Dax’s scent has gone thick and dark, it makes my mouth water.
This is the heat talking. Tomorrow I’m going to regret this so completely.
But right now, sitting in this chair while they’ve rebuilt my nest with such obvious care, while their scents wrap around me like comfort, while my omega purrs at their presence...
Right now, I’ve never been more sure of anything.
“I know what I’m asking,” I breathe, my voice trembling but certain.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sierra
The silence that follows my words is absolute.
Four alphas stand frozen, staring at me like I’ve just offered them something they never expected to receive. The air is so thick with pure, concentrated alpha tangled together with my own sweetness until it’s hard to tell where one ends and another begins.
My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.
The muscle in Dax’s jaw is jumping as he clenches his teeth hard. Cole’s breathing has gone ragged. Jalen’s grip on my shoulder has tightened almost imperceptibly. And Malik closes his eyes, his jaw working as he visibly fights for control.
“Sierra.” His voice when he finally speaks is strained, careful. He opens his eyes, and they’re darker than I’ve ever seen them. “This is heat and rut talking. You need to be certain.”
It’s the responsible thing to say. The right thing. The thing I should probably thank him for because he’s giving me an out, a chance to take it back before we cross a line we can’t uncross.
But I don’t want to take it back.
“I know,” I say softly. Another wave of heat rolls through me,and I have to pause, breathing through it. My skin tingles as if electricity is running just underneath it. “I know what this is. I know my biology is screaming at me to let you help. I know your ruts are making this harder than it should be.”
I look at each of them in turn. Dax with his aggressive protectiveness barely leashed. Malik with his controlled exterior fracturing. Jalen with his gentle hands still trembling against my shoulder. Cole with his desperate need written across every line of his body.
“I don’t know what’s biology and what’s choice right now,” I admit, and my voice cracks slightly. “Maybe I won’t know until this is over. But I know—” I have to pause again as my omega purrs, as fresh slick pools between my thighs, as my scent spikes with want so intense it makes all four of them inhale sharply. “I know I want this. I know I trust you. And I know I can’t do this alone anymore.”
My lip trembles, and I bite down on it, tasting salt from the tears that are still drying on my cheeks.
“Please,” I whisper.
The word breaks something.
Dax makes a sound low in his throat that’s pure alpha. Possession and need and barely restrained hunger.
Cole’s control visibly cracks, his scent spiking so sweet and desperate it makes me dizzy.
“We’ll take care of you,” Jalen says softly, and the promise in those words sends a shiver through my entire body. “I swear it, Sierra. We’ll take care of you.”
He moves first.
His hand slides from my shoulder down my arm, fingers wrapping gently around my wrist. The touch is electric. Heat and alpha and rightness all combined into something that makes my omega sing with satisfaction.
“Can I?” he asks, voice rough.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
Jalen slides one arm under my knees, the other behind myback, and lifts me like I weigh nothing. The movement brings me against his chest, and the full-body contact is almost overwhelming. He’s so warm, radiating heat that matches my own. His scent wraps around me, and I can’t help the small sound that escapes my throat.
Pure omega approval.
Jalen’s arms tighten around me, and he breathes in sharply, burying his face against my hair for just a moment.
