“Thank you for being patient with me.”
“Always.”
I turn to Zachary. “I love you.”
His kiss is tender, and when we break apart, he cups my cheek. “Oh, sweetheart, I love you, too. I would say more than you know, but I think you have a clear idea now that we’re bonded. This past month had a few challenges, but loving you has always been as easy as breathing.”
That’s exactly what I needed to hear, and a tightness loosens in my chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper into his lips before stealing one more kiss.
I sit up, Zachary and Alric helping me reach Hunter, who is rising from his spot resting between my legs.
“Hunter, I love you.”
“Obviously, I love you, too, but do you know what else you love?”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“My knot,” he says with earned confidence.
“Do I now?” I tease.
He nods slowly, like a wise old man. “Oh yes, but I’m available for another demonstration, just so you can be sure. Here at Pack Hayes, we strive for 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.”
It’s only after I stop laughing that I’m able to kiss him, too. “Pack Hayes, huh?”
“We were playing around with the idea. If you don’t want to keep it, you have three other names to choose from.”
“It’s perfect. I like you all sharing my name, reminding everyone you are mine.”
I take an assessment of my body. I’m sore, but in a way that tells me I enjoyed my heat far more than I ever thought I could. More importantly, there are no bruises on me, and no pain that tells me my body was used instead of treasured. I run my fingers over my lips. They’re swollen, but not dry.
They kept all their promises.
“Are you ready for some food?” Zachary asks. “All we need to do is press the red button for them to bring us breakfast.”
That’s when I realize I’m starving, but also that my bladder is incredibly full. I scramble out of the nest, rushing to the bathroom. “Yes, please!”
I wash my hands when I finish up, and a flicker of red catches my attention in the mirror. There’s dried blood smeared across a shower tile. The events from before my heat come back to me in a rush, my alphas calling out with a chorus of concern, asking if I’m okay.
Jensen kidnapped me, and he’s dead.
Alric killed him. Violently.
I walk back over, kneeling before him on the bed. Alric gathers me up so I can sit on his lap, facing him. He already knows what I’m about to say, can feel my gratitude for him. He pushes my hair behind my ears, his worry for me ringing down his bond.
“You killed him,” I whisper.
“I did,” he says coolly.
“You didn’t have to do that. He would’ve been arrested and jailed for the rest of his life.”
“That wouldn’t have been enough punishment. Men like him deserve death. He was never going to give you mercy, sowhy would I grant him something he would deny you? If you’re worried about legal consequences, there won’t be any. I’m pretty sure the Omega Protection Services gives out awards for these sorts of things. Maybe I’ll get a shiny medal.”
It takes me a second to realize he’s kidding.
“Did you just make ajoke?” I ask, delighted.
