Page 111 of Daisy

When we break apart, I look at all of them.

"My heat is coming. And I want to spend it with all of you. Not because of biology, but because I choose to. Because I trust you. Because you've shown me what it means to choose freely."

The words hang in the air. Precious and true.

"Are you sure?" August asks gently.

"I've never been more sure of anything," I say, and I mean it.

I curl deeper into Dante's arms, still clutching Gunner's jacket. Surrounded by them and their love, the cramping eases slightly.

But the fear is still there. "What if my Uncle finds us? What if choosing this gets you killed?"

"We chose you," Dante says simply. "We chose love."

"Is that enough?"

"For you?" August says. "Yes."

They all nod. They've already chosen. They chose me that first night, and they're choosing me now.

For the first time in my life, I'm choosing my own future.

And it's perfect.

Chapter 29

Gunner

Ican't focus.

It's the day after everything changed. After she told us she wants to spend her heat with all of us. After we revealed the scent matching. After she chose us.

Her scent has been getting richer all morning. Sweeter. Moreherbut amplified until it's all I can think about.

She's sitting at the small kitchen table wearing one of my flannel shirts over her sleep shorts. I can barely think straight. The way the fabric hangs loose on her small frame, sleeves rolled up past her wrists. She looks claimed already. Mine already.

But she's not. Not yet.

She keeps shifting restlessly in her chair. She can't sit still for more than a few minutes. I've watched her rearrange the throw pillows on the couch three times. She's been gathering soft things: my spare hoodie, August's scarf, one of Cassian's t-shirts. Pre-heat nesting instincts kicking in.

The screwdriver slips and I curse under my breath. My hands are trembling like I'm the virgin here, not her.

Which, to be fair, I am.

The others have experience. They know what they're doing. But me? I've never been with anyone. I just never wanted to be with someone unless it felt right.

So here I am. One virgin in a cabin full of experienced alphas and an omega I'm desperately in love with.

"Gunner?"

I turn. There she is. Standing by the kitchen table in my shirt, bare legs pale in the morning light. Her scent wraps around me like a physical touch. I have to grip the counter to stay upright.

"Yeah?"

She takes a step closer. Then another. There's something different in her eyes today. More focused. Purposeful.

"Can we talk? Privately?"