Her body welcomes him and stretches for us both. God, the feel of either he or Lucas on the other side, the pressure of it—it underpins every thrust and gasp.
I look up and see Lucas now leaning in the doorway, watching with a hungry, dazed look I recognize all too well. His turn will come soon.
Helena starts babbling and her hands scrabble for purchase on my shoulders as Cole knots her. I knot her, too, and then the two of us are locked together inside her. I’ve been able to hold back since her heat started, but the urge is too great now. A yearning to mark, to claim.
To complete the bond.
The bite comes on instinct. I sink my teeth into her shoulder. Helena goes rigid, cumming hard, her voice shattering on my name as I give her my alpha claim mark. Cole follows suit after and gives her his as well.
I think I black out for a second as he does so.
When I come to, we’re still a tangled mess. Cole’s arms are around both of us, his face pressed against Helena’s neck, breathing her in. She’s boneless but smiling a little.
Lucas is still in the doorway, but he doesn’t look jealous. He lookspatient.
“Your turn,” Helena whispers.
We swap, barely untangling before Lucas climbs in. His hands are so big that they cover nearly her whole thigh. Bynow, Helena’s body is utterly pliant. Between the slick and heat, there’s no resistance as Lucas slides home.
Both Lucas and Helena gasp. He knots her and they rock together. Helena cums again before Lucas’s hips stutter against hers and he knots her, then releases. Lucas spots a clear spot on one shoulder and adds his alpha claim mark to her skin. Helena’s body shakes from the intensity of it all. He holds her until his knot deflates and the shaking stops.
Lucas lifts Helena back into her nest bed. We all climb in and collapse beside her. Helena reaches for all of us. I tuck into her right side with Lucas on her left. Cole is down by her hip. She tries to wrap us all in a hug.
“My pack.” She’s staring up at the ceiling grinning from ear to ear. Tears sting her eyes. “I couldn’t be happier to call you all mine.”
And I couldn’t be happier tofinallybe hers.
The others quickly fall asleep. Even Helena in her heat-fever blur. But I don’t.
I stay up and glance out the window at the sea in the distance. I feel good.Beyond good.
Every muscle aches in a way I crave. Every thought is saturated with the endorphin-laced afterglow of a job well done. But it’s not the sex that does it, or notjustthat. It’s something else. Something quieter and much, much more dangerous.
For the first time in my adult life, I have what I want. And whom I love.
I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, without question.
Alpha. Packmate.
I’m home.
My phone lights up on the nightstand, illuminating the battered surface with a little blue-white square of anxiety. I let it ring. After a minute, it stops. Then it starts again. Helena’sfather, I’m sure. There are only so many people with my number, and only one with the balls to call me this many times in a row.
I don’t answer. I’m not ready. He’ll want her to still come back as soon as possible.
He’ll ruin everything on behalf of a daughter who’s more than old enough to decide for herself.
I could call Ranier. Helena’s brother might be able to set their father straight. But that feels like overstepping, and to be honest, I’m not quite sure Ranier likes me all that much. As a fellow alpha, I’m convinced he’s known… if not about our scent-match since it occurred, than at least that his sister has had feelings for me.
I shift my weight, careful not to disturb anyone, and watch Helena sleep. Her hair is tangled. I grab a brush and start to slowly comb it out. Her lips are parted in a stubborn, little frown and her hands are gripped tight around the edge of a throw blanket.
She is safe. She is mine.Ours.
I try to freeze that feeling, capture it like a specimen in a jar, so I can hold on to it when the world comes to collect.
I will keep you all safe. Even from Helena’s father.
I will not let anyone break this.
