Despite his constant comments to the contrary, Seb had enjoyed being accepted as part of Tim’s pack. The sense of belonging it afforded wasn’t something he was used to, and it stirred something inside him that he couldn’t name but wanted to feel more of. He could only imagine how much more intense it would be when he changed.
If.
Ifhe changed. He needed to remember that there was no guarantee—look at Jared.
They came to a set of innocuous double doors. Seb frowned as he waited for David to swipe his card and open them.
Tim put a hand on his shoulder and leaned down to whisper. “Under normal circumstances, this would be done in Alec’s building, in front of the whole pack. Just because the room itself looks nothing special, don’t think for one second that those inside will treat it as anything other than the honour and privilege it is. For the pack, and for you.”
Seb swallowed past the lump in his throat as Tim’s words sank in.An honour and a privilege?Not just a way to make himself strong enough to protect those he loved.
For the first time since he’d made the decision, a frisson of doubt crept in. But then the door opened. Gareth and Alec held them wide as David wheeled Seb through.
The room was a little larger than it looked from the outside, obviously a meeting room, judging by the chairs and tables pushed back against the walls. Cam stood in the centre of the room, with his two other betas off to one side, and Jared and Nathan just inside the door. David wheeled Seb towards Cam, then turned him to face the rest of the room.
Alec and Gareth took their place on the other side of Cam; Tim hung back to stand beside Nathan. Seb wanted him closer than that, wanted to hold his hand and feel the reassurance that Tim’s touch always brought, not have him so far away. It felt wrong.
Seb tried to catch his eye, but Tim had his head down, gaze focused on his hands. Seb caught Jared’s attention instead. Jared’s encouraging smile faded a little as he glanced from Seb to Tim and back again. Seb gave a tiny shake of his head, hoping to convey that he was fine.
Cam stepped forward and addressed the room. Although Seb had spent the early hours of the morning talking to him about what it meant to be a shifter, Cam hadn’t looked anywhere as serious as he did now. Tim was telling the truth; this was a huge deal for the pack. Inviting a new member to join them wasn’t an everyday occurrence, and Seb started to wonder if he’d been as grateful and appreciative as the gesture called for.
The others in the room, Jared included, gave Cam their full attention as he recited what must be pack lore or something. Seb’s gaze flicked over each of them in turn, finally coming to rest on Tim.
Tim had his hands fisted at his side, and from where Seb was sitting, they looked white. His face betrayed nothing, but when he glanced at Seb, their eyes met. For a split second, Seb saw nothing but hurt and longing.
Tim focused on Cam again.
Fuck. I did that. I’ve hurt him… amstillhurting him.
Cam turned to him and Seb’s mouth went dry.This is it.He’d thought there’d be more talking before they got to the actual biting part. His hands felt clammy as Cam took the few steps forward that brought him to stand in front of Seb.
“The full moon is tonight. Hopefully, with its arrival, we will welcome a new member into our pack.” He slid a hand into Seb’s hair, gently tilting his head to one side, and as he started to bend down Seb’s gaze shot to Tim.
He was gone.
Only Jared and Nathan were there now.
Cam’s hot breath washed over the base of Seb’s throat… the barest press of teeth on his skin.
Oh fuck!Every part of Seb screamed out that this was wrong—wrong scent, wrong shifter—but it’s too late.
Seb’s whole body tensed, waiting for the press of teeth and the pain of Cam’s bite, but Cam shifted a little, bringing his mouth to Seb’s ear.
“It’s not too late to change your mind.”
Seb sucked in a breath. Had he changed his mind about the bite?No, but—“I still want it,” he whispered, “but I—”
Fucking hell, can I really tell the pack alpha that I’d rather not have him bite me? After practically begging him to do it?
To his surprise, Cam hummed in what sounded to Seb like satisfaction before he spoke.
“Good. I hate to see one of my pack in such pain. Tim’s bite will work just as well as mine, if not better.”
Cam stood straight, and Seb stared up at him, open-mouthed. Had he said any of his thoughts out loud? How did Cam know? Cam smiled and ran his hand down the side of Seb’s neck to rest on his shoulder. “What sort of alpha would I be if I couldn’t recognise when two of my pack are in pain?”
With Seb still reeling at being called pack, Cam addressed the rest of the room. “Find Tim and take him to Seb’s room. Tell him Seb’s waiting for him.”
Closest to the door, Nathan immediately slipped out to go and find Tim. Jared looked about as stunned as Seb had felt moments before, but Seb’s shock was quickly being replaced by a growing sense of excitement and anticipation.
