Page 130 of Storm
I take a deep breath, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "I want to help Fox too, if he'll let me. As for my heat..." I straighten my shoulders, meeting Jonathan's gaze directly. "I want everyone to be involved, if they want to be. All of you."
The scents in the room shift, a subtle tension rising as the alphas register my statement.
"Who would you allow to touch you during your heat?" Jonathan asks, his voice rougher than before.
"Everyone," I repeat, making sure there's no room for misunderstanding. "Rook, Reed, Alexander, Frankie, Fox and you, Jonathan. Everyone here is pack now. Everyone here is someone I trust."
And trust is something I don’t give to many. But here in this room. I trust them all.
Jonathan nods, then turns to Fox. "And you, Fox? Who would you be comfortable with?"
Fox hesitates, a shadow passing over his face. "Alex and Jonathan," he says softly, then adds, "And Reed and Storm.For now."
"Just me, Alexander, Reed and Storm," Jonathan clarifies, his tone leaving no room for argument from anyone. "If something changes and Fox chooses someone else during heat, I will be the one to make that call. Is that understood?"
Frankie and Rook both nod, neither showing any sign of taking offense at the exclusion. They understand, as we all do, what Fox has been through and why his boundaries are important.
"Good," Jonathan continues. "Now, there's something else you all need to be aware of. Given how long Storm has been on suppressants, and the synchronized nature of these heats, we're likely looking at an unusually intense heat.”
"Frankie," Jonathan says, turning to my beta, who's been quiet throughout much of this conversation. "You're an official member of this pack now, and your role will be crucial. We'll need you to manage practical concerns—food, water, whatever else is needed. Are you comfortable with that as well as being part of the heat?"
Frankie straightens, a quiet determination in his eyes. "Of course. I'll take care of everything. That’s what a pack beta does."
"Consent remains paramount, regardless of heat. If any of you want to arrange something specific between yourselves before the heats begin, please inform me. Communication is essential."
He pauses, making sure everyone understands the importance of his words before moving on. "One final point," Jonathan says, bringing the focus back to him. "We need to talk about bonding claims. Both Storm and Fox are not claimed. I will discuss this privately with each omega."
The meeting concludes with a few more practical details, supplies that need to be gathered and more nesting supplies. As everyone begins to leave, Jonathan catches my eye. "Storm."
The others file out and Rook presses a quick kiss to my temple before leaving me alone with Jonathan. His green eyes watch me intently as I approach, his scent deepening in a way that makes my pulse quicken.
"Yes, Alpha?" I ask, deliberately provocative, enjoying the way his eyes darken at the designation I so rarely use with him.
"Sit," he says, gesturing to the space beside him on the couch.
Instead, I move directly to him and drop myself into his lap, enjoying the momentary surprise that flickers across his usually controlled features. "Like this?" I ask innocently.
Jonathan's hands come to rest on my hips, steadying me. "You're playing with fire, Little Omega," he warns, though there's no real scorn in his tone.
"Maybe I like getting burned," I counter, shifting slightly in his lap. "Besides, you're the one who wanted to talk."
His thumbs trace small circles against my hip bones, the simple touch sending ripples of sensation through my heat-sensitized skin.
"I wanted to make sure you know what you're in for," he says, his voice lower now, more intimate. "During your heat, the urge to be claimed and bonded will be overwhelming. I need you to tell me now, while you're clearheaded, who you'd want for that bond, if anyone. This way, I can control the situation when the time comes." His eyes hold mine, sincere and protective.
"I'm speaking with you privately so you don't feel any pressure to include everyone in your answer."
"Everyone," I say without hesitation, my voice steady despite the weight of what I'm declaring.
Jonathan's eyes narrow slightly. "Everyone? Do you understand what it means to be bonded to an alpha? It's permanent, Storm. Once that claiming bite is made, there's no going back."
The seriousness in his voice makes me pause. I reach up, tracing the sharp line of his jaw with my fingertips. "Are you trying to warn me off? Don't want to be stuck with a troublesome omega like me?"
His hand catches mine, holding it against his cheek. "That's not what I'm saying, and you know it." His green eyes search mine, unexpectedly vulnerable. "I'm trying to make sure you know what you're getting into. That whatever choice you make is fully yours."
Something warm unfurls in my chest at his words. For all his controlling tendencies, all his alpha posturing, Jonathan Kingsley is giving me a choice, ensuring I have one, even when biology might try to take it away.
"I know what I want," I tell him, leaning closer until our foreheads touch. "I want this pack. I want all of you."
