Chapter 45 Ren
FORTY-FIVE
Ren
The breeze licks my cheeks. On the beach house terrace, I can almost forget that we’re in the middle of a busy college campus. Laz’s laughter echoes from inside as he chases Faye around and demands a tickle fight rematch.
It’s been two weeks since Faye bonded with Laz and Cole and a week since we officially moved in. Cole made sure everything went smoothly; he even got a rush order on a giant bed for Faye’s nest. Already, it feels homier than our pack house ever did.
Yesterday, our neighbors (the Princeton Pack) came over for a barbecue.
We played a rather heated game of volleyball.
Damon and Carmen, one of Amora’s alphas, formed an alliance that helped him get over the grudge he was holding after what happened to Faye at their last party.
Faye loved catching up with Amora too. We’re all glad she has a friend so close by.
As much as we do our best to educate ourselves and understand what Faye’s going through, none of us knows what the changes feel like for a bonded omega.
Laz enjoyed giving the Princeton’s a tour of the house.
He’s done an amazing job. As well as spending time with Faye, he’s used the bonding break from his studies to act as an interior designer.
Faye happily handed control over to him, but he involved her in all the decisions—especially for her nest.
I sigh, putting down my book after reading the same line for the third time. Nothing’s going in. I’m teaching a class tomorrow, yet I still haven’t finalized my lesson plan, and I have a stack of essays to give feedback on. I massage my temples. I’ll try again later.
Despite being insanely happy for my pack, I can’t help feeling like I’m the odd one out. They all seem so much more complete since bonding, yet I’m stuck in a strange state of limbo.
Faye has been amazing. She’s quick to reassure me, but we haven’t spent as much time together as I’d like. It was crucial that Cole and Laz spend plenty of time with her after their bonding. Although I’ve been around to help as much as I can to make sure everyone has what they need.
I’ve noticed a big difference in everyone since bonding. Laz is much less flustered in Faye’s company, and while Cole is still as driven as ever, he’s relaxed a little and actually puts his phone down to be fully present for her. Even Damon’s sulky moods have all but disappeared.
Once an omega bonds with a pack leader, the bond is eligible to be legally recognized.
Much like a marriage, all bonds must be officially recorded and filed, and Cole has already completed and submitted all of the relevant paperwork.
Because of this, Cole’s father inevitably heard the news.
After receiving a few hostile voicemails and following through on his threat of freezing Cole’s accounts, Cole blocked his father’s number and seems more at peace.
For years, Cole invested his money wisely, so luckily, he doesn’t need access to his father’s cash.
On top of that, Laz and I also come from wealthy families.
Between the three of us, none of us need to work unless we want to.
“Ren?” I turn my head in the direction of Faye’s voice. Apparently, she escaped Laz’s advances by sneaking out through his bedroom onto the terrace. “Are you out here?”
“Over here.”
Her face lights up as soon as she sees me. “Can I come hide out with you?”
She’s wearing a floaty, peach-colored dress with a floral garland in her hair, looking positively ethereal.
I shuffle over then pat the spot on the swing seat next to me. “Always.”
She scampers over and snuggles up into me, her head nestling underneath my chin. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve been right here.”
The sun sets before us, casting majestic patterns that dance across the lake surface.
Neither of us speak. We just breathe each other in, embracing the stillness and the beauty surrounding us until she quickly sits up.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” She squeezes my knee.
I nod, my insecurities creeping in. She probably went in to check on one of her bonded alphas.
“What’s this?” I ask when Faye returns, precariously balancing a tray with various snacks. Below us, I hear the rest of the pack leaving.
“I thought it was about time we spent some quality time together.” She places our snacks on the table at our side. “I asked—well, maybe ordered—everyone else to leave us alone for the night.” She bites her lip. “Is that okay?”
“Okay?” How does she know what I’m thinking? “That sounds amazing.”
She sits down next to me and takes my hand. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you now?”
“It’s nothing.”
She arches one eyebrow with a look that says, ‘I don’t believe you.’
“I guess…” I exhale deeply. “I just feel a bit left out.” I shake my head. “It sounds so juvenile when I say it aloud.”
“Ren,” She tenderly strokes along my cheek bone. “We may not have physically bonded yet, but you were the first alpha I really bonded with. You know that, don’t you?”
I meet her loving gaze. The woman who made me feel like I was truly wanted, and for the first time in my life, like a real alpha.
“If it wasn’t for you, I’d never be the Silverwood Pack’s omega. All of this.” She gestures around at our new life. “Is because of you. I don’t need you to bite me to feel like yours. I already am. I think I have been from the moment we met.”
“Have we told you lately how lucky we are to have you?
“All the time.” She laughs as I drape an arm around her and pull her against me. “But I’m the lucky one to have four amazing alphas. There is something else I’ve been thinking about lately. About our bond.”
My heart sinks, going straight to the worst-case scenario. Has she had a change of heart? She wouldn’t be the first omega to reject me. After what she just said, I realize it’s an irrational fear, but I can’t help it.
Faye chews on her nail nervously, crossing and uncrossing her legs.
“You can tell me anything, Faye.”
“I w-was…” She looks down at her lap. “I’d like you to claim me without knotting.”
After hearing Cole, Laz, and Damon’s stories about how they had the best knotting sessions of their lives during their bonds, I’m shocked.
“It’s not because I don’t love your knot!” she adds, pre-empting my worry. “I think you already know I do. Our connection is different. It’s special and deep. I want our bonding to represent that.”
I don’t know what to say. Usually, it’s tradition to bond while knotting because it heightens sexual pleasure. Claiming without it isn’t unheard of, but it’s rare—especially in a consented bonding. However, the more I think about it, the more I like it.
“You hate the idea, don’t you?” she groans. “It’s fine. It was a silly suggestion—”
“No, baby.” I drop a kiss on top of her head. “I love it.”
Her eyes brighten. “Really?”
I pull her onto my lap to face me. My knot wants her badly, but my heart wants her more. “I want to be your alpha, Faye.”
“You already are,” she purrs, the smell of the slick pooling in her panties making me dizzy. She trembles as I brush her hair off her neck. “But I want the world to see it too.”
I kiss the scent glands behind her ear and feel her heart quicken. “Are you ready to be mine forever, beautiful?”
“Yes, alpha.” Her body bends inward, craving our connection. “Please.”
My omega.
I bite her neck, on the opposite side of Damon’s mark, a gasp spilling past her parted lips when I break the skin. We stare into each other’s eyes as our bodies respond. It happens in slow motion. Her pupils dilate wildly, losing myself in her gaze as everything seems to swim before us.
Our first meeting at the greenhouse…
Faye’s heat spike in the library…
The first time I tasted her slick…
How good her mouth felt around my cock for the first time…
The way she stretched to take my knot…
The day she agreed to court our pack…
“You’re mine, Faye,” I murmur. “All mine, baby.”
“Alpha.” She pants like she’s about to come and clutches onto my shoulders like she’s afraid I’ll let her go.
The sensation is similar to the peak of an orgasm, only it descends through my entire body.
It’s deeper than sex, like our souls are being stitched together, piece by piece.
I feel her softness, her admiration, the way she wants me.
Fuck, I can tell exactly how badly she wants me.
She’s always told me, but it’s different to feel her desire in my bones.
We’re bound. Forever. Biologically and spiritually linked. This is far better than I ever imagined. This omega has put me back together and made me whole.
“You’re everything, Faye. Everything.”
I cradle her in my arms for a few beats before I realize the front of my shirt is wet.
“Baby.” I look down to find tears running down her cheeks. “What is it?”
“I…” she sobs. “I finally feel complete now.”
One by one, I take my time kissing away her tears, cherishing the sweet saltiness on my lips.
“You are.” I nod in agreement. “You have all of us.”
It feels like all the blood in my body has rushed to my cock as the urge to knot her builds, but I suppress it. We have years for that and plenty of heats to experience together. Right now, I’m here for her heart.
“That was…” Faye pulls back, wiping her eyes. Her tears have dried up, but her eyes still sparkle. “Incredible.”
The sun sets before us, lighting up the sky with pink and orange hues. I grab a nearby blanket as she curls her body up against mine to watch it together.
I never thought I’d find an omega who accepted me, but I have. Before, the future didn’t fill me with much excitement, but now? With Faye by my side and our pack complete, anything seems possible.