She huffs a quiet laugh. “Yes. Definitely. Them too. As a collective, and as individuals.” Her eyes open again. “Why do you sound like you don’t believe me?”
“It’s not that,” I murmur, dipping my head to kiss her shoulder.
“What is it, then?”
“I’m a Beta.”
“Who’s doing a stellar job of reminding me I’m a woman. Not just an Omega.”
I look at her properly, without all my usual protections in place.
With a small but genuine smile she says, “You said tonight, it’s us. The real us.”
“So, you’ll share what’s holding you back with me?”
“You set the rules, Tynan. If you want to change them now, so be it.”
It’s not a low blow. She’s simply reminding me of what I said earlier. The truth comes out because I’m not sure I could keep much from her.
“I’ll never be enough for you.”
Her teeth grind down for a second, her eyes fill with fire, but her voice and nature stay tender. “So why do your packmates constantly defer to you? Why does your brother think the sun rises and sets with you? Why do you see something in me not many other people do?”
“When you need help the most, I won’t be able to bring you relief.”
“It’s not all about knots. And you know that.” She takes my hand from her side and brings it slowly higher until I’m cupping her breast. “Let’s test your theory of you never being enough for me.”
My thumb grazes over her nipple poking through her bra. “Since you know more ofmyfear, tell me, are you going to disappear on me tomorrow?”
Tally nods, not hiding at all. Her throat bobs up and down as she searches for a way to explain. But right now, her admission is enough.
“In that case, you only get part of me. You disappeared on me once before, firecracker.”
Her eyes drop, her fingers coiling tighter around mine. Her voice is barely above a whisper as she says, “When I do disappear, just trust me, okay? Trust that this is as real to me as it is to you. Trust when I said I wanted you and your pack. You’re everything I’ve wanted.” Then she reaches up, pulling me down to her mouth. “We give each other as much as we can, until the sun rises.”
I’d offer her the world if I knew she’d take it.
Chapter Thirty-Five
TALLY
Living at arm’s length is something I do out of necessity. Having that space around me is vitally important for my survival after growing up with loss. I spent a lot of money with therapists, only for them to confirm what I already knew—I’m protecting myself. I have no shame in the way I live, either. But this pack shows me time and time again that I could survive differently if I wanted. If I let them in.
Ronin reiterates the message in the loud, bold way he lives and loves.
Keegan’s like a mirror where my darkness reflects. And having that chaos he brings is oddly calming. The sweeping highs and dipping lows don’t feel as isolating when he’s around.
Rafferty is a part of my soul. He is a different version of me, but still me. He is the embodiment of who I want to be. I want the confidence to love and feel how he does. And then I need the settling assurance when he instantly said my place is next to him.
Tynan is the one to hold me together. He’s the glue I’ve been yearning for. And I know he’d keep me from falling apart if I let him.
He also is full of surprises.
Pausing the movie, he looks down at me, staring intently and stripping me bare with the depth of what I find in his eyes. Then he does strip me bare, undoing my bra before a tender sweep of his fingers guides the straps down. His lingering touch feels like electricity bouncing through my body, restarting parts I’d lost. Or shut away.
“If this is one night, I’m going to do what I’ve been thinking of since I saw you again.”
Nodding, I agree in an instant.
