Chapter Fifteen
A fter claiming me, Oaks didn’t go back to work for the rest of the day. Which also meant that I didn’t go back to work since Oaks refused to let me stress clean or cook.
I’d slept through Atlas coming home for lunch which meant I had no idea what he thought of the fact that I was bonded with Oaks.
Was he annoyed that the normal four week waiting period between claiming marks had been waived?
Or did it not matter to him since the waiting period was meant to ease the burden of feeling so many new emotions and that was independently an issue for Oaks and Atlas?
What would Everett say?
I didn’t think he would be upset, but it was simply the anticipation of waiting that had my mind wandering to worst case scenarios. His bite was the only one I was missing.
“How are you feeling?” Oaks asked.
We were sitting on the couch, Oaks’s legs spread on either side of mine as I rested against his body.
His right hand was over the bandage on my thigh where his claiming bite was, like he wanted to constantly touch it and remind himself it was there.
His other hand was gently tracing up and down my left side, petting me.
I was feeling better. Of course, that could have also been because we sat down nearly a half hour ago and hadn’t moved. My vagina was sore. Not quite as bad as going through my first heat with Atlas, but definitely comparable.
“Better,” I admitted. “So long as I don’t move, I feel fine.”
Oaks chuckled behind me. “Perfect then. I’ll just keep you on the bed from here-on-out and we won’t have to worry about you being sore ever again.”
“Please. You’ll miss my cooking too much.”
“True. Your talents are wasted on cleaning.”
I scoffed even as a smile pulled at my lips.
My cooking skills were moderate. I knew how to follow directions and memorized a lot of dishes which simply let me mix and match sides and flavors.
I didn’t think my skills excelled beyond my designation.
I would never get a job as a chef. Still, I appreciated the compliment.
The sound of the front door opening had me sitting up and gasping at the sudden pressure of my core. I never realized how many muscles were used in sex until fucking my pack and becoming physically exhausted. And sore.
Behind me Oaks reached out, trying to draw me back toward him again.
My heart picked up its pace, waiting for Atlas to finish knocking his boots against the outside of the doorframe before finally coming in.
I wasn’t a fan of the Grand Foyer since the large space meant I couldn’t see the door from the other rooms. Soon enough, Atlas made his way into the living space, a wide smile blooming on his face when he saw me.
“Aw, pet, you’re awake.”
I nodded.
He made his way around the couch, kneeling on the ground before he wrapped his arms around me, his face coming to rest against my lower stomach. I curled over the top of him, resting my cheek on his head.
“How are you feeling?” His words were mumbled with how pressed he was against me.
I chuckled. “I was just telling Oaks that I’m fine. Better than fine.”
Atlas kissed my stomach. “You have two mates now. How about that, pet?”
“How about it. I’m feeling pretty happy with my life.”
“Yeah?” He tapped his fingers against me, silently signaling that he wanted to lift his head.
The moment he was free, he pinched my chin with his fingers and dragged my face to his, kissing my lips with a harsh desperation that made my core clench and then twinge in pain.
“Sorry, pet. It’s just so sexy to know you’re even more bonded to my pack. The idea turns me on something fierce.”
“I’ll fuck that asshole tonight,” Oaks said, earning a moan from both Atlas and me. “Eve is still too sore for anything.”
Atlas lifted a brow. “Do I need to kiss you better, pet? I bet my tongue would feel real good wherever you’re sore. I can promise to be nice while Oaks makes good on his word.”
I shook my head. I was pretty sure a single orgasm would be painful. “Maybe I could watch?”
“You’re always welcome to watch. To join. Anything you want, pet.” He leaned in, kissing me softly this time. It didn’t stop my body from reacting. Everything Atlas did was sexy. A part of that was simply because of how beautiful he was. The other part was just him. His dominance, his aura.
It took me a moment to swallow, my throat thick with a mix of arousal and emotion. “I need to start dinner. I made buttered steaks. And garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn, biscuits, and bread crumbled green beans. Most of it just needs to be heated or baked.”
“How are you cooking the steaks?” Oaks asked.
“The grill out back.”
“I’ll do it,” Atlas volunteered. He kissed my cheek and then stood, giving himself a moment to stretch. “Tell me what needs to be done in the kitchen as well. What the temps are and when it needs to go in.”
I hated not doing it myself. This was my job, after all. “I can stand. I’m not that sore.”
Both Atlas and Oaks shared a look. “No,” they said together.
“No?”
“Just sit, darlin.” Oaks pulled me back, so I was leaning against him again. “If I didn’t want to stay here with you, I’d be fighting Atlas on who got to do the steaks. Just let the man have his victory over the grill.”
“But I can do the kitchen. It’s really easy and quick—”
“Good,” Atlas said. “Then I’ll be able to handle it with no problems. Right?”
My lips parted, but no argument came out. That wasn’t the point I was making.
Oaks chuckled behind me, his body shaking mine despite not making a sound.
For the next half hour or so, I continued to sit with Oaks on the couch, talking Atlas through which foods needed to be put in the oven, having him bring me the green beans and bread at different times to check on it.
“Pretty sure that was Everett ... can I start the steaks now?” Atlas asked.
I was glad that he was yelling from the kitchen because then he couldn’t see the way Oaks and I silently laughed.
The steaks would cook in just a few minutes, so they were the very last thing to go on.
Of course, Atlas hated waiting, and he’d been trying to convince me that he should start the steaks for a while so they had time to cool properly or so he could cook them right or whatever excuse he came up with.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Oaks said.
“I heard his car door close.” I glimpsed Atlas leaving the kitchen and make his way to the front door, opening it. “Yep. Everett’s home. I’m starting the steaks now.”
He left the door open as he half-jogged back into the kitchen to get the steaks. I wasn’t sure what it was about a grill that made men so excited to cook.
“Do you ever grill?” I asked Oaks, tilting my head so I could see him.
“Nah. Everett and Atlas usually fight over it.”
“Ah, that’s why he wanted to start before Everett got home.”
Oaks made a noise of agreement.
A few moments later, Everett’s heavy footsteps made their way into the house, the front door finally closing. I was pretty sure he was aware of Oaks and I bonding, most likely from a quick text from Oaks, but that didn’t stop the nerves, like worms, wiggling around in my stomach.
It was different between Atlas and Oaks than between Oaks and Everett. The latter two were alphas. And Everett was technically the de-facto leader of this pack, even if the pack didn’t really follow traditional societal rules. Would Everett be upset that the other alpha had claimed me first?
“I can feel your tension,” Oaks whispered. “Or, make that, your anxiety. It’ll all be fine, darlin. I promise.”
Even so, he clung to me tighter, offering his strength around me like a shield I was happy enough to surround myself in.
Everett didn’t hesitate, seeming to know already that we were in the living room without having to call out for us.
His gaze found mine the moment he rounded the foyer.
He seemed to take in the way I was leaning against Oaks, the fact that I wasn’t up and cooking, all with an intelligent flick of his gaze.
Unlike Atlas, he didn’t waste time walking around the couch. Everett came to the back, leaning over the cushions to press his forehead against mine, his hand coming to pet the Wilder necklace. “How are you feeling, Babygirl?”
I couldn’t help chuckling at the question. It was apparently the first thing everyone wanted to know about me. “I’m good.”
Everett’s fingers gently traced over the bandage on my thigh before sliding higher, just barely cupping my core. “And here? Any soreness?”
My cheeks heated even as my lower abdomen clenched, a spark of pain making me flinch.
“Yes, I can see you are. You should have an icepack. Have you taken anything to help with the pain?”
“I’m not that bad.”
He gave me a look that blatantly said he didn’t believe me. “I’ll get you something. Want water to swallow it down?”
“Sure, thank you.”
He kissed my forehead and then disappeared into the kitchen. I let out a breath, relaxing even more into Oaks.
Just like I told Atlas it would, it only took a few minutes for the steaks to be ready. Everett helped to pull out all the other dishes but rather than set up in the dining space, Everett and Atlas made their way to the living room where Oaks and I were, setting everything on the half-table.
“What are you doing?” My question was for either Everett or Atlas. It didn’t matter since they both seemed to be on the same page. I just didn’t know which book they were in.
“We’re going to eat in here tonight,” Everett said.
“I can—”
Oaks cut me off. “Sh, darlin. No back talk.”
“I’m not back talking. Steak is just hard to eat on the couch.”
Everyone seemed to pause for a moment to consider my words.
“I’ll cut all the strips into bite sizes.” Atlas took the plate of steak back into the kitchen.