“She wants you,” I said softly. “And you want her. Isn’t that enough?”
Dallas shrugged. “I’m scared, Brooks. It’s more complicated than just wanting her.”
“Then let me handle it for once. You’ve always protected me from all the bad shit in the world, so let me take over now. Just let me handle all of the things you’re worried about—all of the shit that can and probably will go wrong because we’re choosing this path. You just focus on how you feel for once.”
Dallas sighed and leaned against my shoulder for a moment and we both drew comfort from being so close together.
Then he pulled away and gave my hair a ruffle. “You probably should head up to her before she sucks the life out of Zeke and Maverick.”
I grinned at that. “And you?”
Dallas looked more sure than before. “I’m going to shower and then I’ll be up in a bit.”
“Promise?” I asked, standing.
My twin nodded and the weight that I’d been carrying since he had walked out of the hotel room the day that we’d discovered Lennon and Maverick together evaporated from my shoulders.
“Okay, see you in a bit,” I said as I turned toward the stairs, swallowing heavily as I realized that it was now my turn to face my own anxieties about bonding with Lennon and committing to a future with her and a new pack.
Standing at the door of Lennon’s nest I waited a beat before knocking, trying to shake off the nerves I was feeling.
I had taken my time gathering some water and snacks, my own offering to the three people inside, before heading up the stairs.
But now, as I stood ready to join them and to help Lennon through her heat…?
I was hesitating.
Nothing would be the same after this. Which, in and of itself, was a good thing.
I would never be alone. We would never be alone.
So why was I so damned nervous to lift my fist and knock on this stupid ass door?
Lennon was my scent match. The deep cherry wine scent that was seeping underneath the door was already toying with my instincts, making my inner alpha that had been pacing back and forth in the back of my mind paw its way forward impatiently, wanting to push my rational mind aside and take over completely and kick the door down and stomp inside in order to ravish our omega.
But even with that I still stood frozen.
I could hear them talking softly on the other side of the door and the sound of comfortable laughter filled my ears as someone got up from the nest and their footsteps drew near.
“Brooks,” Zeke said as he yanked the door open before I could gather my courage to knock. “I never took you for a scaredy cat.”
“I’m not,” I grumbled, taking in the alpha’s naked form with little interest. “I just didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Brooks.” The sound of Lennon’s voice came from the depths of her nest which was completely enshrouded by the thick blue curtains surrounding it. “Come into the nest.”
The curtains parted and Maverick stepped out, as equally naked as Zeke.
“Tag,” he said, giving my shoulder a firm pat. “You’re it.”
Zeke snagged one of the water bottles from the basket I was carrying, a wide grin on his face. “Have fun, bud, but be careful. She’s really bitey right now.”
I glanced at the tell-tale bite marks that covered their arms and shoulders and felt my cock stiffen at the thought, all of my earlier nerves vanishing in an instant.
Kicking my sneakers off, I crossed the room and sucked in a lungful of her thick heat pheromones that were mixed with Maverick’s and Zeke’s. The scent of sex was heady, a dizzying mix that I was eager to add onto.
A flushed hand poked out of the curtains expectantly. “Your clothes, alpha.”
Her voice was hoarse and demanding and barely sounded like her usual self. It sent a tingle of realization down my spine.
