"Three alphas. How does that even work? Do they, like, share you?"
"That would imply that I'm their property. Which I’m not."
Claire blinks. "But don't you worry about conflict? What if they get jealous? Seems like drama waiting to happen."
"We communicate. It works because we want it to work." I turn the conversation back. "Is there something specific you're concerned about?"
She hesitates. Then admits: "I just... it seems brave. I don't know if I could handle that much attention."
"It's not for everyone," I say, smiling. "But it's right for us."
Claire nods and returns to her station.
I handled it. Calmly. Following the strategy we set.
It worked.
20
TYLER
Greenhouse,afternoon.
Sunlight slants through glass panels, turning everything gold and green. Elowen is repotting lavender that's outgrown its container, fingers deep in soil, when I arrive.
"Need help?"
"Depends. Can you follow directions?"
"Occasionally." I grin, reaching for a trowel. "What are we doing?"
She talks me through winter prep: which plants need deeper pots, adjusted watering schedules, temperature considerations, and we fall into a comfortable working rhythm, overshadowed by her thickening heat.
This is what we’ve all been waiting for. The next step.
"Your heat." I keep my eyes on the seedling I’m transplanting. "It's coming up, isn't it?"
Her hands are still in the soil. "How did you?—"
"Your scent's been shifting. It’s sweeter. Warmer." I look at her. "The others have noticed too."
Heat climbs her neck. "I'm tracking it. Two weeks, probably."
"What do you want?" I ask. "From us." We’ll discuss it together, but I’m here now, and I want her to know that I’ll do whatever she wants.
"I don't know yet." She sighs. "Last time I was alone. By choice. This time..."
"Is different." I don’t add for all of us.
She focuses on packing soil around lavender roots. "I’m still scared about…" She inhales deeply. “What if it happens to me?”
I feel nauseous at the thought of losing her, but I try to keep my voice steady. "I wish I could promise that it won’t happen, Elowen. But I can promise that we will do everything in our power to keep you safe. If Gideon is right..."
"Then someone will try to sabotage my heat if you’re present." She meets my gaze. “First heat with newly bonded packs. That’s the pattern.”
I smile. “They haven’t met us yet. We’re a formidable team.”
“Julian will bash them over the head with a textbook.” She laughs and some light comes back into her eyes.
