I feel her walls clench my pulsing cock, and spurt after spurt of seed fills her as my knot swells.

“Ohgod . . .” She moans heedlessly. “Your knot . . . I can’t stop coming . . .”

She trembles in my arms as my knot locks into place, finally allowing her orgasm to recede. Exhaling heartily, she relaxes into the mattress.

I pull us onto our sides where we stay tightly wrapped together, breathing heavily and sated, washed with afterglows.

At some point, Titus must have left because when I glance over, the chair is empty.

I’m glad he was here. I feel like we all needed this.

We’re more than just a pack, we’re family, and Sinclair isallof ours. Sure, in different ways, but still ours.

Which is why it meant so much that they came together to pull me back from the edge.

I know I was spiraling and full of misplaced anger. But I was such a wreck and didn’t know how to handle it. I couldn’t just make a crude joke and laugh it off with a wink like my usual MO.

In fact, before Sin and Titus came in, I was about to go to whatever shitty dive bar was still open this morning and pick a fight with the washed-up drunks from last night. Something,anything, to relieve or outright replace the terrible feeling of uselessness that was eating me up.

I was so furious with the Cyans and felt like no one was as rightfully mad as I was. All I wanted to do was tear them limbfrom limb, but I couldn’t. Because we had a plan, and I didn’t want to fuck that up.

So instead, I just stewed and stewed and made Sinclair unjustly the scapegoat.

“Thank you,” I murmur into her hair. She wraps her legs tighter around my waist and nuzzles into my chest.

Sometime later, we slowly wake up, still entwined but my knot has deflated.3 She mumbles sleepily as I pull out and roll onto my back. She snuggles up to my side and rests her head on my shoulder, her fingers gently trailing across my bare chest.

I sweep her hair off her neck and feel her scar. The burned skin always gives me a mix of emotions. Anger for one, but also pride and awe at her strength. Especially after watching her kill Vincent. Even without knowing the full story, I’ve never been prouder of someone.

Which makes me realize, it’s about fucking time I learned it. “How did you end up at the Doll House?”

She tells me about everything. Her mom, the debt, the Doll House, the collar and brand. When she’s done, I press a tender but deep kiss to her forehead, feeling so much respect and admiration for the woman in my arms.

I realize with amazement and a light chuckle what impresses me the most. “And after all that, you still had enough fight in you to give us hell from day one.”

She huffs a small, wistful laugh. “I don’t know how to live if I’m not fighting.”

That makes me sit up and cup her face. I pour myself into her sky-blue stare. “You’ll learn then. Let us take up that fight for you.”

She worries her lip between her teeth and clears her throat like it’s suddenly clogged with emotion. “Why?” Her voice is quiet, touched, but full of questions, like she still doesn’t understand that she isn’t alone any longer.

I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and make sure she can hear the sincerity in my voice. “That’s what it means to belong to someone. Your battles belong to them too.”

1. Continue playing “Why Don’t You” by Thorgan

2. “Be Your Love” by Bishop Briggs

3. Continue playing “Be Your Love” by Bishop Briggs

Chapter 16

Titus Cerulean is a Hoot

Sinclair

The best view is through a low gap in the hedge, so I’m on my hands and knees on the damp grass looking through it. My alphas are inside the flower garden on the other side. I watch them wait for the Cyans with a fluttering heartbeat.

As if reading my mind, Paisley, crouched next to me, asks in a hushed tone, “Are you nervous?”