It was another version of what Kellan had said, right before he’d thrown himself between me and an unknown magic. The thought of another one of them having to make the same choice made me physically sick.
“I don’t want that,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I stared into the blazing charcoal and gold of his eyes. “I’m not worth that, and I don’t want it for any of you. I’m the least worthy of this pack, and I wish I could take Kellan’s place. I deserve to.”
When the temperature shot up, I took in Slade’s form. The dragon hadn’t left, standing six feet away, but there was no sign of the bear shifter. Not that I could focus on anything other than the burn in Slade’s gaze.
“Slade,” Hunter warned, his voice low and irritated. “Calm down.”
“She needs to learn,” the dragon rumbled back in a voice too deep to even comprehend.
It shouldn’t be possible for a shifter to reach an octave that low, but it was exactly how I imagined it would sound if his beast form spoke. “She’s the heart of our pack, and without her we will crumble. I refuse to be bonded in a weak pack, and for that, she mustlearn her worth.”
Hunter’s exhalation was filled with both exhaustion and acceptance. “She won’t learn through you scaring it into her. We must build her up. She’s never had anyone build her confidence until it was unshakable.”
“She also doesn’t like being spoken about like she’s not in the room.” I wiggled in an attempt to get down from Hunter, but he didn’t release his hold. “I am strong on my own,” I continued. “I have always known that I could step up and do what was needed, no matter the circumstances. But I’m also aware that you four are exceptional. I’m the outlier in the shifter world, and this is not a woe-is-me, pick-me-girl moment. It’s a fucking fact. In a fight or a battle, you four would be the ones to step in front of danger to protect me, and I fucking hate it. I can’t live with that. I don’t want to be put first… I want us to be equals.”
When I wiggled to get down again, Hunter held me tighter while releasing an annoyed grunt. “We are equals in the pack. Even as the entitled alpha I acknowledge that. The only reason there is any hierarchy at all is for our beasts, but you must know you’re the core and heart of the pack. Always protect your heart.”
“Because you can’t survive without it,” Slade finished, and I was absolutely fucking gutted.
These alphas continued to be my most beautiful destruction.
Slade reached out to touch me, stopping just short of my cheek. “Youarestrong on your own in survival mode,” he agreed with me. “But this is about pack strength together. You need to learn how to rely on us emotionally… which, understandably,with your upbringing, will take more time.” His dragon fire died down, as if he was now satisfied with our discussion.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay here on your own?” Hunter asked, drawing my gaze back to him. Back to his lush mouth and the memory of the kiss that would be forever seared into my brain.
I had no doubt he’d stay home with me, and as nice as that sounded, I needed a little space to think and breathe. “Totally okay. I’ll be with Kellan, and I’m still tired, so I’ll catch up on sleep.”
Might fit in a sobbing session or two while I was there.
Hunter’s all-seeing stare took me in for many long seconds, but he did eventually return me to my feet, his hand drifting up to cup my throat. “Don’t forget who you belong to, little omega,” he whispered, leaning in until our lips touched. “Mine.”
His thumb scraped over my skin as goosebumps covered me from that simple touch. “I won’t forget,” I choked out.
“Once again, it’sours, you possessive bastard,” Slade drawled, back to his usual calm, logical shifter. “But as the entitled alpha, I’ll let you have that today.”
Neither of us missed the unsaid reminder that he’d let him have theentitledpart as well.
Hunter didn’t take offense as he brushed his thumb across my throat once more and released me. The alphas stood side by side as they moved together, and I couldn’t stop staring at the masculine beauty. I mean, it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet of my favorite foods, and I was suddenly starving.
Despite the lack of blood ties between them, Slade and Hunter could have been true brothers with their dark hair, bronze skin, huge frames, and piercing gazes. Even if Slade did have thepoor little guybeat on height.
Goddess, it was a lot being around them like this, and it was good to have a reprieve from the intensity.
I also needed a hit of Kellan, because it had been too long without my golden boy.
CHAPTER 21
EMME
Once the alphas left for work, the house felt empty. I should have been used to that feeling, having experienced it for most of myalmosttwenty-six years, but weirdly, it bothered me.
In Kellan’s room, it was clear that Florence had been in to freshen up the space. The bay windows were open, letting in the crisp air, and there was the faint scent of lemons from her cleaning products. Only the best, natural products without synthetic scent for these billionaires.
“Hey, Golden,” I called as I wandered over to sit beside his bed. “Still not waking up for me, I see. We really need to do something about that.”
There was the faintest twitch along the lid of his closed eyes, but no other sign he’d heard me. I took his hand, frowning at the unusual warmth under my touch. Ever since the spell had hit him, he’d actually been on the cooler side, and as I reached out to check his forehead, my phone chimed. I carried it around in case of a Kellan emergency, and expected it would be Hunter or Slade checking in.
I blinked at the name which popped up in the group chat.
