Page 44 of Make Me

“Fuck!” Cody growled, as one of her hands cupped his balls. “I’ll make you pay for that later,” he gasped out at Zack, but the threat lost its sting when he bucked his hips.

Zack changed the angles of his thrusts, slowing them down but drawing them out as he slowly moved over that spot inside her that drove her wild. Bethany groaned around Cody and bucked her hips, but Zack didn’t change his pace. He was enjoying watching both of his soul flames get closer to the edge.

“Fuck, hellcat, I’m going to come,” Cody loosened his grip, but Bethany swallowed him deep.

A groan ripped from Cody’s chest, and Zack nearly came at the sound. By the Realm, that was as sexy as he remembered.

When Bethany lifted her mouth off Cody, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk. Before she could say a snappy retort, Zack snapped his hips into hers, and a soft cry escaped her lips. He slid his hand up her chest, bringing her back until she rested against his chest as he drove into her. He dropped his other hand to her clit and pressed small circles around it.

“Come for us,” he whispered into her ear. “Come for both of us, now.”

At his soft command, Bethany clenched hard around him and then cried out as her orgasm surged through her. Zack groaned and thrust up into her three times before letting her pull him over the edge. She shook in his arms, barely noticing Cody get up and duck into the bathroom.

Zack slowly lowered them to the bed, sliding out of Bethany with a quiet moan. Cody returned with a warm washcloth and wiped them all off before tucking them into bed. His wolf still glowed brightly in his eyes, and Zack bet the alpha wolf was nesting hard right now. Cody slid next to Bethany, his hand coming across and gripping Zack’s hip like he was scared he would disappear. Tears pricked the corner of Zack’s eyes as an overwhelming feeling of rightness flooded through him. This wasn’t just a purely physical relationship for them, and they would prove that to her. Bethany’s head lay on his chest, her eyes closed as she fell into a light sleep. Cody leaned over and brushed his thumb under Zack’s eyes before pressing a gentle kiss to his temple.

Regardless of what the Realm was about to throw at them, Zack was determined that it wouldn’t tear the three of them apart. Once the dust settled, they would figure out where to go from here, but wherever it was, they would be together, even if Zack had to burn the Realm down and rebuild it from the ashes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

BETHANY

Age 21

Early fall in the shifter/Elven forest

Cody’s hand cradled her elbow as she scrambled over a root, and Bethany bit back a growl. All morning long, all three men had found every reason to touch her. Bethany’s lioness was in heaven and hell, and human Bethany’s brain was spinning.

They had been hiking through the forest for a few hours now. Although hiking was a light term. They were practically jogging through the forest to close the distance between them and the prisoner group. Up ahead, Zack moved easily next to Mylo, who led their group. Zack had been explaining the events of the last few months in detail, and Mylo listened intently, asking a few questions but mainly taking the information in.

Cody had been traveling next to Bethany but didn’t attempt conversation. On one hand, it was odd because usually they would be picking at each other and riling each other up, but on the other hand, Bethany was grateful for the quiet to try to process the last twenty-four hours.

When she’d woken up in Cody’s arms this morning, she had never felt so content or peaceful. But then reality had kicked in. Even though they’d had these big revelations yesterday, the reality was still the same. Bethany wasn’t sure that just accepting they were all mates was enough. Not when their parents had gone to such great lengths to make sure they never let each other know. Cody’s dad had actually given him an Alpha Command, a command that was usually reserved for important things that protected the pack. Well, he was protecting the pack. From her. She couldn’t put all the blame on Alpha Bryson, though, because her mom had reacted the same way. It didn’t bode well for them ever getting their parents’ blessing.

And, sure, they could leave the pack and pride, but they were both heirs of their groups. If they left, what would that do to the pack and pride? Both groups needed stability now, especially with all the changes in the Realm. And Bethany might be ready to wash her hands of the pride, but the pack would thrive under Cody’s leadership. And what would happen if Cody’s dad gave his blessing and her mom didn’t? It wasn’t like she could go be the pack’s Luna. The alliance between the groups was already tentative, but there was no way the pack would accept that. Or hell, even the pride, for that matter.

But they couldn’t put the genie back in the bottle. Now that it was all out in the open, the guys would want to discuss where it went from here, and Bethany didn’t have an answer. But she let herself daydream for a few moments, remembering Claire’s words before they left. The Realm was changing. Maybe it would all work out and they could merge the groups together or build a house in the neutral grounds. She shook her head. It was a nice fantasy, but it was a fantasy.

“Are you okay?” Cody’s question nearly had her stumbling, but she caught herself.

“I’m fine.”

Cody frowned. “You’re not fine. And we need to talk about it eventually.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Bethany strode ahead of him, ignoring his frustrated growl.

He was right, they would need to talk eventually, but she was going to avoid the conversation as long as possible. Her stomach rumbled. Although breakfast had been delicious, she hadn’t been able to eat a lot.

“Let’s stop for lunch,” Cody called up to Zack and Mylo.

Bethany rolled her eyes. She could walk and eat at the same time. Cody probably just wanted an excuse for the four of them to talk. Or he was coddling her now that it was out in the open that they were mates. She wasn’t sure what was worse.

“That’s a good idea,” Zack said. “It’s probably better to stop and rest up a little bit before we confront them. We can’t be more than a few hours behind them now.” That was fair, and her agitation at being treated differently eased.

They swung their packs down and fished around in them. Mylo added some dried meat to their pile, and they snacked on the meat, nuts, and berries.

“You mentioned you had a theory about what they’re going after?” Zack asked Mylo.

Zack’s leg pressed into Bethany’s. She should shuffle away, but Mylo was right on her other side, and any movement would have her pressed against his side. Her cat was purring, but Bethany’s skin felt too tight. It itched, and irritation built under her skin.

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