“Hey.” Taimyr’s tone was gentle. “It’s okay.”
Kenai shook his head. “She ran from me the second it was over. I should’ve been taking care of her. I pushed too hard.”
“You gave her exactly what she needed, even if she’s too scared to admit it,” Taimyr said softly. “Who does that remind you of?”
There was a pause, then Kenai let out a shaky chuckle, followed by a long sigh. “What if I ruined this? What if she leaves and I never?—”
“She’s not going to leave.” Taimyr’s voice was firm. “She may not understand it, but you two are scent matched, aren’t you?”
Kenai nodded, and my heart skipped a beat. What did that mean? Is that why he smelled so good now? I pressed my back against the wall, trying to calm my racing heart.
“We’ll figure this out.” I heard movement, fabric rustling. “Come here.”
I peeked around the corner again and saw Taimyr pull Kenai into his arms, tucking Kenai’s white hair behind his ear with such tenderness it made my chest ache. Kenai sagged against him like he’d been holding himself together for far too long.
“I missed you,” Taimyr murmured, pressing his forehead to Kenai’s. “All this union business has kept us apart.”
“I missed you too.” Kenai’s words were muffled against Taimyr’s shoulder. “Gods, I’m so tired of this.”
“Don’t say that. How many of your clan were lost last year? We can’t let him keep getting away with this. You said it yourself—unionizing will legitimize our?—”
The wordunionizingtriggered the very small part of my brain that wasn’t currently spiraling into panic. They were trying to unionize? I could help with that. That was something I knew, something concrete I could focus on instead of the sick feeling in my stomach.
Because Kenai had a partner. Of course he did. And I’d just—we’d just?—
Oh god. What had I done?
“Excuse me…” Both of their gazes snapped to me as I stepped out from behind the fireplace, clutching my robe tighter. “Sorry, but did I hear that you’re trying to unionize?—”
My voice broke as I looked between them, still close together, Taimyr’s arm wrapped around Kenai’s waist. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. You should’ve told me you were together. I would never have…I wouldn’t have?—”
Kenai’s eyes widened. “Sylvie?—”
“I’m not a homewrecker.” The words tumbled out in a rush, humiliation burning through me hotter than the heat. “God, this is such a mess. I’m such a mess. I should go, I should?—”
“Sylvie, stop.” Taimyr’s voice cut through my spiral, firm but not unkind, resonating with something that immediately had me frozen in place. “You’re not a homewrecker.”
“But you two are?—”
“Bonded mates, yes,” he confirmed, moving toward me slowly, like I was a spooked animal. Which…fair. “Have been for years.” As he approached, his scent wrapped around me—wild tundra flowers and petrichor married to earthy cloves. Just like in Kenai’s bed.Fuck me.
“Then why would Kenai—” I gestured helplessly toward the other room, where we’d just had very loud and apparently magical sex.
“Because reindeer shifters don’t have the same relationship structures as humans,” Kenai said softly, coming to stand besideTaimyr. “Most human relationships are pairs. Ours…aren’t always. Especially not when there’s an omega involved.”
“We’re herd beings, Sylvie,” Taimyr explained. “Our relationship structures reflect that. Two alphas bonding isn’t uncommon, but it’s not meant to be exclusive. It’s meant to be a foundation that can support an omega—and any other mates who feel right.”
“Other mates,” I repeated faintly.
Kenai took a careful step closer. “When I was with you, I wasn’t betraying Taimyr. I was…inviting you into what we already have. If you want that. If you—” He swallowed hard. “If you don’t run from us.”
My legs felt shaky. “Because you want me to be your mate?”
Kenai stepped toward me and grabbed my hand. “It’s not awant, Sylvie. From the moment I met you, your soul called to mine.” He enveloped me in his arms, and I immediately rubbed my nose along his neck, inhaling his scent—fresh and comforting. “What do I smell like to you?”
“Like home.” The words were out before I could stop them, and Kenai’s chest rumbled with pleasure.
“Because your soul already recognizes the truth—that it’s meant to be bound to mine, to T?—”
