Carol Anne Williams squeezes through the crowd, her flowing purple dress still mystical-looking despite being slept in. "The cosmic convergence was unmistakable. The universe has spoken!"
"The universe needs to learn about boundaries," I mutter. "And maybe knocking."
Griff pulls on his jeans but leaves his chest bare, clearly enjoying the attention as he grins at the assembled crowd. "Ladies, while we appreciate the enthusiasm, maybe we could continue this reunion downstairs? After coffee and recovery from our vigorous evening?"
I want to crawl under the bed and die.
"Absolutely not," Linda Sue Patterson declares, clutching her pearls like prayer beads. "This is better than my romance novels! A true love story! Three devoted alphas, one precious omega, bonded during a blizzard..."
"It's like a Hallmark movie with significantly more nudity," Emma adds helpfully, settling on the edge of the bed like she owns it.
"EMMA!"
She ignores my outrage with practiced ease. "So. Scale of one to ten, how thoroughly did they rock your world? And don't you dare say it's private because honey, nothing about last night was private. I'm pretty sure they heard you three counties over."
I'm going to die of mortification. Just combust right here in front of the committee and save everyone the funeral planning.
The post-heat fog has finally cleared enough for me to remember something important. Something that makes my stomach clench with a different kind of anxiety.
Logan must see something in my expression because he moves closer and squeezes my hand. "What's wrong?"
"Those alphas," I say quietly, my voice tight. "The ones who tried to break down the basement door. That's not something we should just ignore."
The room goes quiet. Even the matchmaking committee stops their chatter.
Logan squeezes my hand again. "They're gone. Emma made sure everyone left the resort once the storm cleared."
"But they were here. They were trying to..." I can't finish the sentence. My throat closes up.
Xavier sits beside me on the bed, somehow producing a mug of tea I don't remember asking for. "They were trying to help," he says quietly. "In their minds, they heard an omega in distress during a blizzard and their instincts told them to respond."
"That doesn't make it okay," I say, my voice sharper than intended.
"No, it doesn't," Griff agrees from where he stands near the window. His jaw is tight. "Which is why Emma already banned three of them from the wedding, and the other two showed up this morning to apologize."
I blink. "They... what?"
Logan pulls out his phone and shows me a string of texts.
Ron Ridge: I am so deeply sorry. I lost control and endangered your mate. I've scheduled an appointment with Dr. Chen for suppressant adjustment and consent training. Please convey my apologies to Savannah.
Ben Howard: No excuses for my behavior. I should have removed myself from the situation the moment I felt the pull. I'm mortified and will understand if I'm not welcome at the wedding.
I stare at the messages, something loosening in my chest. "They're taking responsibility?"
"They're mortified," Xavier confirms. "As they should be. Emma laid into them pretty hard about consent and boundaries. Apparently her exact words were, 'What the hell did you think was going to happen? A parade?'"
Despite everything, I laugh. It comes out watery and a little broken, but it's a laugh. "That sounds like Emma."
Emma gives a little bow from her perch on the bed. "I have my moments."
"The point is," Logan says, his firefighter voice firmly in place, "what happened wasn't okay. But it also wasn't malicious. It was biology overpowering common sense, and everyone involved knows they messed up."
"And if any of them had actually gotten through that door?" I ask, because I need to know they understand the severity.
The three of them exchange glances. Griff is the one who answers. "Then they'd be dealing with the three of us, and it wouldn't have ended well for anyone. But they didn't. Logan's distraction worked, the door held, and everyone went home ashamed instead of arrested."
Xavier nods. "Emma's also implementing new protocols. Any omega who needs privacy during events will have an actual safe room with better locks. And she's requiring all vendors and guests to sign updated consent agreements that explicitly cover heat situations."
