Page 121 of This Pack of Ours

Jhin plucked him off Vander’s back, and Ez dangled in the air for a second like an excited puppy. Then he stopped and saluted Jhin.

“Congratulations, Grand Lord Alpha, sir.”

Jhin gave him an indulgent smile and placed him back on his feet. I hurried up and slung my arm around Ez, making sure he wasn’t going to fall. Ez turned and winked at Vander.

“So, are you available? Cuz you know I’m a flirt and you’re pretty hot, V?—”

“Keep dreaming,” Vander said, turning toward the door.

“Just kidding,” Ez called. “Unless…?”

Vander’s middle finger returned to wave Ez goodbye.

Ez turned to Jhin, waggling his eyebrows. “Eh, what about you? Want to be my Daddy Jhin?”

“Ezra, I’m going to assume you’re still slightly delirious,” Jhin said, arching an eyebrow, “and pretend you didn’t say that.”

“I dunno dude,” Ez said with a yawn. “It’s got a nice ring to it.”

Surprisingly, Jhin stepped forward and pulled Ez into a tight hug.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to Ez’s head.

“God, you’re such a sap,” Ez protested, pushing him away, but he looked very pleased.

“He didn’t ban Daddy Jhin, though,” Ez added to us in a whisper when Jhin was out of earshot. “I think he’s low-key into it.”

It was past midnight when we finally made it home, and we all piled into the nest together.

I laid there, surrounded by them, wondering if I could die from being happy. It was like every frayed thread that had been ripped apart was whole again. I was here, in our nest, and all of our scents were woven together.

Kit’s hand found me in the dark, curling into mine and I moved closer so that our foreheads were touching.

“I thought I’d lost you,” I whispered to him.

“Me too,” he said back. “I came back here and broke up with them. If it wasn’t for Vander… I wouldn’t have come after you.”

“Fucking Vander,” I said. “That’s the second time he’s saved me from psycho alphas.”

“May it be the last,” came Vander’s muffled voice, and I was smacked with a pillow. “Now can it, lovebirds. We’re trying to sleep.”

Me and Kit dissolved into giggles.

VANDER

I shifted over to find Jhin sitting on the edge of the bed, awake. His tousled hair was hanging in front of his face, and he was looking over his shoulder at us sleeping in the nest, a gentle smile tugging on his lips. My eyes trailed down the lean muscles of his back, the sculpted expanse of pale skin, my gaze roaming over his body.

The usual stirrings of arousal fluttered within me, but this morning, I didn’t have to hide them. His deep, black eyes flicked to me, and I felt my breath catch as he took me in, coolly arching an eyebrow. I could feel him too, responding in the bond, a flicker of amusement coupled with steadily growing lust.

Slowly, as to not disturb anyone else, I crawled to him and rested my head on his lap, looking up to meet his dark gaze. I breathed in his blackberry and sage, and watched his eyes flash as I nudged his morning wood with my cheek.

“Very well,” he said, but caught my head for a second, a small frown on his face. “But you must not wake the others.”

Fuck, his steely voice sent a shudder through me, my skin prickling.

I slipped off the bed in front of him, my hands coming to rest on his thighs. He leaned back slightly, the firm muscles of his abs tensing, his expression expectant. I was kneeling for him, letting myself be completely stripped down because I knew he had me.

For a moment, I could only stare at him. I didn’t fully believe this was real, that I was here, that Jhin was giving me a single, sharp nod of his head to allow me to start.

---