Red flashes beneath my eyelids as I'm wrenched from consciousness. To my complete awe, I'm sucked into the ethereal frame of my subconscious. I'm in my actual body, not the flying beauties around me. Butterflies swirl around, fading in and out of the blue/green hue of our pack bond. Their wings flutter and swoop, creating a physical representation of excitement.
Unable to focus, I tilt my head back and justfeel. Riot's, who is usually cinched tight around my bicep, releases me enough to scare me. No longer are we bound by a stressed trust, but by love. He gives me space to move, and he even stops vibrating when Kade, Jarek, and Silas reach for him.
What feels like a collective sigh ripples through us. When I raise my arms to stretch in contentment, the butterfly I once used to watch the bonds lands on my fingertip.
A sob echoes through the space. I no longer need to study their tethers with such anxiety to find reassurance that they really do love me. I canfeelit.
I'm loved and I love myself.
I am beautiful. I am strong. I am different and not wrong. I have boundaries. I have grace. I have a voice and am not a disgrace.
My heart pounds in my chest as the words my nana wanted me to live by fill the space with so much certainty and devotion. I close my eyes and allow them to sink in for the first time in my life.
With my pack complete and stronger than ever, I'm—I don't know if there's a good enough word for it. I'mconfident. Not only in my mates and our connections, but in myself.
Suddenly, the presence of the butterfly feels heavier on my finger. When I open my eyes, a tear slips free, and the weight always dragging me down lightens.
I don't need to look. I can just feel.
I've grown my own wings. A weightlessness I have never experienced on my own refreshes my mind and gives me clarity.
I know what I need to do now.
Gathering the strength to release the butterfly on my fingertip, I whisper a sweet goodbye to the part of me that protected me from feeling too deeply.I don't need you anymore,my friend, but I'm forever thankful for the security you gave me.
My chest hums as my omega instincts rise to the surface, and I glance away from the blue beauty.It's time to complete our family.
I thought my movements would be heavy, but as I reach for Silas' blue tether, I experience nothing but ease. As usual, he flits through my fingers and swirls up my arm like he knows exactly what I mean to do.
Riot's red bond spins rapidly, reacting to his beta coming closer. Their bonding is inevitable, and they don't need me to guide them. They were just waiting for me to be ready.
Riot refuses to move from his place around me, but when Silas slips through the ring of our alpha, a flash of purple explodes from them. Red and blue coming together completely and irrevocably.
Because I'm the one they move around, I can feel the pure love in their connection. It radiates off them. Riot expands to make space for Silas in his bond and his heart is immense.
We're beautiful.
And we're not done yet.
Thirty-One
Kade
Not one ounce of possessiveness flared when Riot coaxed Silas away from me. That was what really solidified the fact that we're ready for him. I want Riot as much as I need him.
I fucking want him to bite my beta and make him feel everything good in the world. Will Riot's chaos help Silas relax a bit? I hope so.
I'm hopeful Riot will meet Jarek on an emotional level the three of us aren't able to. They've both had horrible losses that tie them together in a different way than the rest of us.
And for me...I don't know yet. Riot challenges me. Not physically necessarily, though he does test my control not to bend him over and claim his ass, but intellectually.
I like to think I know what's best for my loved ones, but Riot has shown me there are many ways to support someone. He doesn't need to lecture me because I'm already paying attention. Riot makes me consider other points of view, and that's something I'll never take for granted. He will make me stronger for my mates. He already has.
Watching Silas' back arch and the way Vivian swallows his groan as Riot fucks into his ass from behind will forever beburned into my mind. The picture they paint is glorious and so damn sexy I'm already ready for another round.
On his hands and knees, Silas takes everything Riot gives him. Vivie does a beautiful job murmuring soft reassurances and praise as sweat drips down his temple.
"He's going to bite," Jarek notes quietly and crawls forward to put a hand on Riot's back.
