Chapter 4: Breakfast With the Family

Max woke as himself, honey-scented and slim and sore in all the wrong places.

The Domain had ended at first light, the way Rose had promised.

James lay beside him on his back, one arm flung over his eyes, snoring a little.

The silver ring of crescents shone faintly on his shoulder in the gray window light.

Max looked at it for a long time.

It was the first thing in this world that had been his.

"Stop staring," James mumbled. "I can feel it."

"You're awake."

"I'm very awake. I'm also a little scared of my own body." James lowered his arm and squinted. "Max, you're an omega again."

"Yes."

"I'm an alpha again."

"Yes."

"I want to be clear that I enjoyed both."

Max shoved a pillow in his face, and James laughed until it turned into a groan.

"My legs don't work," James said. "Is that a side effect?"

"Probably."

"I'm the prime of Helix. I have a pack meeting at noon."

"Then you'd better sit through it carefully."

James pulled on his shirt one slow button at a time and checked the collar in the window glass.

The mark showed above the neckline, so he turned the collar up with a grimace.

"I look like I got bitten by a very attractive bat."

"Wear a scarf."

"It's the end of summer."

"Then you'll be sweating, and you'll be brave about it."

James grinned and crossed the room and stood in front of him.

He lowered his voice. "I'm not telling Linda anything. I mean it. Not the night, not the mark, none of it."

"Thank you."

"I'm just saying it out loud so I can't take it back later."

Max wanted to kiss him again, so he did, quickly, and then pushed him out of the door.

Downstairs the dining room smelled of toast and butter.

Linda sat at the head of the table in a pale yellow dress, her gloved hands folded, a glow in her face.

Mary was pouring tea.

Both of them looked up with matching smiles.

"There he is," said Mary. "Come sit, darling. You look so much better this morning."

"I slept well."

"I'm delighted." She patted the chair beside her. "Did James see you home safely?"

"He did."

"He's such a dear boy."

Keep reading free with an account. Start They Took His Inheritance, He Claimed Three Alpha Mates from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.