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Setting out a blanket, I basked in the afternoon sun. It was so peaceful here, and I thought about how exciting it would be to bring the guys… I stopped my train of thought. No matter what I did, my mind kept returning to all my memories of the pack that had stolen my heart - the pack that was meant for me, according to the way they had reacted to my scent. I shook my head, attempting to clear them from it. I needed to focus on what I wanted for my future.
On one hand, I could sleep here and hope that I woke up back to my own world. Where I would probably have to go back to my old job, if they would still have me. Back to my old apartment which probably had an eviction notice. In fact, I wasn’t even sure anyone would have reported me missing. I sure wasn’t going to go back to Rob. Not after I had experienced what it was like to have men who truly wanted me, who cared about me, who would take on a whole other pack for me single-handedly. I laughed at the thought. Rob probably wouldn’t even defend me from a random man on the street who catcalled me. There was no way I could go back to that mediocrity. The idea of going back to my bleak world, without the colorful people, places, and scents of this one made me feel queasy.
Staying here had been a whirlwind, and not entirely bad once I was used to it. I had been treated better there than I ever had in my old life. But I was a slave to my biology. The most frustrating part about it was that I felt I had no power. I was an omega - arguably the weakest designation and the most vulnerable in this society. An alpha could merely bark a command at me and I would have to obey. I stared out at the sky, watching as the sun started to set. My thoughts wandered back to the events of today. Was I really as powerless as I thought? I had a pack begging me to reconsider. I had an alpha literally on his knees in front of me.
Suddenly I sat straight up. Something had eluded me this whole time and was starting to click into place. The reason why omegas were protected, sought after, and sometimes mistreated by alphas was that omegasdidhave power. We were the only designation that caused the strongest to go insane with desire, lose their wits, and do absolutely anything to obtain one. It was because of me that Aiden, Declan and Dominic weren’t sleeping and were unable to eat for days. We were revered because of our rarity. We helped made packs whole and had the unique ability to calm alphas through mate bonds. Although unintentional, I actually did have power. I just refused to see it.
If I went back to my world now, I’d be back to who I was before - not an omega, just a girl struggling to make it in a world where I didn’t fit in. I thought I didn’t fit in here, but truthfully I’d integrated myself into it slowly despite digging my heels in. Or rather, everyone else had slowly made their way into my heart. Dr. Calloway who was concerned for my health, Callie, Bella - all of them befriended me and helped me despite my wariness. I had made a life for myself here, even before I knew there was a pack out there for me. My pack. The men who challenged me, cared for me, drove me crazy, helped me through the best and hardest times of my life, and who also let me be me. If I went back to my own world, would I ever be happy there?
Memories raced in my mind, each one evoking strong emotions as they played in my head. Arriving in this world, falling into Aiden’s arms, eating ice cream with Bella on my bed, and being a brat while Callie tried to get my photos taken for the registry. Watching a movie with Declan, curling up in Aiden’s arms, having Dominic hold me while I cried out in pain from my heat. The three of them sleeping around me in the nest they had for me, ready for me in case I had an emergency. How could anything from back home compare to this?
I looked down at the coin in my hand. I had a choice for my future. And I finally knew what I wanted.
Chapter 38
Aiden
The liquor numbed my mouth so much that it was starting to taste like water. I had imbibed enough of it to make me slug through each day since Piper had left, running off without giving us the chance to explain our feelings to her. I couldn’t be mad - we had gone into this with guarded hearts, and someone like her needed guidance, security, and a pack that was all in. As much as we had tried, we hadn’t been that for her. Declan had at least spoken enough to her to tell her we really did want her, despite our hesitance to bite her in during her heat. I stood by that decision - she deserved to make that choice outside of the heat frenzy.
But when Dominic told us about his meeting with her and how his apologies and promises were not enough and that he had let her go to honor her decision, I had lost it. We had lost her. And we would never be the same after this. I knew we would never court another omega. Not after we had experienced our true fated mate. For that week of her heat it was pure bliss, perfection. We finally felt whole with our true mate in our arms, the one we had always dreamed of. And I would hold that memory in my heart to get me through the rest of my days. But try as I might, I couldn’t seem to want to leave the study and get on with my life. Everything just felt numb.
I dragged myself downstairs for water, finally tiring of the mouth drying whiskey I had been sipping on. Declan was in the living room, taking a break from consoling Dom. He was the glue holding the shattered pieces of our pack together right now, although I knew he was hurting just as badly. A knock at our front door pushed me out of my thoughts. Who could that be? A prickle of irritation at whoever dared to interfere in my sulking went up my neck, and I had the intention of ignoring whoever it was. But the slightest, tiniest sliver of hope in me that it might be someone who I wanted to see made me turn to stalk over. I knew the chances were small. But just in case.
I flung the door open, hoping that my bloodshot eyes and snarl would dissuade any solicitors that had the unfortunate thought to come to my pack’s house today. But when I looked down and saw the vision in front of me, I was sure I was dreaming.
There stood Piper, looking up at me just like she did that first day that I set eyes on her. But she was different. She was confident, sure of herself, and the look in her eyes told me she wasn’t afraid. I nearly fell to my knees at the sight of her.
“Piper!” I could hear Declan shouting behind me, making his way to the door. But I was focused on the omega in front of me, my omega, as she broke into a smile.
“Aiden.” She breathed as she reached in to hug me. I had been holding back from touching her in case she was here to say goodbye to me as well, but the second she grasped me I couldn’t hold back. I picked her up and spun to bring her inside. I was kissing her head, my brain a mess of jumbled emotions. Suddenly Declan was there, holding her on the other side as we brought her to the living room.
“Hey! Put me down first.” She cried out as we swarmed her. I heard Dominic’s footsteps thundering down the hall, sure that he heard his mate’s voice. I gently set her down in the living room as all three of us stood there, Dominic panting as he ran in. She assessed all of us, watching as we stood still, afraid to do anything or move at all. She cleared her throat.
“So, I’m here to speak. I want you all to listen first, and then we can talk.” We all simultaneously nodded, ready to do anything and everything she asked for. She looked a bit overwhelmed by all of us, but then her gaze steadied and she went on with a determined look. “I’ve had an eventful past couple of months, and finally some time to think things through. I want to apologize for running off after my heat. I was confused about a lot of things, and I’m sure that I’ll still have a lot to figure out in the future.” Future? I looked at her hopefully. “I left to try to go back to my own world.” There was a collective gasp through the room as we all tried not to show our emotion at her words. She really had tried to leave. “This change hasn’t been easy on me. My body hasn’t been easy on me. And this relationship that we all have, it’s new, and it’s confusing, but… I can’t imagine life without it.” The clench in my heart finally relaxed at her words. “I don’t know what it’s going to be like here. But I know this. I want to keep trying with you. I want you to be my pack. But I want to put my foot down about a few things. I want you - all of you - but before we make any long-term commitments, I want to date you all. For at least six months. We have a lot to work through, and we need to be on the same page. Can you all agree to that?” I let out the air I had been holding in my chest. That was it? I would let her date me forever as long as it meant I could be near her. A bite was preferable, of course. But it wasn’t off the table. I stepped forward.
“Piper, we will do anything you ask. You name it. We will never, ever risk losing you again.” Dominic moved toward her, looking much fresher after his shower. He knelt down and took her hand.
“Princess, you honor us. I don’t deserve you after everything, but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” He looked at her earnestly, and she erupted in giggles. His brow furrowed in confusion as she covered her mouth, nearly bowling over in laughter.
“Dominic, that’s the corniest thing I’ve ever heard. But thank you. Now get up, I understand why you did what you did. It’s water under the bridge.” She muttered something about over-the-top proclamations, but then looked over to us as Dominic stood, his hand still enveloping hers. “So, this fated mate thing, it’s real huh? I kind of wondered why the other packs smelled stale compared to yours. Now it makes sense.” I stepped forward, wanting to hug her again. My mate. Finally home. I lifted her, sandwiching her between myself and Dominic while both of us began purring, causing our omega to shiver and let out a pleased sound.
Declan closed in on our circle, his arms crossed and an amused look on his face. “I always knew you were our mate. I knew it from the first time I saw you, never needed your scent. I was just waiting for these two boneheads to figure it out.” Piper smiled and reached out to him, using her free hand to grab him and pull him in until we were all holding her, rubbing our necks on her to scent her as ours.
“Um, about that whole, do anything I ask part…” She looked up at us through her lashes. I gave her a kiss on her forehead as I answered.
“What do you want love? Name it and it’s yours.” Her eyes went down and she bit her lip.
“Well, it’s kind of nice having you all three around me, and now that we’re out of the heat haze, it might be kind of nice for us all to play together... Just for fun.”
My cock instantly twitched at her words. She wanted all of us, at the same time.
“We are more than happy to play with you, omega.” Dominic growled, nipping at her ear as she squealed and buried her head into me, laughing. The four of us looked at each other, our collective scents filling up the room. “To the nest?” Declan offered, and our legs were moving to carry her there before anyone bothered to answer. We had our mate back, and we were going to make sure she knew just how loved she was, even if it took another whole week before we left the bedroom.
Epilogue
I was currently smushed in between three big men, looking up at the sky as they took turns reaching for the charcuterie board and feeding me. It had been six months, and true to his word Aiden took me camping with the whole pack. Although he had gone a bit overboard, taking us to a luxury cabin in the mountains the next town over. It was more glamping than camping, but that was because tonight was going to be special. Tonight I was going to be bitten into the pack.
“Open wide princess.” Dominic held a grape in his fingers, hovering over my mouth as he teased me. I let my mouth open to take the fruit, then closed my lips over his fingers, giving a sensual moan as I liked his skin. I felt his tremble as he held me. “Not fair.” He grumbled. “I’ve been hard most of the day in anticipation. Now I’ll barely be able to walk without a tent in my shorts.” I giggled and ran my hand through his dark locks. Dominic was my wild one, the alpha who took me on rides, out dancing late at night, and of course, to any concert I desired. We had been out at a show a few nights back, using up his VIP concert passes one by one. I smiled at the memory - he had me on his shoulders for part of it, giving me a great view. My center curled at the memory of his palms on my thighs as he held me. We had decided to stay celibate for the week before my “bonding ceremony” as I liked to call it. The intentions were good at the time, but it had been driving us all a bit wild not being able to be intimate, even for just a week.
