Finn smirks. "Alex never once considered forming a pack without me. Even if, on paper, betas are technically optional."
The way he says it—casual, proud, absolutely certain—hits me somewhere deep.
Optional.
That's how I've felt for weeks.
Not necessary. Not central. Not chosen.
Just an extra piece. A problem to manage.
"You don't mind not bonding with a mark?"
"I mean, sometimes I wish I could scent them the way you can. Or get that full-body 'click' when someone matches. But Alex and Malcolm treat me like an equal. Alex defers to me on things I know better. Malcolm asks my opinion instead of assuming I'll fall in line. I get a sayin who joins us. That's worth more than some chemical high I can't access."
Alex's expression softens. "This pack's structure is built on three pillars. If you take out the beta one, the whole thing falls over."
Finn flushes. "Stop. We have a guest. You're going to embarrass me."
I swallow hard around a sudden lump.
Three pillars.
Valued. Necessary. Not just tolerated.
I think of Ragon explaining my "lesson" at dinner like a success story.
Of Drake's attention sliding to Marie before it even lands on me.
Of Eli's hands in my hair trying to convince me I'm not second-hand.
"You okay?" Finn asks softly.
I realize I've gone quiet, cookie scoop dangling.
"Yeah. Just processing. You're very healthy."
"Ugh, rude. We try to keep that a secret."
Malcolm laughs. Alex's mouth twitches.
The oven dings.
We pull the first tray out and the smell of butter and chocolate and sugar fills the room. I close my eyes, inhaling. For a moment, I could almost forget everything else.
"Okay, we definitely did something right," Malcolm says. "Marry us," he tells the cookies.
"I thought you were marrying the coffee machine," Finn says.
"We're in a throuple now."
We eat cookies standing around the island, burning our tongues because none of us have patience. They moan—not sexual, just pure joy.
"You're hired," Finn tells me.
"Yeah?"
"Official position. Neighbor witch. You come over, do mysterious alchemical things with flour, leave us better than you found us."
