Alve’s smile was distinctly cat-like as he leaned to kiss me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I was still reeling as he gave Nathan and Jude their own words of love, soaking them up with pristine happiness that made me dizzy.
“Well, if we’re all getting this out in the open in the middle of Versailles…” Jude stole me for himself, my senses reeling.
The bond was a blur of affection and contentment, bubbling like champagne. Each of us collected confessions and kisses until we seemed to share a fresh thought, all four of us kissing our omega. She shrieked with giggles as we gathered her into the center of us, my fingers gliding to curl over her sweet five-month bump. Madison quieted herself by pressing her face to my chest when we attracted the disapproving gaze of one of the tour guides walking through.
“Life with you guys never stops being surprising.” Madison locked her arms around my torso, turning her face to smile at Jude. “I don’t know why I keep expecting it to calm down at some point.”
I swung an arm over Nathan’s shoulder. “You’ve probably gotta give Nathan at least another decade for that. He’s still got that new puppy energy.”
“Is that your subtle way of asking to see me in a collar?” Nathan’s blue eyes locked onto me, a rush of desire almost knocking me off my feet. “Because that could be arranged.”
I bit down on a moan as my body reacted. “Nathan. What did I just tell you about boners at historic sites?”
He only shrugged, not looking admonished in the least. “We could find a secluded alcove and I could take care of it for you. Maybe behind a tastefully trimmed hedge in the gardens. I’m not picky.”
Him being so sassy left me with only one option. I hooked my fingers into the collar of his shirt, sharply pulling him closer so we were nose to nose. “Baby, I know you’re begging to choke on my cock, but I need you to be a good boy and have some patience.”
Every member of the pack shivered as Nathan’s lust cascaded over us.
“Fucking hell,” Jude whispered. “You can’t haul that out in public.”
I caught Alve’s mischievous gaze on me. Pride fell like droplets down the bond from him. The location might be inappropriate, but it wasn’t often I got brave enough to say things like that. I liked that he was proud of me, the satisfaction of it like a warm balloon of water in my chest.
“Let’s move to a different room,” Madison quietly suggested. “We’re attracting too many eyes.”
“Prudes,” Nathan tutted. “Courtiers probably fucked against every wall in this place, but now they’re having opinions about it? History is way sluttier than people give it credit for.”
“Maybe so”—Madison fought to control her amusement—“but the rules for this century are different than when Louis XIV was running the palace. We have to listen to the signs.”
Nathan’s dramatic sigh was his version of agreement. The pack shuttled to the next room, the last before we hit the absolutely spectacular Hall of Mirrors. Moreso than other rooms we’d visited,thisone was where it felt like we were walking in the footsteps of history. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and gilded statues held smaller versions, the windows letting in a flood of light that reflected off the many mirrors, lighting up the ceiling murals and even more gilded detailing. I wasn’t royal by any stretch of the imagination, but walking these halls, with my pack by my side, and my queen of an omega looking at us with as much wonder as the beauty surrounding her, I truly did feel like a king.
Madison held her wide-brimmed hat on as we jetted down the Bosphorus toward the Sea of Marmara on the shores of Istanbul. She was elated in the bond, watching the water open before us, turning to see the wide sweep of the city behind us.
Leo sat to one side of me, his thumb firmly held by our second-born in the front-facing carrier on my chest. Jada was cool as a little cucumber, her dark, tight curls ruffling in thebreeze, soaking up the world from behind her tiny sunglasses. I wasn’t nearly so chill when I was a baby, as my mom had reminded me dozens of times since she’d first met Jada. She must take after Madison in that regard, but if she was going to have her Mama’s babyhood personality, it was only fair that she looked just like me at her age.
“Higher, Daddies!” Nayara excitedly screamed.
Our usually nervous four-year-old had been blossoming on this trip. Today, that meant Nathan and Alve firmly holding her life jacket as they lifted her up to pretend she was flying like a superhero. She was the spitting image of Leo—Mama Aleida had treated us to hundreds of baby and toddler photos of young Leo when Naya had been born—though that wasn’t surprising, since he and Madison had the same hair and eye color.
“Are you watching, Mami?” Naya dipped her head to stare down Madison, ensuring her full attention was appropriately directed. It was the same look we got when she was at her dance classes. If you looked away for even a second when she checked on you, you’d hear about it. She had all of us wrapped around her finger, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m watching.” Madison laughed. “You’re gonna fly all the way to the stars, honey.”
“She’s way too cute,” Leo said quietly, leaning his head against mine. “How’d we get so lucky with these two?”
“I think I wished on so many stars over the years that the universe decided to cut me some slack and drop the perfect family on me. Only makes sense that we’d get perfect little ones to grow it.”
“Smile big, mija,” Leo instructed. “We’ve got to update Abuelita on how much fun you’re having.” He snapped photos of Naya with her arms outstretched, and took a few more, capturing everyone in at least one to send to the very large family group chat.
Leo’s contentment in the bond mirrored my own. Everyone’s did. We’d fallen into such a smooth rhythm with each other, even with changes in jobs and adding children to the family.
Life looked so radically different today than when I’d met my pack and the foundations had shifted with Madison. She’d gone from no job to a thriving company that had grown to a dozen employees to keep up with demand. I moved up from district manager to purchasing manager, helping Best of Nests create a national partnership with the OHI and other organizations like it. Alve had expanded the OHI across the state, ensuring omegas in every city had access to safe housing. Nathan’s architectural firm had graduated him to mid-level and put him as the liaison for the OHI projects. Leo flourished as a stay-at-home dad, cutting down his hours significantly, but still doing riding lessons and performing in shows once a week.
Madison’s hand slid over my knee, and she scooted closer. “You look contemplative.”
“Just thinking about how far we’ve all come.” I leaned in to catch her raspberry sweetness mixed with the ocean air. “Makes me curious what our lives will look like in another five years.”
