By the time Jett withdraws and we're all settled back into the bed, my heat is starting to settle into something more manageable. I'm surrounded by my three alphas, completely satisfied and completely loved. Their scents are so completely mixed with mine that I can't tell where I end and they begin.
"That was incredible," Cassian says, pulling me close. "You were incredible."
"We're so proud of you," Jett says, already half-asleep. "The wedding, your pack, everything."
"You're everything we ever wanted," Pine says, his arm across my waist. "You know that, right?"
"I know," I say, and I'm surprised to realize that I actually do know that. After everything I've been through, after all the struggles and the pain and the loneliness, I finally understand that I matter. That I'm valued. That I'm worth loving.
I fall asleep surrounded by my pack, completely satisfied and completely loved that I even forget to thank the universe. I’ll do it in the morning for sure.
31
JETT
Iwake up before Sharon does, then again, yesterday was a tough day. The wedding was fantastic and she deserves the rest.
The resort suite is still dim. Early morning light trying to sneak through the curtains like it's apologizing for interrupting. Cassian's already awake on Sharon's other side, his gray eyes doing that thing where he watches her sleep like she's some kind of miracle. Pine's sprawled in the armchair by the window, staring at the mountains like they owe him money.
Sharon's curled between Cassian and me, her strawberry and honey scent thick enough to swim in even though her heat's settled. One hand tucked under her cheek. Dark hair everywhere. She looks peaceful. Not the kind of fake peaceful she tried to pull off when she first showed up in Pine Hollow all wound up and pretending everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand.
I grab it carefully, trying not to wake Sharon, and see a text from a number I recognize immediately.
Ben.
Our brother.
I sit up slowly, extracting myself from the bed without disturbing Sharon. Cassian's eyes follow my movement with a question mark in them, but I shake my head. Not yet. Not until I know what the hell this is about.
I walk into the suite's living area and close the bedroom door most of the way. Pine follows me without making a sound because the man moves like a fucking ghost.
We settle on the couch and I open the message.
"Hey. I know I fucked up. I know I don't deserve anything from you guys. But I'm in a program now. Real one this time. Seven days in Montana. Day eight. They gave me my phone back yesterday. I'm trying. I swear to god I'm actually trying this time. Can you tell Sharon? I want to apologize for all I’ve done.”
I read it twice before handing my phone to Pine.
His dark eyes scan the message. His expression doesn't change but I can see him processing.
"Seven days," I say. "That's longer than he's ever made it."
"It's a start," Pine says carefully. Always the measured one. Always thinking three steps ahead.
"I know," I say, running my hand through my hair. "But what if this time is actually different? What if we don't tell Sharon and she finds out later that he was trying and we kept it from her?"
"And what if we tell her and he's lying again?" Pine counters.
We sit there for a minute. Both of us knowing there's no good answer. Either we protect Sharon from potential bullshit and risk her being pissed that we made that choice for her, or we tell her and watch her go through the hope and disappointment cycle again.
"We tell her," I say finally.
Pine nods slowly. "After breakfast. Let's give her one more morning of not thinking about Ben's shit."
"Agreed."
Cassian emerges from the bedroom a few minutes later, already dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. His gray eyes move between Pine and me, reading the situation like he's got some kind of alpha radar.
