Avery
“Cockblocker,” Avery spat. “You just couldn’t back off, could you?”
Cory glared at him furiously. “I told you to leave him alone! Why can’t you just do as you’re told, for once?”
Avery couldn’t remember ever being angry like this. His heart pounded and his eyelid twitched. All his life, his brother had been a pillar of support. The one constant in his lonely existence. He couldn’t stand being angry at Cory, but he couldn’t help it either. “He wanted it! We both did! Why did you have to spoil that?”
“Because whatever fantasy you’ve got in your head, you need to let it go. Of course he reacted! You threw yourself at him.” Cory shook his head. “For fuck’s sake! His brother’s the pack alpha! You can’t just…”
“Embarrass you like that?” Avery finished, voice low. He watched as his brother fell silent and something tightened painfully in his chest. He had hoped he’d been wrong, but he didn’t expect it to hurt this much. “Because that’s what I am, right?” he said softly. “An embarrassment. A crazy little wolf that you need to keep hidden?”
“Of course not!” Cory said, too loudly, too quickly.
Avery just let out a laugh, high and strained. His chest constricted and he could feel a burning feeling behind his eyes. All this time, he’d convinced himself that his brother was just being overprotective. But now small things were starting to click. The first week, Cory had barely let him out of his sight. He remembered the unhappy looks on his brother’s face whenever he caught him talking to other pack members. Even in a place where they were safe, Cory still watched him like a hawk. Watched for him to make a fool of himself.
“Just leave me alone,” Avery mumbled. He let himself shift. His clothes lay in tatters on the ground.
“Wait!” Cory shouted as he sprinted away. “It’s not like that!”
Avery didn’t look back; didn’t even have thought to. All he knew was that he needed to get as far away from his brother as possible. Several tears escaped as he ran, either hitting the ground or soaking into his fur. At the same time, his blood boiled. He couldn’t tell whether he wanted to go curl up in a corner, or turn around and take a chunk out of his brother’s leg. Avery had swallowed his tears a long time ago though, and he didn’t plan to let them out now. So he ran.
He made it to the village gates. With no small amount of effort, he managed to find a couple crates, and climbed up onto the wall, ignoring the fire in his shoulder. He looked at the forest, stretched ahead of him. He itched to run. To run until his paws bled, until he collapsed into a sweaty, exhausted heap, all of his emotions left behind in the dust.
Instead, he padded along the wall. He could feel curious eyes on him, burning through his skin. No called to him though and he was thankful for that. He wanted another one of Gerald’s special cigarettes. He wanted to lie back and watch the smoke disappear into the sky. He scanned the village, scenting the air. Gerald wasn’t near, probably relaxing in his home, but Cory was. Because the selfish asshead couldn’t even give him a moment’s peace. The alpha wolf wouldn’t stop smothering him until he stopped breathing. Until he disappeared into the earth. There was a time when Avery had loved being the center of his brother’s world, but that was when the days alone had threatened his sanity. Now, among other wolves, solitude seemed to constantly be just out of his reach.
As well as the one wolf whose company he craved.
He circled the village. He could hear Cory calling for him, not allowing him to stop. His heart wouldn’t slow down and his muscles trembled. His wounds burned and his stitches strained. He could still hear his brother coming after him. Vibrations of another being on the wall. Irrational fear filled him. It was as if a beast was on his tale, threatening to swallow him whole. It was fight or flight, and Avery was tired of fighting.
Then Jarrett’s house came into view and relief filled him. Bracing himself, Avery leapt to the ground, careful to put his weight on his other three legs, trying not to buckle under the strain of the awkward landing. He hurried to the front door and let out a whine, ignoring the concerned looks from the other pack members. His alpha was in there. His alpha would help him. He had to. If he didn’t, Avery wasn’t sure what he’d do.
The second the door opened, Avery pushed his way inside, ignoring the surprised look Jarrett gave him. He shifted back, and slammed the door. “Can I stay here?” he asked fervently, ignoring his own nakedness. All that mattered was finding a safe, quiet place before his brother drove him to madness.
“Um, I guess?” Jarrett answered. “What’s going on?”
Cory answered for him, knocking loudly on the wood. “I know you’re in there. Come on! We need to talk.”
“He won’t leave me alone,” Avery said, knowing his brother could hear him. “I just need…please? He won’t leave me alone.”
While he still looked uncomfortable, a look of understanding crossed Jarrett’s face. “Go on. I’ll deal with it.”
“Thank you,” Avery said. He nearly ran up the stairs, hand clamping over his bandaged shoulder. He practically fell against the hallway wall as he sank to the floor. He listened to the conversation below, heart in his throat. What if Jarrett couldn’t get Cory to leave? What if his brother forced his way inside and dragged Avery away? The rational part of Avery’s mind knew that Cory just wanted to talk to him. To sort this out. Cory hated leaving loose ends. Ever since they were little, on the rare occasion they did fight, Cory wanted it resolved as fast as possible. He didn’t want either of them to be angry for any longer than they could help.
He meant well, but at the moment, Avery was on the verge of hysterics. The thought of talking their issues out right now was more than he could deal with. All he wanted was for everyone to shut up for one minute because his mind was barely able to latch onto a coherent thought and everything was moving too fast…
“He’s my brother. You need to let me talk to him,” Cory growled.
“Look man,” Jarrett said calmly, “He just needs a bit of space right now.”
“But-”
“Just give him some time,” Jarrett insisted. “You just chased him clear around the village. He wants to be left alone.”
“He’s overreacting,” Cory argued. “If he would just listen-”
“He’s hiding from you,” Jarrett said, there was a hint of anger in his voice now. “I don’t know exactly what went down, but pestering him like this isn’t going to help. Just give him some space.”
Now Cory sounded angry. “No. You don’t know! This is none of your business, alright? Just let me see my brother!” He snarled then, and for a second, Avery was scared that his brother was going to fight.
“Fuck me,” Jarrett groaned. Suddenly his voice was hard and demanding. “As second to the pack alpha, I am ordering you to stand down. Avery came to me, begging for protection. From you! Now leave!”
Avery found himself flushing slightly. He’d never heard Jarrett take a tone like that. The expectation to be obeyed was crystal clear. He was glad he couldn’t see Cory’s face. For a long minute, he didn’t hear anything, then to his relief, he heard the sound of feet stomping away. Holding his head in his hands, he let out a shaky sigh. The stairs creaked as Jarrett came up and sat down beside him.
“You okay?” he asked.
Avery nodded. “I just wanted time to think,” he murmured. “Was I asking too much?”
“No,” Jarrett said. “He was being irrational. Sometimes people need time to cool off. He should have been able to give you that.”
“I love him. But sometimes, I really fucking hate him.”
Jarrett chuckled. “I know what you mean, believe me.”
They sat in silence. It was comfortable. Peaceful. Avery’s heart gradually slowed down, and his muscles relaxed as his legs slid down to stretch out in front of him. Unlike the outside, it was quiet here. Just the sound of breathing, and the beating of two hearts.
“Thank you,” he said again.
“No problem,” Jarrett said. “We look out for each other here. Even if, occasionally, it’s from each other.”
Avery rubbed his eyes. The question rose in his throat, and he let it spill out before he lost his nerve. “Do you think I’m embarrassing? And be honest. Please.”
Jarrett’s widened slightly and he raised an eyebrow. “Not particularly. Weird, with worse social skills than my brother in law, but not embarrassing. If anything, the older girls here think you’re adorable. Dinah said that you were a real sweetheart with her kid the other day.”
“I was also naked,” Avery said dryly. He glanced down at himself. “Like right now, actually.”
It wasn’t exactly what he’d hoped for. He’d fantasized about this for many nights now, and here he was, naked in the alpha’s home, and they were talking about their feelings.
The alpha chuckled. “Honestly, nakedness really isn’t that big of a deal. It’s not exactly uncommon for two guys to brawl and then have to walk home in the nude because their clothes got shredded.” The smile slid off his face. “Why do you ask?”
“Cory,” Avery sighed. “He’s embarrassed by me, and no, I’m not overreacting. I flat out asked him and he couldn’t even lie about it.”
Jarrett was silent for a minute, then replied. “He might just be worried. We’re not like northern packs. It can be a bit of a culture shock. He’s probably still adjusting to the fact that slights against the pack don’t involve chasing after an alpha like a bitch in heat.”
Avery grinned toothily. “Offer’s still up, if you want it.” He widened his legs slightly. He found it fascinating how Jarrett’s face could go from a nice sunkissed complexion to a burnt tomato so quickly. “Sorry,” he said. “Am I overstepping?” That was a word he’d just learned. He hoped he used it right. He closed his legs again as his cock twitched.
Shaking his head, Jarrett bit his lip, suddenly looking slightly awkward. “Can I ask you something, though?”
“Yeah?”
“Why me?” The alpha tried to smile, but it looked a bit awkward. “Why did you decide that I’m the be all end all? If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the most pleasant person to be around, right now.”
That was an easy one to answer. “You weren’t always sad and angry. I saw you before. You were the happiest person I’ve ever seen. I want to see you like that again.”
The blush was back. Jarrett looked away. “I don’t know when that’s going to happen.”
“That’s okay,” Avery said, “I can wait.” He reached over and squeezed the alpha’s hand. “I also like your wolf. It sings to mine.”
“Sings?” Jarrett raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I’ve heard that one before.”
Avery shrugged. “That’s what it feels like.” It’s not like he could describe it anyway. The pull that his wolf felt whenever the alpha was near. The way Jarrett’s scent made his heart pound and his cock twitch. The unshakable feeling that he could make Jarrett happy again if the wolf would let him in.
He was still holding Jarrett’s hand, their fingers intertwined. Jarrett’s face was still pink, but not from embarrassment. He looked at Avery thoughtfully, eyes darkening to a deep gold color. “I think I know what you mean.” He let out a deep breath. “Well, I’m in.”
Avery blinked intelligently. “Huh?”
Jarrett leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “I’m in.”
Avery’s heart spiked, sending a rush of blood to his cock. His mind became a whir of ‘oh my god this is happening’ and ‘fucking finally!’
“We won’t be interrupted here, will we?” he asked, just a bit anxiously.
Jarrett laughed. “Don’t worry. The first person who tries to interrupt gets a kick in the balls.”
That was all Avery needed. Without wasting another second, he scrambled up, crawling onto Jarrett’s lap and wrapping around him like ivy. He pressed his lips against the alpha’s, could feel Jarrett chuckle against the needy onslaught, but Avery didn’t care. He’d been waiting for this for far too long. Maybe even his whole life. The taste of Jarrett once again filled him as he licked and nipped hungrily. His own cock was stiff and his hole was tight and just beginning to weep.
He left Jarrett gasping for breath as he slid off his lap and onto the floor. The alpha’s pants were tight and bulging against his massive cock, and Avery couldn’t wait another second. He wanted to taste the alpha. All of him.
Before Jarrett could get his bearings, Avery tugged at the button of his pants and pulled at the fabric till his prize came loose. And what a prize it was. Hard and dripping, violet veins bulging out. Avery leaned down, giving the mushroom cap tip a gentle lick.
Jarrett shuddered. “Okay, now hold on-”
As if Avery was going to listen. He gave the tip a small peck, before taking the length into his mouth. He’d talked to Milo for advice, and Milo had given him a quick sex-ed. Milo also said that if he wanted his alpha to do anything for him, this was the way to achieve complete and utter devotion.
Hoping he was doing this right, Avery sucked and licked. It tasted salty and musky and just as Jarrett should taste. Wanting every last bit of Jarrett he could reach, Avery hardly noticed as the tip of the cock hit the back of his throat.
Suddenly two strong hands were tangled in his hair, gripping tightly. His head was suddenly pushed down further as Jarrett bucked and pumped into his mouth. He felt himself swallowing something hot and sour and unbelievably good. He wrapped his arms around Jarrett’s waste, taking all the alpha had to give him.
Jarrett leaned back against the wall with a thump, panting and letting out a small growl. Gently, he lifted Avery’s head up and pulled the omega back onto his lap and wrapped his fingers around Avery’s smaller cock, still hard. The omega let out a soft moan and leaned into the touch. “I think it’s your turn now. I also think the bed would be much more comfortable.”
“Sounds good,” Avery agreed. “I’m not nearly as easy as you are.” He let out a yelp when a large hand smacked his ass hard.
“I’ll have you know that it’s just been a while. That’s all.”
“Sure. I’ll try not to wear you out.”