"Not too late!" Papa adds.
"Or too early!" Dad finishes with a laugh.
I get the guys out onto the porch and close the door behind us, leaning against it with relief. "I am so sorry about them."
"Don't be," River says, grinning. "They're great."
"Your dad's funny," Seth adds.
"And they clearly love you," Grayson observes. "That's nice to see."
I glance back through the window. All four of my family members are indeed pressed against the glass, watching us.
"They have no shame," I mutter, but I'm smiling as I wave. They all wave back enthusiastically.
River's truck is parked at the curb. He opens the passenger door with a small bow. "Your chariot awaits."
The three of them do some complicated shuffling to figure out seating arrangements—it's almost choreographed, the way they wordlessly communicate. Seth gestures to the front seat, River shakes his head and points to the back, Grayson raises an eyebrow at both of them. Finally, River's driving, Seth's in the passenger seat, and Grayson and I are in the back.
I notice they didn't ask me where I wanted to sit. They just... figured it out. Like they've been doing this for years instead of weeks.
"This okay?" Grayson asks quietly as River pulls away from the curb.
"This is fine." I'm hyperaware of his presence beside me, the subtle scent of ink and leather and that spice that makes my stomach flip. "Really."
His hand slides into mine, warm and solid, and I stop breathing for a second. His thumb traces slow circles on my palm—such a small gesture, but it feels more intimate than it should. Like a promise of more.
"Good," he murmurs, and doesn't let go.
I’m not fine. Nothing about this is fine. I’m in a truck with three alphas on my way to a formal courting dinner in Pine Valley where the entire town will see me and know exactly what this means.
But Grayson's thumb is still tracing those maddening circles, and I can feel his pulse in his wrist, steady and strong. The truck cab is small enough that I'm surrounded by their combined scents—cedarwood and honey and leather-ink-spice all mixing together in a way that makes me want to curl up and never leave.
The drive to Pine Valley takes about forty minutes, and the guys fill the time with easy conversation about their days. River had a delivery mishap involving a confused customer and six gallons of the wrong color paint. Seth broke up a dispute between Mrs. Henderson and Mr. Kowalski about parking spaces—again. Grayson finished a massive back piece on a client who cried when she saw it.
I try to participate, but I'm distracted by Grayson's thumb still drawing patterns on my palm, by the way Seth keeps glancing back at me with soft eyes, by how River's gaze findsmine in the rearview mirror every few minutes like he needs to check I'm still there.
The enclosed space makes everything more intense—their scents, their presence, the weight of what tonight means.
This is really happening. I'm doing this. Going on a pack date. And the terrifying part? I want it. Despite every voice in my head telling me to slow down, to think, to protect myself—I want this.
I relax incrementally with each story, reminded that these are just... guys. Really attractive, incredibly sweet guys who happen to want to date me. Together. As a pack.
And who I'm terrified I might actually want back.
Pine Valley's main street is lit with twinkle lights, and Bella Notte sits on the corner with the smell of garlic bread strong enough to make my mouth water from the parking lot.
"Ready?" River asks, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.
No. Not even a little bit.
But Grayson's thumb is still tracing those lazy circles on my palm, grounding me. Seth glances back with that encouraging smile, the one that says he believes in me even when I don't believe in myself. River's eyes in the mirror are warm and patient, waiting for my answer without rushing me.
And I realize... maybe I am ready. Not for everything. Not to have all the answers or know how this ends.
But ready for this. For tonight. For them.
I squeeze Grayson's hand and take a breath that feels like stepping off a cliff.
