When my focus returned to my room, I moved toward the pile of clothes finding jeans, socks, a tank, and the new jersey. I quickly ditched my tights and dress and had another quick shower, though Slade had alreadycleaned me thoroughly.
I pulled on the underwear and jeans first, followed by my bra. Not worrying about the tank, I held up the jersey, smiling when I saw thaton the back they’d hadJacksonandThorntonprinted, with their numbers below, both in separate circles. Beneath the numbers was a single word:Ours.
It was a clear claim, and I wasn’t remotely upset about it.
There was no universe in which I’d ever be upset about carrying their claims. I wore their bites proudly on my skin and loved the new scars that adorned me.
Which reminded me that Finley had almost finished drawing up a quintet concept to tattoo on me. After I’d finally seen his third tattoo, which was on his right thigh—a crown wrapped around a beautifully intricate snowflake, representing hisIce Queennickname for me, I wanted my own tattoo.
Sliding the jersey on, it fell to mid-thigh, custom made to hug my body. It was thicker and warmer than my usual ones, and they’d also left a matching scarf and gloves in the Celtic colors.
Once I was dressed, I brushed and braided my mop of hair, drew their numbers on each cheek, and dotted some gloss on my lips. Wrapping myself up in all their thoughtfully provided gifts was heartening, especially with their scents clinging to them. For tonight at least, I looked like a shifter without a care in the world.
No one would know that I feared the way magic would steal everything from us tomorrow.
As I started down the stairs, Kellan, Finley and Talon were already waiting for me in the entrance hall. The dragon’s gaze locked onto me, and I enjoyed his unwavering stare. Heat rose from him, and I was suddenly too warm in my hockey gear.
Now that we’d sealed the bond in all ways, a new craving tore at my body to claim them all again. Over and over. Circumstances prevented us from having a true honeymoon period, a time when most packs holed up in their bedrooms for weeks. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t feeling all those drives and desires to hide away with them.
Talon’s boots hit the bottom step. “Sweet Honey,” he breathed, his voice a whisper of a prayer.
“Tal,” I gushed, basically throwing myself into his arms as I skipped the last few steps.
He caught me with ease, barely even rocking back. “I missed you, mate,” I said, our bond thrumming strongly as his dragon’s snout caressed my wolf’s flank.
“I don’t like being apart from you,” he admitted. “I don’t like not being able to see you. Darkness creeps in around the edges of my mind, and I don’t want to go there again.”
Wiggling my arms free from where he had them pinned against my sides, I cupped his face. “You can find me anytime you need. In our bond, or out here in the real world. I’m always available when you need me.”
Kellan and Finley hovered closer, as if drawn forward by my words. Talon, to my surprise, turned to include them in the connection. “We all need you in our own ways,” Kellan said, his smile slipping until he no longer looked his normally cheery self. “I hope we don’t take too much from you, Shortcake. You need to tell us if we’re pushing too hard, because without limitations, there’s a real chance we could devour you whole.”
Finley rumbled until his bear was visible in his gaze. “Whatever time and energy you have for us, will be more than enough,” he said. “We’re all grown alphas, and it’s not your job to ensure our happiness. Just having you in our lives makes us whole and happy. You will drive yourself crazy constantly trying to keep us all functional. Trust that we’ll come to you if we are real need.”
Talon looked between Kellan and Finley, a thoughtful expression tugging at his face, as if he hadn’t considered that before. Unable to help myself, I leaned in and kissed the taunt skin of his scar. “One,” I said, “it is my job to ensure your happiness. And two, please find me if you need me. Trust that I will speak up if it’s ever too much, but I can’t imagine a time when I wouldn’t want to be close to all of you.”
Even with five mates, there was never a sense oftoo muchor being overwhelmed. If anything, I missed Slade and Hunter, and wished they were here with me too. My greatest wish right now would be to wrap five alphas around me, crawl into a huge, soft bed, and maybe never come out.
As that thought filtered out through my pack, there was a rumble from the beasts, along with an overall feeling of satisfaction.
Here in the entrance hall, I got kisses and hugs from all three of my mates, and then we headed for the garage.
“Constantine’s not coming?” I asked, not sure if I cared or not.
We’d had very little time to get to know each other or build any sort of relationship thus far. I might have misgivings about him being in my life, but I knew I couldn’t avoid him forever.
“He’s researching,” Finley said as he opened the door to the Benz for me. “He said he’d see us after the game.”
After the game. Where all normalcy would vanish, and we’d once again be fighting to save shifters and our cities.
Not that I was going think about the future until I absolutely had to.
Living in denial and all that.
Worked like a charm.
CHAPTER 16
EMME
