Chapter Forty

Jaxon

CALEB

Don't let Faith out of your sight

New intel - she's not safe

I glare down at my phone, my blood pumping hard. We already knew the ringleaders wanted Faith back, but if he thinks the threat has escalated …

"Hey." I clap Micah's back. "We gotta get out of here."

He frowns. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Faith perks up, sitting cross-legged on the picnic blanket. She woke up from her nap even twitcher than she'd been before, so Micah and I figured it might be good to get her some fresh air. Hence, a picnic at the park.

I show Micah the text from Caleb. He pales.

"Right. Okay." He puts a hand on Faith's thigh. "I'm sorry, angel, but we need to get moving."

She signs, What's wrong ?

"Uh …" he looks up at me. "Caleb's on edge. Thinks it's not safe for you to be away from the den."

Her disappointment is obvious, turning her lavender scent sour, but to my relief she doesn't argue.

We pack up the little sandwiches and chopped fruit before helping Faith to her feet. She insists on using her crutches, even though it would be faster (and much more fun) for me to carry her.

The whole drive home, my eyes are sharp, scanning the road for any conceivable threat to my omega.

***

Caleb stations me at the den the next day. And the day after.

At first I think he's punishing me—I've made it perfectly clear I'm on Micah's side in the whole I-love-you debacle—but I realize pretty quick it's not about that.

He's just as terrified as the rest of us that something could happen to Faith. And he wants me to be close to her, protecting her, until he figures out what to do about that.

Faith tires herself out pacing, and asking questions I don't have the answer to, before falling asleep in the middle of the day. I carry her into her bedroom, Micah already pulling back the blankets.

"You have any laundry?" Micah asks me. "I'm putting on a load."

"Nah, but I'll hang it up if you want. Gonna work out."

He nods appreciatively.

Our laundry room doubles as a mini gym, including a punching bag, set of dumbbells, and a yoga mat. Normally I do my training at the gym next to headquarters, but I can't bear the idea of being that far away from Faith. Not right now.

I do a couple stretches and warm-ups, making sure my blood is moving, before grabbing the wrist wraps. It's time to really get my heart rate up.

I pounce around the punching bag, landing a couple jabs. Then a couple more. Before I know it, I'm slipping into easy combos, succumbing to the violent rhythm.

A loud knock at the door stops me. Panting, I turn to see Faith standing there, appraising me.

"Omega." I grab my phone to turn my music off. "Sorry, baby girl—did I wake you?"

She gestures for the phone. I hand it to her without question, watching as she opens up a blank note. YOUR CROSS IS OFF.

I laugh. "Oh really?"

TOO STIFF.

"Huh." I shift my weight, hitting the bag again—this time really throwing my body into it. "How's that?"

She frowns. BETTER. BUT YOU DROPPED YOUR GUARD.

"You sound like Caleb. He's always in my ear about that." I put my fists up, this time properly protecting my jaw.

Faith hesitates, then types, YOU HAD YOUR GUARD DOWN THE NIGHT WE MET.

I pause. "I wasn't sure you remembered that."

I GOT THE DROP ON YOU, she accuses. I SHOULDN'T HAVE.

"Well, you surprised me," I murmur, cupping her jaw, and smile at the rosy colour in her cheeks. "You're still surprising me."

She holds my gaze like it's the only thing she can think to do, her fingers hovering over the screen. I tuck her hair back, wanting any excuse to keep my hands on her. Before I know what I'm doing, I lean down, pressing my lips to hers.

Fuck, she tastes good .

Faith stiffens like she's about to pull away … but after a moment, she kisses me back, even letting some of her weight fall into me.

A growl rises in my throat when I realize she must've followed me out here without her crutches. She pulls away, misunderstanding, and I drag her back in deeper.

"Sorry, sweetness," I purr, "just … want to take care of you."

She chuffs defiantly. I chuckle.

"Let me have this. Gotta be a big strong alpha once in a while."

She rears back, putting her fists up with a knowing smirk.

I quirk a brow. "Big strong alpha who drops his guard?"

She nods, and presses against me for another kiss. I melt into a little puddle of horniness, loving that she wants me even half as much as I want her.

My balls tighten at the thought, the bulge in my sweatpants getting harder to conceal. I decide now is not the time to shy away from it—nudging myself against her soft stomach. Her breath hitches, eyes snapping wide open, and for a second I see nothing but the pure omega within: so soft, so sweet, so willing to give in to her alpha.

"I know what Micah said to you," I murmur, curling my hands around her waist, "the last time he was buried deep in this sweet … tight … pussy."

I swear I can feel her clench with every word, her body responding to me so beautifully.

"You think he's the only one?" I ask.

Faith's arousal floods my senses in hot, floral tones. Slowly, she trails her hands down my chest, then lower, her fingers skimming agonizingly close to my throbbing length.

Just as I think she's about to touch me, she smirks, and slips my phone into my pocket.

"Omega," I groan. "You're killing me."

Her chest rumbles—an adorable little omega growl I wish to god I could hear.

I hoist her off her feet. She gasps as I sandwich her between me and the wall, putting pressure against her hot center.

"Feel what you're doing to me?" I growl. "You make me so goddamn hard I can't think straight." I roll my hips. "All I wanna do is pound into your tight little pussy. Make you come around me, over and fucking over."

Faith breathes hard, her expression both begging and challenging.

I nuzzle her temple. "Smell so good, omega."

She nuzzles me back, drinking in my scent. My inner alpha gets bold—propping her up with one hand, ripping off her shirt with the other.

"No more clothes," I pant, leaving kisses on her chest, "not in my den."

She looks at me with a knowing quirk in her brow.

" Our den," I say, breathlessly, not giving her a chance to ask any more questions before I'm kissing her again. She arches into me, her body soft and strong in all the right places.

I want her lying naked in a nest, but instead I settle for unzipping her jeans and freeing my cock from my sweatpants.

With a single, glossy-eyed look of trust, I thrust in. The stretch makes her tighten up for a second, taking controlled breaths over my shoulder. I rub my hand down her side, purring encouragingly.

"That's a good girl," I praise, "fuck, you're so good and tight for me."

Faith shivers, sucking me in even deeper.

"You want more?" I grin, shifting my hips. "I can do that for you, baby girl."

Slowly at first, I rock my hips, pinning her against the wall every time I'm fully inside. She claws at me like an omega possessed, breathing in half-feral hisses. I know from the overwhelming sweetness in her scent that she's feeling good.

So I give her more. Harder.

"Oh, fuck ," I grunt, pumping into her. "Keep taking my cock. It's all for you."

She rakes her hands up my back. I feel like I'm bleeding electricity—pain crackling with pleasure.

Her breaths shorten, and I know she's about to come. Needs me to come with her like a good fucking omega.

"I'm there, baby," I tell her, "come for me. I'm right there with you."

She clings to me, muffling her gasp in my shoulder.

"Gonna—fill you up," I grunt, thrusting into her with a roar.

We shudder in urgent, messy unison, holding each other like we'll lose our minds if we let go. Faith bucks wildly, grinding against my knot, which I want so fucking badly to shove deep inside her … but I settle for feeling her slick drip down.

"Oh, god." I wrap myself around her. "I love your pussy." Then I frown, hearing myself. "I mean, your—well, you ." I huff. "Shit, I fucked that up."

She hums into my neck, flooding me with more of that sweet lavender scent. I take a breath.

"I love you ."

I'm quiet for a moment, forcing myself to sit with the words, anxiously feeling for Faith's reaction. Was Micah this nervous, when it was his turn?

"I love your pussy, too," I add, "don't get me wrong. But you, I …" I sigh, tucking my chin over her head. "I love you the most."

Faith's body vibrates against me. I worry she's shivering, or overstimulated, but then I notice the warmth emanating from her naked chest. She's … purring. For me.

I gather her tighter. "I'm yours, omega. As long as you'll have me."

Forever, my inner alpha growls, have me forever.

She keeps purring, her walls clinging to me like she can't bear to let me go. I guess her omega is in agreement.

So maybe forever is a pretty damn good place to start.