A Man’s Worth(Brac Pack 31)(46)

“How is this possible?” Rakeym asked as he stepped up behind Ahm. “How can this be?”

Rakeym sounded just as dazed and confused as Ahm felt. He looked over his shoulder. “Did you know we used to be asexual, Rakeym?” From the look in the man’s eyes, Rakeym had known.

“But that is no more,” Rakeym argued. “The elders took that away from us.”

Apparently not from everyone. Chaotic thoughts raced through Ahm’s mind as he wondered how this happened. Well, okay, he knew how it happened. The night he let Bryce fuck him obviously left him with more than a mind-blowing orgasm. “I need to talk to Bryce.”

“Let me know if there is anything you need.” Rakeym shimmered out as Ahm walked over to the window. He let images of Bryce fucking him roll behind his eyes as he stared at the dark windowpane. His reflection in the darkened glass looked detached.

He stared at it, lifting his hand to his neck. The reality of it, buoyed with the shock, made him feel disconnected for a moment, but he knew it was the reality, and he knew it was the shock, and he knew there was chaos behind those eyes in the empty window.



* * * *



Bryce sat up in one of the trees that lined the forest of the property. He had a pretty good view from up here. He could see every side of the barn along with all angles of the house, except the far side. Bryce was confident he could see attackers if they showed themselves.

There was a gentle breeze skating through the air, bringing Bryce scents of spring in bloom. Besides the addictive aroma of his mate, nothing smelled better to Bryce. The scents around him made Bryce want to shift and run, letting his paws hit the earth as that same breeze brushed through his fur.

But tonight was for watching. Not running. That sucked.

Settling back in the tree, Bryce yawned. God, he was so damn bored. He was almost praying something wicked this way came. The branch was poking him in places he would rather not have a tree limb. Wasn’t Riley supposed to have first watch? How in the hell did Bryce—his thoughts stuttered to a halt when he saw Ahm standing by their bedroom window, his expression pensive.

Bryce drank in his mate, still amazed at how beautiful Ahm truly was. When Bryce had first set eyes on the guy years before, he had thought Ahm an impenetrable force. He was aloof, never really spoke, and had a dangerous air about him.

Come to find out his mate was only trapped inside his own responsibilities, needing someone to coax that stick out of his ass. His eyes crinkled as he frowned. Why was Ahm rubbing his neck? If he was tired, why didn’t he go to sleep? But then Bryce watched as his mate’s hand lay palm down on his stomach.

The movement was too tender, too intimate to be just an ordinary gesture. Bryce damn near fell out of the tree when realization dawned on him. But his moment was interrupted when he spotted something blue from the corner of his eye. Swinging his head around, he had just enough time to catch a glance at the person opening the corral, scaring the horses into running.

Nara.

That fucking bitch.

Snatching the two-way radio from its clip, Bryce hit the button. “Alex, you there?” The mates were taking turns manning the radio. It had been Curtis’s idea to set up the radios in the first place. He had said that there might be circumstances where one of the men on watch needed help, but couldn’t call on their cell phones.

“Roger that.”

Bryce rolled his eyes. “Send the cavalry. The bitch is back, letting the horses loose.”

“What do you want me to do!” Alex screeched into the radio.

Didn’t he just say send the cavalry? “Tell my brothers to get their asses outside.” Clipping the radio, Bryce climbed from the tree. The horses were running at full steam. He had to be very careful not to get run over.

By the time Bryce made it to where he had seen Nara, she was gone. Now he and his brothers had the job of rounding up their horses and getting them back home.

“What happened?” Pa asked as he rushed from the house.

“It was Nara.” Bryce stood there and explained to his pa what had taken place in Ahm’s office and how his tribe wanted his head for mating Bryce.

The longer he talked, the more his pa’s expression darkened.

Bryce spotted Ahm by the back door, his face mottled with rage. Before Bryce could say a word, his mate shimmered away.

Fuck!

“I need Luke. Ahm is going after his cousin.” Bryce paused and then finally confessed his suspicions. “I think Ahm is carrying my child.”

To his father’s credit, Pa didn’t look shocked. Anger lit his eyes as he waved Olsen over. “Take care of rounding the horses up. Bryce and I have some matters to take care of.”