“You think you deserve Dan in your pack?”
“Ah—” I try to intervene, for I meant Corin coming to my house as a test, not an inquisition.
Gloria raises a finger my way, shooting me a straight glance. “As the mother of your children, it is my privilege to ensure you’re treated right. Do you disagree?” Her almost non-existent scent flares slightly, a curl of hyacinth, but quickly dissipates. “And, given how long you interrogated Paul, you don’t have much of a leg to stand on.”
I turn to Corin and shrug. “I tried.”
“So I see.” His lips pull to the side in a crooked smile, and he faces Gloria directly. “What exactly do you need to know?”
“I don’t understand the appeal of packs myself, but I accept that they offer things to others.” Gloria folds her hands and rests them on her belly. “What do you offer Dan?”
“I grew up in a pack, but I’ve never been in one myself, so I’m still learning,” Corin replies. “Pack is hands to brace you when you slip, arms to hold you when you need a place to hide, a mirror to show you the best and worst of yourself, people with whom to rejoice or offer and receive shelter in a storm.”
“So is marriage, for better or worse.” Gloria shrugs. “But what doyou,personally, offer Dan?”
Air whistles as Corin takes a deep breath, standing taller, his chin raised, face set in a polite-but-formidable expression. “That’s between him and me. When we have that settled, if he wishes, we may share it with you then.”
“Nowthatis a respectable answer, much better than your pseudo poetry about packs.”She turns to me. “I won’t say I approve or disapprove—that’s not my place—but I wish you wellregardless. As for you,” She shifts back to Corin without taking a breath. “Good luck, and I’ll keep my children away for the rest of your visit. This time.”
“No threats?” Corin asks, a hint of amusement in his voice, but his gaze wary.
“No need.” Gloria’s poker face falls away, and she grins, eyes twinkling. “I think Dan’s capable of making his own decisions. He deserves more than he’s received in life thus far.” She pats my shoulder, and her half-smile suggests I’m blushing. My cheeks are certainly hot enough. “Just remember; if he chooses you, the rest of us come with him in some measure. We love him and will never let that go.”
She leaves with as little fuss as she arrived. There’s much more air in the room once it’s just the two of us. My alpha sits easier with her gone, able to focus solely on Corin. His presence here fascinates my inner self in a way I hadn’t expected.
Corin stares at the door Gloria left through for several breaths. At length, he turns to face me, far more at ease than I’ve seen. “When I invited you to consider becoming a pack with us, it was for Johanna’s sake, yet now your family’s love for you is fierce and beautiful. All three came to take my measure and see that I care for you as they believe you deserve. I want to know the man who earned that.”
He approaches, and my alpha lets him lead, curious and not sure what to expect.
Corin stops close enough to touch, though he doesn’t. Every exhale is warm against my cheek, redolent of sun-warmed cedar. My scent rises as well, twining with his to make the kitchen smell of a deep, endless forest.
“Silence is never assent unless we agree on it beforehand,” Corin raises a hand toward my face, but stops an inch away. “May I touch you? Kiss you?”
He’s leading, taking the dominant role. There’s clearly no question in his mind regarding his place vis-à-vis me and my alpha: that he’s the stronger. Or, no—rather, that his strength would win out if we did fight. There’s a difference; the strongest dominants don’t always win.
Sometimes we don’t want to. Strength and dominance can be burdens.
My alpha accepts Corin’s approach with unexpected ease, even relief. My rational self finds the lack of tension in my alpha, his welcoming Corin’s lead, oddly seductive.
Nathan may not yet be clear on who will be the lead alpha among us—or perhaps he’s not ready to accept it.
Butmyalpha is.
Corin is stable, solid, safe. Being around him makes my alpha feel grounded. Rooted, perhaps, given our matching woodsy scents. I don’t need to challenge Corin, and my alpha doesn’t want to.
“Permission granted,” I say.
“Likewise, you may touch and kiss at will.” Corin’s hand curves along the edge of my jaw. His thumb rubs the hollow of my cheek, tracing the line of bone under eye. He leans in slowly, allowing me time to draw away if I choose.
His warm lips taste of wood and apples as they slip along mine, sipping and nipping. He keeps the kiss light and gentle, the first step in a dance, rather than rushing to the finale.
My alpha relaxes further in a way I haven’t felt since ever? Maybe I’ve been dating the wrong people. Instead of restricting myself to betas, I should have looked for a strong, dominant alpha.
And then I can’t think. Reason and instinct unite in responding to Corin’s lips on mine, following where he leads, accompanied by a heavenly violin strain.
I realize at the same time as Corin that the music is real—and comes from his phone.
“It’s Johanna.” He pulls away, gaze dazed but hand already retrieving his phone from a pocket.
