Free Run with the Moon by Bailey Bradford Page B

all.”
    Valen considering giving Rivvie’s bare butt a nudge. Rivvie was being too serious and logical. Pushing Rivvie in was more like something Rivvie would do to him, Valen realized.
    He tapped Rivvie’s ass with his toes.
    “Valen!” Rivvie yelped before falling face first into the stream.
    Valen laughed and moved back. He had every expectation that Rivvie would come up wanting to douse him in return.
    Sure enough, Rivvie bobbed up and spat water at him.
    “Impressive distance,” Valen noted as he leaped back another yard or so.
    Rivvie cocked his head and gave Valen a considering look. “You know, Father said this wouldn’t work, that brothers like us don’t make good pack mates. I admit I was insulted, and pissed off. We’re going to prove him wrong.”
    Valen had the utmost respect for their father, which didn’t mean he wasn’t angry at him. “Why would he say that? His brother is in the pack with him.”
    “Yeah, but Uncle Ernest is gay,” Rivvie pointed out unnecessarily.
    “Yes, and? What does that have to do with anything?” Valen asked.
    “No competing for the same gender.” Rivvie slicked back his wet hair. “Whereas I’m gay, you’re gay, we both think Aaron was a stud—”
    Valen growled and was in Rivvie’s face instantly. “Don’t even think about it!”
    Rivvie bared his neck and averted his gaze, the first time he’d ever physically shown that he accepted Valen’s strength over his own. “I wasn’t. That’s just it, Val. I don’t want to take your guy. Father said it would be an issue until you are mated with someone. That, and me being so…so…” Rivvie sighed and seemed to shrink right before Valen’s eyes. “Vapid. Father said I can’t be serious long enough to be a beta or anything more than an omega, and omegas are great, you and I both know that. They keep the packs happy and entertained, and we need them, but that’s not me. I don’t want it to be me.”
    “He called you vapid?” Valen asked, hurt for his brother’s sake. He gently stroked Rivvie’s arms.
    “Yeah, he did, and I know he’s got a point. I’m not stupid. I’ll never be the smartest guy in the pack. I can’t be smarter than what I am already. I can’t make my brain work better. What I am and will be, always, is loyal,” he said urgently, still offering his neck to Valen. “I can learn to do whatever I need to so I’ll be the best beta you’ll ever have. I can still learn.”
    “You aren’t stupid, Riv,” Valen assured his brother. “Maybe Father was just hurt because you chose to leave the pack.”
    Which was the wrong thing to say. Rivvie looked stricken.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt him!”
    Valen wasn’t given to excessive displays of affection, but his brother needed a hug more than just about anyone in the world, except maybe Aaron. Valen pulled Rivvie into his arms. “Of course not. Father doesn’t usually say cruel things, though, and that was cruel of him. Makes me wonder what he was thinking.”
    Rivvie clung to Valen. “He was mad, and that means he was hurt. I was too busy wanting to see the humans and horses and yeah, I wanted to leave with you and be free even if I still was in a pack. It would at least be your pack and maybe—” Rivvie’s breath hitched. “Maybe new people who would take me seriously if I’m not a smiling prankster. I can learn to be someone more mature.”
    Valen thought back to the dozens of times he’d heard someone joking about Rivvie being the flighty, fun one and him the serious, grumpy one. He was as guilty as anyone else of not really seeing Rivvie. When Rivvie smiled and laughed, he lit up everyone around him with that same infectious joy. That didn’t mean he was stupid, and most certainly not vapid. He was just carefree and liked to joke around.
    “There’s nothing wrong with being happy, you know.” Valen gave Rivvie’s back a pat. “Nothing wrong with smiling. The world would be a pretty shitty place if everyone was