Beta Bully Bonus: Reece Part 1 (Early Access) (Patreon)

One thing Reece would begrudgingly give Charred Crescent was their great take-away food selection. Humans didn’t know how good they had it to be able to get drive-thru whenever they wanted. To have a whole town or city of restaurants at their fingertips. His old pack had one family-run bakery and a mini market selling ingredients to make your own meals. Anything else had to be ordered in from outside the pack, which required at least beta-level permissions to have delivered to the pack gates. There were enough suppliers in his new pack to allow him a different lunch from a different vendor for every working day.

He was polishing off a falafel mezze bowl with a fork in one hand, and his current novel in the other, when the head of said new pack returned home to their suite.

Marshall appeared as immaculate as when he left that morning. Suit tight to his body, still perfectly pressed, and hair brushed into a slightly-curling side-part. He was so stupidly sexy that it made Reece angry.

He’d only reached mate maturity a month ago, but the moment he had, the craving to throw himself at Marshall was mortifying. Unlike his expectations, Marshall made no attempt to force Reece into his pack. Eventually, it was Reece that had to give in to his natural desires. The alpha was still his soul-mate, whether he liked it or not. A week of living together and the alpha hadn’t laid a finger on him. Still a perfect gentleman.

“How was your meeting?” Reece asked through his last mouthful of spinach.

“As expected.” Marshall pulled at his tie until it unravelled and flopped it over his shoulder. Next he popped the top button of his shirt, revealing the tiniest hint of chest. “Beta Oli is definitely going to be maintaining the relationship. Alpha Nico seems less eager to be the socialite of the pack.” He laughed good-naturedly. “We all have our strengths, though.”

Reece hummed neutrally. He had yet to forgive Alpha Nico for how Darcy was treated over the summer, and Marshall knew. What his soul-mate didn’t know, yet, was just how long Reece remembered a grievance. The answer is forever.

Marshall gave him a knowing look. “If Omega Darcy has gotten past the past, I don’t see why you should hold onto it.”

“I like holding grudges,” Reece said snottily.

“I’ve noticed. That won’t serve you well at the head of a pack.”

“I’m not the head,” Reece retorted. He flipped the page of his book with exaggerated showmanship. “You are.”

“And I only make it through each day by letting things go as quickly as they come.” Modest and soothing in his tone as always. Dishing out alpha wisdom to all who needed him.

“You’re so fake,” Reece grunted.

Marshall’s mouth quirked into a crooked smile. “Is that what you think?” he asked, his tone darkened just a little.

“What would you call it?” Reece turned back to the desk and began arranging his stationary. His lunch was ending soon. He’d been lucky that the Charred Crescent had an opening for him to transfer into the exact same role as his previous pack. He loved working from home. But this wasn’t his home, yet. “Professionalism? Duty?”

“I call it doing my best, Reece.” The tiniest hint of weariness crept into his words, but Marshall had shrugged it off before he continued straight into his next showcase of immaculate leadership. “Sometimes you have to suck it up and do what’s in the interest of your pack rather than yourself,” he recited, as though the words had been stapled to his eyelids. “I’m sorry you don’t like t-”

“I don’t mind behaving for others, but don’t do your perfect polite act to me.” Reece lined up a pile of papers with the tips of his fingers. Somewhere in the stack was the alliance agreement he’d had Darcy’s soul-mate write up, ready for if he should ever need to run to his best friend’s defence. If there was one thing he loved more than a grudge, it was receipts. “I don’t care if you secretly burp like an ogre or swear at the tv, just stop playing your alpha role when we’re alone!”

“I am always an alpha, Reece. It’s not something I can turn off at the end of the day.”

“But do whatever you want, not what you think you should be seen doing.”

There was a pause. It sent a tingling sensation up Reece’s neck, like an approaching storm. He resisted the urge to turn and take reassurance from his soul-mate.

Eventually, Marshall’s deep voice returned, right behind Reece’s ear. “Whatever I want?”

Reece fought off a shiver. The tingles were now prickling along his hairline. “Anything,” he breathed. “As long as it’s what you want to do.”

Reece’s vision went black. Thin silky material had been tied around his head. He guessed it was one of Marshall’s ties, maybe even the one that had been slung over his shoulder after returning to their suite.

A large hand took him by the scruff of the neck and lead him away from his desk. The direction, he was fairly certain, was heading towards their bedroom. He felt flustered, though, easily mistaken. All of his focus was being used not to stumble in Marshall’s grip.

The moment his knees brushed the edge of their mattress, he was thrown across it.