Naja reached out and wrapped her arm around his waist, and soon we were all pressed together in a puppy pile.
A throat cleared from the doorway. “You guys started without us? Rude.”
I looked around El’s shoulder at Raiden in the doorway, a grinning Finlo just behind him holding a baby monitor. At least we hadn’t woken up Luisa. We were going to have to soundproof this room.
Raiden yawned. “Never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m too tired for sex.”
Finlo gasped, and felt our Omega’s forehead. “Have you been body snatched? Remember that one time we fucked for twenty-four hours? I thought my dick was going to fall off during that yearning.”
Raiden flipped him the bird. “Growing people is hard work. Now come over here and spoon me. I need a nap.”
We all shuffled over, Gatlin refusing to let Naja move from his chest. Ellar climbed off me and removed Gatlin’s condom, knotting it and tossing it in the trash like he was shooting hoops. Show-off. He came back and lay down beside me, and Raiden tugged Naja onto the cushions, ignoring Gatlin’s mock growl.
“Hush, Alpha. You had a fourway and didn’t invite me. You’re in my bad books,” he chastised, despite just telling us he was too exhausted. I couldn’t have imagined being this happy five years ago. I was on my second Pack back then, and they would never have done this.
I had my arm around Ellar, my hand pressed to Gatlin’s abs. My feet were tangled with Raiden’s and Finlo’s.
So fucking happy. “You know, neither of my other Packs did this.”
Raiden lifted his head a little so he could look at me. “Napped?”
I shook my head. “Had this connection. We fucked, but it was like eating after starving all day or taking a piss in the woods after holding it for too long. It felt good because it had been awhile since the last time, but we didn’t do it because of affection. Never would have lain like this after either, spooning and shit.”
Finlo grunted. “Knowing your past Packs, I don’t doubt it.”
Naja squeezed my hand. “Other Packs aren’t like yours?”
Gatlin hummed low in his chest. “Some are. Finlo’s parents definitely are, and a few others. It helps when you have an Omega. We got really lucky when Raiden chose us.”
Raiden rubbed his foot along my calf. “That’s bullshit. You and Finlo were a Pack before I came along, and Seven and Ellar completed that. I was just the icing on the pizza.”
Naja screwed up her nose. “That is gross. No icing on pizza. Do you get cravings like humans?”
Raiden shrugged. “I don’t think so. But I wouldn’t mind some pickles.”
Naja laughed again, leaning into Finlo’s hand as he stroked her hair. “Every Manix is different. Some decide to have monogamous relationships like Raiden’s parents had, and some have all male Packs that are based more on convenience and blending of assets than love. I think our way is best though,” Finlo said softly, and I nodded.
“Me too,” I seconded.
Naja looked at me across Gatlin’s chest. “Me three. I’m glad you guys have let me into your family.”
I paused but threw caution to the wind. “You could become permanently Pack, so you would know that we didn’t just want you for what you can give us, but because we wantyou. You could mate the Alphas and become ours forever.”
“Seven,” Gatlin warned.
Well, as long as I was saying ‘fuck it’ I may as well go all in. “You know as well as I do that your Beast wants it. So does Naja’s, though I don’t think she recognizes it for what it is yet. But you will. You will want him to bite you during sex. You’ll feel incomplete without it.”
Ellar stroked my chest, his eyes big with understanding, but also a hint of warning. “It's too early to be talking about that, Sev. Let Naja settle in before you start talking matebonds, hey?”
Raiden rolled his eyes. “You have no chill, Seven. You’re so lucky we love you.”
I snuggled down, burrowing my nose in the back of Ellar’s neck. “Don’t I know it.”
33
Gatlin
“Are we sure he can’t cross the wards into our territory?” I asked Merrick, and he nodded solemnly. I puffed out a tiny breath of relief. Because this? This was a whole new level of insane.
