With trembling fingers, I unwrap the scarf, revealing the four claiming marks on my neck.
Leah’s eyes widen to an almost comical degree. “Holy. Fucking. Shit.”
“Leah! The babies!” I hiss, glancing at the still-sleeping infants.
“They’re three months old, they don’t understand swear words yet,” she dismisses with a wave. “What they will understand is that their Aunt Zoe got claimed by FOUR ALPHAS IN ONE NIGHT!”
I wince at her volume. “Please keep it down. The walls are thin, and Mrs. Grant already looked at me like I’d grown a second head this morning.”
“Zoe,” Leah says, her voice dropping to an intense whisper. “Those are claiming marks? Actual, real claiming marks?”
“I think so,” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Believe me, I’m in shock too.”
“But...” She trails off, clearly struggling for words. “You’ve always been indifferent to alphas. They were, and I quote, “a hot fuck every now and again but too much trouble for the long term”...”
I drop my hands with a groan. “I still stand by that statement.”
Leah’s eyebrows rise, reading into what I’ve left unsaid. She leans closer, examining the marks. “Four distinct marks. One from each of them?” When I nod, she whistles softly. “Damn, girl. When you go off the rails, you really commit.”
Despite everything, a laugh bubbles up from my chest. “This isn’t funny, Leah.”
“It’s a little funny,” she counters. “You, the most level-headed person I know, waking up claimed by the Sterling Pack.” She pokes my arm. “You, who were my voice of reason when I panicked after the guys tried to claim me, got claimed after one night.”
“It was the champagne,” I protest weakly. “And they were just so... intense.”
A sly smile spreads across Leah’s face. “Oh, I bet they were.” She wiggles her brows. “Details, please. All of them. Leave nothing out.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “Leah!”
“What? If I have to help you through this crisis, I deserve compensation in the form of vicarious thrills.” She settles back, tucking her legs under her. “Start with how it happened. One minute you’re at a charity gala, the next you’re being claimed by four alphas?”
I sigh, giving in. “They were... attentive. All night. Taking turns talking to me, bringing me drinks, making me laugh. And then they offered me a ride home because I’d had too much champagne...”
“And instead they took you to their place,” Leah finishes, nodding. “Classic alpha move.”
“I agreed to go,” I admit. “I wanted to. They were... God, Leah, they were magnetic. All of them, in different ways. Rett’s so…intense. And then there was Tristan. He made me laugh so damn much. And Diego. He looks so intimidating, but he’s really like this giant, handsome softie. And Dane... he was…he was like having a devoted guard dog around.”
“And then?” She prompts, leaning forward eagerly.
“And then... everything.” The memories flood back, sending a wave of heat through my body. “They were everywhere. Hands, mouths... It was overwhelming. But like…in the best way.”
“Did they knot you?” Leah asks bluntly.
“Leah!” I sputter, my face burning.
“What? It’s a legitimate question! If they claimed you, did they...” She gestures vaguely.
“No,” I admit. “They didn’t. I don’t think... I mean, I’m not an omega, so I don’t think I could...”
“Handle it?” Leah supplies helpfully. “Take a knot? Accommodate an alpha’s?—”
“Yes, thank you,” I cut her off. “Not that.”
“Oh my God,” Leah’s eyes widen with sudden realization. “Imagine not one, but four alpha knots. That’s?—”
“Please stop,” I beg, covering my face again. “This is mortifying enough without you calculating the logistics of... that.”
Leah sobers, giving me a sympathetic pout. “Do they hurt?” she asks, her eyes fixed on the marks.
