Shattering Silence (Part 1 of 2)
I know I have been promising this update forever. I started writing it in March and now look where we are, but I just wasn't happy with it, however many times I rewrote it, until now. I beg everyone's forgiveness for the shocking time it's taken!
Title: Shattering Silence (or, How Chad Knows Best)
Description: AU. NC-17. Alpha!Jensen and Omega!Jared. This is a timestamp for Christmas Tree, set in the au world of the Wolf Pass Pack.
Several months after Jensen brings his mate home, Jared is pregnant and he’s getting stronger every day. Everything should be just perfect, but Jared isn’t talking about his past and Jensen isn’t talking about the real reason he won’t have sex with his mate.They’re happy though, Jensen is content and looking forward to their first pup and Jared feels loved and happy, he keeps telling himself so. The rest of the pack think that their Alpha needs a reality check and Chad isn’t too shy to tell him.
Status: Complete.
Warnings: Explicit sexual content, a/b/o dynamics, mpreg, aftermath of past sexual and emotional abuse, schmoop
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chad/Milo, Katie/Steve
Beta: Thankyou to the marvellous sylsdarkplace for making this better. All mistakes remain my own.
Length: ~11,500 words
Disclaimer: This is fiction, pure fantasy folks. Nobody here belongs to me and they’re not likely to get in my van for candy a side of beef any time soon
***
“I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more.” ~C.S. Lewis
***
Jared’s huge paw outstretched with rapid grace, and his talons tore at tender flesh. There was a coppery tang and the splash of hot blood on his tongue. Fluttering heartbeat slowed to a stop in a haze of crunching satisfaction, but it was a mere snack.
The cry of a defenceless baby, the taint and beat and flesh of another was sweet temptation for an omega in pup with gore and nature propelling him. The prey was soft and slow moving, and he stalked, belly to the ground, lips curled back, ready to pounce. It cried “Mama” but no parent lingered for its defence. He was in the moment, his world narrowed to crimson pulse and instinct. Muscles pulled taut and released but his teeth didn’t find their prize. Familiar scent and heavy weight bowled into him. It knocked him breathless and pinned him with growled warning and sharp bite of his Alpha. The sudden pain brought Jared back to himself. Red mist parted and his wolf found another awareness to look onto the devastation of a gutted squirrel on the forest floor, and beside it, a soft-bodied and blood covered doll. “Mama” it bleated in an electronic voice, and Jared felt a surge of bitter disappointment even within the safe grip of Jensen’s hold.
They lay panting on the fresh, wet, grass of the clearing, in the early morning light. Jensen licked his Omega’s snout, cleaning his mate with steady reassurance. “It’s not so bad. You are improving,” he wanted to tell Jared, but he knew that his mate was deaf to his wolf voice, and the screeching static that Jared heard instead, would only cause distress.
“Hey, wow, Jared. You took the squirrel real good.” Gen said it for him. In human form she wound in the nylon thread that jerked the baby doll. Jared was calming, he could interpret the scent of a dozen of the Wolf Pass children who had handled the doll, and it horrified him that it hadn’t stopped his attack. He shook his head, a conscious signal to the fellow pack member and to his mate. Jensen shifted in the blink of an eye to sit beside his Omega and ruffle fingers through the soft, thick fur. “You should try to remain as wolf for a few hours or digesting that squirrel will be a bitch. No more hunting for today. Take a run up to the cabins with Gen. I have patients all morning, but if you can manage to shift for me, at lunchtime then I’ll take time to stop and eat with you. Deal?” He smoothed the dark wolf’s ears and noted the deliberate movement of Jared’s head. There was a gentle whine from his mate and the wolf swung his face to lick warm, wet stripes on Jensen’s hand.
Jensen tangled his hand deeper into his fur. “You did good, Jared.”
***
Water was running cold in forest streams now the snow had melted from Wolf Pass. The pads of Jared’s paws raised a fine mist of water droplets as they sank into sodden ground with a steady, confident rhythm. Jensen’s program for his mate was tough. Jared’s wolf ran every day with one of the pack until his muscles cramped with exhaustion. He had started with simple steps. He repeated the same movements until he was close to despair and then another move would be added, backward steps, a stalking crawl or a leap. He had worked on one goal for eight days, just jumping to the top of the wood pile, trying to land on it, without stumbling or falling back. The day that he stood firm on the top log with his tongue lolling, the whole pack had acknowledged it. His old music player had been replaced with a brand new iPOD and credit to spend on iTunes.
Life in Wolf Pass was more than he ever dreamed for. Jared had a supportive pack. He was living in a cosy home and had enough food in his belly. More than that, he had Jensen. His mate cared for him and looked forward to welcoming their pup.
Pup. It was a wonderful mystery to him, how something so special was bestowed on him. It wasn’t twins or triplets like most Were pregnancies but this child was a miracle and the thought of it filled him with trepidation and awe. Jared was determined to give his pup the best start in life. He ate properly, exercised, and took every piece of advice that the vet could give him. He had filled out with muscle and his belly stretched with the early signs of new life. His home was freedom, clean air, the sharp tang of pine and the sights and sounds of bright, living things.
Jared stopped his daydreaming to concentrate on the rhythm of his run. Gen urged him on with a yip, and he jumped a trickling stream, landing sure footed on the other side. She threaded through thick undergrowth, and he followed without getting snagged on the branches. She reached the cabins first and sat by a tall woodpile, and Jared altered his pace, flexed his back legs and sprang for the top. The huge wolf leaped with grace and landed without faltering then stretched out on it with lazy confidence.
They rested for a while before Genevieve disappeared into the small cabin that provided privacy for shifting. An influx of unpredictable hikers had started with spring weather and Jensen had decided that some modesty should be practised by his pack. She shifted, dressed and returned with ten different objects, some wild and some from human sources. She hid the items for Jared to snuffle out in turn. It was a regular routine and Jared was improving. The human input became less conscious and his wolf more natural to him with every passing day. On weekdays, Chris, Gen or Milo worked with him to Jensen’s instructions, but on the weekends his mate would accompany him and they would roam their territory and experiment with new ideas to help him adjust. When Jared tired, Jensen endeavoured to find a place of particular beauty where they could rest, laying flush to each others sides and grooming one another until Jared slept with his snout buried in Jensen’s thick fur, soothed by his scent and heartbeat. Jensen never slept at those times. Jared would always awake revived, to find his Alpha, alert and protective, by his side.
Jared shifted mid-morning and that was getting better too. He kept to a regular routine, and it seemed to help. Most of the time if he needed to prevent his regular shift he could, but he may not be able to shift again until the next usual time. At least he was no longer ambushed by his own body, and it let him assume some normalcy. Genevieve made her way down the mountainside, and Jared took a path to the campsite where he had first squatted, starving and desperate, at a cold Christmas-time. Jensen had rescued him in every way here, with small gifts and grand gestures, a brightly lit Christmas Tree and unconditional love. Jared looked to the side of the picnic area as he passed through. The Christmas Tree was still there, hanging on to life with tenacity. Sam had found it in its pot in early Spring, and though it’s few short-cut roots were withering and much of it was bare, there was the hint of spring green and life on some of it’s branches. She had dug a place for it, right there, in the thawing ground, and planted it with care. Jared stopped to sniff at it. There was the scent of decaying wood but the fresh pine of new growth was obvious. Sam thought it would thrive again, despite its sorry appearance. Chad greeted him with a holler and he picked up tools and paint to help with the preparation of the buildings for the summer season.
Jensen flipped his cell and grinned. He put the finishing touch to pastrami on rye and tossed the salad with dressing. Lunch was casual and flexible in their household. Most days Jared came home and made lunch for anybody who dropped in. Even with morning sickness, he liked to cook for the pack. Today, Jensen decided it was his turn to treat his mate. He had news to break to Jared, and this would give them more time to talk about it.
“Hey, that looks good.” Jared breezed into the kitchen with Chad.
“Something for my baby and my pup, to keep them strong.” Jensen hooked his fingers into Jared’s belt loops and pulled him close for a quick kiss on the cheek.
Jared colored at the use of the affectation in front of Chad, who shrugged. “Don’t mind me. If you’re gonna put on a show, I’ll stay and leer.”
Jensen and Chad fought good-naturedly over the pepper until a pile was spilled on the table and when the carton of juice was about to go the same way Jared made a trip to the fridge and banged a new carton onto the table. “Behave, pups!” He laughed.
“Ooh, you are going to be such a strict parent. There will be a pup with table manners,” Chad teased.
“Well at least there’ll be one in the pack!” retorted Jensen. He yelped, a trickle of icy water ran down the back of his neck as an ice cube was tucked under his collar. “Ack, what’s that for?”
“Two. There will be two of us with table manners!” Jared said primly, with a quirk of his lips.
Jensen made sure that Jared took a sandwich and though he could see the struggle his mate finally ate all of his lunch. “You okay? Gonna hurl?”
“No, it’ll be fine. It was touch and go first thing this morning, but mostly I’m over it during the day.”
Jensen felt comfortably full. He pushed his chair back from the table with a scrape. “What plans have you got this afternoon?” he asked.
“Chad’s going back up the mountain, but I’m a bit tired. I figured I’d stay and work on Sarah’s rabbit hutch and then maybe read. Is that alright with you?”
“Of course it is. You don’t have to ask me, Jared,” Jensen spoke softly, “What are you reading?”
“I finished ‘Were Gryhlls Modern Survival Skills.’ It was very funny in places.”
“Ma Donna thought it was a hilarious present to give to me when I went to college. The section on rustling Koi Carp from public lakes was particularly useful.” The Alpha winked at him, “Tasted disgusting though.”
Chad was clearing the table, he frowned. “You didn’t actually …”
Jensen spat his coffee back into his cup. “No. Idiot, I didn’t! They did have take out you know!” Chad rinsed the dishes and Jared moved to help him, but Jensen motioned for him to sit back down, “No, stay. I want to talk to you.”
Jared looped his foot around the chair and flipped it around. Jensen didn’t know if Jared was always more comfortable this way or if it was because of the pregnancy. He didn’t ask. He liked the relaxed way Jared splayed his legs to sit astride the seat of the chair and his arms rested on the back with his chin on his hand. Jared’s tongue poked through his lips and licked a breadcrumb from his mouth, and Jensen couldn’t look away. His omega was pure beauty and sexy as hell. It should have taken every ounce of his willpower to stop him from dragging him to the bedroom and pounding him into the mattress until his knot tied them for hours, but he never would, even if he could. His arousal was quickly dispersed by the knowledge of Jared’s abuse at the hands of his old alpha. With every intimate touch, Jensen’s imagination painted a revolting picture of what had been done to Jared. It never failed to make him sick to the stomach. What memories it would evoke in Jared, he didn’t like to think. Jared seemed to thrive on PDA and cuddles but never showed any sexual interest in Jensen beyond their initial mating. Jensen couldn’t be the sort of alpha who forced the issue. Besides, his mate was pregnant, they needed to take extra care for the first trimester and according to the vet many omegas lost their sex drive during pregnancy.
“So what are you reading now?”
Jared’s dimples showed in his shy smile “Well since I’ll be meeting your parents soon and I know nothing about pack culture, I’ve started on Brody’s Pack Life.”
Chad’s head whipped around, and he shot a concerned look at Jensen. “That’s quite an old fashioned view of pack politics, Jared.”
“Oh. I don’t have to. Did I do wrong? I just, well, you told me how it was when you were young and I know you had your omega and beta mums, so I thought ... ” Jared looked like a kicked pup.
“No! Of course it’s fine. I had a traditional upbringing. I can’t help if Chad was in a rowdy, progressive pack!”
“Oi!” Chad chuckled and continued with his task.
“What did you want to speak to me about?”
Jensen was always impressed with the way that Jared paid attention and brought things back to topic. He was attentive, intelligent and always calm. One day, when he gained more experience and confidence, Jensen would introduce him to the organized and busy Weres who ran the communities and committees. Jared would fit in perfectly.
“Yeah, I had something to tell you. It’s a little unfair of me but I can’t see a way around it.”
“I’m sure it will be fine. What is it, Jen?”
“There’s some Packs business, in the City. Jeff Morgan, the President of the Alpha Council has asked me to attend this weekend, through till Monday, and I’m not in a position to refuse him. I’ll have to leave today. There will be a lot of other alphas and there’s an opportunity for this to be good for our Pack.” Jensen chewed on his lip.
“It’s good. The City doesn’t scare me, not if I’m with you. It will be nice to visit.”
Jensen rubbed his hand through his hair. “I have to go on my own. It’s not practical for you right now.”
“Oh.” Jared looked crushed but he rallied. “OK. Well, yeah, I guess I am pregnant n’all. Tell me what you’d like to pack and I can do it for you.”
“Jared are you sure you’re okay with this? Chris will stand in as alpha while I’m away, and I’ve left a rehab schedule for you.”
“It’s just a few days right? Chris and Chad will keep me straight.”
“I won’t be back in time for your scan. Do you want to go alone or shall I ring the vet and get it postponed?”
Jensen caught sight of the vicious glare that Chad was giving him and internally sighed. Jared was nodding in understanding but his smile was gone. “I want you there with me when we see our pup. Can we postpone?” The omega’s voice was quiet.
“I’ll call the vet and we’ll go later in the week. We’ll get a copy of the scan for Pa, Ma and Ma Donna.”
Jared was shockingly practical, “Good. Then it’s settled. You’re going to need to be organized, so I’ll check on the laundry and pack your bags and then I’ll be working out at the wood shed. If you need anything else let me know.” Jared pushed the chair under the table and leaned to kiss the top of Jensen’s head before giving a toothy smile and hurrying out of the kitchen.
Jensen breathed out, he had been expecting some complaint or a fight but he should have known Jared better than that. His mate was always reasonable. It was one of the things he loved about him.
Jensen rinsed his cup and went back to work. He was surprised to see Chad in his office twenty minutes later. “I’m working.”
“I checked your diary. Your next patient is in thirty minutes.”
“Whatever it is, it can wait. I have paperwork. Since when have you interrupted me at work?” Jensen’s voice was rough and growly.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m interrupting my working day as well, but this won’t wait.” Chad sounded downright bitchy, and he looked furious. “Your mate has vomited your pastrami sandwich down the toilet.”
“So, he has morning sickness, he doesn’t like me fussing.”
“He doesn’t like pastrami either. He told me last week. He hates it. It makes him feel sick.”
“That’s silly Chad. Why would he eat it?” Jensen was becoming impatient.
“Precisely my point, why would he? Don’t you think there was anything odd about the way Jared just smiled and accepted all of your pack business bullshit? He didn’t even ask what it was about. If I did that to Milo, I would be dog meat. You asked if he wanted to go to his scan alone. Are you completely hard-hearted?”
Jensen growled. “No. It’s how he always is. Not everyone has to over-react and argue like you and Milo.”
“We’re passionate,” defended Chad, “Isn’t that how mates are? Passionate enough to fight at one moment, and have make-up sex the next? They support one another, they talk to each other about what is important and they take their mate with them when they go on weekend breaks to the City. They don’t assume that anything is more important than their mate’s prenatal appointments.”
Jensen looked down at his desk and tapped his pen.
“The thing is,” added Chad cautiously, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jared disagree with you. He’s never disagreed with me, or Chris, or anyone. Milo has asked, but he won’t talk to anyone about what happened to him before we found him. Jared says it’s not important. In all the time he’s been here, he hasn’t argued, snapped or complained about anything. He just ate something that makes him ill rather than tell you that he doesn’t like it.”
“It’s the way he is. He’s easy going. We have a good relationship. I don’t beat him until he agrees. He always has a choice. What is wrong with getting along, Chad?”
“I don’t know Jensen. You’re my Alpha, and I respect you, but it seems to me you’re avoiding Jared’s past just as much as he is and that doesn’t seem healthy to me. I’m not a counsellor. I’m not even Milo. How well do any of us really know Jared? I’m just saying that maybe you should think about it. Perhaps you should postpone whatever business you have in the City and talk to Jared about it.”
“I can’t. The business we’re dealing with. It’s about Jared and all the others who are going through what happened to him.”
“You’ve never said much about what happened to Jared. Why shouldn’t he go, if it involves him?”
Jensen’s voice hitched slightly, “Jared was orphaned when he was fifteen. Someone in child-services found out Jared was a werewolf. Instead of going through the correct channels to foster him through Jeff Morgan’s pack, they sold him to a rogue alpha. It’s become a common crime and it’s organized. Alpha Morgan has called a City wide meeting of the major packs to tackle it with City authorities and police. There will be raids and they expect to find a number of victims. They asked me along because of my experience with Jared. There will be the question of what happens to young captives found during the raids. Alpha Morgan and I think we should be developing a rehab program for them. Not all the alphas are in agreement and neither are child services. They think the victims will be too damaged, they want to …” Jensen’s eyes glistened.
“They think they should be put down,” finished Chad. Chad blew out a long breath. “That’s rough. Wouldn’t it be better to take Jared with you, so he can add his own voice and see something is being done?”
“He’s not strong enough, not yet. You’ve seen how scared he can be around other Weres and this will be a gathering of the most powerful alphas in all the districts. The scent alone would be overwhelming for him.”
“So tell him. It’s not fair to leave him in the dark.”
“Chad. I promise I will tell him when I get back, but I can’t see the point in telling him yet in case it is hot gas and posturing and nothing happens. It would be traumatic for him. He’s pregnant and with what happened to him, he’s damaged. He will never be completely fixed. I won’t have the other alphas staring at him and commenting.”
“Well I hope you know what you’re doing Alpha.”
“Tch. I never know what I’m doing but somehow we’re,” Jensen paused and listened for a moment, “Did you hear something?”
Chad grinned, “Only Chris stomping down the stairs and swearing about late shifts.”
“Well, I’m glad I was zoning that out!”
Chad stood and pulled at the door. “Make sure you tell Jared how much he means to you, before you go.”
“I never took you for a romantic sap, Chad. Of course I will.”
***
Jared swallowed and changed direction. His hearing wasn’t as acute as the rest of the pack but what he had heard was clear enough.
“he’s damaged. He will never be completely fixed. I won’t have the other alphas staring at him and commenting.
He knew he should go in and check what suit Jensen was taking with him but he couldn’t hold it together. His chest heaved and he was feeling sick again. He had to calm down. It wasn’t good for the pup. He fled to the wood shed.
Jared bent the chicken mesh to the shape of the hutch door and hammered in a retaining nail. He held tight with one hand to test its hold and then clipped the metal strands and bent the sharp edges over to make them safe. He picked another nail and made sure to put it at its measured mark before lifting the hammer to strike again. There was a certain comfort in losing himself in a repetitive task. It focused on unimportant minutiae and lent a fuzzy edge to dull his mind. In his old pack, when he felt he could no longer take any more he would clean and organize the kitchen cupboards or scrub floors until his knees ached and fingers bled.
He straightened and looked around the wood shed. It was ridiculous to be upset. There was no comparison to his old life. He pondered whether the whole problem was because despite everything, he still thought of himself as human. He still wanted to be human, with its marriage customs, its simple family dynamics and wedded monogamy.
Stupid, stupid Jared. He was a werewolf. He had always been a werewolf and it was time he accepted his place with some gratitude. Jensen had been tricked by Jared’s body into mating with an omega who would never be what a Pack Alpha needed him to be. Jensen was right. Jared was used up and damaged and he couldn’t hold his head high and talk politics with a room of alphas. Jensen loved him, as his omega, the father of his pup and his mate, of that he was sure. Jensen told him every day and showed him care in hugs and touches. He was passionate about Jared’s physiotherapy and rehab, pushing him to the limits, determined that Jared should heal as far as possible. He provided for him in every way, his pack supported him and showed him affection and their time together was full of fun.
Brody’s Pack Life was very clear about the place an omega takes in a Pack Alpha’s life and Jensen had told him about his own upbringing, how much he loved both his omega and beta mother. He had never suggested that his omega ma was any less for being the one who stayed in the background to keep house and nurture the pups while Ma Donna slept in his father’s bed and worked by his side. It was time Jared grew up and allowed Jensen some space to find a suitable beta, for the good of the Pack.
Damn, it still hurt though, wanting Jensen to himself, wanting Jensen in every way and not having that.
The door behind him pushed open and he jumped, the hammer slipped in his grip and he felt a heavy thump on his thumb. “Ouch. Damn!” He dropped the hammer and sucked his thumb into his mouth before releasing his lips with a pop and shaking his hand “Ow, ow,”
There was a suggestion of a groan, “You shouldn’t do that to me,” growled Jensen wrapping warm arms around him. His mate’s scent enveloped him and Jared relaxed into Jensen’s hold. This is where he fitted. It always felt right. Jensen lifted the reddened thumb to his mouth and kissed it. “There.” The other hand entwined with Jared’s and rested over his stomach. “How did you know exactly what I need to take with me? My bag is perfect.”
Jared dipped his head, “I’m a mind reader. It must be a mate thing.” There was gentle, wet suction as Jensen kissed the back of his neck.
“Apparently I’m not so good at that. Chad says my sandwiches didn’t agree with you.”
“It’s the thought that counts.”
“You wouldn’t eat something you didn’t like just because I made it, would you?”
Jared squirmed uncomfortably, “What?” he forced a chuckle, “A spot of morning sickness and it’s the Spanish Inquisition.”
There was a long pause before Jensen spoke again, “No pastrami in future then.”
“It’s okay. You know I can eat anything. I’m sensitive right now.”
“You don’t have to Jared. Not any more. Not here, with us.” The statement had a hint of alpha command to it and Jared instinctively tipped his neck to one side. Jensen sucked a small purple bruise and worried at it with his tongue. “Hmm. In future, if you don’t like something, you say so. We have a fridge full of food.” He blew gently over the soft skin of Jared’s neck and kissed it again. “You’re distracting me. I came to tell you that I’m leaving now.”
“So soon?” Jared couldn’t help the note of panic in his voice.
“Three days, that’s all. See me off?”
Jensen rested his head against Jared’s, “I’ll call you on my cell. We’ll keep in touch. You can put me on speaker to talk to Junior, yeah?”
Jared watched the car until it wound out of sight.
***
“Something strong?” Jeff Morgan leaned against the hotel bar and stroked his bearded chin.
“Yeah.” Jensen barely looked up. There had been two days of talks and the best they could settle on was a disgrace to their society. He needed something to blank it out.
“You’re angry. You know what you need to calm you down?”
“Decent legislation?”
“A mate.”
“Ah. Well …” Jensen started but another voice interrupted,
“Jeff don’t you harass the poor boy. You are so pushy. Not everyone needs to settle down with pups before they’re thirty.” Jeff’s omega mate and Pack Beta, Kim, smacked his arm and glared at him.
Jensen stared into the depths of his glass. “Is what we’re doing any better than what they already have? Or worse?”
“It sets a precedent. It draws a line in the sand and tells the perpetrators that it isn’t acceptable. It starts something to change the law.”
“We raid the packs, arrest the alphas and then what? The victims and the human go-betweens get a prison sentence while the rogue packs get off with a warning. There could at least be some attempt to convict them.”
“We made our own bed when we decided, as a society to step outside human law to police some aspects ourselves. We can’t have it both ways. We didn’t want to be classified as human so we are classified as sentient animal. We wanted packs to be able to retain traditional polygamous relationships and to allow wild packs to cull their own sick.”
“Kidnap, forced imprisonment and rape are crimes in both societies.”
“They are. Unfortunately, no jury will convict an alpha of those things with an omega. It is a natural instinct for an omega to obey, and the dullest of defence lawyers can pull tricks to give enough doubt for an acquittal. They will prosecute the care workers and that’s a start.”
“It’s not nearly enough.” Jensen drained his glass and handed it back to the bar man, “Double.”
“No, it’s not,” Jeff agreed, slamming his own glass on the smooth surface.
“How do you think it will feel, for the victims? To be locked up while their abuser walks free?”
“It’s not a prison for the victims, Jensen.”
“So, they can walk out when they choose? They can shift and run when they feel like it?”
“It’s a hospital. If we can rehabilitate them then they will be homed with new packs. Before that, they will get the help they need, physically and mentally. The decision to focus resources to expand your research was unanimous. There will be the expertise and the finance. We’re not sweeping them under the carpet. You said in your report that your stray was suicidal when you found him? Even humans will detain a victim in that mental state. It takes careful counselling to mend the mind and there will be a lot of pain and anger that surfaces before they are through.”
“His name is Jared, not stray.”
“Right. Jared. Apologies.” Jeff looked suitably remorseful.
Jensen’s gaze switched to the other side of the bar where Alpha Harris’s omega mate removed a whiskey tumbler from his Alpha and waved a set of car keys at her with a scowl. Chad’s words about Jared came to mind and he realized, with a jolt that Chad might be right. He couldn’t imagine his omega doing that for him, and yet it was the right and sensible action.
“Are you alright?” Kim’s voice broke his concentration, “Jeff can be unbelievably crass at times.”
“Well at least I didn’t interrupt when Jensen was about to tell us something about his search for a mate,” Jeff huffed at his mate good-naturedly.
“I, er, yeah,” Jensen tipped the last mouthful of amber fluid down his throat, “Actually I have a mate. We’ve a pup on the way. Early days but it’s good.”
Kim’s eyes were shining and she was hugging Jeff’s waist, “That is such exciting news.”
“It’s very fast,” commented Jeff, with raised eyebrows. “There wasn’t a suggestion of you dating on the rumor mill. I’m impressed. Why the devil isn’t she with you? And who is the lucky lady?”
“The morning sickness is still bad and all of this would be overwhelming. I thought it best if he stayed at home this time.”
Kim was grinning widely, “That’s why you have been disappearing with your cell phone every time there is a break. You must be missing her terribly.”
Jensen blushed, “It feels like someone cut off my arm, but he’s an omega. Actually, it’sJared.” The last few words were rushed out without a gap.
Morgan’s expression darkened and Jensen could sense the disapproval.
“I suppose I should have reported that there are some interesting heat issues when the suppressants are removed. I was going to mention it, but for now it would be nice to have some privacy.”
“Oh, honey! Of course.” Kim rubbed his arm sympathetically.
“That’s terrible for both of you. We can help with that, there are things that can be done. At the very least there are a number of suitable and very pretty betas that I’m sure would be pleased to court you. One of them is bound to stick.” Jeff waggled his eyebrows, and Jensen’s reaction to defend his mate was automatic. His hand curled into a fist.
Kim stepped to one side dragging her Alpha out of the path of Jensen’s fury just a moment before it struck and his tensed hand found nothing but air.
“You better have a good apology for this one Jeff Morgan. Even an idiot should recognize love when they see it.” Kim was red with anger at her mate, but she spoke with a gentle lilt and calm manner and took his hand lovingly into her own.
Jeff rolled his eyes, “I’m sorry, I made an assumption that it was an unsuitable match and your reaction tells me that is blatantly untrue.” He spoke gruffly, “I can’t say I’m not worried for you both. The pregnancy is sudden and the boy hasn’t had time to adjust to his new life. However, I can personally recommend having a good omega by your side as your mate and Pack Beta. Mine gets me out of all sorts of trouble, including dodging flying fists.” Jeff chuckled and hugged Kim close to kiss her. Jensen signalled for his glass to be refilled. The sound of their kiss abated with the appearance of Jeff’s hand over Jensen’s glass. “You don’t need any more, Jensen. How about we blow this joint? In the light of this new information, I have a proposal for you.”
On to Part 2