I stare at him with shock, and a little bit of hope. Winning the gold is everything to him.
“We’re not leaving you,” he continues. “I’m never choosing anything over you again. If you want us to help you through this heat, we’re all yours, Raven.”
The rest of the pack murmurs sounds of agreement. There’s nothing but certainty on their faces and harmony through the bond. Fresh tears fill my eyes, but there’s no sadness or fear in them. All I feel is an overwhelming sense of… love.
“Really?” I ask, still clinging to one shred of doubt.
“Really, truly,” Orion says.
“I’d give up the world for you, birdie.” Vann gives me a quick kiss on the lips.
I turn around to look at Rhodes, who shrugs. “I’m not sure about being part of a heat, but you’re pack, and you need us.”
“You… don’t want to participate?”
“Um… I’m not… it takes me a bit to…”
“My man, Rhodes, is demi, Raven.” Vann swings an arm over Rhodes’ shoulder, and there’s something protective about the movement.
“Demi… that means, uh,” I rack my brain, but it’s so foggy, and I don’t want to get this wrong.
“It, uh, means I need an emotional connection before I’m attracted to someone. So, uh, I’m not sure that I’ll be comfortable participating… or if you even want me there…” He trails off and I touch his arm gently.
“That gonna be a problem?” Vann cuts in, his tone slightly defensive.
“No. Of course not.” I smile at Rhodes. “You’re, um, welcome to watch or join if you want, though. I’ll be kinda out of it during the heat so I just wanted to make that clear now.”
“Maybe…” His eyes flick toward Vann. “But for now I’ll get some supplies and meet you back at the hotel.” He offers me a tentative smile that gives me hope.
A cramp knots my insides, and I wince, but there’s one more thing I need to say before I’m no longer able.
I face Tanner and take his hands in mine, looking around at the rest of the pack before focusing on him. He needs to know what I’m about to say is serious, that I’m not playing games or tricking them. This is important to me, and to us. I won’t be able to move forward with a relationship with them if this goes awry. My Olympic dreams may have crashed and burned along with me on the ice, but theirs are still obtainable. Still within their capable grasps.
“I don’t want you to give up anything for me. I want to help you meet your goals, not take away from them. If you’d realized that sooner, all of this could have been avoided.”I cup his face with a firm grip. “So you listen to me Tanner Fuckface West.”
He chuckles at my made up middle name, but there’s something in his eyes that seems fearful of what I might say next.
“You’re gonna help me tonight, but tomorrow you’re gonna leave me with Foster and go win the gold. For me. If you don’t, I’ll never forgive you.” The words are serious, but there’s a teasing lightness that I know he can hear in my voice.
He breaks out in a full smile that wrinkles the corners of his eyes. “You’ve already forgiven us, sweetheart.”
Maybe I have.
53
VANN
We burst through the door of Raven’s hotel room a tangle of limbs and lust. Orion has our omega wrapped around him like a koala. Well, if koalas were horny. Actually, aren’t koalas riddled with chlamydia? I think Rhodes told me that once, I should ask him when he gets back from gathering supplies because he’s the best beta ever.
Fuck, focus, Vann! Omega. Heat. Slick. Raven.
Orion sets our girl down on the plush bed. It’s not as big as I’d like, but it’s pretty nice for a hotel room. Raven doesn’t seem to agree. She looks around and makes a distressed whimpering noise that guts me.
Tanner steps up to her. “We’re right here, babygirl. What do you need?”
She tugs at his shirt, trying to rip it off him. “Smells wrong!”
Understanding dawns on our pack leader, and he nearly barks at us. “Give her your clothes. Vann,get more pillows and blankets out of the closet. Orion, undress her. Our girl needs to make her nest.”
