Page 29 of Priceless

“Thank you for the flowers.” I lifted them to my nose and inhaled. They were incredible. Not nearly as good as the blend of the three Alphas in front of me, but lovely all the same.

Cameron stepped a little closer. “I’m glad you like them.”

Finally more at ease, I looked between the three of them. “Why did you want to speak alone?”

“Because this is a little strange for everyone, and it’s not made easier by having an audience. Feels a little like being in a fishbowl.”

I laughed. “You’re not wrong. But this will be good. I can help you, you can help me, and a year will go by fast. You don’t have to worry about me or even see me. I’ll stay out of your way. Promise.”

Something touched my hand, and I looked over to see Everett pulling the flowers out of them and placing them on my uncle’s desk before taking both of my hands in his. My breath went short, and it wasn’t from the corset this time. No, this was entirely from the feeling of being close to him. Which didn’t make any sense. He was gorgeous, and he smelled incredible, but this was a business transaction. I had no illusions about them being attracted to me, despite their flowers speaking of beauty.

“We need this marriage,” he said. “I won’t pretend we don’t. But just because we need it doesn’t mean we don’t want to enjoy it. Or for you to enjoy it.”

My breath shook, but I inhaled fully before I met his gaze. The look in his eyes was filled with… I didn’t know. Something deep and fiery and intense. “I’ll enjoy it. Don’t worry about me. I can be quite content.”

Beside us, Cameron held out a hand to me. I took it, and allowed him to pull me closer, though I was trying not to move too much in the dress. “I would like to touch more than just your hand. Is that all right?”

I nodded, my heart in my throat.

“I need to hear the words, Ocean.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “That’s fine.”

Cameron slid his hands up my arms and behind my shoulders, bringing us together like we were dancing once more. It was dangerous for me to be this close to him, or any of them, because I liked it far too much. And the last thing I needed was to fall in love with three Alphas who were only going to leave me in a year. I was getting out of this marriage with my freedom. Not a broken heart.

I bathed in the sharp scent of lemon and the delicious, swirling sweetness of sugar. Probably a good thing I could barely breathe. If I could, I might grab his suit, shove my face into his chest and do nothing but scent him and the others in a constant loop.

“What Everett is trying to say, and failed,” Cameron said with a grin, “is that while we need this marriage, we also intend for this to be a real marriage. In every sense of the word.”

My mind went blank, and I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. “You want that?”

“We want that.”

I glanced over my shoulder and found Micah and Everett staring at me, both of them with that same smoldering intensity. “You want that with me?”

Something passed over Everett’s face, but Micah was the one stepping forward and turning me toward him. Brushing his knuckles down my cheek and lifting my chin to see me more clearly. “Yes.” His eyes closed, and for a moment he looked pained. “But I understand if that makes you want to change your answer.”

I thought about it. The truth was, I assumed it was purely convenience. That was why it hadn’t mattered. That I was part of the deal because I was there, and that they needed a wife in name and name only. I should tell them no, because allowing these men to treat me like a real wife would only hurt me later.

And yet, not even a month ago I’d scolded Isolde for not allowing her now pack to take her to bed because of her fear of pain later. Now, standing here in the same situation, I was terrified. They were gorgeous, rich, and so far out of my league, it was frankly laughable that they wanted this at all.

I’d told Isolde that she had a choice, and the day I told her, I truly felt like I had none. Laura had done the same thing she always did, making me feel small and worthless, and I let it get to me. But right now, in this moment, I did, finally, have a choice.

And regardless of the pain, I was going to make the selfish choice. The one that would bring me freedom, and however temporarily, three Alphas I could only dream of.

“Ocean?” Micah’s finger still rested beneath my chin, and he looked worried.

I’d been silent too long. “I don’t want to change my mind,” I whispered.

His smile lit up the whole damn room. “I’m glad.” His eyes dropped to my lips, and I swayed toward him. “May I kiss you?”

My stomach dropped through my feet, and now me being lightheaded had nothing to do with my corset. Before I could answer, the door to the office swung open, allowing my aunt and uncle back in, along with a man who I assumed was the DuPont pack’s lawyer.

I tried to step back, but Micah didn’t let me with a hand on my elbow. Even as he straightened, he kept me close. The look on Frank and Laura’s faces—I wished I had a camera. So incredulous it was nearly comical.

“My apologies,” my uncle said, though he couldn’t do it without a sneer. “I do have some questions about the paperwork.”

“I will answer them,” Everett said, stepping around Micah and into me. He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back. “I will see you very soon, Ocean.”

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