Page 61 of Want It All

My eyes found Byron and Tristan in the audience, both on their feet, applauding, with matching wide smiles. ‘I can’t wait.’

Sebastian laughed, the sound at once joyful and smug. ‘I wonder what the second-year prize is?’

The audience was smaller the following day.

We’d only invited our families – our parents and Tristan’s younger siblings.

We’d talked about location for hours on end over the last six months, with suggestions ranging from the ridiculous – Tristan suggested the Natural History Museum in London – to the practical – the tiny local courthouse – but once I’d suggested the beach, we’d all gone quiet.

‘Yes,’ Sebastian had said, and that was that.

None of us were devout, so we’d engaged a celebrant rather than the traditional two priests for the ceremony.

She was a cheerful beta with ash-brown curls and an ever-present friendly smile.

She hadn’t known who either Tristan or Sebastian were, so we hadn’t had to worry about her leaking details to the media, even after two photographers were arrested outside the gates of Banksia trying to get a story about our pack.

The four of us stood together on the cliffs, facing the sea, our parents seated behind us.

I wore a flowing dress of soft gold with white sandals, while Tristan and Sebastian had coaxed Byron into tan chinos and a white linen shirt so the three of them matched.

He had a pair of aviators perched on his nose, and Sebastian had pinned tiny sprigs of wattle to their breasts; I had a similar sprig tucked into my hair.

My eyes darted to the place – a few metres away – where Byron and I had first kissed. As if he knew what I was thinking, he grinned and brought my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to my knuckles.

‘I never imagined this,’ Tristan mused softly, watching the sun sink over the horizon, the sky lit with shades of pink and orange as the tide surged below us, ‘but somehow, it’s what I’ve always wanted.’

The celebrant looked us over and began.

‘We are here this evening for the best of reasons,’ she said, smiling, ‘to witness the bonding of the Morris-Worthy pack. All packs are special and all bonds sacred, but this pack’s journey wasn’t simple, nor easy.

They have worked – both together, and as individuals – to overcome the barriers that separated them, and are stronger for it.

And as a pack with not one, but two scent-matched pairs, I think we can all agree that they have found something rare, something precious, and something worth fighting for.

‘They told me they didn’t want to write vows which, I must admit, I found surprising, given they are all intelligent, articulate people.

But Byron said to me: how could I ever put this into words ?

’ She paused. ‘I understood, then. Some things are bigger than words, more powerful than language. Some things can never be captured by mere sounds or symbols. So, instead of words, instead of vows, let your bonds speak for you; let your hearts say what your lips cannot.’

I sniffed as a tear ran down my cheek. Sebastian wiped it away, his own eyes bright.

‘Usually, the head alpha would bite their pack first,’ she continued, smiling at Tristan. ‘But that isn’t the case today. I was informed by both alphas that the omegas were the core of this pack, and they would be the ones forging the bonds. Rosemary and Sebastian, I invite you to begin.’

I took a shuddering breath and turned to Sebastian. He took my hands in his, gently squeezing my fingers. ‘Ready, beautiful?’ he whispered.

I was nervous, but I wasn’t scared. This was my omega, and I loved him. My canines pushed down, sending a dull ache through my jaw. ‘Ready.’

He tilted his head, baring his neck to me; I leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his scent gland, then bit down.

His blood spread over my tongue, cherry-sweet with a slight metallic aftertaste.

I moaned softly as warmth spread through my body, an awareness chasing after it – not of the environment around me, but of Sebastian .

Of my other half, my perfect match, my omega.

Of his golden sunshine, of his flirty cheerfulness, of the steel backbone he obscured with smiles and his big blue eyes.

I splayed my hand over his heart, closing my eyes as his love surged through me. ‘Oh, Seb,’ I whispered.

‘Rosebud,’ he said, panting slightly. ‘Rose, I –’

I tilted my head. ‘ Bite .’

It hurt, but only for a moment; my limbs shook as he gripped me, moaning my name. I felt lightheaded, as if I was floating away; the next heartbeat, I was anchored by the echoes of Sebastian’s emotions, by his gratitude and admiration and adoration.

I pushed my love for him down the bond, trying to show him just how strongly those feelings were returned. He staggered slightly; I held him up.

He pressed his forehead to mine, inhaling shakily. ‘Rose. This is … This is …’

‘No words?’

‘No fucking words.’ He kissed me; I tasted my own blood on his lips. ‘No words other than I love you, always .’

I stroked his hair, feeling the strength of his emotion even as he said it. ‘There’s more to go yet.’

He grinned. ‘I can’t –’ he faltered as he looked towards our alphas, who had fallen to their knees on the grass.

For us .

‘I love seeing them like that,’ Sebastian murmured, echoing my sentiments exactly.

We stepped before them; me before Byron, Sebastian before Tristan. We hadn’t talked about it; we’d just known this was how it would be. I ran my fingertip over Byron’s cheek.

He closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. ‘That was so beautiful,’ he murmured. ‘You’re both so beautiful.’

‘Are you ready to be mine, alpha?’ I whispered to him.

He smiled. ‘I’ve been yours since the day you arrived.’

I bent, nuzzling at his scent gland. He tensed; I stroked his skin, soothing. ‘Are you sure?’

He swallowed. ‘I’m sure.’

I pressed one more kiss to his scent gland, then moved my mouth down. His scent gland was Tristan’s to mark; I’d bite him on the collarbone instead, where everyone could see it and know that he was mine.

My teeth sank easily through his skin, and my legs went weak as salted caramel filled my mouth. I clutched at his shoulders; his hands gripped my hips, steadying me.

His light was different to Sebastian’s, shot through with grief and loss and healing. He was so strong, so much stronger than he ever gave himself credit for. His steadiness, his care, and his devotion flooded through me, along with a hefty dose of desire, enough to make me flush with heat.

‘ Byron ,’ I said under my breath. ‘Our parents are here.’

He chuckled. ‘I’m going to have a lot of fun flustering you in public, beautiful.’

‘That will work both ways, alpha,’ I said tartly.

He gave a rumbling, approving purr. ‘Don’t get distracted, omega. You’ve still got a bite to go.’

Tristan reached out and wrapped an arm around my waist, breaking off a kiss with Sebastian, who looked as flushed and as overwhelmed as I felt.

It had seemed like a long wait for all of us, but for them it had been almost seven years coming; Sebastian cupped Tristan’s cheek lovingly, his gaze full of a calm contentment I hadn’t seen on him before.

I took Sebastian’s hand and he turned his smile on me, before his eyes fell to Byron.

Tristan looked up at me, blood bright on his neck. It didn’t seem to bother him, in the same way my bite wasn’t even hurting; there were too many feelings swirling around my body to worry about pain, and I was so high on the euphoria I was surprised I didn’t float away.

‘Ready, omega?’ he said quietly.

I twirled one of his curls around my finger. ‘I can’t wait, alpha.’

He held me steady as I bit his collarbone.

I shook as his protective love washed over me, through me, chased by admiration, respect, and – oh my word – the heat .

We’d been taking things slow in the physical sense, and sometimes I’d wondered if he wanted me the way I wanted him, but the craving coming through the bond left me with no illusions.

I knew, in that moment, that I would always be safe, always be wanted , and that having Tristan watch my back was no small thing.

He would always be modest about what he did for the pack – what he sacrificed for us – but now I’d always know just how much he gave, and just how much he cared.

I licked his vanilla blood from his skin, feeling satisfied, feeling complete.

Almost.

Sebastian took my hand and gently pulled me away as Tristan turned to Byron, touching his cheek and turning his gaze.

‘I am the head alpha of this pack,’ Tristan said quietly, ‘but I’ve come to realise over the past few months that a head alpha’s job is not to lead, but to serve.

I know we said no vows, but I have one. I vow never to take from you, but always to give.

And my first action in keeping that vow is to ask you to forge the prime bond, so you can always ensure I keep that promise.

’ He tipped his head to the side and closed his eyes. ‘Bite, Griffiths.’

Byron swallowed, his stormy eyes bright. ‘Grace –’

‘ Now , Byron.’

Byron huffed a laugh and bent to nuzzle Tristan’s cheek before his mouth dropped to his scent gland. ‘Since you asked so nicely, love,’ he said, and bit down.

Tristan swayed, groaning. ‘Oh, fuck .’

I felt his shock and pleasure through our bond like a lightning bolt – and not just his, but Byron’s, too, and the echo of Sebastian’s approval as he watched. Byron pulled back, his eyes dark, and Tristan struck; Byron’s cry of pleasure-pain was lost to the waves as his scent match bit down.

Sebastian’s fingers wound through mine. ‘I don’t mean to hurry you, but –’

I inhaled, scenting cherry perfume through the salty evening air. We’d washed off our scent cancellers earlier in the day, and I didn’t have faith that our blockers would continue to work through this . My body tightened in response to Sebastian’s scent, slick beginning to pool between my legs.