AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you so much for coming and showing your support for our wonderful youth artists. They’re all here tonight. Please give them a round of applause.”
Loud clapping filled the space, and I could see her step back a little at the noise. She was probably still sensitive from the concussion. A growl rumbled in my chest, but it was drowned out by the sounds around me. Finally, the applause died down and her body language relaxed, allowing me to get a hold of myself. I didn’t want to embarrass her by making a scene.
Sylvie cleared her throat. “I’m going to turn over the mic to Allison in just a moment, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share something a bit personal tonight. I’ve been challenged recently to be brave, much like all our young artists have had to do. Like them, I’ve needed to confront my fears. Fear of not being good enough. It can be so hard, when you doubt yourself, to believe it when people tell you that you are special.”
Even without seeing her eyes, I could feel her gaze directed at us. She had found us in the crowd, and it was the pack she was speaking to. My nerves lit up, hanging on every word she said.
“To believe when they say you are loved. I’m fortunate to have people in my life who haven’t given up on me. Who love me. As much as I love them.” She laughed a little, wiping at her face. “So please, take my advice. Be brave. That’s what I’ve decided to do. And without further ado, I’ll let Allison tell you more about the artists whose work you can purchase tonight. Thank you.”
The crowd cheered and clapped as she left the stage, although I was sure most of them had no context for what she was really talking about. They had no idea she had just publicly declared her love for the four men standing in the middle of the room.
My heart was in my throat as I sensed her walking straight toward us, people moving to let her through, offering congratulations as she passed.
And then she was there, standing in front of us. Her scent rolled off her and surrounded us, and I was selfishly glad I was the only one who noticed. It was all for me, this secret gift shared between only us. A little touch of magic that had brought me to her, the missing member of our pack.
I reached for her hand, sensing she was nervous. Will took her other hand so that we were all in a tight circle. Connected. The rest of the people and the room around us faded to nothing.
Sylvie sniffled, and Toby came up to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief. She smiled at him, then at each of us in turn.
“I love you all so much.”
I had to remember to breathe. It was different hearing it up close. Real. My heart felt too big for my chest.
“You are brave and special and loved,” I said, echoing her words back to her. “We missed you.”
She let out a quiet laugh. “I missed you all like crazy. That was a rough moment to be interrupted last week.” Her hand squeezed mine as she sobered. “My sister is having a hard time, but she’s going to be okay. She knows I’m there for her, and she insisted that she’d be fine for a few days on her own.”
A few days… The shock of hearing her say she loved us was quickly replaced by urgent need. No more delay. It was time to make this official.
Will made it clear he was of the same mind. “Do you need anything, or are you ready to leave now?” He leaned close to her and cupped her cheek in his hand. “You should know, if you come with us tonight, we aren’t ever letting you go.”
“Good.” Her smile was wide and brilliant. “I’m ready. I have a bag in my office.”
Thank fuck we were leaving because it was getting harder by the second to keep my teeth off her neck. Everything was hard, in fact. I was more than ready to take her, make her ours.
After tonight, there was no going back.
25
SYLVIE
Part of me had hoped we might all go to the cabin. Replace some scary memories with something beautiful. But the looks of near desperation on the faces of each of my alphas told me closer was better. This needed to happen soon.
The drive back to their place was a bit of a blur. My bag got tossed in the trunk of Will’s SUV as I climbed in the back with Jonah, who seemed unwilling to let go of my hand. Toby and Luke were in a separate car. Then we were all at the house,mypack’s house, Jonah lifting me up and practically running inside, up to the master bedroom.
I had wondered if we’d go to the nest, but as soon as he stopped in the bedroom, I knew it was right. This wasn’t my heat. Jonah and I were on the same wavelength without having to discuss it. Keeping the experiences separate was instinctive. This was deliberate and intimate, a choice, emotion over biology.
He set me down on the edge of the huge bed and stood between my legs, the skirt of my dress hiked up around my thighs. His hand went to my hair, and he removed the pins holding it up.
As the loose tresses fell across my shoulders, Jonah leaned down, holding the back of my head and taking my mouth in a crushing kiss. Then he backed up a fraction, his forehead leaning against mine, his beautiful eyes dilated with need.
“Say those wonderful words again, love. Tell me what you want.”
This was the moment. The one I wouldn’t ever be able to take back. This was forever. And I knew for certain it was right. This wasn’t Kat’s story, it was mine. I was loved, truly and completely.
The buzz of nerves lighting up my body, making my heart race, was all excitement and happiness. Certainty.
“I love you.” My eyes didn’t leave his as I stroked my hands over his neck and jaw. “Mark me, Jonah. Bond me. Give me your knot. Make me yours forever.”
