21. Sam

Chapter 21

Sam

A s we pull away from my family's pack farmhouse, I glance in the rearview mirror. Emily is standing on the porch with Mum and George, looking small but less scared than she was this morning. It's a good start.

"She'll be alright," Jack says from the passenger seat, trying to reassure Lily, sitting in the back seat, staring back at Emily.

I nod, focusing back on the road. "Yeah, Mum will take good care of her, Lily."

She doesn't reply.

"You okay back there?" I press.

She gives me a small sigh and turns back around to face the front. "Yeah, just processing, I guess. It's been a whirlwind few days. I haven't even checked on Fred to make sure he's doing okay."

"The baker?" Sam asks.

"Yeah."

"We can stop by when we get back to the village," Jack says. "Although, I heard the village hall offered him use of their kitchen for a bit."

"Oh, that's wonderful," Lily says, her voice letting me know she's happy and not panicking over Emily.

"You must be knackered," Jack states.

"Tell me about it," I mutter, thinking about the shift I just pulled and the drama of the past week. I get the distinct impression he's trying to get rid of me. Fat chance, arsehole.

We drive in companionable silence for a while, the English countryside rolling by outside the windows. It's a beautiful day, sunny, with just a hint of clouds on the horizon. Typical Lake District summer weather, which could turn on a dime. Pulling up outside the shop. I kill the engine.

"I'll stick around for a bit," I offer, trying to sound casual. "Make sure everything's alright."

Jack gives me a look I can't quite decipher, but he doesn't argue. "Same here. Those roses won't prune themselves."

I inwardly roll my eyes. Jack and his bloody roses. But I get it – we're both looking for excuses to stay close to Lily.

Lily is fidgeting with her hands as we climb out of the car. "You sure you're okay?"

She takes a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. It feels weird, you know? Going back to normal after everything."

I nod, understanding completely. Nothing feels normal anymore, not since Lily came into our lives. But I wouldn't change it for the world.

Jack takes the keys from Lily and unlocks the shop door, his movements efficient and familiar. It strikes me how at home he is here, how seamlessly he fits into Lily's world. A pang of something – jealousy? longing? – hits me, but I push it aside.

"Right," Lily says, clapping her hands together. "Back to work, I suppose. Jack, those roses really do need pruning if you're up for it. Sam, you're welcome to hang around, but don't feel like you have to. You probably want to crash after the night shift."

"It was dead," I announce loudly so Jack can hear me. "Managed a few hours of sleep. Could do with a proper shower, though, if you don't mind?"

Lily giggles and catches Jack's eye before looking back at me, "Only if you don't mind pink towels and berry-scented shampoo."

I chuckle. "Oh, you underestimate me, dear omega. I have a bag full of manly towels and shampoo in my car."

Her giggling gets louder, and it drives a bolt of lust straight to my cock. I want to bury my face in the crook of her neck and draw in her scent while I slide my dick into her pussy, filling with slick, just for me.

Clearing my throat as the image is too much to bear, I excuse myself to grab my bag and then allow Lily to lead me upstairs to her flat and let me in.

Lily opens the door, her scent enveloping me as I step inside. Vanilla and lily, with a hint of something uniquely her. My cock twitches again, and I force myself to focus on neutral things like the carpet and the view from the window.

"Bathroom's through there," she says, pointing to a door. "Make yourself at home."

"Thanks," I mumble, heading straight for it before I do something stupid like pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless.

Inside the small bathroom, I take a deep breath, trying to calm the raging arousal coursing through me. The decor is simple but lovely – just like her. Pink towels hang neatly on the rail, and there's a bottle of berry-scented shampoo perched on the edge of the bath as advertised. Shaking my head, I strip off my clothes and step into the shower, letting the cool water wash away the night shift daze and hopefully give me my senses back, which seems to have left me in the lurch.

As I lather up with my own shampoo –a distinctly manly pine scent – my thoughts inevitably drift back to Lily. Everything about her is intoxicating. Her laugh, her smile, the way she fits so perfectly into both mine and Jack's lives. And that giggle… fuck, it brings me to my knees.

I rinse off quickly, not wanting to be away from her for too long. Wrapping one of my black towels around my waist, I walk into the living room with my bag and head for the bedroom to get dressed. She said to make myself at home, and to be fair, the bathroom is pretty tiny. Trying to get dressed in there would result in knocked elbows and knees.

I come up short when I see her rooting through her drawers for something. She glances up, and then her mouth drops open when she sees me still damp from the shower and dressed only in a towel.

Lily's eyes widen, and I swear her cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink. "Sorry," she stammers, looking away but not before giving me a once-over that sends my already-fragile self-control plummeting. "I didn't realise you'd be out so quickly."

"Fast shower," I shrug, trying to play it cool even as my heart races.

She nods. "Just grabbing some things to take downstairs. I'll get out of your way." She starts to move past me, but there's not much space between the dresser and the bed. Our arms brush and it's like an electric jolt straight to my core.

"Lily," I say softly, capturing her gaze with mine.

"Yeah?" Her voice is barely above a whisper now, her breathing shallow as she looks up at me.

"I..." My words falter as I fight the urge to close the distance between us completely. She's standing so close I can see the flecks of gold in her green eyes, the way her breath catches each time she inhales. The air thickens with tension, and the scent of her growing arousal almost drives me mad.

"Sam," she murmurs, leaning in just a fraction closer.

That's all it takes for my restraint to snap. I drop my bag and reach out, pulling her against me before I shove her against the chest of drawers, which rocks precariously. Her gasp is swallowed by my lips as I kiss her with all the pent-up desire I've been harbouring. She responds instantly, melting into my embrace and tangling her fingers in my hair. The towel around my waist drops as my cock goes so hard the end doesn't stay tucked in at the waist any longer.

She moans, her hand wrapping around my cock and giving it a squeeze that makes me growl. She purrs into my mouth, and I pick her up, placing her on top of the drawers as my hands find the waistband of her shorts.

With one swift motion, I pull down her shorts and knickers, exposing her glistening pussy filled with sweet-scenting slick. My alpha instincts roar to life, demanding I take her right here, right now. But I pause, looking into her eyes for any hint of hesitation. What I see instead is pure need.

She bites her bottom lip, almost as if she's fighting back the same primal urge that's consuming me. "Please," she whispers, her voice shaky with desire.

That's all I need. I grab my cock and rub it over her clit, teasing us both. She lets out a whimper and wraps her legs around me.

"Fuck, Lily. Your scent is driving me wild. I need you. I need this. Fuck," I mutter as I finally push into her, groaning at the tight heat that envelops me. She claws at my back, pulling me closer as I start to thrust slowly, savouring every sensation.

Her breaths come in ragged gasps, matching the rhythm of our movements. "Sam... oh, God," she moans, arching against me as my cock hits just the right spot. Her scent is intoxicating, mixing with the raw aroma of sex and filling my senses until all I can think about is making her come apart in my arms.

I pick up the pace, driving into her harder and faster, watching as she unravels before me. Her eyes flutter closed, and she clings to me desperately, lost in the overwhelming pleasure. The chest of drawers tilts back, but I keep hold of her, slamming into her harder, faster, soaking my cock with her slick. The knot at the base of my cock throbs, but it isn't time for that yet. I'm close, really fucking close, but today it won't happen. I growl again, gripping her hips as I pound her sweet pussy hard, the little whimpers of her pleasure making my cock even harder.

"Fuck," I growl.

"Sam!" she cries out, and then it happens.

When her climax hits her, and her pussy clutches my cock possessively, I feel my knot expand as I shoot my load into her.

She gasps, not having expected a knot, but then she lets out a low moan that ends in a purr, and I groan softly. Her walls pulse around my knot, milking every last drop from me as I stay buried deep inside her. I press a kiss to her forehead, her cheeks flushed and her breathing still heavy.

"Well, this is unexpected."

Jack's voice is tinged with anger, but there's no denying the tone of lust, either.

Panting slightly, I grin, looking over at him standing in the doorway.

Lily gasps, but she can't go anywhere. She is an omega stuck on my knot, and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. "Jack!" she cries.

Jack's eyes darken, a mixture of frustration and raw desire flashing across his face. His nostrils flare as he takes in the scene, the scent of sex and our scents thick in the air. I can see the internal battle he's waging, torn between jealousy and arousal.

"Jack," I say calmly, still buried deep inside Lily. "We didn't plan for it to happen like this. Know that."

"No shit," he snaps, but his gaze softens slightly as he looks at Lily, her cheeks flushed and eyes wide with a mix of shame and excitement.

She squirms slightly on my cock, my knot keeping her locked in place. "I'm sorry, Jack... I?—"

"Don't apologise," Jack interrupts, stepping closer. His hand reaches out to cup Lily's cheek gently. "You have absolutely nothing to apologise for. I just wish I'd been here for it."

Lily's eyes widen further as she realises what he's implying. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Jack answers, his voice gruff with emotion. "I want you, Lily. And it's clear Sam does as well."

"Want how?" she whispers.

"As my mate," he whispers back and leans in to kiss her lips, forcing me backwards, even though my cock is still inside her.

"How would that work?" she murmurs when he lets her go.

"We can make this work," I say softly, gripping her chin. "If it's what you want."

"Max," she breathes out. "He's your prime. You can't just tell him this is what is happening!" Her desperation, her urgency makes Jack and I share a knowing stare.

"We will talk to Max," Jack says. "He wants the pack to mate, and we have a two-thirds majority vote."

"What?" she squeaks. "It doesn't work that way!"

I chuckle and feel my knot deflating. Reluctantly, I let her go as I step back, withdrawing from her.

My knot slips free, and she lets out a soft sigh of regret, which makes my soul fall head over heels for her. I help her down gently, brushing her hair back from her face.

Jack steps closer and wraps his arms around her, pressing his forehead to hers. "Lily, you're amazing," he whispers, his voice filled with raw emotion. "I love you. I've loved you since the second that rock hit my head. I love you. I've wanted to say it for so fucking long, but I just didn't know how to say it. Do you love me?"

I gulp at the fear in his tone. His question is raw and real, and she will rip his fucking heart out if she doesn't say what he wants to hear.

"Yes, I fucking love you," she says, tears pricking her eyes.

I grin and then remember, I'm standing here in my birthday suit with a cock dripping with Lily's slick… and she's just told my packmate she loves him. I don't expect that from her. But I feel a bit awkward all the same.

That is until Jack grips the hem of her top and pulls it up over her head, kissing her with a fierceness that I have never seen from him before. Shy and laidback, this is a whole different side to him.

"So… we're going again?" I ask hopefully.

"Yeah," Lily giggles, pulling away. "We're going again."

"Nice," I mutter, and move in closer.