“Riley,” I say with a wry chuckle. “Always giving me something to smile about, but you’re more than your humor. You’re incredibly thoughtful, and you have so many unique skills it makes me want to pick your brain every single day to see what else you know that you might be able to teach me.
“And Vee. Neveah. You are my heaven. That probably sounds cheesy, but…” I trail off, and she reaches forward to cup my cheek with her palm.
“It doesn’t,” she whispers.
“It’s true, either way,” I whisper back, looking deep into her eyes. “You’re my rock. I know you’ll be there no matter what, that I can count on you for literally anything. And you know…” I have to stop to swallow the lump of emotion in my throat.
“I’ve never had that before. I’ve never had people who truly care about me, who put me first, that… That I could count on. People who value me for who I am, and not what I can do for them. That means more than you’ll ever know,” I finish, my voice choked.
Riley reaches a hand out to grasp mine, his other one holding tight to Brooks.
“Sage,” he says, voice soft and serious. “That’s pack.”
I blink at him, the words sinking into me as we all sit with that for a moment. Absorbing it and appreciating it.
“And also,” he interrupts our collective quiet. “I love you, too. And also you—” he sits forward on his knees to peck Vee on the lips, then turns to Brooks. “And you, alpha daddy.”
“I love you all, too,” Vee says, a gentle smile on her face as she strokes her hands over my skin.
Brooks clears his throat. “I’ve never been that good with emotions or words. But I feel the same, about each of you. I love you, Sage.” He stops to make eye contact with me for a moment, then does the same with Riley. “And I love you, Riley. And I love you, too, Vee.”
We all lean in for the most clumsy half-sitting hug I’ve ever experienced, and Riley—of course—breaks the tender moment when he snort-laughs.
“That was a terrible hug,” he says, and we all chuckle in agreement.
“I want to bond,” I say, and three sets of eyes snap to me as the laughter dies a sudden death.
Vee sucks in a breath, her eyes all but glowing with disbelieving joy as she stares at me.
“Say that again,” Brooks growls, his voice low and dangerous like I’ve never heard it before.
“I want to bond. All of you. Tonight—Now.”
Brooks blinks once, then tackles me into the mattress.
Somehow, Riley comes with him with a squawk of surprise, and we’re a pile of flailing limbs as Riley and I struggle to coordinate our bodies in Brooks’ unyielding hold. Brooks kisses us both, alternating between our mouths andnecks and chests as he smashes us together beneath his massive body.
“Vee!” Riley cries. “A little help, here? Alpha daddy has officially lost it!”
Brooks nuzzles his nose into my neck, inhaling my sweet lavender and making me giggle. Then he tucks me and Riley closer to him.
“Okay, alpha daddy,” Riley says, patting his side with a wheeze. “For real, we gotta breathe at some point.”
Brooks huffs at his dramatics, but rolls off of us.
“How do you want to do this?” Vee asks, her eyes intent on me.
“Oh,” I say, shrinking back a little as all eyes fix on me again. “I don’t know. I just want us all connected. Is there… I realize maybe I don’t know exactly how it’s supposed to work?”
“It can go however you like, for the most part,” Vee says. “The first bite has to be between the most dominant alpha and omega, but after that, it’s free reign. Any order, however you want it to go.”
I absorb that piece of information, and while I expect to feel anxious, no nerves alight in my chest. There’s only anticipation, need, a longing that I can finally fulfill. “So do you bite me first, or do I bite you first?”
“Either way. One of us initiates the bond with a bite, the other then bites that person back, returning and stabilizing it. Do you want me to initiate it, or would you like to sink those pointy little teeth into me first?”
My face flushes and my scent spikes, slick gathering between my legs.
“I think…” I hesitate, twisting my fingers together as I try to get the words out. I know I’m safe with these alphas, but it’s hard to get past a decade of mental abuse.
