Once Upon A Pack (Royalverse #1)

Chapter 61

sixty-one

It’s peaceful in my foggy mind.

My first thought is a calm note of surprise. After years of being told I had “medical anxiety,” I expected to wake up panicking. And in pain. Instead, I’m… warm?

Safe and tucked into supple strength that smells like the best sort of bitter black tea—the kind that goes with rainy afternoons and crisp newspaper and the reverent musk of a well-loved hiding place.

A name floats to the surface of my placid thoughts, an answering wash of adoration pouring through me.

Ash .

I’ve done something right, apparently, because the heavenly aroma surrounding me gets even more delicious. Two others join, the three strands of perfection curling down my throat.

My lungs tingle. A high-pitched sound ekes out, and three deep purrs reply.

Cramps are still tweaking my middle, but there isn’t an accompanying lurch of fear. My Omega hardly notices the discomfort, too busy whining over the empty place behind my diaphragm to worry about my empty pussy.

When my pack alpha scent-marks me, I can’t contain the needy sound. “Want you,” I whine, “Want the bonds. Please, alpha.”

I barely recognize my own voice, but my alphas do. One nuzzles his nose against mine while the other pets my hair, his essence sharpening.

My usual inhibitions seem to slide right down my back, dissipating before they even touch me. I fling myself toward the fresh scent and land in a cradle of inky muscle.

“Hi, baby,” he chuckles, amused and wicked. He kisses me between my brows, reassuring, “I see you. You good?”

He barely finishes his question before I scrabble closer, kissing him with another desperate sound. He moves his mouth with mine, licking and biting as his purr deepens into a low growl. Fingers twist in my hair and tug, revealing my throat. As his tongue glides up the column, slick douses his lap, and a name sails across my mind like a shooting star.

Dair .

A masculine moan carves into my consciousness, turning my head. I find my light-haired, bright-eyed alpha kneeling beside us. His broad chest throbs on labored breaths as hope fills his face.

Something about that vulnerable expression clicks into my center. A light flicks on inside my soul.

Sebastian .

His forehead presses into mine, fervor lining his square features. “I can’t wait to be in you,” he husks, lungs rumbling in a steady rattle. “You want us to bite you, love? Make you ours?”

My relief must be palpable because the alpha under me shudders. His tattooed hands soften. One strokes down my side while the other massages my nape. Satisfaction echoes in his deep voice. “How does our girl want us?”

Instinct has me whipping my head to the pack leader. Hazel green glints in the muted light—and I realize I have no idea where we are or what time it is. The whole world has been reduced to this. Us . Here, under a shower of stars, in a cocoon of deep blue.

“It’s whatever you want, darling,” Ash vows. “We can take turns… Or we can all put our marks on you at the same time.”

The certainty I feel is powerful . There’s no moment of self-doubt or the sense that perhaps I’m being dramatic. As I look from one of them to the next, the deepest, truest part of me knows exactly what they need. How to bring them together.

“All of you,” I tell them, surprised by my own steadiness. “It has to be all of you.”

Our pack leader smiles, pure pride radiating from his rare, beautiful grin. “That sounds perfect, omega.”

Bast exhales shakily, pressing another kiss to my shoulder. “God, yes,” he quivers. “Anything you want, angel.”

Dair’s purr drops into something even more delicious, full of approval and gratitude. A wicked gleam touches his gaze. “Then you’ll have all of us, baby.”

Fire snaps through my blond alpha’s eyes. “I know where I want to bite you, love, but you’re going to have to ride your other alphas while I do it.”

My core clamps on air, the desperate squeeze enough to have me whining again. Dair grunts at the sound, meeting our leader’s eyes over my shoulder.

“Pack alpha goes first,” he grits, clearly working overtime to hold himself back.

Instead of snatching me away, Asher starts stroking his cock, working the dripping head in and out of his fist. When the knot at his base twitches fuller, my perfume swells.

“I have an idea,” Asher tosses out, rubbing himself harder. “Let’s make sure our princess is completely full. Then we can give her our bites.”

I bounce in Dair’s lap, begging in wordless sobs while he groans his agreement. Bast hums, cupping my face and kissing me deeply. His tongue plunges hot and thick against mine as my other alphas shift below me.

Dair lies back, sprawling his legs in a V and holding his cock up straight. Asher raises a wry brow but smirks, lying in the opposite direction and?—

Oh .

OH—

Yes!

The prince arranges his thighs over Dair’s hips, lining their throbbing shafts up. Dair’s is longer and roped in veins, but Ash has more girth… and pre-cum oozing from his head. Their knots both fill as their balls brush.

Dair pulls his lower lip between his teeth, grunting, “You want to try this, baby? It’s been your very favorite, but we’ve never knotted you in this position at the same time.”

I nod so hard, blonde waves tumble over my shoulders. Bast lifts me easily, turning my body so my legs bracket his packmates’ hips.

Slick pours out, coating both cocks until they’re shiny. Bumping one another while they both strain higher, trying to reach my core.

Dair slides straight into my pussy while Asher works his way into my ass much slower. Pulling grunts out of his packmate every time his rigid cock presses harder into the thin wall separating them.

The fullness is a shock to my system. Urgency snaps through my blood and clamps my core around both of them. Dair groans, his head tilting back. Asher gives a final shove to fill me, then pushes himself upright, balancing on one hand and using his other to gently cup my neck, pressing his chest to my back.

The new position completely exposes the throbbing bud at the top of my slit. Cool air rushes over it, and I cry out, searching for Bast.

“Please, alpha,” I whine, leaning back into Asher’s languid thrusts while Dair’s batter me hard and fast. Bast groans, immediately lowering his face to lap at my clit.

Wild satisfaction streaks up my spine, sweetening my scent. Sensation spirals into my limbs, the tightness pulling taut between my hips. Smoldering and melting. Dousing my alphas.

“That’s right,” Dair rasps, fucking me even faster. “You were built for our knots. Come on these cocks and then Asher fill you up and bite you.”

Bast moans, the vibration spreading tingles from my throbbing nub to the ring of muscle inside me that begs to be satisfied. Asher pants, his lips sweeping my shoulder. “We’ll both knot you,” he promises, deep and delicious. “Fill you so much you can’t move while we sink our teeth into your perfect skin.”

Nothing has ever sounded more right . Frantic need swerves through my middle, soaking them with more slick. They all groan, the chorus of masculine pleasure reminding me why we’re here.

I’m going to bring them together .

The thought sails through my blurry mind, pure bliss sparkling into my veins. A shimmering rush froths over the empty place at the very center of me, leaving absolute certainty behind.

“Please,” I whimper, turning to sink my gaze into my pack alpha’s. “ Please .”

Asher’s breath stutters, but his answering nod looks a lot like a bow. Steady and reverent.

“ Now ,” he orders, barking softly.

Before I finish my elated gasp, the prince strikes. His teeth find the place where my shoulder knits into my neck, his jaw opened wide to leave a large, perfect mark where his teeth sink through my skin.

Asher .

There’s no pain—only heat . The warmth of his cock spurting into my backside, his very essence burning a path to that secret place at the heart of me. Quiet and sacred—perfect for our new hiding spot.

Asher pours himself into it, filling the space underneath my lungs so that every breath brushes the piece of his soul he leaves behind.

A tether appears, glowing like the sun behind the clouds. Soft and ethereal.

Waiting for me.

All this time, he’s been waiting for me .

I feel it now. Our rope isn’t connected yet, but even without the bridge between us, I know . This piece of him? It was only ever mine.

Tears well in my eyes as he moans against my skin, gently moving to pop his knot into me. Bast circles his tongue over the top of my clit, sending me into another climax as Dair lunges upright with a roar. He licks the side of my throat, skimming his teeth there with a savage sound.

I clench around him, crying out when he follows suit, locking inside me. Filling the muscles that flutter and gush around his knot. Stuffing me more than they ever have before.

And surely , this will kill me—this much raw, pulsing pleasure ?—

My nerves tingle from the rough scrape of his canines along the column of my throat. He groans my name, emptying hot seed into my depths.

I expect him to tear into my neck, but instead, he takes my right hand and brings it up to his mouth. Nuzzling so gently, I feel his breath shaking. His bite is just as tender, wreathed from the thickest part of my palm all the way around my thumb.

Dair .

The second he breaks my skin, a muddle of joy and pain shoots into my veins. But that’s Dair—a study in contradictions.

His light is so much brighter because it’s surrounded by so much darkness. Like lightning—so brilliant against his thunderous backdrop.

His love, his trust. Striking the deepest piece of my soul, electrifying it. Giving me pain and heat and joy and wonder before blinking back to a dark velvet night.

I might have been afraid of it before. But now, his midnight is the safest place I can imagine.

Tears well in my eyes, spilling over as white teeth flash at my hip, sinking into the bare skin there. I barrel into another climax, automatically reaching down to put my unmarked hand in Bast’s hair, tugging as he follows me over the edge. The scent of melted sugar explodes as hot washes of cum coat the side of my thigh.

Blinding warmth glows into my bloodstream, zipping to my core like a pinball. Bouncing with joy, hitting every aching, doubtful place and leaving complete elation behind.

Sebastian .

He’s… goodness.

Color and humor and heart.

Earnest care and teasing lightness—the opposites somehow woven into a single strand that coils loose at my center. So eager. Waiting .

They all are.

Asher’s knot releases and Dair’s follows, their bodies reacting as my scent deepens. I scramble in a half-circle, nearly sobbing with relief when my gaze lands on my mark—the place where I’ll claim Prince Asher Everhart.

He catches me in his arms, alpha power tingling off him in waves. Hazel eyes snap with fire, blazing as I sink myself back onto his cock and clamp my teeth over the tattoo branded across his pectoral. He shouts, instantly releasing another load into my body as our tether pulls taut and blinks on.

The pleasure may be violent, but the way he feels couldn’t be more peaceful. Asher is the patter of quiet rain. The whisper of well-loved pages. The warmth of a mug of tea on a misty afternoon.

His arms lock around my body, pulling me into his chest just like his soul seems to reach for mine, bringing it into his own for safekeeping. For a moment, there’s just blurry bliss. And then, the space where they overlap doesn’t truly belong to either of us anymore.

Instead, there’s a little alcove. A secret place that reminds me of the one we used to hunker down in together. Behind him, I sense a gate. A straight path to him. And another at my back.

But now, we’re both here. In this magic hiding spot we made.

There you are , he thinks, full of raw emotion. It feels like I’ve been missing you forever .

He latches his mouth over his bite, sucking it until a new wave of release washes through me. I lap at his claim mark, whimpering as he holds me and purrs against my lips.

I love you, goose. My heart has always belonged to you—but now my soul does, too .

His complete sincerity sinks into my bones. Happiness vibrates beneath my lungs, tickling them until they give their own weak rumble.

Bast groans at my small purr, a zing of urgent want flaring into me. Asher feels it and smiles, pride glowing in the curve of his mouth. “Go get the rest of our pack, darling. I’ll be right here.”

Hot liquid coats my thighs as I rise to my knees and spin for the baron. Climbing his broad, muscled body to reach the front of his throat.

I’m not sure why, but my Omega needs our claim right there . Where every single person he meets will see it and know—he’s mine .

Bast loves that idea as much as I do. When I lick his Adam’s apple, he chokes on a moan, gathering my naked curves in his brawny hands. “Yes, Ivy, love. Please .”

I spread my jaw as wide as I can, biting him hard right above the base of his throat. Bast growls and grunts, shoving his throbbing cock straight into me. Locking himself in deep as he comes.

The strand stretched between our souls erupts with color. Jubilant and heartfelt and true . Light refracting, throwing rainbow sparks.

Sebastian is everything good. Sprinkles on ice cream, the giddiness of an inside joke. And underneath all that? His loyalty is fierce . And nothing— nothing —matters to him more than this pack.

Than me .

The salted sweetness of his scent matches the taste of our tears. His mouth finds mine, and he presses them together, smearing dampness across my lips. Impressing how much he adores me with every ragged breath.

Happy memories beam into the bond, flooding the secret alcove Asher and I made with golden rays of light. Our pack leader’s answering joy bounces back at Bast. The alpha in my arms laughs breathlessly, kissing every part of my face.

You did it, angel , he exults. My perfect girl .

His heart is so full of happiness, it’s impossible for me to contain my own giggle. He steals the sound from my lips with one final press, his knot releasing me even as his soul clasps tight to mine.

It’s a beautiful feeling. One that leaves me sniffling as I turn to the last alpha in the room.

My Dairragh .

I can see how carefully he’s held himself in check, waiting his turn. His dark eyes burn, begging me to come closer, while the rest of him strains for stillness.

I fully expect him to sweep me into his lap and sink himself inside my pussy, but he surprises me again. Trembling, he remains motionless, swallowing thickly when I reach his side.

He’s scared, I realize.

It doesn’t make sense… until vulnerability cracks across his features. His scent slices sharper as he raises his arm and holds out his hand.

Asking me to bite him there . Over the tattoo. On top of all his thorns.

I lunge , snapping his hand between mine and closing my teeth right over the thicket etched below his wrist. The thin skin breaks immediately. Dair’s tether tugs taut, slowly flickering to life.

Boundless passion and the darkest depths carve into my soul. Indelible. Impossible. Perfect.

All the times I looked at him and saw indolent apathy seem laughable now. It was all an act. A coping mechanism. Because he cares so much , it crushes him. So much , he has to find ways to turn it off. Stuff it down. Talk himself out of it.

Except now he can’t .

Now, he loves me. And it’s shifted the very foundation of his being.

She knows I love her, right? Please, God. She has to know.

I hear him and start to cry, whining as I fling my arms around his neck. I hear you, I tell him, and then repeat the one thing he’s always said for me. I see you . Do you feel how much I love you, too?

For a moment, he only feels breathless. But then it finally hits him, winding into his chest like a single headlight on a dark road.

Or maybe like a star, drifting through space.

Warm and bright, changing the darkness around it.

With a ragged inhale, Dair bundles me into his shaking arms. Every fiber of him begging me to sink onto the throbbing length that’s already spurting hot and thick between my thighs.

I take it.

I take him .

Pouring all my devotion into our bond, showing him that it’s safe here. We care about him. He’s ours .

“Ivy,” he whispers, pressing his forehead into mine. “How are you this beautiful ?”

He has his eyes closed, but even if he didn’t, I’d know he isn’t talking about the way I look. None of them are as their complete and total agreement swarms the bond.

Dair’s mouth quirks, his smile soft as he scent-marks my face. Exhaustion winds its way into my body. Rest, now, darling , Asher says, his pride and adoration warming me.

Yeah, baby, Dair agrees. We’re here.

We’ll always be here, angel , Bast adds. Forever .