I can’t stay out here forever, trying to inhale every lingering trace of her scent. Still, I savour the way her fragrance trails into my office.
Hendrix took her to my office instead of the boardroom where I was initially going to meet her, but this is no ordinary client meeting anymore. Walking in, I’m surprised to find her curled up on my reading chair by the window and not on his lap or one of the chairs in front of my desk. The unimpressed look on his face suggests he’s not happy about her decision.
Opening the door to my small kitchenette, I trust my screaming instincts and prepare a warm drink. Plus, a small plate of nibbles from the snacks I keep on hand for when I’m working late.
Without turning around, I know she’s watching me. It feels similar to Hendrix’s attention, softer if you will, but the intensity matches. Carrying the biggest, frothiest hot chocolate I’ve ever made—complete with floating marshmallows—the coy smile I get when she sees it, is evidence of how well I picked the drink.
I go to place it next to her, but she reaches out, her hands touching mine, and I pass it to her, feeling as bashful as she just appeared.
“Thank you. This is perfect. How did you know this is what I needed?”
“Lucky guess,” I murmur, watching as she takes a sip.
A small moan escapes her lips. But her eyes fly open the very next instant when she realises, and she blushes a delightful pink. And I pinpoint the colour of her eyes—blue-hazel—like the Aegean Sea.
Jesus, can she be any more perfect?
Hendrix clearing his throat only makes her blush more pronounced.
I gather the rest of our refreshments, and also my suit jacket to drape over her shoulders. I’d hate for her to go into shock as we work through the way she’s inadvertently become each of ours without any of us realising.
I pour a healthy splash of Scotch for both Hen and me, and he winks at me before he knocks his back and then holding it out for a refill.
“You know how upset I am that I’m not there with you guys. Dom, link me to the big screen so I can see you all. I’ve got an hour before I need to do a sound check.”
Hendrix moves before I do, and he locates the remote and moves through the motions of linking us up. We’ve done it countless times, and I don’t need to coach him through the complicated firewall we have on our electronic devices. Instead, I get to watch her.
She keeps sipping her hot chocolate, and I can see the hundreds of questions building. Her eyebrows tip when Hen disappears into the other room attached to my office, but it’s not nervousness I see when her eyes come back to mine, it’s realisation.
“You’re packed,” she says softly.
Her eyes search mine for answers, and I’ll happily explain everything to her, but Hendrix and Ryder deserve to be included in that discussion because we very much are pack.Everything we do is for each other, and that will include explaining our relationship to her.
Ryder’s face fills the screen, and my gaze goes to him. With his hair still damp from the shower—and I know for a fact he only had one because he, Hen, and I were all talking while he did—he looks thrilled with the fact his Sin is the same woman Hen is having an affair with, and the woman I’ve been searching for.
He’s watching me, but she’s still focused on my face, watching me intently. I turn back to her, comfortable, we were all able to speak and hear each other now. “Ryder, Hendrix, and I are more than pack. We’re lovers. Partners in everything we do.”
The blue of her eyes overtakes the green, and she doesn’t hide her surprise. But when she takes another sip, her eyes fall away. I reach for my drink, Hen doing the same, and it’s surprisingly peaceful as we each work through the shock of this morning.
“Sin.” Ryder interrupts us after a few minutes. I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s eager to keep the discussion flowing, it’s his nature.
She looks back at the screen, and I completely misjudged the situation. She’s got tears brimming and ready to fall.
He tips his head and moves closer to the camera. His presence looms even over the distance, and I swear I get the subtle hint of his sweetened-honey scent. “Please don’t jump to conclusions without hearing from us first. The three of us have been honest with each other about you since the moment we crossed paths. We each found you on our own. Surely that has to be the most beautiful coincidence in this.”
My throat constricts, disappointment in myself that I completely misjudged her. I’m her scent matched Alpha and I couldn’t read her distress. I feel blindsided by my failure. Frustration pumps through my veins.
“Don’t.” Hendrix’s hand clamps down hard against the back of my neck. He drags me to him until the familiarity of his thunderstorm inspired scent fuels my equilibrium. “Our mate is very good at doing what she does. Focus on the fact that she’s showing us her true feelings.”
Hen’s mouth brushes against my forehead, doing more for my frayed emotion than a glass of Scotch ever could. And then he turns his focus back to her as he leans forward, resting his arms on the tops of his thighs, demanding her attention.
“Why do you feel bad, Simona?” Hendrix’s voice is loaded by his designation.
“Selfish,” she whispers. “I feel so guilty.”
“Why? We’re all adults, and my pack knew you and I were starting an ‘affair’.” He uses his fingers to emphasize the word.
After blowing out a long, shaky exhale, she raises her chin as she speaks. “And what about Rye? He didn’t know about you, and you didn’t know about him.”
