Not Many Options

by Jillian West

A check for four hundred thousand dollars made out to Riley Thomas. The memo line says NO FURTHER CONTACT.

Finnegan Sunderland is tall and slender. His reddish-blond hair is messy in a purposeful way. The top is longer with a host of thick curls. His face is covered in a few days' growth of stubble in the same color.

Finn has tattoos that dance up each forearm, across his shoulders, and over his muscular chest.

"Cove is likely proof of his inappropriate actions," Sunde says, frowning at the hallway. "She's what three?" "Around there.” Cannon nods. "Riley is twenty-one. Add in pregnancy time and he was having sex with a minor. You said he's older than us?" Sunde asks, studying Cannon's face. "Yeah.” Cannon sighs. "Excuse me," Sunde says in a disgusted tone. "He was sexually abusing a minor. Fucking rat bastard."

I'm the oldest at thirty. Cannon is two years younger. Sunde is the baby at twenty-six.

"Cove had an accident," Killian growls at the ceiling. "She was looking for Riley. I squatted down to pick her up and she said," Killian's voice actually breaks. "It was an accident. Don't beat my ass. Then she covered her bottom like she was afraid I was going to spank her."

Men are handy to lift shit and kill spiders, but they aren't necessary to be happy.

Biology doesn't necessarily make a family. Giving love, being there no matter what, putting up with those terrible teenage years despite the kid's shitty attitude… All those things are what defines a parent.

“After all the fantasies I’ve had about it, this sweet pussy absolutely has to be devoured."

"You're a great mom. No matter who else they have in their lives they'll always love you in a completely different way than anyone else. You survived in triage mode for too long. Everything that had to be done, you did it. I get that it feels like you're dropping the ball." He rubs tender circles on my back. "That's not how it is. You gained a couple of teammates. We all get to carry the ball now. Do you understand?"

See, totally not feral. I'm decent. A calm example of an alpha… Who's about to mount the omega whimpering under me. Fuck her through the goddamn bed. Bite her so deep she never escapes… That went downhill fast.

"Let me fuck you deep and hard before filling your tight little pussy full of my come?"

"I'm going to fuck your cunt with my tongue now,"

Sadly, it seems no one truly needs me.

I'm the black sheep of the family. The fuck up.

"I know we're not there yet, but sweetheart it doesn't change a thing. You very much feel like mine. Which means my urge to care for you is nearly uncontrollable. Does that bother you? I worry I'm turning into a pushy fuck."

I'm in love with Riley Thomas and I'm going to make her mine in every way a man can.

"That's it, come on your alpha's cock." Cannon licks my ear. "Gonna fuck my come into you now, sweetheart."

I grin at that. She's my absolute favorite person. Shit, it's quick. My dads said when you know, you know. And I have no doubts. I know. My pulse picks up so fast I can feel it thumping in my neck and ears. I fell in love with Riley.

"You gotta get the poops off, Assper," Cove says, patting Jasper's arm. He's still busy gagging into the trash can.

"I'll never try to be thoughtful again," Jasper grumbles, grabbing way too many baby wipes and trying to clean Lily's stinky bottom. "I'm scarred for life. This can't be a normal odor. Does she have some type of medical condition?"

"Don't think so," Cove says, shrugging. "She always stinks when s...

Finnegan Sunderland might be right. This is absolutely my favorite winter of all the winters.

I didn't realize how much fun kids were until I started hanging out with Cove. Lily is cool too, but she still craps herself, so I think we'll bond more when she gets older. Though I do find it incredibly precious when she's so hungry she tries to eat your face off. The other morning I was nuzzling my cheek to hers and the little beast tried to feed from my cheek.

"I think I fell in love with Riley," he says. He's staring at the ceiling like it might give him some insight into his emotions.

Sunde grins. "I'm to find you and send you in. The nest is lacking in your scent and our neurotic little omega needs your come to add to the smells."

Seeing her take care of her girls? Watching her light up at one of Sunderland's cheesy jokes? Knowing she trusts Kills despite his massive size? Or the way she gives Jasper the benefit of the doubt when so many of us have warned her away? All of it draws me to her and makes me yearn for her in a way I can't explain. My dads used to tell me and my brothers that you'll know you've found the one when their happiness becomes more important than your own.

"You're such a good girl."

"Do you like being mounted and fucked like the naughty little cock tease you are? Tell me sweet girl." He bites the back of my neck before releasing me. "Are you going to let me fuck you full of my baby one day? Breed you over and over again?"

"You'll never be rid of me now," he says, tilting my mouth to his. "Never wanna be," I whisper against his lips.

"Each year, they'll add another pearl to the necklace and bracelet," Gramps says, swallowing thickly. "You'll give it to them when they turn eighteen. I likely won't be around then, but let them know it's from me." Riley blinks at him with tears in her eyes. "The same tradition you did with your omega?" She gasps, giving Gramps a hug. "Thank you, what an amazing legacy. Hopefully, they'll be able to do the same with their daughters one day."

"Come get it," she says. I walk over to her and she runs back to the couch. When I turn around all four of my guys are kneeling. Killian holds Lily and Cove is standing in front of them with a small box in her hand. "Wanna get married mommy?" Cove asks, her words aren't perfect, but I get the general idea. My heart pounds in my chest and I rush them all. Cannon holds me to him. Finn kisses me. Jasper grins, squeezing my hand, and when I look at Kills he's got a girl on each hip.

Ravvi just giggles as Love pulls away her hand. "That's her," he whispers, catching sight of Cove in Killian's arms. "She's very special to me."

"You're going to love me one day," Ravvi says to Cove. She sticks her tongue out at him and runs into Riley's legs. "It's okay. I can wait." He follows her over, patting her on the back.

"Ravvi has been quite consistent in his dogged determination to get her to love him,"

"Not many blokes can say they found the love of their life at the ripe age of six."

Killian thought Sage was likely his due to Riley's unbelievable belly when she was pregnant. In the years since it's become quite clear she's Jasper's.

Alec and Jake bolt down the stairs into the room. They're thirteen, and there's no doubt about it—Killian's their dad.