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Rayden wrapped his leg over her. “It was the least we could do. Now, the next one will come naturally in its own time.”
Marshall stroked her cheek and threaded his hand in her hair. “We will help you with your hair if you help us with ours.”
His breath was warm in her ear as he explained their rites to her. A simple braid would tie each of them to the triad.
She shivered and tried to get up but slipped back into Rayden’s embrace. “Just a little more rest.”
They chuckled and cuddled around her, waiting until she was ready.
She clutched Marshall’s hand as they approached the pack house. “Maybe we should skip it?”
“Your cousins are there as well as your uncles. It will be fine, and if we can’t deal with it, we leave.”
Rayden kept his hand on her back as they walked up the steps. The door swung open, and Leon looked at her and bolted out to hug her. “Ruby, oh, baby. We were so worried.”
She hugged her uncle and ruffled his hair. “I am fine.”
“He was going to kill you.”
She smirked. “Apologize to Dane for me that his fondest wish didn’t come true.”
Leon burst into tears, and she hugged and soothed him. Derrik came out and smiled. “He’s been sobbing for days. Come inside.”
Derrik took charge of his omega and led him inside.
Ruby looked to Marshall and then to Rayden. “This is going to suck. I am going to need to go for ice cream after this.”
Rayden nodded. “Two scoops.”
They got inside, and after shoes were removed and coats were hung up, they walked to the great room where everyone else was waiting.
Uncle Grey was sitting next to Dane, and Dane’s new wife was holding his hand. Her eyes were red and puffy, and on closer inspection, so were Dane’s. James and Derrik were leaning against the wall, but it was Gerald who got up to hug her. “So, Ruby, you have had some work done.”
She grinned as they looked eye to eye. “Oh, hit the gym, worked out, watched what I ate.” She hugged him, and they laughed.
“You look good, Ruby. You look happy. Exhausted but happy.” He smiled and pressed his forehead to hers. “Can I meet your mates?”
“Oh, sure. This is Marshall, and this is Rayden. They are alphas to my kind of omega.”
Gerald grinned. “Welcome, cousins. Have a seat. The dads catered dinner.”
Ruby smiled. “Of course, they did. Their limit is six.”
She looked at her uncle. “Uncle Leon, are you tired of crying?”
Leon looked at her and sniffled, nodding. She opened her arms, and he ran to her, whimpering apologies while she listened and stroked his hair. She whispered, “I understand, and I accept. Would you like to know what I feel about you?”
He blinked and leaned back. “Yeah. I deserve that.”
She pressed her forehead to his and gave him every bit of relief and love that had grown when he helped her navigate his pack, every time he let her call her mother through a complicated series of phone numbers. The relief when she heard that Elite were in town, and she made it home safe. He got it all.
He started a strange crooning sound and pressed his head to her shoulder. “I love you, too, little girl. I will always be there for you, and my alphas will toe the line or go pout.”
She chuckled and kissed his temple. “Interesting image.”
He chuckled, but when he leaned back, he looked as if he had seen something beautiful. He stroked her cheek, and she smiled. “Uncle Leon, you have met my mates?”
She introduced them, nodded to Gerald, and went past Dane and his partner, who looked at her mate in confusion then on to Grey.
