Page 37 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Bethany

" A re you sure about this?" Miles asks, even though I can feel excitement through the bond.

Swallowing roughly, I nod. "I am. It's time to stop pretending we weren't already courting them.

That I'm not already bonded to one of them.

" Yesterday had finally made me see a real future, not with just any individual, but with all of us, even Hunter.

And I'm ready to grab that future by the damn balls.

"Okay." He nods, rubbing a hand down my back as he presses a kiss to my cheek. "No matter what happens, you know I choose you, right?"

I bark a laugh. "'No matter what happens'? What do you think is going to happen?"

He rolls his eyes at me. "You know what I mean.

I'm just trying to make you feel better since I can sense your anxiety.

" Shit. I thought I was doing a good job keeping him blocked out.

"I know that face, nymph. I don't need the cheat code of a bond to tell that you're having some anxiety about this. "

A real smile tilts at my lips this time. My omega would refer to our bond as a cheat code. "Does that mean you didn't mean it? If you’re just trying to make me feel better?" I arch a brow, teasing him.

"Of course I did, baby. It's you, every time. Will it suck if this goes sideways? Yeah, but I'm sure I'd get over it eventually. I would never get over not having you though."

As sweet as the sentiment is, I really think he's underestimating the effect of the true scent match.

But, it doesn't matter, because things are going to go fan-freaking-tastic.

Life itself is going to be fan-freaking-tastic.

Because by the end of this conversation, we'll be courting a pack, and tomorrow I'm going to ask my boss if we can keep Brody's business cards in our lobby, and maybe I'll feel a little less guilty for finding my pack when there are an unknown number of faceless omegas out there who have suffered the same as me. .

"Do you want to send the message, or should I?" He tilts his head at me, and I bite my lip, debating.

"I'll do it." And before I can change my mind, I'm pulling out my phone and adding Miles and the whole of Pack Song to a group text.

Me

Non-emergency pack meeting?

Kieran

When? Now?

Damien

But what if I have plans?

Brody

Damien and I are already in the living room watching TV

Hunter

I'll be right there.

Kieran

Me too

Well, that was easy.

Miles chuckles, reading the messages from his own phone. "Let's go downstairs."

By the time we get down there, all the guys are waiting, looking a little nervous. Why are they nervous?

Miles and I sit down at the edge of the loveseat together, while the rest of the guys squish together on the couch, the TV turned off. It's almost comical, the way that Hunter's hulking body is squished between Damien and Kieran's only slightly smaller frame.

"Is everything okay?" Hunter asks hesitantly.

"Yeah, um, actually, we just wanted to talk to you guys about something.

" My voice comes out a little squeakier than I'd like, and Miles' hand lands on my knee.

So far, all of this has been circumstantial.

Them being assigned to our heat suite. Them having to move in because my omega claimed Kieran.

Even my relationships with each of them so far…

they've only happened because they live here.

But I'm actively choosing this. Them. I want to get to know them—officially.

"I know that we've kind of been getting to know each other already," Miles chokes on a laugh, and I don't need him to say anything to know he's laughing at the fact that I just described getting finger fucked by Brody on the couch and getting railed by Kieran nearly every night as 'getting to know each other'.

"But," I continue as if he hadn't made a peep, "we want to make it official. "

All their brows shoot up. "Like…you want us to officially court you?"

Miles kisses my cheek before nodding at Brody. "We do. Both separate and together. We think it's important that we each have our ow n individual relationships with all of you, but also…we want to be able to be together whenever we want to be."

"We would never dream of getting between the two of you," Damien says quickly, glancing down the couch at the alphas. "Right, guys? I mean, unless you want us there." He shoots us a wink.

"Of course," Brody says quickly, sitting straighter. "And I believe that we're all interested in pursuing a relationship with both of you." I can feel the way his words make Miles light up in the bond.

Kieran nods, that smirk that I once found infuriating tilting his lips. "Though I guess I do have a bit of a head start on that front."

"It's not a competition, Kieran." Damien rolls his eyes.

Brody jumps in. "That's right—"

"Because if I had thought it was," Damien continues, "then I would have taken steps to ensure I would be the one winning."

"Well, hold on…" Kieran starts to talk over Damien, and Brody looks over at us like he's afraid we're about to run out of the room screaming in terror, but I can't help the little giggle that bursts out of me.

In my experience, packs have never tried to earn my affections.

If anything, it was the other way around.

Miles' hand tightens on my leg. When I glance at him, his eyes are shining with happiness.

We deserve this. To be properly courted by a pack who respects our relationship.

In the middle of the chaos on the couch, my eyes fix on Hunter, who currently has his head hanging down, his face hidden from view.

The only one who hasn't said anything. And the only one who hasn't actively tried to spend time with Miles and me.

It's only been two weeks since they moved in, but I really thought he'd come around.

But when he lifts his face to look at us, I see something there that I've never seen before. But…have I really been looking?

"I …I'm glad." He gives us a soft smile before standing suddenly. "Why don't we…do a pack date? We can go to lunch."

A pack date? The only kind of pack date Pack Hansen gave me after courting me were all the business dinners they'd drag me to. "That sounds wonderful," I tell him, and Miles nods in agreement.

"Let's do it! Our first pack outing."

My lips purse and I scrunch my nose.

"What?" Brody asks, his brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"I just realized," I sigh, my head falling back, "now we have to get dressed ."

Miles barks a laugh before scooping me up in his arms and starts walking to the stairs. "I'll make sure she gets ready," he calls out over his shoulder, "let's leave here in thirty."