Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3)(15)

“I’ll be back, though,” Gibson said quickly. “I mean, if that’s okay.”

Oliver squeezed. “It’s okay. In fact, I think you need to. We’re not done talking about the three of us yet. Nor are we finished discussing what led you here.”

Gibson sobered. “I’ll come back when I can.” He looked at Mandy. “Are you staying here?”

She shook her head, biting her lip. “I need to go home and change and do a few things for the maternals.” She looked over at Oliver. “But I can be back for lunch. Will that do?”

Oliver smiled softly at her and cupped her face. “Yes, that will do.” He looked up. “Be safe today.”

Gibson nodded before turning and heading out of the house. If he didn’t go now, he was afraid he wouldn’t leave at all. His wolf rode him, and yet he knew it wasn’t just his beast. He wanted them both as a man also, and he knew he would have them soon. There was no denying that. Not anymore.

He’d pushed himself away from anything that might bring him comfort, might bring him pleasure for so long, and now that he’d had a taste of what he could have, he knew he couldn’t let go.

Not now. Maybe not ever.



He ran toward his Alpha’s house, aware he wasn’t fully dressed nor showered, but he wasn’t in the mood for niceties. He wanted to get back to Oliver and Mandy. The fact that they were the ones at the forefront of his mind even with everything else going on in his life spoke volumes.

When he got to Holden and Ariel’s, it was Soren he saw on the porch. The Beta of the Pack stood there, his hands crossed over his chest and his brows raised.

“Is it me, or do I scent a bear and a certain pretty wolf on you this morning?”

Gibson showed off his teeth as if he were in wolf form baring fang. “None of your business, cat lover.”

Soren grinned then. “True enough.” He lifted his arm and inhaled. “Yeah, I smell like my feisty mate. Not a bad thing at all. But you? You surprise me.”

Gibson growled. “What of it? You have a problem with my choices.”

Soren held up his hands, palms out, the grin leaving his face quickly. “Not at all, Gibson. I’m happy for you, even though I don’t see a mating mark so it must be early in your dance. I’m only saying you surprise me because you’ve held yourself apart for so long, and now that you’re starting to come back to us, you’re going full tilt.” Soren smiled broadly. “I like it.”

Gibson shook his head. This damn wolf was like a cat sometimes. It made sense, considering the man had mated a Feline of his own. “Are you done poking at me now? Holden wanted to see me.”

Soren stepped out of the way. “Come on in. He summoned me, as well.”

“I don’t summon,” Holden bit out as Gibson and Soren made their way into the living room. “I ask.”

Ariel snorted and patted her mate’s chest. They stood in the center of the living room, her tiny form looking so fragile against Holden’s. Gibson wondered how the petite Mandy would look between him and Oliver, and had to quickly get that thought out of his mind before he did something stupid like get a hard-on in his Alpha’s home.

“You summon, baby, but it’s okay,” Ariel said with a wink. “It’s good to see you up and about, Gibson.”

Gibson opened his mouth to say something, but staggered back as a wave of intense emotion hit him like a wall. Excitement, fear, love, adoration, nervousness, and relief spread over him, and he hit the ground hard, his head slamming against the wooden floor.

Soren reached for him and put his hand on Gibson’s chest. “What is it?”

Gibson squeezed his eyes shut. “Too…much…” He gasped. He’d forgotten for a moment that he was the Omega. Apparently, whatever calming effect Mandy and Oliver had over him had worn off and now he could feel everything.

He couldn’t untangle the web made from the other three in the room, and their fear and worry overwhelmed him.

“Shit, he looked fine just a second ago,” Holden growled. “Soren, get Mandy and Oliver. I can scent them on him. If he was calm after leaving them, they might be able to help.”

“On it,” Soren said, his voice and scent fading as he left.

Ariel’s small hand touched Gibson’s forehead, and his body shook. “What can we do?” she asked, tears in her voice.

“I don’t know,” Holden bit out. “But you’re stronger than this, Gibson. You hear me? You’re going to get through this, and you’re going to be f*cking amazing. Because I will not let you leave this world because of what we feel. You get me? You’re stuck with us.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Gibson grunted, trying to smile. He couldn’t though, his head hurt and his body felt heavy. He inhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath, and when he did that, a burst of new emotion slammed into him and he felt his body going lax. But even as it did, he found a new…tangle that forced his eyes open. “Congratulations,” he murmured.

Ariel’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I can feel…” his voice trailed off, his body unable to go much longer.

“Shit,” Holden cursed. “You’re feeling the new life within her, aren’t you? That’s why you’re doing this. Because you figured out she’s pregnant.”