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“What is the point of coming to your vacation house and hiring out the entire beach to celebrate without a little permanent soul binding, daddy?” Pan leaned down to bite my exposed shoulder.

I propped myself up on my elbows, making sure my ample cleavage was visible. The air was thick with salt and sunshine, much like the beta nestled in my side. Sun kissed the horizon, and we didn’t have much longer before it dipped low and took this perfect day with it.

“I think I’ve earned your mark, haven’t I?” I teased my alpha.

Walden tugged at his collar, torn between capitulation and argument.

Walden officially dropped out of the race for mayor yesterday and, to celebrate, had taken us away to the beach. He was still wearing a suit, but linen. You could take the man out of the office, but you could pry his pocket squares from his cold, dead hands.

“Do it for me, guys, because I would if I could.” Lloyd tucked a soft lock behind my ear.

I smothered a smile, the ache on my ribs a delicious secret. Pan turned his back, busying himself with serving the alcohol free, sparkling cider. He knew why my ribs hurt, and didn’t wantto ruin the surprise. I still had a low pain threshold, and he’d felt when I added Lloyd to my body.

“I want each of you on me, including you, Lloyd.”

“Is that a euphemism for jizz because I’ll fuck a baby into you so quick if you let me, angel.” Pan winked.

“You breed me so well, pup.” I reached behind me to pull the zipper of my dress.

“What are you doing?” Walden raced forward and caught my silky pink dress as it pooled around my waist. I’d gone without a bra because of the thin, transparent bandage underneath my breast. I turned to my beta.

“Lloyd, from the moment we connected, you saw the real me. You were the tide that brought me back to safe harbor.”

I let him see what I marked on my skin.

A declaration, a promise.

Soul deep as a bite because Lloyd was always my calm in the storm of life. He was what I wished for in the sky. Ever calm, reliable, and the sweetest relief for a throat as parched as mine had been when we met. Never underestimate the devotion of dependability. Quieter than the raw passion of Pan, the intense caretaking of Walden, and the powerful warmth of Ajax.

I was the heart of this pack, and Lloyd was the bones. We all fell apart without him.

“Tully,” Lloyd whispered. “A shooting star?”

I nodded, and the gentle lap of the ocean thrummed around us.

“It’s the same as yours. To you, it’s a symbol of your strength, your survival, and a reminder to always reach for your dreams. You’re my star, Lloyd. I’m only bright today because you pulled me out of the darkness.”

Lloyd curled his hand around the back of my neck and pulled my lips to his. We tumbled into the sun lounge and Lloyd melted against me, crushing my breasts to his chest. There was no spacebetween us, despite the lack of a bond. The tattoo throbbed with a sweet pain, the kind that heightened my senses.

All of them filled with Lloyd.

“My honey girl. Whoever knew life could get so sweet?” He moaned as he rocked against my core with his hardening cock.

“I love you, Lloyd.” I chased my words across his skin.

“This was the sweetest, but we need to go. There is a helicopter heading this way. I’d rather not let the paparazzi see my mate’s breasts.” Walden’s hand landed on my back.

“You can say tits, daddy, I promise the word doesn’t bite.” Pan snatched up his shirt.

“But I do, and I know exactly where I want my mark, so let’s go.” Ajax winked at me.

Lloyd extricated himself with a sigh and helped me with my dress.

“To be continued,” I whispered to him, lips swollen and heart full.

Ajax draped his jacket over my shoulder, but I shrugged it off, brushing my fingers against his as I passed it back.

“I’m too hot.”