“We showed up because he’s a threat and pack protects each other,” Dane said. “But we stepped aside the moment you said to. Your fight. Your choice how to handle it.”
“We were backup,” Beau added. “Not primary response. There’s a difference.”
“I love you,” she said suddenly, fiercely, looking at each of us. “I love that you showed up. I love that you stepped aside. I love that you trusted me to handle myself. I love all of it.”
Through my sensitivity and through the bonds, I felt her overwhelming relief. Felt how much our response had meant to her. Felt how different this was from what Nathan would have done.
“We love you too,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “Even when you’re being difficult and challenging and refusing to submit. Especially then, actually. It’s kinda hot.”
She laughed against my chest, and through the bond I felt her walls crack a little more. Felt her trusting that maybe, just maybe, we really did want exactly what she was.
“He’s not going to give up,” Dane observed, his tactical mind already running scenarios. “He came all the way to Hollow Haven. He asked questions. He’s invested in this fantasy of winning you back.”
“Let him be invested,” Sable said, pulling back from my hug. “I’m not interested. And if he shows up again, I’ll handle it again. With backup if needed, but I’ll handle it.”
“Deal,” Beau agreed.
We walked back to her office together, the four of us moving as a unit. Through my sensitivity, I could feel the emotions from people in nearby offices. Curiosity, concern, approval. People had heard the confrontation. Had heard Sable stand up for herself. Had heard three alphas supporting her without overriding her.
Small towns noticed everything. This would be gossip by tomorrow.
“Well,” I said as we reached her office door. “That was our excitement for the day. Anyone want to get lunch and pretend that didn’t just happen?”
“I have three more hours of coordination meetings,” Sable said, checking her schedule. “But dinner sounds good. Dane’s place?”
“Our place,” Dane corrected, and I felt her surprise through the bond. “We’ve been living there together for two weeks. It’s our place now, not just mine.”
“Our place,” she repeated, testing the words. “I like how that sounds.”
“Good,” I said, pulling out my phone to check my shift schedule. “Because I’m claiming the kitchen tonight. We’re having real food instead of whatever combination of protein and vegetables Dane considers adequate.”
“My food is adequate,” Dane protested.
“Your food is fuel,” I corrected. “My food is delicious. There’s a difference.”
Through the bonds, I felt everyone’s amusement. This was us. Bickering about dinner while processing the fact that Sable’s ex had shown up and tried to undermine everything we’d built.
“I need to get back to work,” Sable said, but she was smiling now instead of shaken. “Thank you. For showing up. For stepping aside. For trusting me.”
“Always,” Beau said simply.
We left her to her meetings and headed back to our respective jobs. But through the bonds, I could feel everyone processing what had happened. Feeling the same satisfaction I felt.
We’d protected our omega by trusting her to protect herself. We’d been backup instead of primary response. We’d proven that our pack worked differently than Nathan’s idea of pack.
And Sable had proven, once again, that she was exactly as strong as we’d always known she was.
That evening, I made pasta with actual seasoning while Beau set the table and Dane hovered in the doorway trying to offer suggestions that were really just attempts to control the cooking process. Sable appeared from the bedroom where she’d been changing out of her coordinator clothes, wearing comfortable leggings and one of Beau’s oversized shirts that made her look smaller than usual.
“Smells good,” she said, moving into the kitchen to steal a piece of garlic bread.
“No sampling before dinner,” I said, swatting her hand away. “We’re civilized people who sit at tables.”
“We’re a pack that eats standing at the counter half the time,” she corrected, stealing the bread anyway. “Don’t pretend we’re fancy.”
Through the bonds, I felt everyone’s contentment. This was what we were building. Not perfect. Not fancy. Just four people who were learning to be a family.
“So,” Sable said as we settled around the table. “Nathan showing up was unexpected. Think he’ll come back?”
