"Why not?" River leans forward. "Think about it, Seth. We're all interested. She's clearly interested in all of us—even if she's terrified to admit it. We all bring different things to the table. Why compete when we could support her together?"
"That's not—" I struggle for words. "We barely know each other. The three of us haven't even spent time together."
"Not yet." Grayson's dark eyes are steady. "But we can fix that. And from what I've seen, Bea Wilson doesn't need us to have it all figured out first. She needs to know we're willing to try."
"She might not want any of us," I point out. "Let alone all three."
"She might not." River's voice is gentle. "But she deserves the choice. And Seth? You need to stop deciding for her."
The words hit hard.
"I'm not?—"
"You are." Grayson's voice is calm but firm. "You saw us together last night and decided you lost before the game even started. That's not her choosing someone else—that's you choosing to give up." His dark eyes pin me. "Stop making decisions for her and let her actually decide."
"He's right," River adds. "I saw her kiss you at that festival, Seth. That wasn't nothing. That wasn't some desperate ploy. She wanted to kiss you."
My chest tightens. "But she's interested in you. In Grayson. I saw her at the Tree Lighting—the way she looked at both of you..."
"Yeah, there's something there," River admits. "I kissed her yesterday at the store. And you know what she did? Ran. Just like she ran after kissing you at the festival. She keeps running. Something about her ex really messed her up—I don't know the details, but I can see it. She's scared, and she doesn't trust easily."
"She's not broken," I say automatically. Fiercely.
"No, she's not." Grayson's almost smiling, but there's an edge to it. "She's an omega who got burned by some asshole and now thinks wanting things makes her weak. She needs three alphas who'll prove her wrong. So—you in, or are you going to keep playing the martyr?"
I look between them.
River Brooks—steady, successful, the kind of alpha who builds things that last.
Grayson Cole—intense, perceptive, the kind of alpha who sees through everyone's walls.
And me. Seth Monroe. The anxious deputy who overthinks everything and has never felt alpha enough for anyone.
But maybe—maybe—together we could be enough. For her.
"Okay." The word comes out rough. "Okay. I'm in. God, this is terrifying." I run a hand through my hair. "But if we're doingthis, then we do it right. No games. No competing. We approach her together and let her decide."
"Agreed." River extends his hand. I shake it.
Grayson nods once. "Then we're doing this."
"We should probably talk logistics," River starts. "How we approach her, what we say?—"
"No." I stand up, already moving. "I need to see her first. Alone. I need to tell her how I feel before we do this as a group. She deserves that honesty from each of us."
"Seth—" River starts.
"I'm not cutting you out." I'm already heading for the door. "But I've been hiding behind my anxiety and my fear for too long. If we're doing this—if we're really doing this—then I need to stop being a coward."
I make it three steps before Maeve appears, blocking my path. She's holding a paper bag and a to-go cup.
"Going somewhere, Deputy?"
"I need to—" I stop. "How did you?—"
"Hazelnut latte, extra shot, oat milk." She hands me the cup. "And a blueberry muffin. Her favorites."
I stare at her. "You knew?"
