Gabe nods. The vulnerability in his gaze makes my heart ache.
“I like her,” I admit. “She’s funny and sweet, and there’s something about her that feels right. But I’m a beta. I don’t have the alpha scent that draws omegas. I don’t trigger her biology the way you and Everett do.”
Gabe cups my face, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. “Anyone who doesn’t adore you is an idiot.”
“Biased,” I murmur, leaning into his touch.
“Accurate,” he counters. “Your scent might not trigger her omega instincts, butyoutrigger everything else—her mind, her laughter—I saw how she looked at you today. She likes you, Finn.”
I bite my lip, considering. “So what do we do now? We can’t just announce, ‘Hey, by the way, you’re biologically compatible with my boyfriend, want to have a threesome?’”
“Oh shit! And Everett. Is it weird? I mean, he’s your best friend.”
“We shared omegas back in college so that it wouldn’t be something entirely new,” Gabe says. He and I have always felt like family, so it makes sense that we would share a scent match. I’ll never have romantic feelings for him, but it feels right to think of him as a more permanent part of our lives.
“I’ve been thinking of him as my brother for a while already,” I say thoughtfully.
“If Melody is compatible with both of us… Maybe it’s meant to be all four of us. A real pack.”
The possibility sends a thrill through me. Not just Gabe and me anymore, but something fuller, more complete.
“I can already picture it,” I tease. “You two competing over who gets to carry her groceries or something equally ridiculous.”
“I wouldn’t fight him,” Gabe says with mock seriousness. “I’d just win.”
I splash water on his face. “Alphas and their competitive nonsense.”
He catches my wrist gently, pulling me closer. The water swirls between us, hot and buoyant. His eyes become serious again. “What are you thinking, really?”
“I’m thinking,” I say slowly, “that this could be amazing, but we need to talk to Everett and make sure we’re all on the same page before anything happens.”
“We go slow,” Gabe says. “We get to know her better. Let her get to know us. All of us.”
“Agreed,” I say.
“Now, be a good little beta and let your alpha show you just how much he loves you.”
12
Melody
Iroll over with a groan, expecting the familiar panic of oversleeping on a workday, but then remember, I’m on vacation.
Or at least, I’m supposed to be.
The digital clock on my nightstand flashes 10:17 AM.
“Holy moly cannoli,” I mutter, sitting bolt upright. I never sleep past seven. Ever. Not even on weekends.
Well, except for college. Everyone sleeps in when they’re in college.
My phone sits on the nightstand, and I reach for it automatically. Three missed calls from Marcus. Two voicemails. Four texts.
I hover my finger over the callback button, then pause.
Yesterday’s conversation with Charlie echoes in my mind. What was it she said?
“Fuck demure.”
