Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

H e kissed me.

Bram-fucking-Nilsen just kissed me, and I kissed him back, and all I want to do is do it again?

He’s grinning as we take in the stadium at full force after the victory. There’s no time to talk as we skate off the ice and head to the locker room.

Coach is talking, but all I can think about is that fucking kiss, and I tune him out as I sit on the bench and take off my gear.

“Bright and early for game footage. Get some rest tonight,” Coach says before leaving the locker room.

The team is rowdy, and I feel like I’m just running on autopilot trying to get my thoughts together. Bram and I have gotten along great, hell, I moved into his house. Despite that, I didn’t think the door for anything beyond friendship was open.

I thought we were growing this friendship and solidifying a bond as the Alphas of the pack. I’m not even sure how to wrap my head around the idea that he’s interested in me.

Everything between us has been resolved, and I actually like his company. I like his dry humor and how blunt he is about everything. I also love how fiercely protective and thoughtful he can be.

But I never thought those particular feelings were open to me.

I thought they were reserved for Sloane and Ethan. And I was more than okay with that. Honestly, I’m just happy to be here.

These last few months have been hard, but I’ve never felt more like me. Maybe I didn’t even know who I was before, but I found it with these people.

I never really thought I was worth much, and maybe that’s why I thought I deserved Bram’s ire at the beginning of the season. When I look at the man I’ve become, I wonder if in some fucked-up way I needed this other Alpha to show me my potential.

I talk to my mom and brother more; I understand Sloane’s Omega quirks. I’m even helping Ethan in my spare time fix up the diner so his father can sell it and live off of that money for retirement.

Who knew giving could feel so much better than receiving?

I feel fulfilled, and I know Sloane has taken the car accident hard, but I almost wonder if it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

The team is all dressed and leaving the locker room. I, thankfully, have no post-game interviews, and it seems like Bram doesn’t either.

He’s not even fully dressed, just in his underwear as he stands before me.

“Should we talk about it?” I ask, and he stares down at me.

He fists my shirt, and I stand to his height. Great, it was a fucking fluke.

But then he’s shoving my back against the locker and kissing me even harder than before.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t had sex since the accident, or maybe because it’s Bram kissing me, but my cock is so hard it’s aching.

Bram grabs me from the outside of my underwear, and I groan, grabbing both sides of his head and kissing him harder.

It’s rough, passionate, and fuck do I need more.

“Turn around,” he says, and I pull away from the kiss.

“What?” I stutter, pulling back from the kiss.

“We can use Ahonen’s coconut oil.”

“Wait. You think you’re going to fuck me? Uh. No. I could fuck you,” I say, and Bram rears back like I slapped him.

“You’re not fucking me.”

“Well, you’re not fucking me either.”

There’s a clearing of a throat, and we both turn to see Sloane covering her mouth, trying to contain her laughter.

“It looks like no one is getting fucked,” she jokes and nearly doubles over in laughter.

“You think this is funny?” Bram says with a smile, both of us happy to see her laughing like this.

“It’s kind of funny. I mean, you both hated each other, and now you like each other, and neither of you will bottom.”

I think Bram and I both grimace.

“You know, anal is pretty great if everything is done right.”

“It’s not happening, Sloane,” Bram says.

“I mean, one of you could try it just once. And let me watch.”

“No,” I say, and Sloane pouts.

“Ugh, fine. But you’re missing out. You know, there’s more to life than anal, right? Blow jobs and hand jobs are still on the table.”

“Sloane, I’m about to spank your ass,” Bram says, and I can tell my eyes go wide, but Sloane’s fill with want.

“Please,” she says softly, and Bram’s brows furrow. “I think I need it.”

Bram looks around like he’s contemplating doing it right here. I mean, he was planning on fucking me in the locker room. But what if Coach walks in as he was smacking his daughter’s ass? The man already hates us enough right now. That might be something we can’t come back from.

Bram clears his throat. “At home,” he tells her. “Also, why are you here alone?”

“Anders and Charlotte are right outside. Glad I didn’t bring them in with me, huh?” Sloane says, and it’s like her old spark is back.

Good, I fucking missed her smart mouth.

“Where’s Ethan?” I ask.

“He’s waiting out in the car. I’ll meet you two at home. Try to keep your hands to yourself till then?” she jokes.

“Little Omega,” Bram warns, but she just smiles and waves at him with her fingers under her chin.

But it doesn’t sour the moment. If anything, Bram is shaking his head and smiling.

“Maybe she just needed to get out of the house.”

“Or walk in on us nearly fucking, which apparently isn’t going to happen,” I mumble.

“She’s not wrong, you do have a working mouth, though.”

I shove his shoulder, and I try not to laugh, but I can’t help it.

“You also have a mouth, you know?”

He puts his hand over his mouth and gasps. “Would you look at that? I sure do. Get fucking dressed, and let’s go home and celebrate.”

As soon as we walk through the door of the house, all I can scent is Sloane. Yet her scent smells just a little different.

I nudge Bram.

“Does she smell different?” I ask.

He deeply inhales and shakes his head like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

We both head upstairs, and as soon as we open the main bedroom door, we’re greeted by the image of Sloane on all fours… while Ethan fucks her in the ass.

His tattooed hands are pressed against her soft, creamy tits as he pushes in and out of her.

“Oh. We have an audience, sweetheart,” Ethan says, pulling her up and holding her body against his chest while he continues to rock into her. “I’m not complaining about being a part of your evil little plan,” he says, thrusting with each word, making her moan.

“Is this some sort of ploy to get me or Bram to agree to fuck each other?” I question, and Ethan stalls.

“Wait. Rewind, what?”

“Everyone just shut up. This is the best I’ve felt in weeks. Come here,” Sloane whines.

Bram and I are undressing, and once we’re fully naked, we stand by the bed. Everything feels far more real now. There’s no heat driving us to be together, and this will be the first time since then that we’ve all been naked and in the same room.

Ethan pulls out of Sloane, and she grabs my hand, directing me to lie flat on the bed as she straddles my lap and slides her warm, wet cunt down my length.

“Fuck, baby. I missed this. God, you smell so good,” I say, and she pauses before sliding down again.

Ethan realigns himself, straddling my legs and holding Sloane’s hips before pushing inside.

I moan as my hold on Sloane tightens as Ethan fills her up. Each shift of his cock has me nearly ready to combust.

Apparently, Bram doesn’t need to be told what to do as he lubes up his shaft and gets behind Ethan.

Holy fucking shit.

We should record this to watch later.

Sloane’s front presses against mine, and I hold her, not even needing to move as Ethan fucks her for the both of us.

Her peachy scent has the slightest hint of something else to it, but I can’t decipher it. All I know is she smells better than ever, even better than when she was in heat. I inhale her sweet scent, and it feels like I might come on the spot. But I can’t embarrass myself, even if it has been a long time.

Sloane whimpers in my ear, and I pile her long red hair in a fist and bring her lips to mine.

“Missed feeling how wet you get on my cock, baby,” I tell her.

She grabs my jaw and kisses me roughly as Ethan fucks her ass and Bram slides into him.

It’s a cacophony of moans, slick, and lube.

I’m not sure what happened from the Sloane this morning to the Sloane from this afternoon, but it’s a stark difference. Almost like she worked out on her own what was bothering her and she doesn’t want to waste anymore time being in this weird limbo and actually start living.

It might be because my dick is being gripped so tightly with her pussy and the slide of Ethan’s dick.

All I can think about is how perfect this is, how badly we should solidify this pack.

I need to be able to feel Sloane at all times. I need us to all get through this rough patch. Everything that we’ve ever wanted has been right at the tip of our fingers, we just needed to take it.

Her scent is suffocating me in the best way, and her neck is right there. God, her delicate, sweet-looking neck. I lick the flesh and kiss her warm skin, getting more greedy with each passing of my lips.

She’s writhing on top of me, and Bram and Ethan are both grunting in pleasure, but the only thing I can focus on is the Omega on top of me and how much I need her.

“Fuck, baby,” I tell her, knowing I’m close.

It’s selfish, but as Ethan pulls out of her, I shift my knot inside of her. The Beta curses, but Bram just pushes him onto the mattress next to Sloane while he fucks him. It’s hotter than it should be, but Sloane has all my attention as I fill her up.

She’s moaning and shaking, and fuck, she smells so goddamn good.

I suck the skin that connects her collarbone to her throat into my mouth, only intending to suck, but as my knot swells and Sloane moans in my ear, I lose all self control.

I’ve waited so long for my purpose.

This pack is my reason for being here, and with all the pheromones and lust in the room, I can’t control myself.

I sink my teeth into her neck, bonding us together.

There’s a moment of pure bliss. I’d mark it as the happiest thirty seconds of my entire life as I feel the contentment and love down the bond from Sloane, and I know she feels it from me.

In those few short moments, everything is perfect—until it’s not.

The amazing orgasm and feelings of complete happiness fade away as Sloane gasps and cups the side of her neck.

We’re still knotted together, and there’s nowhere for her to go. I blink up at her as all of her feelings of fear, guilt, and panic shoot down the bond.

“Fuck. Sloane, I’m sorry. I should have asked first. I’m so sorry, baby,” I say in a panic.

Sloane’s cries catch Bram's and Ethan’s attention. Bram looks like he wants to kick my ass while Ethan looks more concerned for Sloane.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I tell her, my own emotion catching in my throat.

Was she not ready to bond me? Did she not want this?

“What did you do?” Bram says loudly, standing there completely naked, which somehow doesn’t make him as imposing.

All of Sloane’s feelings weigh me down with a tremendous amount of sadness. Has she been feeling this all the time? What the fuck is happening? I’m trying to push down my own panic so she doesn’t feel it, but it’s evident she does.

She catches her breath and breathes through her nose and shakes her head. “I want it. It’s not you, Max. I promise. I love you, I wanted the bond… I just…”

“Just what?” Bram asks in my stead, and I’m happy for it because I’m about to have a mental breakdown all on my own.

“Tell them, Sloane,” Ethan says, and we both glance over at the Beta.

“Tell us what?” Bram asks.

Sloane covers her face with her hands. I’m still holding on to her hips. I didn’t think there was ever a time when knotting wouldn’t work in my favor, but this moment proves otherwise.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you all sooner, but I was scared.”

“Tell us what?” Bram asks again.

I don’t even need to be bonded to him to feel and hear how scared he is right now.

“I’m pregnant, and I was going to go to the doctor to make sure bonding is safe for the baby, and I haven’t had a chance, and now I just ruined our bonding moment, and I don’t know what this means for the baby,” Sloane says so incredibly fast we all blink at her for a moment trying to catch up with her words.

We’re all silent as Ethan rubs her back, clearly proud of her for getting this all out.

“How long?” Bram asks. His tone is hard, a way I’ve never heard him speak to Sloane.

She can’t even look at him when she speaks. “The night of the accident.”

Bram lets out a puff of frustrated air, and I can sense how disappointed Sloane is of herself. I rub her legs, trying to reassure her as I collect my own thoughts.

Holy fuck.

We’re going to have a baby, and I’ve never even held a child.

Sloane mistakes my trepidation over not knowing what kind of father I’d be to being angry with her as she tries to shuffle off my lap but can’t.

“Stop squirming.” Bram uses his Alpha voice on her, and she glares over at him. “You might hurt yourself or Max. Just sit still as soon as his knot goes down. We’ll take you to the ER to get checked out.” His tone is direct and no bullshit.

It’s not the soft, tender Bram Sloane is used to, and it’s evident she notices as she retreats into herself. She nods her head and looks away from all of us.

“Sloane,” I whisper her name, wanting to comfort her and hating all these feelings that are transferring over to me.

“I can’t right now,” she sniffles.

Ethan sighs and rubs his hair as he and Bram get dressed. I can hear them arguing in the bathroom. I’m sure he’s getting a lashing for having kept her secret for so long. Part of me feels sorry for Ethan. But I’m also frustrated. Why would she keep this a secret?

Also, what the fuck am I going to do? My stepdad was a good guy, quiet but not as involved. I don’t know the first thing about really being a dad; kids weren’t even on my radar.

Sloane’s body shakes against mine, and I all but force her to lie down on my chest so I can stroke her back. For the first time in my life, a purr rumbles through my chest as I comfort her. She sighs against me, and I can feel how much it comforts her through the bond.

“Please don’t hate me.”

“Baby, I could never hate you. It’s just a lot to take in all at once. I’m not mad, just scared.”

She sniffles and shifts against my chest, letting the motion of my chest soothe her.

“Me too,” she whispers.

“We’ll figure everything out,” I tell her, even though I don’t even know what that means.

“What if something bad happens?” she asks, and I cup her face, forcing her to look at me.

“Nothing bad is going to happen,” I say because what else do I say?

“You don’t know that. I can't lose you, Max.”

“You’re not losing me.”

“I can feel everything down the bond. You’re terrified.” I take a deep breath and nod my head, not knowing what to say because she’s not wrong. “What if being so scared and worried has hurt the baby? What if me not telling you has hurt them? I’m already a bad mom.”

“Hey. No,” I tell her and stroke her cheekbones.

“I’m so scared all the time Max, and now you have to feel it too. I’m sorry,” she says, putting her head back on my chest, clearly not wanting to talk anymore.

“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her because I’m not sure what else I could say to comfort her. I’m just trying to curb my own panic.

We’re bonded and having a baby, and I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.