“Because you have been, and it’s been more like three days but who’s counting.” I grin, and this time it feels real. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
She rolls her eyes, but the smile stays. “There’s the Ben I know.”
“What, you thought I’d get all serious just because we had mind-blowing sex?” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Baby, I’m going to be making jokes about this for years.”
She laughs softly, but there’s something uncertain in her eyes. Something I can’t quite read.
My knot finally starts to soften. I ease out of her carefully, and we both hiss at the sensation. The sight of my come drippingfrom her pussy has my cock twitching with interest, but I’m too exhausted to do anything about it.
“Come here.” I pull her against my chest, tuck her head under my chin. “Sleep. You’ve earned it.”
“What about Milo and Elijah?” She’s already half-asleep, her words slurring together.
I glance across the nest. Milo is watching us with a soft expression, and Elijah is already asleep—one arm reaching toward us like he wants to touch her even in his dreams.
“They’re right here.” I stroke her hair, feel her relax against me. “We’ve all got you. Sleep.”
She’s out within seconds. Her breathing evens out, her body goes heavy and limp, and I hold her and watch the candlelight flicker across her face.
The storm has stopped. I can tell because the constant howl of wind that’s been background noise for days has finally gone quiet. Outside, the world is probably buried in snow—roads blocked, town cut off, everything frozen and still.
But in here, in this nest, with this omega in my arms and two other alphas close enough to touch, everything is warm.
Milo catches my eye. “She okay?”
“Yeah.” I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “Yeah, she’s perfect.”
“The heat’s over?”
“I think so.” I tighten my arms around her. “She said that was the last wave.”
Milo nods slowly. “What happens now?”
It’s a good question. What does happen now? We’ve spent the last three days in a bubble, focused entirely on taking care of Tessa. But the real world is still out there. The blizzard will end, the roads will clear, and we’ll have to figure out what this thing between us actually is.
Four people. Three alphas and one omega. In a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business.
It should feel terrifying. It should feel impossible.
Instead, watching Tessa sleep in my arms, feeling Milo’s steady presence beside me and Elijah’s warmth at my back, it just feels right.
“We figure it out,” I say finally. “Together.”
Milo smiles. It’s the first real smile I’ve seen from him in hours, and it transforms his whole face.
“Together,” he agrees.
I close my eyes and let myself drift toward sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll face the real world. Tomorrow, we’ll have to figure out what comes next.
But tonight, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Chapter 19
Tessa
The power comes back on sometime around dawn.
I know because the refrigerator hums to life and the bedside lamp flickers on, casting the nest in sudden soft light. I’ve been lying awake for what feels like hours, staring at the ceiling, counting the minutes until I can escape to the bathroom without waking anyone. The cabin has been quiet all night, just the sound of three alphas breathing around me, and my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
