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“Victor,” Zack hissed, and a bunch of some material hit his chest. Reflexively, Victor caught it and, as Zack crooned and pulled the sticky sheet off Mo’s body, Victor shook his head to clear it.

“Run the shower,” Victor ordered, just as there was a knock on the door. Zack stood, and Victor was surprised at the deep warning growl that rumbled from the bear.

“I know,” came Riley’s voice outside. “We’re getting you coolers filled with everything you’ll need, and extra bedding. Zack, I’ll leave your phone out here as well, in case you need us. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”

Victor nodded, knowing Riley’s empath gifts had alerted him, but taking one look at Zack, sweat covering him, shoulders hunched protectively over their mate, Victor turned and went to start the shower himself. Tepid, since they all needed to cool down a little. His cock was still rock hard, and Victor knew it wouldn’t be going down anytime soon, but his head cleared a little and he grabbed towels then called Zack to bring Mo.

Zack appeared with Mo in his arms once more, both of them naked, Mo blinking dazed eyes open. Much as Victor desperately wanted to take him from Zack, it made more sense if they just got in the shower. “Can you manage this time? I’ll get the things in from outside and change the bed.”

“What’s happening?” Mo whispered, and Victor heard Zack hush their mate and step in the shower. Victor moved. Opening the door, he saw a pile of bedding, both their phones, and some water bottles. He knew Riley would be downstairs getting them some more. Victor quickly stripped the bedding and remade it, regretting that these sheets didn’t smell of Mo, but certain with an accompanying shiver of satisfaction, that the bed would soon smell of all three of them.

Victor stepped back into the bathroom, grabbed an enormous towel, and held his arms out for Zack to deposit Mo into them. They worked seamlessly, Victor’s wolf and Zack’s bear not seeming interested in challenging the other.

Mo shivered a little, but his skin was still hot. “What’s happening?” Mo asked again as Victor dried him, but his words dissolved into a moan as Victor rubbed the towel over his groin.

When he’d dried Mo, Zack took over again so Victor could get the fastest shower on record. As he stalked back into the bedroom, Zack had gotten Mo in bed and was trying to get him to drink a little water.

“Mo,” Victor said, because Mo had to understand while they were all at least somewhat coherent.

“I’m sick,” Mo whispered.

“No, baby,” Zack promised. “You’re in heat. This is your body telling you that you want to mate with us.”

“But I wanted to mate with you before,” he almost whined. “You wouldn’t.”

“He doesn’t mean just sex,” Victor said firmly. “He means bonding, and we need your permission.”

Mo looked at Victor in surprise. “Bonding? As in…”

“As in you belong to us and we belong to you,” Zack said. “You know we’re mates.”

Mo looked at them both. Victor wanted to promise not to deliver the mating bite, but he couldn’t do that. In the middle of a rut, Victor’s alpha wolf might take charge.

“And you’ll help me?” He winced and pressed a palm to his leaking cock. Zack followed the movement, and the bear’s brown eyes grew even wider. Such stunning eyes.

Victor shook his head again to clear it, knowing he was hanging on by his fingertips. “You don’t just mean now, do you? You mean to find your sister?”

Mo nodded, seeming past any words.

“I solemnly vow, my mate,” Victor said, “to do all I can—” he looked at Zack “—wecan, to find Khloe.”

Mo groaned, then lay back and opened his arms. They both moved quickly. “It hurts,” Mo whispered, and Zack shuffled down to take Mo in his mouth. Victor approved even though he could feel his cock thicken and knew his knot was going to form soon.

He also knew what that meant. Victor knew Mo was aware that omega males could get pregnant, but he couldn’t sense the presence of a wolf in Mo, even having a mom as a wolf shifter, but if his body was preparing to knot Mo, maybe his wolf knew better than all of them.

He had a brief image of Mo, utterly gorgeous as usual, but with an added distended belly protecting their unborn pup. Victor snapped, and he reached for Mo.

Victor’s alpha howled long and low in his head. A challenge for all other shifters. A declaration.

A promise.

And he leaned down and sank his teeth into Mo’s neck.

Chapter Fourteen

Zackopenedhiseyesto see Mo sprawled naked over his body and he rumbled appreciatively, even if the heat still coming off Mo felt almost like flames licking his skin. He squinted over to his right and took in Victor. He wasn’t surprised the man was asleep. He’d looked after them both for hours. Zack could see the mark on Mo’s neck from the mating bite Victor had delivered. Mo had been insatiable, and they’d made a good team, but then Victor had taken over and dominated Zack as well.

And he’d loved every second of it. Guilt pricked at him though. He was an alpha. He should be the one taking charge not being taken care of. But he had to remind himself that was how the wolf pack dynamic was so different to bears. Technically, if pressed, all male bears should be alphas, but they didn’t form packs, more small family groups.