Ottis’ pulse fluttered. He looked up at Doc. “Really?”
“Yes.” Doc nuzzled him again.
Crush sighed. “I still don’t know about this. But you’re a lot better than all the other crap alphas Ottis has had in the past.”
Something about Crush’ tone, and Ottis’ skittishness, made alarm bells ring at the back of Doc’s mind. But they were in public. He didn’t want to discuss that here.
“We should get going,” Doc said.
“Will you tell the pack to stop hunting me down?” Ottis said to Crush.
“I’ll tell them,” Crush said, glancing at Doc. “But you had better keep Ottis safe, or the pack will hunt you down instead.”
Doc nodded. “I’ll do my best. Mates are precious; I’ve wanted one for a very long time.”
Ottis turned pink all the way to his ears. So beautiful.
The thing was, Ottis’ blushes were not a sure thing. Would he still turn pink if he knew what Doc looked like, under the masks?
Anxiety flickered through Doc’s stomach.
“Good to know,” Crush said. He stepped forward to squeeze Ottis’ shoulder. “You don’t smell like pack anymore.”
Ottis rolled his eyes. “Obviously I went dark to hide from all of you.”
“Well, the others might still drop by to measure Doc by their yardsticks.”
“Why does that sound like a dick-measuring contest? Do you all seriously want to wave your cocks around? Tie little flags to your tips and make them flap in the wind?” Ottis grumbled. Then he clutched his head and gagged. “Ugh. I’m not thinking that about my brothers. UGH!”
Doc laughed, sliding his arm around Ottis’ waist. Ottis went easily with him, allowing Doc to pull them snug together. Then he stuck his tongue out at Crush.
It felt good, knowing how comfortable Ottis was with his touch.
“I’m not going to ask how you met each other,” Crush muttered.
“That would be for the best,” Doc agreed.
“It’s a juicy secret,” Ottis said slyly. “So scandalous.”
Killian raised his eyebrows. “Oh? How scandalous?”
Ottis squinted, as though he was contemplating sharing their secret.
ThenCrushmade a face that said he clearly did not care, when he absolutely was dying of curiosity himself.
“Nope! I’m not telling.” Ottis linked his arm with Doc’s and dragged him away. Doc followed obligingly, feeling extremely special.
“You’re welcome for us trying to protect you,” Crush called.
Ottis turned and blew a raspberry at him.
Doc laughed. “You’re an adult, sweetheart.”
“Which means I can blow raspberries whenever I want.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that.”
Doc gave Crush and Killian a parting nod over his shoulder. He followed Ottis to the omega clothes section, where Ottis grabbed some oversized hoodies. “You can borrow mine too, if you prefer them huge.”
