Page 46 of Pack Down Bad

Once I stopped being scared, remembering how my dads loved my mom so deeply and lost her.

I’ve yearned for a scent-match like every other omega out there, but I’ve also been afraid of the possibility of falling for anyone that hard. Isn’t that why I started dating Jason in the first place instead of continuing to search for therightmatch? The more you love someone, the harder it is to face the potential of losing them.

And these guys? I could see these guys being really hard to lose.

So maybe they had the right idea, keeping me close under false pretenses for a couple of days. I don’t like it, but I think I understand the logic.

I’m just not sure if the part of me that understands the logic is a rational part, or if that’s my omega brain rationalizing their choice to excuse them faster so we can get back to doing more of what Rhys did for me in the kitchen. Or what Knox and I did in the library.

Percy still deserves a turn, too, right?

I settle against the back of the couch, take a deep breath through my nose, and look from man to man. At their faces, even. Since their bodies are proving to be too distracting.

“There’s a lot to work out,” I say firmly, making sure to look each of them in the eyes. “Alot. And I’m not going to tell you all that everything is magically okay just because you know that lying to me was wrong.”

“Understood.” Knox nods, his mouth set in a grim line.

“From now on, we’ll go at whatever pace you want. You can call the shots,” Rhys offers.

I appreciate the offer, but I think the choice about pace is about to be made for us, if the warming flush of my face is anything to go off of.

“We’ll talk and agree on what comes next... after my heat.”

“After?” Rhys stands up straighter. “You’re serious about staying during this?”

“Yes, I’m staying, like I told Mia. I want–“ My voice breaks, and I swallow and try again. “I want to ride this out with the three of you.”

My body is already thrumming with need. A craving that I want satisfied sooner rather than later. Rhys gave me a taste, and now I need more. I need help to ease the ache between my legs.

“But after,” I force out,” We talk. We sort this out with no more lies or secrets.”

“No more,” Knox agrees with a terse nod.

“No more,” Percy echoes with a softer edge.

Rhys kneels at my feet and bows his head to me. “No more.”

I lace my fingers behind my head and let myself outright admire them in all their glory, now we’ve come to a temporary truce for the sake of surviving my heat together. They’re so hot. All three of them. I check them out so thoroughly I’m nearly panting before I speak again.

I jut my chin out and smile as I ask them in a needy, breathless voice, “So, what now?”

ChapterTwenty-Four

Belle

Knox only hesitates a moment before offering me a hand to help me up from the couch. I place my palm on his and let him tug me to him. He places a sweet kiss on my forehead.

"There's something we should show you," he says, his voice low and gentle. He glances at the other guys for confirmation before adding, "We've been waiting to show you this since the moment we caught a sniff of you."

Rhys and Percy both nod in earnest agreement.

There's something careful in their energy toward me, more cautious. The past few days have felt like something out of a dream, and even now that I know the truth, the feeling doesn't just evaporate. The dream only feels more real and more grounded than yesterday.

I meet their steady expressions with my own, secure in my decision to move forward with them. My heat is coming soon, and I'm committed to being here with them through it. And not just out of necessity, otherwise asking Mia to take me to a clinic could have sufficed.

No, Iwantto be here with them. With them. This feels like a choice worth leaning into.

"Okay," I tell Knox, "Lead the way."

---