Cam
Amassive alpha, almost as broad as me, stepped out of the car with a scowl. Josie let out a happy squeal and threw open the front door to run out and meet him. Sam Larsson was a tall, Black alpha with a short afro and mistrusting eyes. His face broke into a massive grin as Josie threw herself at him, and he spun her around with a laugh before setting her back down. His eyes locked with mine over Josie’s head, the scowl returning. I instinctually flexed my arms and then felt ridiculous. This was Josie’s friend. We owed him a shit-ton for protecting her.
“So… Josie didn’t mention her best friend looks like a fucking military leader and is built like a tank,” Theo muttered.
The passenger side door opened and another alpha stepped out. Gerald couldn’t have been more of a contrast to Sam if he tried. He was a ginger with a slight build, nerdy glasses, and a friendly gaze. He gave the three of us a cheerful wave before pulling Josie into his arms.
“Come on,” Ben said, a smile tugging on his lips. “Let’s go say hi.”
Josie made all the introductions, practically bouncing with happiness. Her eyes kept returning to Sam as if afraid he was going to disappear. The possessive part of me didn’t want her to pay attention to anyone else, especially not another alpha, but the joy she exuded helped me settle down. I couldn’t stop myself from snagging her hand as we walked back into the house. She grasped it with both of hers and beamed at me.
“Thanks for letting them come stay,” she said softly, pressing her body against mine.
I melted, amazed at how easy it was to please our omega. If seeing Sam made her this happy, I could put my possessiveness aside for a day.
* * *
Jealousy surged through me as I shifted, trying to get comfortable on the lounge chair that was too small and way too empty of my omega. I looked over again to the couch where Josie was giggling with Gerald at the movie they’d put on. Apparently, this was the second movie in the series we started the other night, not that I was paying attention to anything happening on the screen. Sam was on Gerald’s other side, and Theo was pressed up against Josie, his face expressionless.
Theo had continued to spiral since Josie’s nightmare. Yesterday, I could sense his anxious chaos through the bond, but now he was shielding his emotions, pulling away from us and barely speaking. He also hadn’t left Josie’s side. I knew it was hurting her, how far he had retreated within himself. I wanted to help him come out of this mood, but right now, I was just pissed that I wasn’t the one sitting next to Josie. I didn’t know how it was possible to miss someone who was sitting a few feet away, but the absence of her skin on mine felt like a piercing wound.Maybe you’re not as okay as you’re pretending to be.I scoffed.Of course, I wasn’t fucking okay.
Josie had another nightmare last night. It wasn’t as intense as the first one, and we helped her come out of it quickly, but it still left me off-kilter. I struggled to reconcile the vibrant, smiling woman in front of me with the one curled up on the floor, fear saturating her scent as tears trickled down her cheeks. I had been so convinced I could protect her from anyone who dared try to cause her harm I’d forgotten one crucial thing: I couldn’t protect her from the scars left on her mind any more than I could prevent my own nightmares from visiting me each night.Not each night,I reminded myself. Not since Josie started sleeping next to you.
Helplessness surged through me, gripping my heart like a vise. As if she could sense the direction of my thoughts, Josie looked over at me.
“You okay?”
I nodded and did my best to smile. She didn’t look convinced by my effort. I saw her nose scrunch up and realized shecouldsense my feelings through my scent. Fuck, how could I have forgotten that? And once we were bonded, she would have a direct line to my emotions. The fear of burdening her with my feelings warred with my primal alpha desire to see my bite on her.
“I need more snacks,” Sam said, giving Gerald a kiss on the cheek. “You want anything?”
Josie and Gerald both shook their heads.
“You sure? Because I know how you both get about snacks. I’m going to come back and you’ll want something.”
“Shh, you’re talking over the good part,” Gerald said, gesturing wildly at Sam.
Sam rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched. As he got up, he shot me a meaningful look. Knowing this might be the only chance to talk with him without Josie, I got up and followed him to the kitchen. Theo and Ben followed, making excuses for why they needed to go to the kitchen.
Sam turned to face me behind the island, expression severe and body defensive.
I cleared my throat. “We wanted to get a chance to talk with you alone. But before that, I wanted to thank you.”
A brief look of shock flitted across Sam’s features.
“Josie told us two nights ago… about the DA and the device. And how much you helped her. We’re forever in your debt for what you did for her,” I continued.
“I didn’t do it for you,” Sam said. “There’s never a debt when it comes to her. I would do anything for her, always.”
I nodded and crossed my arms. “Still, we are in your debt. Josie sees you as family. And…” Fuck. Why was this so hard? My entire upbringing and my inner alpha fought against me.You should always treat outside alphas as threats. Never let your guard down. I forced myself to unclench my fists. “We hope you’ll consider us part of your family.”
This time, the surprise was clear on Sam’s face. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, fuck, I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Great, have we got the alpha posturing out of the way?” Ben asked cheerfully. “Because our mate definitely needs more snacks.” He pulled out a large serving plate and started putting together a cheese board.
Sam smiled. “It’s fun to see them together,” he said, nodding to where Josie and Gerald were sitting in the other room.
“We do have some questions for you,” I said. Theo was standing next to me, his arms crossed. I tried to sense his feelings through the bond, but he was still shutting me out.
