Page 10 of Absolute Devotion

“How could you—”

“That investigation I’m part of has a few members that all smelled like you. You kind of smell like them too. If you were mated, you would have never looked at me twice but you’re all of ours, aren’t you?”

I clear my throat and sit up straighter, frowning at the man I once dreamt of spending a forever with. “You’re on the POCA task force?” I don’t believe in coincidences and all of my mates on the same force feels odd. It also feels safe. Montgomery nods, searching my expression for answers. “Michael was after my brother-in-law. And me at some point.” A growl bellows from Montgomery, the vibrations rumbling through me.

My first thought is to take off until I realize he’s not angry at me. Instead, I lean into him, pushing away my fear and try to soothe his rage. A strange sound falls from my lips, a soft vibration that has Montgomery pausing. It takes me a few minutes to realize that I’m purring for him.

“Alpha?”

I called Zahria that earlier as well but it feels right. These four are mine.

“I’m not angry with you, Nala. I’m angry that I couldn’t keep you safe, that you still suffered. I hate that you had to endure so much on your own, that you thought youhad toendure that on your own.” A smile creeps onto his lips as his fingers gripping my waist spread out, the tips brushing the edge of my bra.

I gasp, my back arching slightly as I clamp my thighs together, not wanting another heat spike to hit me so soon. The closer they come, the sooner my heat will, and I’m not ready. “Alpha, I—”

He raises an eyebrow, even as he removes his hand. “Nala, you tell me what you need.” When I try to slip off his lap, he tugs me back. “That worked six months ago, princess but not now. I need your words. I need you to tell me what’s too much and what’s not enough. What do you need right now?”

I don’t want to speak. I just want him to figure it out as I wordlessly point and whimper for things, as stupid as that sounds. But Montgomery wants me to flourish; he always has. “Just right here. And my hot chocolate.”

He chuckles, reaching for the mug and placing it back in my hands again.

“You stay too. I like being here. It’s safe.”

“Then why did you leave, Nala?”

“Because I thought things would change.”

“If you’re talking about your scent, I loved being drenched in it. My apartment smelled like you for days. It was all I could think of. It’s all I wanted. It’s all Istillwant.”

“Even with them?”

“Even if it means I have to share you, Nala.”

“You put extra marshmallows in here.” I told him one time the perfect hot chocolate to marshmallow ratio. In the end, it’s mostly a chocolatey marshmallow drink.

“I would never forget something that important.”

eight

NALA

The unfamiliar smell of bacon and eggs reaches my nose, drawing me out of the unconscious state I fell into. Montgomery’s scent coats everything in this room, the bed I’m tucked into not the same place I fell asleep last night. I slowly sit up and rub my eyes, mildly confused at the low light filtering through the shades. There were no more nightmares, no suddenly waking up—nothing.

The few times I’ve slept beside Zahria and Xylo, it’s been peaceful as well. It’s a new normal I would love to adopt. I twist around to see Montgomery’s indent in the mattress, a messy handwritten letter on a yellow sticky waiting for me.

Didn’t want to wake you, princess. Come get some breakfast when you’re ready.

My stomach chooses that moment to grumble, Montgomery’s extra care drawing me out of bed. I snatch one of his shirts off the floor and throw it over my head, covering myself upmore than I had been last night. It isn’t until I make it down the hallway that I hear Zahria’s muffled laughter and Xylo’s unamused grunt.

They’re all here?

They haven’t noticed me yet, all bent around the kitchen island in various states of frumpy attire. Bear doesn’t look like he slept at all, his long hair wild around his shoulders. Xylo looks nearly as rough and Zahria just looks worried. If I hadn’t just heard her laugh, I’d think it was her permanent expression where I was concerned. Montgomery is clearly intrigued by whatever they’re focused on, but his gaze darting to the hallway tells me that he’s caught me lurking.

The mixture of their scents and their presence has my entire body on fire, a whimper falling from my lips before I can stop it. I slap a hand over my mouth as the movement in the kitchen stops, all four of them straightening up and turning to face me.

My body reacts, slick gathering between my legs, my heartbeat quickening until I’m gasping for air. Confusion flits through my expression as I glance between the four of them, unsure if they’re going to charge as my scent explodes through the room. Montgomery moves swiftly toward me, blocking out everything else except his calming scent.

I stuff my face into his chest, hating the way I react every time I’m around my own mates.

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