevor's butt making little micro-movements against my dick as he settled, challenging was an understatement, but I was determined not to take advantage of him ever again. To my surprise, I actually dozed off and found myself in the most erotic dream I could ever remember having.
I was face down on the bed and, for some reason, immobile, and Trevor was taking full advantage of the situation to touch and tease me. His long, slender fingers rubbed over my asshole before he slid two in to tease my prostate. I was gasping and humping the blankets beneath me as he thrust his fingers deep, his pre-come slick dick sliding over my hip as he played.
I woke with a gasp when a sharp flash of pleasure burst through me.
It wasn't a dream.
