Not only the alpha knots. Also the men attached to them.
This next part Rourke says to me: “Your parents were very precise when they drafted that will up. According to the lawyers, there’s no room for any open interpretations. It’s a match before your first heat that will cause your aunt to claim half your inheritance—and in the eyes of the court as settled by previous cases, a match is not made by sex alone.”
My tongue is like a foreign object in my mouth, causing me to struggle when I say, “That means…”
Rourke opens his mouth to explain, but Mason takes it upon himself to say it in a way only he could: “It means we can fuck ifyou want, Jess. We can fuck you twenty ways till Sunday if that’s what you want—” He only stops when Asher elbows him in his side.
Rourke shoots Mason a look, but then addresses me, “He’s right, although I would’ve used other words to say it. It means we can be at your disposal during your heat, if you want. Of course, we won’t force you or make you do anything you don’t want to do, but now we know the option is there and it won’t affect your ability to claim your family’s fortune.”
I can’t believe it. When I read that will—when I read it a few times—I was in a hurry, yes. I think my mind was blown because the mere option was there for me to be on my own and have my family’s money. It never once occurred to me there’d be a loophole like this.
I mean, I could’ve gone to a heat house. Not that I wanted to do something like that, but sex doesn’t equal a match. I could’ve been giving it away this entire time—again, not that Iwantedto, but these three near me… they made me want to.
They made me want everything.
All three pairs of eyes are on me, waiting for me to say something. My mind is a mess, my thoughts racing, and it takes me way too long to say, “That’s good to know.”
“That’s it?” Mason asks. “That’s good to know? I’d say it’s better than that—”
Asher speaks over his brother, “Maybe this means we should discuss what comes after. After your heat, after we go back to the city. I think our intentions should be made known. We already mentioned it a bit, but I think we should make it official.”
He doesn’t have to say more. I know what he wants, what they all want. If I was the Jess Dryers of a month ago, I would have quickly shut this conversation down and had a few choice words to say to each of them—and none of those words would have been what you’d consider nice.
But the me of today, here and now, all the mean remarks and bitchy comments don’t have a chance to form. I sit there, slowly realizing that my mind and my heart are open and wanting.
Rourke is the one who says, “We want this to be the beginning. If you want us to court you traditionally, we will.” He smirks. “If, on the other hand, you’d prefer to skip the whole traditional thing, then I can speak for myself when I say I’m more than okay with that. You’re my scent match, Jess. You’re mine. And it’s become clear to me that these two need you in their lives in much the same way.”
The way he talks, it’s almost startling. It’s like Rourke has known Asher and Mason for a while, for much longer than the bit of time we’ve been here. Like his voice is now theirs.
Like they’re already a pack.
He finishes, “You’re ours.” When he says that, both Asher and Mason nod along with him.
Hearing him say that makes me feel a strange assortment of things I thought I’d never feel. Contentment. Pure happiness. Bliss, even. The kind of deep, inherent joy that makes you feel alive in a way no other emotion can.
The last ten years have been so awful. I retreated into myself, built walls, shut everyone out, and did what I had to in order to survive. I was cold, mean, and I never felt at home, even in the room I grew up in. I thought I’d never know what it was like to be loved again.
“I’m,” I breathe out the words, “yours, and you’re mine.” I’ve never said anything like that before, and although it’s a little odd to hear myself say it, in my heart of hearts I know no truer words have ever been spoken. Not by me, not by anyone.
The alphas near me beam and preen, practically vibrating with satisfaction over hearing me say it. Being surrounded by them; it’s not an uncomfortable place to be. No, I’m right where I should be, right where I belong.
Who knew I’d find my alphas here? I certainly never expected this.
“So,” Mason says, his hazel stare vibrant and beaming, an expression I’ve never seen on him before, “it’s settled, then. Once we do what needs to be done for you to get your inheritance, you’ll be ours. We’ll be a pack.”
His brother sets a hand on his back. “And we’ll get everyone the help they need.”
Mason shoots him a look when he says that, a look I’m sure is meant to be hard and perhaps acidic, but with the level of joy in the room, it doesn’t stick, nor does it have the heart behind it.
The four of us sit there in silence for what feels like forever, but in reality it’s probably more like thirty seconds to a minute at most. I’m the one who asks, “So… what now?”
“You tell us,” Asher says. “You’re the one with her heat coming up. Are there any foods you want that we don’t have here? Any snacks or candy? Easy things that don’t require a lot of prep?”
I can’t say I’ve had any cravings yet, but who knows? Maybe they’ll hit me. Maybe I’ll want chocolate or some kind of sugar-coated candy. Any kind of candy is a win in my book.
“I don’t know,” I say with a shrug. “I don’t feel any different yet. Maybe I won’t have any symptoms.” With my lack of smell, it’s an easy assumption and totally plausible. It could well be that my heat will be like every other day.
Yeah… somehow, I don’t think so.
