His eyes darkened as he leaned in to kiss her lips, and she returned that kiss before jumping away. “Oh, I need a photo withEmme. Besties must take at least one photo together a year. It’s the rule.”
She handed her phone to Warrick and hurried over to me. The alphas were slow to move from my side—except for Finley, who’d already headed into the club. I noticed him make his way to Christian, who was perched against the stunning mahogany bar that ran the full length of the wall.
“Smile,” Cora cheered, and I returned my attention to my friend, laughing as Warrick jumped around pretending to be a professional photographer as he took the photos.
“Cora will message them to you,” he said as he handed her device across. “I have no idea how to share from that model.”
His mate nudged him playfully. “You and your old school tech. It’s almost as if you didn’t live in the cities your whole life. I swear you have the heart of alphas who existed in the wild in tiny packs hidden from humanity.”
“I’ll show you a wild alpha,” he growled playfully. He scooped her into his arms and strode across the club, disappearing in the darkness.
It was dimly lit inside, the array of chandeliers adding a soft golden light. As a new song started, my hips shook to the beat, and Kellan placed his hand in the small of my back. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you a drink. I need to dance with my mate.”
“Ours,” Hunter told him. “Say it with me, annoying pup. She’s ours.”
Kellan shot him his brightest grin. “Aw, come on, Daddy Alpha. You know I’m a good sharer. There’s plenty of Emmeline to go around.”
I tapped himhardon the shoulder. “Please, never reference our shared sexual relations in that way again. Otherwise, you’ll be sleeping in the doghouse.”
He sobered a touch. “Is it weird for you? Being in a multiple mates situation? We’ve never really discussed it, but I mean…outside of your mom, you wouldn’t have much reference for this sort of dynamic in the human world, right?”
It hadn’t felt weird to me, not even for a second. “I think there’s been such a natural progression of our emotional connection that the sexual part has fit in just as seamlessly.” My voice was quiet, and the music was loud, but both alphas heard me. “I can’t imagine being in a pack any other way.”
“We’re meant to be,” Hunter agreed, his nod decisive. “Always have been. Always will be. Nothing more right than that.”
As much as I wanted to argue the point, I couldn’t. This pack was nothing like my mother’s, and that was reason enough for me to start trusting in the bonding process.
My omega energy might even be safe with them.
For the first time, I was willing to risk it all to find out.
CHAPTER 40
EMME
I’d never been inside Luxuria when it wasn’t packed to capacity, and tonight was no different.
Half the town was out to either celebrate the Celtics’ win or commiserate the Dashers’ loss. Either way, the drinks flowed, and the music moved from one dance beat to the next, mixing between fast and slower sensual numbers.
In the VIP section, the couches generally cost a few grand a night, but on the main floor there were tables where you could hang out for free. Nothing these alphas did was ever exclusive to the rich and connected, ensuring a portion remained accessible to all.
For billionaires, the Reeves pack were surprisingly grounded.
From what I knew, Kellan and Finley hadn’t grown up rich, and Hunter and Slade had grown up with an asshole of a “father”, all of which had shaped them into the alphas they were today.
Alphas I happened to like very much.
“What do you want to drink, Shortcake?” Kellan asked as we claimed one of the VIP couches. A red velvet sectional wrapped around us, and there were a few plush chairs opposite the small table in the middle. “The world is yours to command,” he added,waving his hand to encompass the room, “and we have all the shifter serums and additives to ensure whatever buzz you’re after.”
“Uh…” Outside of wine, I wasn’t much of a drinker, and it felt reckless to lose control tonight, especially when I teetered on the edge of begging Hunter to seal our bond. “Maybe wine to start. Something sweet.”
Kellan dropped a kiss on my cheek. “You got it. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Others called out their orders as well, and Kellan nodded as he strolled toward the second, slightly smaller mahogany bar, which curved into a large horseshoe shape around the VIP area.
There was table service here, of course, and we’d already had Hadley, a tiger shifter I’d worked with before, come by to welcome us. But when I’d been his server, I’d noticed that Kellan often ordered his drinks at the bar while chatting to his friend Jimmy. The head bartender was a blond, burly beta wolf who took no shit and could mix cocktails faster than I’d ever seen before.
The music shifted to a new song with a slower beat, the bass settling in my chest as I leaned into Hunter, whose arm was slung over my shoulder. As I relaxed fully, he pulled me straight up onto his lap, expelling a small huff from me at that unexpected move.
