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“Love me?” she asked in a small voice.

“Yes,” I said, my voice still growly. “We love you, Summer. Not because of a matchmaker, but because you are a genuinely amazing woman—the kind of woman who learns to bake gluten-free cookies so one of my employees doesn’t feel left out. The kind who raises Milo with so much love that there is clearly no better place for him in the world. One who tries and gives her all to being an incredible mother and partner. You challenge us and support us at the same time. We never, ever want you to leave.”

“Both you and Milo lighten everything up,” Tobias added. “Two balls of sunshine we get to hold close forever. I love you endlessly. I know we all do. We’d have managed any lawsuit, even if it was legit. Together, we can do anything.”

Emmett stepped closer, too, and put his hand on the side of Summer’s face. “I’ve got your back, okay? Always. I’d never let anything happen to you or Milo. We’re a family. I’ll protect you both with everything I have, in court and out. I love you. Have since the moment I saw you.”

Summer laughed through her tears, leaning into my pack mates.

“Do you want to be bonded to us all?” Noah asked.

“Of course I do!” Summer’s head shot up, and she sounded shocked at the suggestion that she didn’t want that.

He raised his brows at her. “Well, running away was maybe not the best way to show us that!”

“I wasn’t running away. It was just a tactical retreat while I thought over my next steps.” Her voice was so prim, and in that moment, all I could think about was how I wanted to get her messy. Thinking I’d lost her, I needed to physically remind myself that I hadn’t.

“So we’re all in agreement that we all love each other, and we face this bullshit as a pack?” Emmett asked.

Summer nodded, wiping her tears away. “Yes. Sorry.”

“In that case…” I leaned forward, scooping Summer up and throwing her over my shoulder. Ignoring her yelp of surprise, I turned to the doorway, where our mothers were congregating. “Do you guys mind looking after Milo for a day or two? We need to have an in-depth conversation with our mate.”

There was no hiding what I meant by those words. I was going to knot Summer until she couldn’t walk and my bite mark—or several—was on her.

“Of course we can. You kids have some fun!” Edie laughed.

“Good luck, Summer.” Hattie giggled, biting her lip.

With childcare firmly in place, I strode out of the building, ignoring all of the residents of Willow Grove who were watching us. They could watch all they wanted. Summer was my mate, and I didn’t care who knew it.

Chapter 50

Summer

My mind was running a million miles a minute as Marshall carried me out of the B&B—but the overwhelming front-running thought was just how badly I wanted him.

All of them.

I wasn’t sure who drove us home; all I knew was Marshall’s hands running over my body, his lips pressed against my neck as I ground against him in the back seat.

At some point, we arrived home, and I was once again carried through the door, my face pressed into Marshall's neck. Even though I couldn’t see a thing, I could smell all my alphas in the building and knew instinctively that we were home.

I wanted to bite.

The urge was overwhelming—but I also wanted to bite when he was knot deep inside me.

My back pressed against the door as Marshall scooped me into his arms, my legs straddling his hips. Our tongues tangled as I fought to free him of his shirt, and the need inside me grew exponentially—it was one thing to hold back in the car, but in our home, it was go time. I was hot and desperate, aching for his knot to fill me, to feel his bite in my skin. This was exactly what I wanted, and not a single part of me doubted that.

I wanted my mates, all of them, and I wanted our bond solidified.

The sharp, singular scent Marshall let off swelled, intensifying, and soon enough, his shirt was over his head. Mine was next, and without wasting a second, he grabbed the front of my bra and tore it from me. I yelped, but then broke into a smile as he seemed to marvel at me. His rough hands cupped me, and my eyes rolled back as he ran each of his thumbs over my nipples, using the door to prop me up.

“Marshall,” I moaned, almost embarrassed because I knew the others were watching us. But that quickly switched to excitement. The others were watching us, and I could feel their hungry stares. The air was thick with arousal, and it was like a heady drug that left me more and more intoxicated with each passing moment.

“Goddamn, angel. You’re so fucking gorgeous.” Marshall leaned forward, his mouth circling my nipple, and I arched up, wanting every sensation he could give me. My movements were frantic as I tried to pull him closer, even though we were already pressed together. “I need you right fucking now.”

“Then do something about it,” I teased, chewing on my lip.