Page 3 of The Flavor of Us

“Tati…” she starts, but I shake my head, cutting her off.

“I mean it, Carleen. All of it.”

Her smile grows, the silence stretching between us finally comfortable. I feel like we’ve taken a huge leap forward, my Alpha staring at me, knowing that I want all of her just as she is. Carleen squeezes my hands before glancing at Ellie’s door again and then looking back at me.

“Can I ask you something?” I should keep my mouth shut and be happy with the small win but I justcan’t. Maybe it’s instincts. Maybe it’s love. Hell, I don’t know.

She raises an eyebrow, still smiling. “What?”

“Is a kiss okay?” My voice is soft, teasing, but there’s a real question behind it. I don’t want to push her, not even a little.

Carleen’s eyes widen slightly, and for a second, I’m sure I’ve ruined the moment. But then she nods, her lips curving into a smirk that’s all Carleen—confident, sure of herself, and yet somehow sweeter than I’ve ever seen her. “Yeah. A kiss is okay.”

I don’t waste a second. I lean in slowly, giving her plenty of time to change her mind, but she doesn’t pull away. Our lipsmeet softly, gently, and it’s like the world stops spinning for just a moment. It’s not rushed or desperate—it’s sweet, careful, full of everything we’re too scared to say out loud yet.

Goddess, I’ve missed her.

Chapter two

CARLEEN

The waiting room is too quiet. Hospitals always have that weird sterile hush about them, like everyone’s holding their breath. But this silence feels different—thicker, heavier. Like it’s pressing down on my chest every second we don’t get an update.

It’s been hours. Long, torturous hours of waiting. My phone sits heavy in my hand, the screen smudged from how many times I’ve unlocked it and refreshed my messages. Nothing. No updates. No calls. My little sister is in there, bringingthreelives into the world, and I can’t do a damn thing to help her.

But right now, there’s a weight on my side that’s keeping me grounded. Tati.

She’s curled up against me, her head resting on my shoulder, her breaths slow and even as she sleeps. I glance down, taking in the way her sharp features soften when she’s resting. Her dark lashes cast faint shadows over her cheeks, and her lips—plump and slightly parted—look softer without her usual sharp-tongued smirk.

I can’t stop myself from reaching out, my fingertips lightly tracing the faint freckles across her nose. They’re so delicate, scattered like stars over skin I’ve wanted to touch more times than I can count. Her hair, those dark green highlights catching faintly in the awful fluorescent lighting, falls across her face, and I gently tuck a strand behind her ear.

Goddess, she’s beautiful.

She always has been, but seeing her like this—peaceful, vulnerable—it hits me in a way I’m not ready for.

I think back to those nights months ago, back when Ellie had moved out, and Tati would still find herself crashing at my place. Nights where she’d fall asleep on my couch, hair spread out like a halo, her laughter still echoing in the quiet house. And I’d sit there, clutching the edge of the armrest, fighting every instinct to reach out, tostay. But instead, I’d get up, grab a blanket, and quietly leave the room because I wasterrified.

Terrified of what would happen if I let myself fall. If I let myselfloveher the way I wanted to.

Because what if I couldn’t give her what she wanted? What if I wasn’t enough? What if she wanted all the things an Alpha is supposed to give—things I can’t justfake?

But looking at her now, curled against me, her warmth seeping into my side like an anchor in a storm, all those doubts feel… smaller. Quieter.

When she first brought up the scent match—when she confessed that we,me and her, could be somethingreal—I panicked. I pushed her away. I pulled back so hard it felt like whiplash and she left. And goddess, it hurt. Watching her walk away, feeling her absence like a hole carved into my chest. But now she’s back and I’m done running.

I’m ready.

Ellie’s door slides open, her Alpha leaning out into the waiting room. Macon looks dead on his feet but his smile couldn’t be brighter as he nods to me, silently telling me that the babies are here. His gaze darts to Tati, his brow raising in jest but I just wave him off. He disappears back into the room as I lean down, pressing a firm kiss to Tati’s forehead, lingering just a second longer than necessary. Her skin is warm beneath my lips and she stirs slightly but doesn’t wake up.

“Tati,” I whisper softly. “Wake up, sunshine.”

She stirs again, lashes fluttering as hazel eyes blink open and focus on me. “Carleen?” Her voice is thick with sleep, her brows furrowing as she glances around. “What—”

“They’re here,” I say gently, giving her arm a small squeeze. “The babies are here.”

It takes a second, but then her face lights up, her exhaustion melting away as excitement floods her expression. She straightens up so fast I almost laugh, her hand gripping mine tightly as we stand together.

“Let’s go meet them,” she says and I nod, guiding her toward Ellie’s hospital room.

---