Prologue
Vivian
Doctors haven't been able to comprehend my pack bond. They don't need to, and I've never shared beyond the necessary details to release me from their testing.
My men wouldn't allow them to keep me detained anyway. I've given professionals the easy answers, the ones they might understand.
The tether that binds me to my pack alpha, Kade, feels like I can let go of life for a while. He's the one I rely on to control the hard things.
My other alpha, Jarek, is the hug I need when my depression consumes me. He grounds me and is my eternal comfort.
Silas, my beta, makes me feel alive with his gentle presence. He helps mefeel.
That's the easy version and a simple truth. What we have ismore.
Our bond, the subconscious space between us, is where I seek safety and complete reassurance when the outside world is too much.
It's us and completely unexplainable.
There I stand, mostly at rest, as the tethers of my mates surround me. A blue and green hue make up the empty space, helping the live threads of my pack move and glide around me easily.
I'm not only one consciousness here. I can be multiple and interact how I choose. Leaving my body behind, I don the sparkly vessels of pretty little butterflies. Yet, I am still me, still calmed and soothed by my pack.
From a butterfly's point of view, I can admire the beauty of our connection. My face is lifted to the blue hue as I sink into the weightlessness of my subconscious. I can absently feel my long auburn hair tickle my lower back and bare arms.
Head tilted back, the white crisp line that is Kade gently coils around my head and throat with a determined possessiveness that allows me to let go. Without a doubt, I know Kade will guide me through this life. Occasionally his tether glides across my temple, each time soothing the depressive, anxious thoughts that plague me.
Around my slowly rising and falling chest, Jarek's soft golden tether holds me together. Like a warm, confident hug, his circling warmth encourages me to continue breathing and tightens when my heart rate increases. Sometimes cradling my biceps or moving to a tense body part, Jarek keeps me grounded and stable.
I watch from my fluttering viewpoint, amused and enthralled as my lips quirk up. My hand twitches as my beta's blue presence slips through my fingers and tickles up my wrist.His airy softness teases out physical reactions, reminding me to shiver, smile, reach, and hum.
With ease, I slip back into my body and sink into the endless trust of our love. There's no hesitation to keep my eyes closed or swat their threads away. My pack bonds are not chains. They're lifelines.
One
Jarek
Asoft pulse here, a warm caress there, and even a little hum of contentment.
I feel Vivian existing in the bond more so than I actuallyexperiencethe subspace as she does. She's like an appreciative caress that pulls me in and tugs on my alpha instincts to hold and shield her.
Most days, Vivie retreats into the subconscious to enjoy our comfort and remind herself that we're here. We always will be. Sometimes her anxiety demands to make sure we're happy and not reluctant.
"You're growling," Silas points out.
Snapping my focus away from Vivian nesting in the living room, I turn my attention to Silas. He, on the other hand, hasn't looked away from our omega. With a soft smile on his handsome face, I wonder if he too is feeling her tinker with his tether.
Clearing my throat, I cut the deep rumble off. "Sorry. Shit, I was just thinking about her parents." I keep my voice low because hearing about them is the last thing Vivie needs.
"Jarek," Kade warns, flipping a pancake. He doesn't need to say anything else. His warning is as clear as his pulse of dominance in the kitchen.
Sighing, I slump against the counter, my elbows resting on the cool marble. "I know."
I know all too well the damage Vivian's family has caused. Years and years of ensuring she knew she wasn'tnormal. They spent her entire childhood convincing her that her differences would keep her from finding a pack. According to them, depression, quietness, and anxiety make someoneunlovable.
I remember the day Vivie introduced us to her family, and I'll never forget the widening of their eyes. The immediate relief in their demeanor intrigued me, but it was soon squashed when they ditched us to go pack her belongings.
An entire childhood of feeling like she was a burden and high maintenance has left our omega uncertain.Detachedsome might call it. Maybe to outside eyes she does seem disconnected, but I can feel her in my soul and chest, fluttering around with happiness and awe every damn day.
