Page 152 of Pack Choice

“I like Molly and Ford,” Harper says, then stares down at her spoon. “But will I get to be in the pack too?”

Colt scoops his daughter up into his lap, wrapping his arms around her little body and kissing the crown of her head. “Of course you will. It’s going to be your pack too.”

“Are we going to move house again?”

Colt looks up at me and I glance around the others. Yep, in our excitement we haven’t exactly discussed the practicalities.

“Do you want to move again, Lollipop? Or do you want to stay where you are?”

“Stay,” she says, shoveling ice cream into her mouth, then pausing and saying with a mouthful, “I like the swing and swimming pool. And I think there might be a vampire at the end of the yard.”

“Then as long as Colt’s happy, that’s going to be the pack house,” Ford says, and I nod. “Although, I’m going to need to investigate the vampire situation.”

“And we’re going to need to upgrade the nest,” River says, “I have some ideas.” He squeezes my thigh under the table.

“Nests are for birds, Uncle River. We don’t have one in our house, do we, Daddy?”

I cock an eyebrow, tilting my head.

“We’ll talk about all this later.” Colt plunges his spoon into Harper’s ice cream, stealing a spoonful and diverting her attention.

On the way back to the hotel, I discover River is more devious than I realized. Harper crashes out on the back seat after her mega sugar rush and I suspect that was all part of his plan.

Colt has her tucked up in bed in no time at all and when he steps back into the suite, we stare at each other, smiling like four people who’ve just realized they’re going to spend the rest of their lives together. Then we’re all stripping off our clothes, laughing as we do. River throws a shoe towards Colt and Colt retaliates, whipping his belt towards his friend. I unhook my bra and ping it through the air, hitting Ford square on the face.

“Good shot,” he says, burying his face in the lacy material and inhaling.

“Can I have the panties?” River asks.

“Sure,” I say, shimmying them down my hips and throwing them his way. River reaches out his hand to catch them but Colt dives in front of him and grabs them from the air.

“You took the last pair,” Colt tells him, and I wag my finger at River.

“I knew it!”

“Couldn’t help myself, little one.”

“Come on,” I say, spinning on my toes and running for the bedroom, the footfall of three large alphas thundering after me, making me squeal as slick runs down my thighs. As I dive into bed, three huge alphas follow, their hands and their mouths all over me, and I sigh, feeling like I’m sinking into happiness itself.

As Ford nips at my neck, my eyes drift shut and he says, “I hate that we’re not bonded already, butterfly.”

My eyes flick open. “What?” I say.

“I hate that I couldn’t speak to you through the bond. That I couldn’t find you. That I didn’t know what you were thinking.”

I nod. “Me too, Alpha. I didn’t like it when River was racing too. I want to be in his head, knowing he’s safe.”

River chuckles. “Fuck, I’d love you to be in my head, little one. Then I could show you all the things I plan to do to you over the coming hours,” he plants a kiss on my belly button, “days,” he kisses one lower, “and weeks, and months, and years.” He kisses me right between my legs.

“Then let’s do this,” Colt says, “let’s claim her.” We all turn our heads to look at him.

River is the one I’d expect to suggest such a crazy idea. Or maybe Ford if he were feeling sentimental. But Colt? He’s the one who’s been cautious. He is the one who has a daughter to consider.

“Alpha,” I say, resting my palm against his cheek. He leans into my touch and closes his eyes.

“The thought of losing you, Molly,” he says, his voice cracking. “I couldn’t … I wouldn’t … I’m in love with you. I want this pack. I want this family. Heck, I want to start filling this belly with our babies. I’ve waited long enough for this chance at happiness. I don’t want to wait any longer. I trust that this is going to work out between us.”

I lean forward and kiss his mouth, tasting the sincerity of his words, my omega heart beating steady and for once those devious insides calm.