He moans, arching into my touch, and I work him in rhythm with my thrusts. Watching him come apart. Watching him let go.
"Close," he gasps. "I'm so close—"
"Come for me." I stroke him faster. "Let me feel you."
He comes with a shout, clenching around my cock, and the sensation is so intense I can't hold back. My knot swells, catches, locks us together as I pour into him.
"Fuck," I breathe, dropping my forehead to his. "I love you. I love you so fucking much."
"I love you too." His hands stroke down my back. "I love you and I'm terrified and I don't care. This is worth it. You're worth it."
We're locked together, sweating and shaking, and I use the time to kiss every inch of his face. His cheeks. His nose. His closed eyelids. His jaw.
"I'm sorry your father made you think you were weak," I murmur against his skin. "I'm sorry I reinforced that by treating you like a secret. Like something to be ashamed of."
"You're different now." His fingers card through my hair. "You're trying. That's what matters."
"I'll keep trying." I lift my head to look at him. "Every day. I'll be the person you deserve."
"We'll both try." He pulls me down for another kiss. "All four of us. We'll figure out how to be a real pack. How to love each other without all the hiding and shame."
"Yeah." My knot is still swollen, keeping us joined. "We will."
When it finally softens enough for me to pull out, I don't immediately roll away like I usually would. I stay close, pressing kisses to his shoulder, his neck, anywhere I can reach.
"Thank you," he whispers.
"For what?"
"For finally letting me in. For saying it out loud. For calling Julian." He brushes my hair back from my forehead. "For being brave enough to change."
"Vespera pushed me to call. And Julian pushed me to be honest with you." I settle beside him, pulling him against my chest. "I'm just following their lead."
"Then we should probably thank them." His hand splays over my heart. "When we go back."
"In a minute." I tighten my arms around him. "Right now I just want to hold you. No hiding. No shame. Just this."
"Just this," he agrees.
We lie there as the first light of dawn starts to paint the sky outside the window. My brother's words echo in my mind:Don't waste time hiding what matters.
I'm done wasting time.
I'm done hiding.
This—Oakley, Vespera, Corvus, us—this is what matters.
And I'm finally brave enough to choose it.
twenty-six
Vespera
I'mmakingFrenchtoastwhen I hear the car.
It's early and the sound of tires on gravel is unexpected enough that all three Alphas tense. Dorian's hand moves to my hip, protective instinct kicking in. Corvus is already at the window, peering through the curtains.
"Expecting company?" Oakley asks, spatula frozen mid-flip.
