Page 24 of Welcome to Seaman’s Cove: Part Two

“That’s not entirely true.” Seb gives me a weary look. He bites his lip and picks at his thumbnail. “There’s something that could help.”

“What? Let’s do it.” I stand up, ready to do whatever will make Hunter feel better. It’s tearing me apart to see him like this, a shell of his normal self. Yesterday, I caught him staring at the sea, gripping the ship’s railing like he was contemplating jumping, and not in the way we just did when the captain knew about it. That look on his face scared the shit out of me.

Seb glances at Hunter, then away. “He needs to feel a sense of attachment, something to counteract the disconnect in the bond. Those with remaining pack bonds, and other relationships, are more likely to survive bonding sickness.”

“Well, I can’t exactly bond him here,” I snap. Bonds don’t form without the presence of omega heat pheromones. Something about how the pheromones change blood chemistry.

Seb looks hurt at my mention of bonding with Hunter, but I can’t think about that. My best friend, a man I love with my whole heart, is sick. He barely reacted to my raised voice. He’s lying there on his back staring up at the sky, not paying any attention to us. Tiny raindrops hit his already wet chest, and he shivers, but doesn’t move to get up.

If I could bond him right now, I would, and not just to save his life. We’re heading there, anyway. It’s fate that we all found each other, that we’re scent matched to the same omega, and I won’t lose any of them. But I know how Seb feels about pack bonds. I thought it was just his social anxiety and nervousness around alphas, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s more than that.

“There are other ways to make Hunter feel connection, closeness… love.” Seb’s voice is quiet, his somber face lit by a flash of lightning. “There are things you can give him even without bonding.”

“How do you know all this?” Hunter blinks like he’s coming to again, slowly lifting himself on his elbows, asking what’s on my mind as well.

“I just do.” Sebastian stands up and walks away, throwing over his shoulder, “Just go have sex. It’ll help.”

“What the fuck?” I chase after him and grab his arm, spinning him around. The rain has started in earnest now, water sliding down his cheeks and curving around his frown. “You can’t just drop that bomb and leave.”

“You want to be with him, don’t you?”

“Of course I fucking do. You know that. But you’re my boyfriend, and you aren’t ready for⁠—”

“I’m giving you permission.” He pushes my hand away. “Just go.”

I cross my arms and shake my head. “Yeah, permission isn’t the same as enthusiastic consent, Sebastian.” I rarely call him by his full name, but he needs to know I’m deadly serious about this. I’m not going to do something that makes him uncomfortable just because he begrudgingly says it’s okay.

Thunder and lightning strike seconds apart. The deck rocks, and we both grab for the railing.

“It’s alright,” Hunter says. I look back and find him struggling to get up. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” Seb shakes his head and crosses his arms, leveling Hunter with his businessman glare, the one I’ve seen intimidate even the most confident alpha. “I won’t be the reason you die. I can’t watch that happen again.”

Again? Okay, we’re gonna need to revisit that, but right now, we need to hash out this problem. “I’m not backing you into a corner on consent, Seb. And I’m not leaving you behind.”

“We’ve always had an open relationship, firebird.” Seb sighs. “How is this any different?”

“Oh don’t give me that crap.” I poke his chest with my forefinger, yelling to be heard over the rain. “You know it’s different.”

My boyfriend looks over my shoulder at Hunter. “Do you want to have sex with Phoenix?”

“Well, yeah.” Hunter rubs the back of his neck and stumbles over to us as the boat sways. “But I don’t want to cause problems⁠—”

“That settles it. Go have fun.” Seb turns, trying to walk away again.

I run ahead of him and block his path back into the ship’s hull. “Not without you.” We stare each other down.

“What happened to consent?” Hunter asks from behind us. “It’s clear he doesn’t want to be part of it, Phoenix. Let it be. Really, I’m fine. I’ll take a nap and be good as new. No one needs to have sex with anyone.”

Hunter tries to walk past us, but I grab his wrist. “Nuh uh, a nap’s not gonna help, is it?” I keep my eyes on Seb since he seems to be the expert on bonding sickness for some reason.

My boyfriend shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Okay, maybe… it won’t be as effective, but we could all… cuddle? It might ease the symptoms a little.”

“Great. Movie night in Hunt’s room.” I grin, excitedly clapping my hands together once just as a bolt of lightning dashes across the sky.

17

We made the mistake of letting Phoenix pick the movie. I should have known better after years of dating the man. It’s some artsy french flick that’s all in black and white and doesn’t shy away from nudity. Lots of nudity. It’s more sensual than graphic, but it still has me squirming next to him. It doesn’t help that we’re all three crammed in Hunter’s bed, me on one side of Phoenix, and Hunter on the other.