Page 117 of Want It All
He pressed his forehead to mine, inhaling shakily. ‘Rose. This is … This is …’
‘No words?’
‘No fucking words.’ He kissed me; I tasted my own blood on his lips. ‘No words other thanI love you, always.’
I stroked his hair, feeling the strength of his emotion even as he said it. ‘There’s more to go yet.’
He grinned. ‘I can’t –’ he faltered as he looked towards our alphas, who had fallen to their knees on the grass.
Forus.
‘I love seeing them like that,’ Sebastian murmured, echoing my sentiments exactly.
We stepped before them; me before Byron, Sebastian before Tristan. We hadn’t talked about it; we’d just known this was how it would be. I ran my fingertip over Byron’s cheek.
He closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. ‘That was so beautiful,’ he murmured. ‘You’re both so beautiful.’
‘Are you ready to be mine, alpha?’ I whispered to him.
He smiled. ‘I’ve been yours since the day you arrived.’
I bent, nuzzling at his scent gland. He tensed; I stroked his skin, soothing. ‘Are you sure?’
He swallowed. ‘I’m sure.’
I pressed one more kiss to his scent gland, then moved my mouth down. His scent gland was Tristan’s to mark; I’d bite him on the collarbone instead, where everyone could see it and know that he was mine.
My teeth sank easily through his skin, and my legs went weak as salted caramel filled my mouth. I clutched at his shoulders; his hands gripped my hips, steadying me.
His light was different to Sebastian’s, shot through with grief and loss and healing. He was so strong, so much stronger than he ever gave himself credit for. His steadiness, his care, and his devotion flooded through me, along with a hefty dose of desire, enough to make me flush with heat.
‘Byron,’ I said under my breath. ‘Our parents are here.’
He chuckled. ‘I’m going to have a lot of fun flustering you in public, beautiful.’
‘That will work both ways, alpha,’ I said tartly.
He gave a rumbling, approving purr. ‘Don’t get distracted, omega. You’ve still got a bite to go.’
Tristan reached out and wrapped an arm around my waist, breaking off a kiss with Sebastian, who looked as flushed and as overwhelmed as I felt. It had seemed like a long wait for all of us, but for them it had been almost seven years coming; Sebastian cupped Tristan’s cheek lovingly, his gaze full of a calm contentment I hadn’t seen on him before. I took Sebastian’s hand and he turned his smile on me, before his eyes fell to Byron.
Tristan looked up at me, blood bright on his neck. It didn’t seem to bother him, in the same way my bite wasn’t even hurting; there were too many feelings swirling around my body to worry about pain, and I was so high on the euphoria I was surprised I didn’t float away.
‘Ready, omega?’ he said quietly.
I twirled one of his curls around my finger. ‘I can’t wait, alpha.’
He held me steady as I bit his collarbone. I shook as his protective love washed over me, through me, chased by admiration, respect, and –oh my word– theheat. We’d been taking things slow in the physical sense, and sometimes I’d wondered if he wanted me the way I wanted him, but the cravingcoming through the bond left me with no illusions. I knew, in that moment, that I would always be safe, always bewanted, and that having Tristan watch my back was no small thing. He would always be modest about what he did for the pack – what he sacrificed for us – but now I’d always know just how much he gave, and just how much he cared. I licked his vanilla blood from his skin, feeling satisfied, feeling complete.
Almost.
Sebastian took my hand and gently pulled me away as Tristan turned to Byron, touching his cheek and turning his gaze.
‘I am the head alpha of this pack,’ Tristan said quietly, ‘but I’ve come to realise over the past few months that a head alpha’s job is not to lead, but to serve. I know we said no vows, but I have one. I vow never to take from you, but always to give. And my first action in keeping that vow is to ask you to forge the prime bond, so you can always ensure I keep that promise.’ He tipped his head to the side and closed his eyes. ‘Bite, Griffiths.’
Byron swallowed, his stormy eyes bright. ‘Grace –’
‘Now, Byron.’
