Page 74

That gets a genuine laugh out of Belle, the first real smile I've seen from her since we learned about Adam's abandonment. "That sounds perfect."

"I'll call you," I promise. "In a few days, when you've had time to think."

"I'd like that," Belle says, and the honesty in her voice gives me hope.

We watch her disappear into her building, waiting until we see the lights come on in her apartment before getting back into our cars. The drive back to our place is quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts about the night's events.

I pull into our driveway, and I find myself feeling more hopeful than I have in months. Yes, Belle is hurt andoverwhelmed and still scared. Yes, there are obstacles ahead of us and no guarantee that she'll ultimately choose us.

But she's willing to try. She's brave enough to step outside her comfort zone and explore the possibility of something bigger than she's ever allowed herself to want.

And for now, that's enough.

Our omega is finally ready to let us court her. The real question is whether we'll be able to prove ourselves worthy of her trust.

I think we will. I think we're going to surprise Belle Hartwell with just how good love can be when it's built on respect and honesty and genuine care.

And I can't wait to get started.

25

MARCUS

The drive back to our house feels different than the journey to Belle's apartment. Where the earlier trip was heavy with Belle's hurt and disappointment, the car now hums with a different kind of tension—anticipation mixed with nervous energy. In my rearview mirror, I can see Felix and Theo following behind us, and I know they're feeling the same mixture of hope and terror that's currently making my hands shake slightly on the steering wheel.

She said yes. Belle actually said yes to letting us court her.

"Did that really just happen?" Felix asks the moment we're all inside our front door, his voice carrying the same disbelief I'm feeling.

"It happened," Theo confirms, but he sounds as stunned as the rest of us. "She agreed to individual dates. To getting to know us better."

"She agreed to let us try," I correct, because the distinction feels important. "This isn't a guarantee of anything beyond the opportunity to prove ourselves."

Felix runs both hands through his hair, messing up the careful styling that survived the entire evening until thismoment. "I can't believe Adam just left her there. What kind of friend does that?"

"The kind who gets distracted by a pretty face and forgets about the people who matter," Theo says, and there's an edge of anger in his voice that I recognize. Theo doesn't get angry often, but when he does, it's usually on behalf of someone he cares about.

"His loss is our gain," I say, though the words feel inadequate. "But Belle is hurt, and she's going to need time to process what happened with us and Adam too."

"How long do you think we should wait before calling her?" Felix asks, settling into one of the leather armchairs in our living room. The formal jacket is gone now, his shirt sleeves rolled up, and he looks more like the man I know than the polished alpha from the ball.

"She said a few days," I remind them. "We should respect that."

"A few days," Theo repeats, like he's testing the words. "That feels like forever."

I understand the sentiment completely. Now Belle has opened up to us, the thought of waiting even a few days feels almost unbearable. But pushing too hard too fast is exactly how we could lose her before we've even really had her.

"It gives us time to plan," I point out. "To figure out how we want to approach the future of our pack. What we want our individual dates to look like."

"Individual dates," Felix muses. "I keep thinking about that. She specifically asked for time with each of us separately."

"She wants to know us as individuals, not just as a pack," Theo says. "Which makes sense. If she's going to commit to all three of us, she needs to understand what each relationship would look like."

"Are you nervous about that?" I ask, genuinely curious. "About spending time with her one-on-one?"

"Terrified," Felix admits immediately. "What if she realizes she doesn't actually like you guys individually? I mean, I'm the one she really gets on with, but you guys are a different story."

"Very funny!" I say. Felix then winks at me, as if to let me know that he's teasing and trying to make us not take everything so seriously.