Felix looks between the two of us, mouth gaping open.
“I don’t know how to feel about this, honestly. On one hand, I’m upset that neither of you came to me with such big news, but on the other, I’m just so happy that we’re all together.”
I reach over and grab his knee. “Think about it this way. If you knew that the two of us had scent matched, when you and I matched, you would’ve known that Clara was yours by default, and not have had that special moment together.”
“I was scared,” Clara says softly. “I should’ve told you.”
He sighs and relaxes back against the seat. I love my old truck for many reasons, but right now it’s because of the bench seating, which lets us sit side by side. I cannot imagine having this conversation if someone had to wrench themselves around to look into the second row.
“I’m not mad,” Felix says eventually. “I’m kind of happy about it, actually.”
“Oh?” I ask, hitting my blinker and turning into the parking lot of their apartment complex. “Why’s that?”
“You gave me a Christmas movie,” he says softly. “You made sure that we had a moment that was right out of a romance novel. How could I be mad about that?”
“Was Sylvia in on it?” Clara leans over Felix to look at me. “She was, wasn’t she?”
“It was easy to get her to agree,” I admit. “She was eager to play a part in it.”
“I bet she was,” she mutters, climbing out of the cab. “She loves to stick her nose in other people’s business.”
It’s just past eight in the morning when we make it into the apartment Felix and Clara share. Her body freezes upon walking through the door.
“Holy shit,” she groans, rubbing her hand down her face. “Did you guys fuck in the kitchen? I can smell you both all over this place.”
Felix stutters a laugh. “No, we didn’t! We cuddled on the couch, that’s it.”
“Well, that’s not it.” I wrap my arm around our Omega’s waist and pull his back against my chest. “But that’s it for the common areas.”
Clara watches the way I handle Felix, her eyes on how my hand splays across his belly. As a Beta, her scent is more subtle than Felix’s, but I can still smell the way it swells with her arousal at seeing the two of us together.
I’m about to suggest we all go back to bed when Felix taps my hand and extricates himself from my grip.
“Let me make everyone breakfast. Then we can get started on Christmas Eve!”
“Get started?” I ask, looking at Clara for clarification. “What does he mean by ‘get started’?”
A wide grin spreads across her face as she pats me lightly on the chest. “Oh, Felix has very particular Christmas traditions he follows. Just do what he says, and no one will get hurt.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
CHRISTMAS EVE
Tonight has to be perfect.It has to be the best Christmas Eve ever, the Christmas Eve to trump all Christmas Eves, because they need to know that I am a good Omega and that they are right to choose me.
It has to be perfect so I can ask them to let me bond them for my Christmas present.
It may be too fast, but I really don’t care.
I want their bonds. I want to see my bite marks on them, to feel them in my chest. It feels right.
I’ve known and loved Clara forever, and I know I can never be without her. And Gabriel may be a new relationship, but I know the type of man he is, and I want him. I want to know that they are mine forever.
I might be jumping the gun, but I’m going to ignore that feeling in favor of delusional optimism.
Christmas Eve has always been special in my family, and now I get to share it with my pack.
Oh my God, I have a pack!
