Page 104 of Knotting the Firefighters

At least for the four of us, apparently trapped in this unexpected pack dynamic.

Aidric's voice rises several decibels, professional composure completely abandoned:

"This isn't possible! You being part of the pack when we haven't functioned as a complete unit in years—it doesn't fit! The structure doesn't support it!"

Calder rolls his eyes with theatrical exaggeration, crossing arms across his chest in a mirror of Aidric's defensive posture.

"Well, I don't know why the fuck it clicked into place," he drawls, every word dripping with false innocence. "Because trust me, having your stubborn ass as my Alpha wasn't on my wishlist of life goals."

Oh, this is getting good.

Should I make popcorn?

Feels like I should make popcorn.

Aidric's face flushes red—genuine fury mixing with embarrassment that suggests Calder just hit a nerve.

"Shut the fuck up," he snarls, taking an aggressive step forward. "You weren't saying that years ago when you used to suck my dick."

There it is.

The dirty laundry emerges.

Excellent.

Calder's smirk is absolutely vicious, satisfaction evident as he delivers the correction.

"Youwere suckingmydick, actually. Because last time I checked, between us, you're the bottom and I'm the power top."

The whistle escapes before I can suppress it—pure appreciation for the revelation, for the power dynamic confirmation I've been curious about since discovering their history.

Silas shoots me a side-eye that communicates clear disapproval of my entertainment, but I just shrug innocently.

"I always wondered what the dynamic was between you two," I admit with complete honesty. "But am I surprised Aidric's a bottom? Absolutely not."

Makes perfect sense, actually.

Command authority in professional contexts often correlates with submission in intimate ones.

Balance requires counterpoint.

"Go fuck yourself," Aidric directs at me, though his attention remains primarily focused on Calder.

I laugh—a genuine, warm sound that probably shouldn't emerge during tense pack discussion, but I can't help it.

"I can gladly masturbate to the idea of Wendy just being in my lap," I respond cheerfully. "So I'd be happy to depart if my presence isn't required for your teenage-level argument."

Silas sighs with profound exhaustion, pinching the bridge of his nose in a universal gesture of exasperation.

"Bear is correct. You're both behaving like fucking children."

"This is a big fucking deal!" Aidric's volume increases again, control clearly slipping. "Calder is somehow part of our pack despite us not connecting properly in…in whatever timeline you want to specify! Now he's bonded with Wendolyn, ourtemporaryOmega, because we already signed government paperwork confirming it, and this happens!"

He gestures wildly at Calder, at me, at Wendolyn's sleeping form like we're all evidence of catastrophe.

"I'm forced to feel the connection between us!" His voice carries genuine distress now beneath the anger. "His very obvious attraction to the Omega we barely know is bleeding through the bond whether I want it or not!"

Ah.