Page 8

S tupid. I growled, stalking through the halls.

I’d been unwilling for years to bond Haru, afraid of trapping them here, but all it took was one moment of weakness—of panic—to sink my teeth into Logan.

It didn’t matter that it had worked. Binding myself to Logan had let her tap into my magic and seal the wards.

We might have all died if I hadn’t done it, but that didn’t erase how shitty it felt to have taken that choice from her.

To top it off, Kendrick had pointed out I’d never given Logan an omega nest. I’d officially made myself her alpha and I was already failing at that role.

We had so many things to discuss about what this meant for everyone.

Haru was attached to Seth, and now Seth and I were both bonded to Logan.

If Haru wanted either of us, the other would be part of that package.

I didn’t love Logan, not yet, anyway, but I could recognize her for what she was.

Mine.

I’d known it from the first moment I saw her, even if I hadn’t realized the depths of it.

I sighed, pausing to rest my weight against the wall. Allowing Logan access to my power had been successful, but I felt hungover from it. A low-grade headache burrowed at the base of my skull.

Stopping in the dining hall, I stayed out of the way and poured myself a cup of coffee. I sat at the corner table, sipping it until I felt steadier.

Velda saw me as she walked past, stopping short and diverting over to me. “Girl, you look rough.”

“I feel rough.”

“Why aren’t you resting?”

“Logan doesn’t have a nest. I have to provide for my omega now that she’s officially mine.”

“Oh yeah.” Velda tilted her head, examining me. “Haven’t been around one in so long I forgot they need stuff like that.”

“We have extra bedding in the basement. I’ll bring up a bunch.”

“Literally anyone else could have done that for you.”

“I’m not letting anyone else handle the bedding of my new omega.”

Velda frowned. “You’re always so careful. Should I be worried about you?”

“Let me sleep on it and I’ll let you know.” I sipped some more coffee.

“Would you accept some help carrying things? I don’t want you keeling over.”

With some reluctance, I agreed, letting Velda walk by my side to the storage rooms. I had no idea what Logan would prefer, and if we weren’t on lockdown I’d order her anything she might want, but she’d have to settle for more utilitarian options.

Once we were out of sight, Velda shifted and tossed me onto her back. I’ll carry everything. You chill.

Velda was a better friend than I deserved.

I hadn’t felt so helpless since before I’d learned to control my shifting as a child.

Between the chaos, the depleted magic, and physically separating myself from a new bond, my body was pissed as fuck.

Leaning heavily against Velda, I couldn’t even be bothered to pick out the blankets myself.

We had nothing special, and as Velda rooted around in them, tossing them overhead, I was quickly buried.

You still alive up there?

Barely.

Let’s get you to Logan. She dragged out a tent package as well, carrying it in her teeth as we navigated our way upstairs. We probably looked quite comical, but I was struggling too much to pay attention to it.

Logan was with Seth and Haru in the showers when we arrived, Caden waiting by the door. His eyes widened as we entered and he dragged the blankets off, carefully pulling me into his arms and carrying me over to the bed.

“Why aren’t you with Logan?”

“There’s not that much room in the shower and you looked half-dead when you left.” He grabbed one of the silk scarves from my bedside table and proceeded to awkwardly wrap up my curls before nudging me to lie flat.

“You don’t need to take care of me, panther.”

“I don’t think you’re an accurate judge of that when you’re being carried in on Velda.”

When I dared to pout, he narrowed his eyes and tossed my own words back at me. “Take the comfort, lioness.”

I scoffed, but I didn’t argue. “Logan needs a nest. It will help her stabilize as an omega. All the supplies are there.”

“You rest. I’ll handle it.”

I watched him begin construction on the tent after moving the multitude of blankets aside.

Partway through his progress, Logan, Seth, and Haru emerged, damp and clean.

Logan crawled in right next to me and I turned toward her touch, eagerly drowning in the kiss she offered.

It didn’t do anything to renew the magic she had borrowed, but it did settle my body to have her close.

“So,” Seth said, staring awkwardly next to the bed, “we’re all in the bond now?”

“It would seem so, panther.”

Logan cuddled against me, dispelling the lingering nausea and dizziness that had developed while I was away from her.

“Do you think if Logan got recharged it might filter over to you?” Seth asked.

“Is that how it works for you?”

He shook his head. “My magic is gone so there’s nothing for her to refill. Yours is still there.”

“I suppose it’s worth a try.” I looked to Logan. “How are you feeling, precious? Well enough to play?”

“I think so. I hurt less when I do, so I’m not above seeing if it helps us instead of napping like a normal person would.”

She melted instantly into my touch when I pulled her in again. Her lips danced with mine, her body draping over me as she straddled me and sank down.

Do you want an audience, assistance, or for us to leave? Haru asked.

Logan looked over at them, her skin sparking with desire before she glanced sheepishly down at me. We played in the garden earlier.

Did you? Do you want them to play now?

Only if you want to. I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable.

Precious, I don’t have the energy to take you apart the way I want to, but I will always take pleasure in watching you receive.

With a quick nod, Haru climbed onto the bed behind Logan, sweeping their hands down her back before their fingers disappeared between her thighs.

They all seemed to communicate for a brief moment without me, and then my hips were being lifted, a pillow tucked beneath them after Logan lifted my skirts.

The tip of Haru’s cock teased me and I shuddered.

He pulled back and worked both hands, easing fingers into Logan and me, pumping carefully, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Logan whimpered, the heat of her rushing over me and flickering in the bond. Haru touching us both created an echo chamber of sensations, stoking me twice over with every thrust of his fingers.

When Haru deemed me ready, he began the methodical process of fucking every pierced inch into me.

My body knew each facet of him, just like he knew mine—knew how much I could take and how fast, how to push my limits and carry me to euphoria when I was in the mood to be tested.

His fingers plunged into Logan with a delicious slick sound, the little campfire of her power in the bond flaring each time Haru hit some spot she liked.

I devoured Logan’s mouth while they worked on unraveling her.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Seth helping Caden set everything up, the two of them steadfastly ignoring us.

That was their prerogative, much as I wouldn’t be opposed to them joining us.

If Logan’s heat was coming, her first ever, she would need everyone to get her through it.

I cursed as Haru bottomed out. We had never worked me up to taking his knot, but Logan would be able to.

Omegas were built to take their partners in whatever form they came.

It didn’t matter that Haru was a beta. When they got it into their head, they certainly fucked like an alpha, and being a wolf blessed them with a knot regardless of designation.

Did you knot Logan in the garden? I asked him.

He shook his head. Not enough time.

I leisurely played with Logan, teasing her nipples while she squirmed, and closing my eyes to fully appreciate the desperate sounds she made.

Precious, did you want to try taking a knot?

Logan shivered. Please. I don’t know if I can or how it works, but I’ll try anything once.

I looked at Haru over Logan. Prepare her well, my love.

Whatever they were doing, they clearly ramped it up, Logan’s eyes widening, a choked-off omega whine tearing from her throat. Pleasure from her rippled through me. How the hell was Seth working if he could feel even a fraction of this?

I shivered, gasping my way through a surge of pleasure that had my cunt tightening around Haru, the orgasm sneaking up on me and setting Logan off in turn.

Haru fucked me at an easy pace but pushed Logan into a deeper arch, driving their fingers into her dripping pussy.

The scent of jasmine and quiet woods filled my senses.

Every helpless noise she made was like water dripping into a bucket, replenishing me bit by bit, however slowly.

As her own powers restored themselves, they spilled over the banks of her reserves and into me.

You’re making it weird being over there and not joining, I sent to Seth and Caden.

The panthers turned as one, abandoning their task to settle on each side of us. Seth took up the duty of getting his mouth on Logan’s breasts.

Caden eyed me, gaze full of fire. Am I allowed to touch you?

I’d say it’s about time you did.

My thoughts blitzed right out of my head when Caden wedged his fingers between all of us to find my clit and work me into a frenzy while Haru’s hips drove into me.

I cursed, body tightening as I reclaimed Logan’s mouth.

Haru fucked hard and deep, his piercings teasing me with every stroke.

Between that and Caden’s quick pace against my clit, I detonated.

Haru’s pace stuttered and he pulled out, sharply replacing his fingers with his cock in Logan a moment before his knot swelled. The sear of pleasure and power that erupted out of her knocked me senseless. My magic boiled up, grabbing tightly to the tendrils of hers pouring through my skin.

“Motherfucking hell,” I gasped out.

Logan whimpered above me, her whole body shaking. Haru had their eyes squeezed shut, their fingers digging into the lushness of Logan’s ass cheeks.

Seth and Caden relaxed at our sides. They lovingly brushed Logan’s damp hair out of her face and drew patterns on her skin. She relaxed her top half down, resting her cheek against my chest and curling her fingers over my shoulder.

How’s that knot treating you, precious?

She whined. I feel like I’m going to burst.

In a good way?

In an “if I breathe too deeply I’m going to come again” way.

I couldn’t help laughing and looping my arms around her. “An omega’s first knot is always an experience. Haru’s never been able to give it to someone before, have you, love?”

My wolf shook his head.

I stroked a soft hand over Logan’s hair. “If it’s too much for you, you can catch it when it’s already inflated, get on top, and enjoy the pressure from the outside. That’s what I usually do.”

My omega let out a soft whimper. “It’s not too much. It’s just—” Haru shifted and Logan stiffened, coming again with a cry that had her burying her face into my throat, the sensation ricocheting in the bond to set me off too with a quiet curse. “Oh my gods.”

“Better than ours?” Caden asked curiously.

“Different,” Logan squeaked out. “ Very different.”

“Now, just think of how magnificent it will feel to take him with the eyes of the nest on you.”

Logan shuddered, still breathing slow and shallow.

“Do you like that, precious?” I whispered against her hair.

Her whine was delicious. Haru rocked against her, our omega losing control, power crashing over us as the pressure pushed her to the edge once more.

Every shift of Haru’s knot had Logan’s magic refilling mine drop by drop until all she had taken was replenished.

A relief, to be sure, but Seth’s comment floated in my mind.

If the nest required my sacrifice, I would give it, but I would have to hope she never needed to take everything because there was no coming back from that.