"I'm not good with words. Never have been." His voice cracks. "But you make me want to try. I promise to care for you with everything I know, everything I am, everything I'll become. You are my person."
"Pedro." I cup his face. "You don't need to be better. You just need to be you. I choose you exactly as you are."
Carlos steps up, grinning even as tears spill down his cheeks.
"Okay, so, I had this whole speech planned." He laughs wetly. "But fuck it. Jess, you're my favorite person in the entire world. You make me laugh, you let me build you things, you love me even when I burn dinner. I promise joy. That's it. That's my vow. I'll bring you joy every single day we have together."
"And I promise to laugh with you, let you build me a thousand things, and love every ridiculous part of you. You are my joy, Carlos."
Nacho is last. He moves with that quiet intensity, dark eyes locked on mine.
"I see you." Simple. Direct. "Not the omega. The woman brave enough to start over. I will protect this pack, stand between you and anything that threatens you, and I will never stop seeing exactly who you are."
"I see you too, Nacho. My guardian. My steady presence. I trust you completely."
Silence settles. The candles flicker. Through the pack bond, I feel the love and commitment.
"Pack," Nacho says simply.
"Pack," we all echo.
Stacey clears her throat from the armchair, wiping her eyes. "Okay. That was beautiful and I'm never going to let you forget I saw you all get emotional. But also—" She stands, stretching. "I'm going to bed now because it's past midnight and you five need your first proper night in this room."
She crosses to me, pulls me into a hug. "Congratulations, crazy omega lady. You picked good ones."
"Thanks for being here."
"Wouldn't have missed it." She hugs each of the brothers quickly. "Take care of her. Or I'll come back and kick your asses."
"Noted," Sergio says dryly.
She pauses at the door, grins. "Have fun with your mattress fort."
And then she's gone, her footsteps fading down the hall toward the guest room.
The door clicks shut behind her.
Five of us. Our room. Our bed. Our life.
"So," Carlos says. "First night in our official room."
I look at the massive bed they built in eight hours. At the candles and roses and the space they made beautiful for me. At four men who vowed to love me today and always.
"Let's make it count," I say.
And we do.
40
PEDRO
Aweek after the bonding ceremony, I'm in my home office reviewing patient charts when the doorbell rings.
Unusual. We don't get many visitors. The house is at the end of a private road, tucked away from the main part of town. Most people call first.
Through the pack bond, I feel Jessica's curiosity from upstairs where she's been working on her business plan with Stacey. Carlos is in his workshop. Sergio is at the gym. Nacho is still at the station, wrapping up his shift.
I head to the front door, medical instincts already cataloging possibilities. Emergency. Lost tourist. Package delivery.
