Page 44 of Bound By Alphas 1: Bound

Logan stalked to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He paced the length of his military-precise quarters, trying to burn off the excess energy thrumming through his system. The image of Finn—naked, vulnerable, perfect—was seared into his memory. The absence of body hair had shocked him at first, then sent a wave of possessive desire through him. Finn looked so delicate, so unlike others, so… perfect for them.

“Fuck,” he growled, slamming his fist into the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. The pain barely registered.

He needed to calm down. Needed to regain control. They’d agreed to take things slowly, to give Finn time to adjust to the idea of being their mate. Jumping him in his bedroom after seeing him naked was definitely not part of the plan.

Logan stripped off his shirt, dropping to the floor for a series of punishing push-ups. Physical exertion had always helped clear his mind, and right now his mind needed all the clearing it could get.

By the time he’d completed three hundred push-ups, his arms burning and sweat dripping onto the hardwood floor, his body had finally calmed enough to face the others. He showered quickly, changing into comfortable clothes before heading to the kitchen to make popcorn for the movie night.

You’ve been gone a while, Cade observed through their bond.Everything under control?

As much as it can be, Logan replied tersely.Where is he?

Still in his room.

Logan nodded to himself, focusing on the simple task of making popcorn. The normality of it helped ground him, pulling him back from the edge he’d been teetering on since seeing Finn naked.

When he entered the living room with the bowl of popcorn, Drew had already claimed the main sofa with his usual disregard for spatial courtesy, sprawled across it like he owned the entire piece of furniture. Cade sat at one end of the sectional, looking far too composed for someone who had witnessed their mate naked through a pack bond.

From his position near the doorway, Logan watched as Finn appeared a few minutes later, dressed in sleep shorts that showcased legs that should be illegal and an oversized t-shirt that slipped off one shoulder. His fox ears twitched adorably as he surveyed the room, looking for a place to sit.

“Where am I supposed to sit?” he demanded, hands on hips in a pose that was probably meant to be intimidating but just made him look like an irritated kitten. “The floor?”

“There’s room here,” Cade said, patting the space beside him with a casualness that Logan knew was entirely feigned.

Logan watched the exchange between Finn and Drew about “leg day,” admiring the way Finn’s tail swished with annoyance. Even irritated, he was beautiful.

Logan moved to sit on Finn’s other side, effectively boxing him in between himself and Cade. He felt Finn tense slightly at his proximity, no doubt remembering their encounter in the bedroom.

Keir was the last to arrive, dropping gracefully into the armchair and immediately having to negotiate with Pixel for space. “Who’s ready for some multiversal madness?” he asked aloud, while sending a different message through the bond.

He’s nervous, Keir observed.Still thinking about what happened in his room.

Can you blame him?Cade replied, his mental tone carefully neutral.Logan practically eye-fucked him, then told him they were ‘just brothers.’

Not helping, Logan growled.

The next three hours were a special kind of torture. Finn started out tense and distant but gradually relaxed as the movie progressed. His legs stretched out across Logan’s lap, his tail no longer tightly wound but draped loosely over his thighs.

Don’t move, Cade cautioned when Logan tensed at the contact.Let him come to us.

Easy for Cade to say. He wasn’t the one with Finn’s legs draped across his lap, the warmth of him seeping through thin fabric, the scent of him filling Logan’s lungs with every breath.

Logan’s hand settled on Finn’s ankle, his thumb tracing small circles against soft skin. He felt Finn’s momentary tension, followed by a gradual relaxation that sent a surge of satisfaction through his wolf.

Careful, Keir warned, though his mental tone held more envy than censure.Don’t push too far.

I’m not pushing, Logan defended.Just… maintaining contact.

By the third movie, Finn was fighting to keep his eyes open, his head nodding forward before jerking back up in a valiant but doomed battle against sleep. Cade, with a casualness that fooled no one, shifted position slightly, creating a perfect space for Finn to lean against him.

For a moment, it seemed like Finn might resist. Then, with a small sigh that sounded like surrender, he let his head drop against Cade’s chest.

The wave of possessive satisfaction that rolled through their bond was unanimous. Their mate, nestled safely between them, trusting them enough to fall asleep in their presence. It was a small victory, but one their wolves celebrated with primitive joy.

He fits perfectly, Keir observed, his internal voice soft with wonder as Finn nuzzled closer to Cade, fox ears twitching contentedly in sleep.

He always has, Cade agreed, his arm coming up to wrap loosely around Finn’s shoulders, holding him secure.

---