“I said I didn’t have any issues that would prevent me from being on call for storms and stuff, but that’s not true. I thought I could maybe make a nest in the watch room and take less medication than usual so I’d be more alert. But that’s so irresponsible. Although, I’m sure I’m going to be fired anyway because I left the lighthouse unmanned during this storm. And I have no savings and can’t afford to live here without having this housing, so I’ll have to move away and then we’ll never see each other again.”
“Oh, darling.” Finn arranged her so she was pressed to his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. “We’ll make sure you don’t lose your job. It was our fault, anyway.” When Olive opened her mouth to argue, I placed my finger over her lips.
“No,” I said, my voice low and stern. “Listen to us. You are not moving away. You areours.”
“But I lied to you,” she sobbed. “How can you still want me?”
I looked at my brothers, and they wore bewildered expressions that met my own. I understood intellectually why she’d be scared to tell us about her heats, but how could she think we would be anything but fucking thrilled to see her through them?
Before I could figure out what to say, Olive continued.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with me during this heat. I have my medications with me and then once it’s over, I’ll talk to Stanley and tell him I’m not fit to be the lighthouse keeper.”
I saw the moment Finn snapped. A growl ripped through his chest, and he gripped Olive’s chin. “The only reason you’re not over my lap right now getting spanked is because I know you’re not thinking clearly with your heat starting. We are your fucking pack and it’s our responsibility to see you through heats.” He tightened his grip on Olive’s jaw when she tried to respond. “You arenottoo much. Those alphas were wimpy motherfuckers who probablysigned up for that service because they wanted to fuck an omega and had no idea how to actually alpha-up and take care of you the way you deserve. You are not drugging yourself with sedatives. I’m not sure that’s even legal for a doctor to prescribe. We’re going to stick with you for however many days this lasts and fucking take care of you. Because you’re ours and we want to.”
Olive blinked, looking stunned.
“How could you think we would leave you, baby?” I asked. “We also had plans to talk to you today.” I glanced over at my brothers and they nodded. This wasn’t how we’d planned to tell her, but she needed to know. “We wanted to give you the boat to show you how serious we are about you. We’d do anything for you. And we were planning to tell you we want to bond you.”
At that, Olive burst into fresh tears. Finn’s purr intensified as he rocked her back and forth. “We don’t have to bond!” he almost shouted. “There is no pressure.”
“I want to,” Olive sobbed, and then she clutched at her stomach, her mouth open in a soundless scream.
“Alright, enough,” Lars said, his voice gentle as he rubbed Olive’s lower back. “Let’s get in the shower, sweetheart. The water will feel good. We’ll make some calls to make sure the lighthouse is taken care of, and then we’re going to take care ofyou.”
Lars gestured for me to take Olive. “I’ll call my moms so they can organize shifts for the lighthouse,” he said in a low voice.
I nodded and picked her up bridal style. She curled into my chest, arms tight around my neck like she was afraid I would let go.
“Are we really going to do this?” she asked, eyes wide.
“You mean, are we going to fuck you and take care of you through your entire heat and bond each other? Hell yeah.”
Her hesitant smile was everything, but by the time we were in the bathroom, she was back to chewing her lip. I carefully set her down and rubbed my thumb along it. It was all red and sore. She reached up and grasped my wrist, holding hard.
“Are you really sure about me? If we’re bonded, you’ll feel all my bad moods and dark days. I’ll make you miserable and you’ll finally realize what a horribleperson I am.”
My chest ached for my Olive. I cradled her face with both hands. I wanted her eyes on me, to see that she was really going to absorb what I was about to say.
“I know what it’s like to feel like you’re dragging people down. I hid what was going on at home from Lars and Finn for so long because I didn’t want to burden them. But eventually, it all came out, and it turned out they weren’t burdened by my suffering—they were strong enough to lift it off me. Their families became my family, and suddenly, a dozen people were shouldering my pain. Let us be that for you, baby. Let us help you carry it, because even if you can’t see it, you bring sunshine into our lives every moment of every day.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she nodded. “I want that.”
The bathroom door opened. Finn walked in carrying a large basket, followed by Lars, who shut the door behind him.
Finn quickly put the basket on the floor—it looked like it was filled with bath oils and lotion—and came to Olive’s side.
“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
“Easton’s just making me cry.” She held her hand out to him and Lars. “I just… are you sure about this? About me? You can’t take your bond marks back and I don’t want you to regret?—”
Finn quieted her with a growl and a kiss. “Yes, we’re sure.”
I moved out of the way so Lars could get closer. We needed a much bigger bathroom.
He ran his hand through her hair. “So fucking sure, sweetheart. Are you sure about us?”
She nodded quickly.
