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Story: Ember

“Do you have ‘One Last Ride’?” I looked at Rian and Ben. “Something fun?”

“Of course I do, my love,” Ben said, scrolling through his laptop. He handed me a headset, stealing a kiss, and Rian showed me how to adjust the sound. It was weird, hearing the track of the song in my ears, but it did help me focus.

The song started up and I started singing. Rian and I had sung it before at the house, so we fell into the roles naturally.

Kinsey’s voice was a great offset to Rian’s, and I almost missed a few cues because I was listening to them. I picked the next one, a slower acoustic song that matched Rian’s smoky voice with Kinsey’s deeper baritone. We blended together and it was amazing.

I was outside myself, living in the lyrics, and I could see how people made their entire lives around this one feeling.

Rian gave me a sly look. “What about ‘Roses and Ruins’?”

Kinsey whistled. “Throwing down the big guns. I can sit this one out.”

“Nope.” Rian shook his head. “Like we just did with ‘Walking Away.’”

I prepped myself, wondering if I should just sing during the chorus. Rian started the song, the opening I knew so well.

I couldn’t help it; I gripped his forearm. For a moment, I was back in the hospital, it was three in the morning, and I was listening to the same three songs on repeat. The hospital bed wasn’t comfortable, and grief was so big inside me it threatened to swallow me whole, but ‘Roses and Ruins’ gave me an outlet, a place to climb into when being inside myself was too much.

I knew the next line was mine and sang. My voice was a little husky, and I could feel tears in the corners of my eyes, but Rian’s hand was right there, his sweet amber scent around me, Ben’s spicy woods covering me from his constant need to scent mark me.

I sang with my entire heart, my voice breaking a bit, and Kinsey picked up the chorus with Rian, and I hummed along. Istopped worrying about it being the right timing, and just sang, wishing I know how Rian and Ben must be feeling each other right now. The thought terrified me, but my omega instincts knew they were mine. Mine, mine, mine, and I wanted to be bonded to them the same way I flew away into a song.

It was like being outside myself but, somehow, more whole.

We finished the song together. Rian dragged me over to the bench with Ben and smushed me between them.

“You did great.” Rian kissed my temple.

“I’m going to bring us some water,” Kinsey said.

I put my chin on Ben’s shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around me. Rian pressed into my other side, and I laughed. “I’d thought that Rian would be more emotional than me during that song.”

Rian took my hand gently. “I am, but not the same way. I love hearing you sing my music. It helps me see the other parts of the song. Come out of my own head and let it be something new.”

I let them comfort me. “I’m not sad, not really. It’s just…cathartic.”

“Of course it is.”

“I love you.” Ben squeezed me against him. “Having you around makes everything feel more whole.”

“Yes, like more of myself.” I nodded. “I want to be bonded.”

Rian grinned, and Ben blinked in surprise.

“I know it’s sudden,” I started. Ben pulled me into a scorching hot kiss. It stole any insecure thoughts away, and for a moment it was just Ben, until Rian kissed me, and then it was the three of us.

We pulled away, gasping.

“Thank heavens,” Rian said. “I was going to be begging for it during my heat, but I wanted you to be comfortable first.”

I laughed. “I’m going to talk to West and Alejandro but…” I paused. “Would it be too much to be bonded by both of you atthe same time?” I squeezed Ben’s hand. “Would you prefer to be alone or…I don’t know how…”

Ben pressed his cheek against mine. “Alejandro is the perfect alpha. I can’t picture life without him, Ember. If you want us all there together, that feels right. It’s what you want.”

“So, Rian.” I rubbed my face against Ben’s chest. His shirt was super soft and destined to be stolen. “You okay with that?”

“Let’s do it tonight.” He looked around like we could pack our stuff up right then and there.