"I know." I condition her hair next, working through tangles with patient fingers. "But you are enough. For us. For pack. Ben just... he's not pack. Your body knows the difference even when you wish it didn't."
She leans back against me as I rinse the conditioner out. "I need to end things with him. For good. It's not fair to either of us."
"Probably," I agree. "But that's tomorrow's problem. Tonight's problem is making sure you don't smell like him when the others wake up."
I grab the body wash—Corvus's, because it's the strongest. Cedar and dark chocolate.
"This might feel weird," I warn.
"Weirder than you washing my hair?"
"Yeah." I lather my hands. "I need to touch you. Everywhere. Replace his scent with ours. It's the only way to make sure there's no trace left."
She's quiet for a moment. Then: "Okay."
I start at her shoulders. Working the lather across her collarbones, down her arms. Clinical. Methodical.
But when I reach her breasts, she inhales sharply.
"Oakley—"
"I know." My voice is rougher now. "I'm trying to be good. Trying to just clean you. But fuck, Vespera. You smell like him and my Alpha wants to mark you. Wants to make sure everyone knows you're ours."
"Then do it." She turns to face me, water streaming between us. "Please. I need—I need to feel something. Need to know that my body can still respond to something."
"You sure?" I search her face. "Because I'm not going to be gentle. Not after smelling him all over you. I'm going to fuck you like an Alpha. Like pack. Like someone who has the right to."
"Yes." Her eyes are desperate. Hungry. "Show me I'm not broken. Show me my body can still work the way it's supposed to."
That's all the permission I need.
I back her against the tile wall, water streaming over us. My mouth finds hers—not gentle, not sweet. Claiming. Possessive. Washing away any memory of Beta lips.
She moans into my mouth, and I feel her body start to respond. Hips pressing forward. Hands clutching my shoulders.
"That's it," I growl against her lips. "Your body knows who you belong to."
I slide my hand between her thighs, and she's already getting wet. Not just water. Real wetness. Real arousal.
"Feel that?" I circle her clit with firm pressure. "Your body knows the difference. Knows what it needs."
"Oakley—" She's gasping now. Rocking against my hand.
"Did he touch you here?" I apply more pressure, and she cries out. "Did he try to make you come?"
"Yes—"
"Did it work?"
"No." Tears mix with the water streaming down her face. "I tried so hard but I couldn't—"
"Because he's not pack." I slide two fingers inside her, and she's so fucking wet now. Slick starting to build. "Because your body made a choice. Chose us. Chose Alpha."
"Fuck—" She's riding my fingers now, desperate. "More, please—"
"You need my knot?" I add a third finger, stretching her. "Need Alpha cock filling you the way you're meant to be filled?"
"Yes!" She's not ashamed anymore. Not holding back. Just pure desperate need. "Please, Oakley. I need it. Need you."
