Page 123 of Broken Bonds

My breath hitches at the sincerity in his voice and the raw truth of his statement shining out of his eyes. My heart feels like it’s going to climb out of my throat and throw itself at him as tears fill my eyes.

Gods. Haven’t I done enough fucking crying over the last year?

Apparently not.

“You love me?”

“Since the moment I laid eyes on you, which might make me a piece of shit. But I couldn’t help it. Even grieving, you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”

I cup his cheeks, digging deep inside of myself, as I look up at him.

I might not have wanted it. Might not have been looking for it, but love found me anyway.

Forde is my unwavering support system and I know I can rely on him no matter what happens. I can always count on him to provide a supportive shoulder to cry on or to lend a listening ear when I need to express my feelings, even if that means venting through screams and tears. He’s my friend first, lover second.

And isn’t that how the best relationships are forged?

He gives me butterflies and makes my heart flutter.

Is it love?

The deeper I dig inside of myself, the more answers I find.

“I love you, too, Alpha,” I tell him softly, and I know it’s true.

With his meticulous care, a new love is steadily growing and strengthening between us. One day, it’ll be all-consuming, but for right now, this is perfect.

Standing under the spray of the water, Forde’s arms wrapped around me, his words playing on repeat in my head, I’m content.

Happy.

Loved.

* * *

Forde washed my hair for me in the shower, and in return, I washed his body. We didn’t do anything more than touch each other lightly and kiss, and yet my body still burns for him. When we got out, he carefully dried my body and then helped me get dressed, eyes never leaving mine.

Once we were all dressed and ready to leave for the hospital, I was left with a warmth that spread all throughout my body and a tingling sensation on my skin. I suspect he knew exactly what he was doing to me, and damn him for getting me all worked up when there’snothingI can do about it.

At the hospital, I walk faster than the alphas to the elevators and down the hallway to the NICU, excited to see my little ones. The nurses all smile at me when I walk in, and I go straight to the back.

“Just in time, mama. These little ones were getting hungry,” one of the day nurses, Casey, says with a chuckle.

I hold my hands out, and he passes Fisher over to me. I immediately kiss his nose and begin cooing at him as I walk over to the nearby chair and sit.

Link, Rion, and Forde walk in as I’m getting comfortable in the chair, content smiles on their faces as they head for the other two babies. Link brings me the breastfeeding pillow I got to make things a little easier, and I smile up at him as I put it around me and get Fisher in a comfortable position.

“Good morning, my little angel. Oh, I missed you,” I whisper to the tiny baby as he roots around my chest, searching for sustenance.

I quickly lift my shirt and put him to my breast, tickling his cheek with my finger once he latches. Forde brings me Dawson next, and I work on getting him to latch as well, while Rion takes a seat in the chair next to me with Birdie in his arms and a bottle in his hand.

With both boys latched and Birdie comfortably nestled in Rion’s arm, looking like a miniature doll in the big alpha’s hold, Link and Forde find seats and join us.

Anyone looking in would see a family with their brand new babies, and that thought brings a smile to my lips. Because they are my family now.

These three alphas that I never asked for, who inserted themselves in my life, determined to see me live and love, have given me a family again, and for that, I will always be grateful to them.

* * *

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