“A heat is supposed to be the best time of your life. Sure, you’ll be out of it for much of the time, but that’s why being with an alpha you trust is so important. If you allow us to take care of you, to be a part of this heat, we’ll do every single thing you ask. We will never allow you to hurt, not if we can possibly avoid it.
“Alphas are meant to help an omega, to make you feel good,” she continues, and I swallow the hard ball of emotion threatening to clog my throat. “We would be honored if you’d let us show you how good a heat can be, if you’d trust us to take care of you in that way.”
I can’t do anything but nod, knowing if I open my mouth I’ll start crying. What she is describing sounds wonderful, beyond anything I’ve thought to dream of, and the dread that has been simmering in my belly starts to dissipate. Thankfully, my scent has lost the nasty elements, and Vee tugs me close, nuzzling into my hair. We sit like that for long minutes, breathing together, her purr rumbling through us, and incrementally, my muscles loosen.
When she’s fully supporting my weight again, she speaks once more.
“Sweetling, there’s no pressure either way, but I need to ask. Are you on birth control?”
I sigh and nod my head. “Yeah, Josh had me get an IUD. It’s still good for a few more years.”
“Do you want to keep it?”
Everything pauses as my eyes drift out of focus. Do I want the possibility of kids?
No.
I was always glad Josh didn’t want them, because bringing children into that household would have been awful. But now, even with a pack I trust, I don’t know if I’ll ever want kids of my own.
“Yeah,” I murmur. “Yeah, I do want to keep it. Is that okay?” I twist to look up at her, and she nods, tucking a strand of flyaway hair behind my ear.
“Of course that’s okay,” she says. “It’s your body. Kids are a different conversation, one we don’t need to worry about right now. I just wanted to be prepared for your heat in whatever way you’re comfortable with.”
“Thank you, Vee,” I whisper, relief and adoration flowing through me, and she kisses the top of my head.
“I’d like to have a conversation with the whole pack about limits, boundaries, expectations. What you do and don’t want, that sort of thing,” she says. “Would that be okay?”
“I guess so,” I breathe, absorbing her calm, collected energy. It feels good to let her take charge, so different from Josh’s brand of controlling every aspect of my life.
“Can I call them in now?”
I bite my lip. “Can you do the talking?”
“I can lead the conversation, but we’ll need your input. I’ll ask questions to help, how does that sound?”
“Good. Yeah,” I nod, relief softening my tone. “Let’s do it now.”
Vee’s muscles flex as she sets me next to her and I lean into her side, then she pulls out her phone and texts the group chat. Minutes later, our other two pack members stride through the door.
“Pack meeting?” Riley asks, glancing between us and then flopping on a floor pillow next to us. “What’s up?”
Brooks settles on the couch beside me and I turn sideways as he pulls my blanket-wrapped feet into his lap. The pressure and weight of his hands on my calves is strangely soothing.
“Sage and I were just chatting about her heat coming up. I thought we should all check in on boundaries and limits. What we’re each okay with,” Vee says.
Brooks nods, and Riley sits up straighter, an excited grin on their face.
“Ooooh, fun! How kinky are we gonna get?” they say with a silly eyebrow wiggle.
I giggle, covering my mouth with the blanket and hoping it covers the blush on my cheeks too.
“Slow down there, Sour Patch.” Vee gives them a pretend glare as she runs her fingers through their hair. “Let’s start easy, and we can see where the conversation takes us.”
Chapter Forty-One
Brooks
I can’t get yesterday’s conversation out of my head, and I go about my normal yard work routine on autopilot. Even though we all want to bond Sage immediately, Neveah suggested getting through one heat together before bonding so we can prove to her how it should be. Show her what life can be like with us.
