Page 157 of Lavender and Honey

“Good girl” Finn muttered as I let him go, and I could feel Soren shifting me, knowing I had one more bite to do.

Soren tilted his head, exposing his neck to me with a vulnerability I'd never seen from him before, the angle was a bit awkward but I didn’t mind as I looked at the Alpha with a dazed look.

"Your turn, lavender girl," he murmured, his voice unusually gentle. I didn't hesitate, instinct driving me as I sank my teeth into his skin, marking him as mine just as he had marked me. The taste of his blood was copper-sweet on my tongue, the sensation of claiming him sending another ripple of pleasure through my oversensitized body.

When I finally released him, licking the mark clean as they had done for me, I collapsed between them, utterly spent. Four marks throbbed on my neck—Lucian's powerful claim, Elias's gentle bond, Soren's playful possession, and Finn's steady devotion—each distinct yet harmonizing perfectly, binding me to my pack in ways I was only beginning to understand.

Chapter Eighty-Five

It had been three days since the intense heat had subsided, and I had spent two days recuperating and sleeping deeply as my body rejuvenated and the bond solidified. Today marked my first venture out of the comforting cocoon, and I was ready to begin unpacking my belongings. The others had taken the initiative to retrieve my things and had spoken with my landlord to ensure everything was in order.

I was officially living with them now—my pack. A warm smile spread across my face as I surveyed the room that was now 'mine,' a space where I could express my own style and preferences. Although I would continue to sleep in the communal pack room, I relished the idea of having my own sanctuary, just as each member of the pack had, a personal retreat when solitude was desired.

I pause in the doorway of my new space, still taking in the reality that this is mine. The room is beautiful in its emptiness—tall windows letting in streams of morning light, pale blue wallsthat remind me of dawn skies, hardwood floors that gleam with care. My boxes are stacked neatly in the center, waiting for me to transform this space into something that's truly my own.

"What do you think?"

I turn to find Elias watching me from the hallway, his expression warm and curious. There's something different about him now—about all of them—since the marking. A steadiness, a certainty that wasn't there before. Or maybe it's me who's different.

"It's perfect," I say, meaning it. "I never thought I'd have something like this."

He steps closer, his hand finding mine with easy familiarity. The touch sends a pleasant warmth through me.

"Like what?" Elias asks, his thumb tracing circles on my palm.

I gesture around the room, then to him, trying to encompass everything in one movement. "This. A pack. A home that feels right. People who..." I trail off, still finding it difficult to articulate the depth of what I've found here.

"People who love you," he finishes for me, his hazel eyes soft with understanding.

I nod, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. The marks on my neck pulse with a pleasant warmth, as if responding to his proximity. In the three days since my heat subsided, I've discovered that each mark has its own distinct sensation—Lucian's throbs with steady strength, Elias's radiates gentle warmth, Soren's tingles with playful energy, and Finn's pulses with calm reassurance.

"It's still hard to believe sometimes," I admit, leaning into his touch. "That this is real. That I get to have this."

Elias smiles, pulling me closer until I'm nestled against his chest. "Believe it," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "You're stuck with us now."

I laugh at this, “I don’t think I mind too much.”

Elias smiles, wrapping his arms around me. "Good, because those marks are permanent."

I lean against him, still marveling at how easily my body fits with his, with all of them. The connection between us feels both brand new and ancient, as if some part of me has always known them.

"Need any help unpacking?" he asks, glancing at the boxes stacked neatly in the center of the room.

"Actually..." I hesitate, then decide to be honest. "I think I'd like to do this part myself. To really make it mine, you know?"

Understanding flashes in his eyes. "Of course." He presses a kiss to my forehead. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Lucian's working from home today, Finn's in his workshop, and Soren..." He pauses, a smile quirking his lips. "Well, Soren said something about a surprise, so be prepared for anything."

"That's mildly terrifying," I laugh, though warmth spreads through me at the thought of Soren's unpredictable nature.

I laugh, feeling a flutter of anticipation at what Soren might be planning. "With Soren, I'm learning to expect the unexpected."

Elias grins, squeezing my hand once more before releasing it. "Smart woman. I'll leave you to it, then."

As he turns to go, I feel a sudden urge to keep him close, just a moment longer. "Elias?"

He pauses, looking back at me with raised eyebrows.

"Thank you," I say, meaning it for more than just the room. "For everything."

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