“As long as she knows not to spread it around, yes,” Ryker said.
Annie wasn’t pack, so she technically wasn’t supposed to know internal pack business, but she was Dylan’s best friend. If he trusted her, Ryker would extend her the same courtesy, and if she betrayed Dylan’s trust, he would deal with her.
“Thanks,” Dylan said. He took a bite of his lasagna and chewed it slowly. After a second he looked around the table. “I think there’s something weird going on with me.”
“Omega weird?” Ryker clarified, his heart beating just a little harder.
Dylan shrugged. “Maybe?”
“How so?” Ryker asked.
Dylan had the table’s full attention, their food and wine forgotten.
“I’m not…” Dylan bit his lip, looking like he was struggling with how to word what he was feeling. He let out a frustrated breath. “I’m not reacting to everything that happened the way I’m supposed to. I should be thinking about it all the time – I should be having flashbacks, feeling anxious or even getting panic attacks – but I’m not. I feel sad and guilty for Steve, but that’s it.”
Ryker tilted his head, Dylan’s words confirming what he’d suspected. Something about their mating bond – the thing that tied Dylan to them as their omega – was protecting him from the repercussions of what he’d gone through.
“Or maybe I’m just a horrible person,” Dylan muttered, taking a big sip of his wine.
“No, I think you’re right,” Ryker said, August and Steve nodding along.
“I think it’s the same reason why John’s bite has healed the way it has,” August added.
Dylan reached up and touched his neck. John’s bite had all but disappeared. The faint remnants of the scar that had been present that morning were gone to the naked eye.
“You’re not a horrible person,” Steve added. “If being bonded to August and Ryker or being our omega protected you, then I’m glad.”
“But you should still go to therapy,” August said. He looked at Steve. “Both of you.”
Dylan nodded, while Steve didn’t look quite as thrilled at the prospect.
“All right, enough sad stuff.” Ryker lifted his glass for a toast. “We’re home, we’re safe, and tonight Steve is going to claim Dylan and our little pack will be officially complete.”
Steve and Dylan both blushed, sending each other pleased little glances as they lifted their glasses and clinked them together.
Watching them, Ryker felt content.
He had never wanted to be a pack alpha. He’d always known he could be – if he really wanted it and worked hard – but he’d never seen the appeal of being the alpha of a bunch of people you didn’t really care about beyond the simple bonds of pack.
August, Dylan and Steve, however, werehis. That he was their alpha was a satisfaction that he felt all the way down to his bones.
“To our pack,” August said, Steve and Dylan grinning as they brought their glasses to their lips and took a sip.
“To our pack,” Dylan repeated, sounding the words out to himself and smiling softly.
55
STEVE
Steve hadn’t given much thought to how he would be dressed the first time he knotted his mate, but if he had, he wouldn’t have guessed that he’d be wearing another’s alpha’s leather pants. Catching sight of himself in the mirror, however, he had to admit that he looked good.
Across the room, August knocked on the door where Dylan was taking a shower and cleaning himself out in preparation of getting fucked.
“Are you sure you don’t want help?” August called through the door.
“No, thank you,” Dylan called back, making August furrow his brow in disappointment. “Now walk away from the door and stop listening!”
August obeyed, taking a small step away from the door and turning a forlorn look at Ryker.
