Chapter 13 #2
"Okay," I said, settling cross-legged in the nest with my laptop. "Let's tackle the practical stuff first. Living arrangements."
"Seattle," Lucas said immediately. "My streaming setup is there. Ro's equipment is there. My lease is up in three months anyway."
"Don’t you live in an apartment?" I asked. Thanks to my research before I took Lucas on as a client, I was well aware that they each had their own place, but none of them, to my knowledge, were big enough for all of us to move in together.
"We'll get a new place. Something that’s big enough for all of us." He looked at me. "Something that works for you, Michelle. What do you need? Home office space? Client meeting areas? Somewhere you can have professional separation when you need it?"
I blinked. He'd thought about this. About my professional needs, not just pack convenience.
"I need office space, yeah. Somewhere I can take video calls with clients. Somewhere that looks professional, not like I'm working from my bedroom."
"So we look for a three-bedroom," Ro said. "One for our nest. One for your office. One for Lucas's streaming setup. Maybe a place with a good common area for when clients visit."
"That's going to be expensive in Seattle."
"We can afford it," Dex said. "Between Lucas's income, Ro's production work, my new consulting business, and your management fees, we're financially stable. We can afford the space we need."
It was so practical. So reasonable. So different from my panic-driven assumption that pack would mean sacrificing everything.
"What about Cedar Falls?" I asked. "My mom's house. My family."
"We visit," Lucas said simply. "Regularly. We make this place part of our pack routine. Your family is pack too, Michelle. We don't have to choose between Seattle and Cedar Falls. We can have both."
"Split our time," Ro added. "Streaming works from anywhere. Production work can be remote. Your management is already mostly digital. We can spend holidays here, visit monthly, make this home base without it being our only home."
Through the bond, I felt their certainty. They'd thought this through. They wanted my family in their lives, wanted Cedar Falls as part of our story.
"Okay," I said, my throat tight with emotion. "Seattle for main residence. Cedar Falls for visits and holidays. That works. What about your families?”
“We visit when we’re ready. As often as we want,” Lucas said with a shrug as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Professional boundaries next," Dex prompted. "What do we need to establish?"
I pulled up the document I'd been drafting. "I've been working on formal protocols. Things we discussed on stream but now need to implement officially."
I shared my screen, and they read through my outline.
Rodriguez Influence Management - Pack Bond Protocols
1. Client Relationships
Michelle will maintain primary manager role for all current clients
Lucas will have option to seek outside counsel on any major decision
All business discussions will be documented
Regular check-ins to ensure no conflicts of interest
Clear separation between pack and professional communications
2. Financial Management
Separate business and personal accounts
Regular audits to ensure transparency
Lucas's income managed same as other clients
No preferential treatment in fee structure or contract terms
3. Professional Development
Michelle will continue serving all clients equally
Lucas's pack bond will not affect other client relationships
Regular ethics training and review
Open communication with ethics committee as needed
4. Public Relations
Transparency about pack bond in all professional contexts
Clear messaging that pack enhances rather than compromises professionalism
Regular communication with clients about how protocols are working
5. Conflict Resolution
If pack and professional needs conflict, established mediation process
Outside arbitrator available if needed
Lucas's career needs take priority over pack convenience
Pack's wellbeing takes priority over professional optics
"That last one," Lucas said, pointing. "We need to talk about that."
"It's important—"
"It's setting up a false choice. Michelle, we're not going to pit my career against pack wellbeing. They're not mutually exclusive."
"But if they ever are—"
"Then we talk about it. As a pack. And we find a solution that works for everyone." He took my hand. "You can't prepare for every possible conflict, Michelle. Some things we'll figure out as we go."
"I need structure. I need protocols. I need—"
"You need to trust us," Ro interrupted gently. "And yourself. You've built these protocols because they make you feel safe. That's fine. But don't use them as walls, Michelle. Don't hide behind rules to avoid vulnerability."
Through the bond, I felt their patience. Their understanding. Their love.
"You're right," I admitted. "I'm trying to control something that requires trust instead of control."
"Keep the protocols," Dex said. "They're good business practices. But acknowledge that some things can't be protocoled. Some things just require faith."
Faith. In them. In us. In my ability to navigate both professional and pack life without destroying either.
"Okay," I said. "Protocols as guidelines, not walls. Trust as foundation. Can I live with that?"
"Can you?" Lucas challenged gently.
I thought about it. Really thought about it.
Could I manage Lucas's career while loving him? Could I maintain professional standards while acknowledging pack bonds? Could I be both a brilliant manager and a devoted omega?
Yesterday I would have said no. That the risk was too high, the bias too strong, the chance of failure too great.
But today, after last night, after seeing the industry response, after feeling my pack's support—
"Yes," I said. "Yes, I can live with that. Because you're right. I can be both. I am both. And trying to choose between them would make me less, not more."
"That's our omega," Lucas said, pulling me close. "Brilliant and brave and finally believing in herself."
Through the bond, I felt their pride. Their joy. Their absolute certainty that we could make this work.
"Heat cycles," Dex said suddenly. "We should discuss heat cycles."
I felt my face heat. "Do we have to?"
"Yes," all three of them said.
"Your suppressants are failing," Ro observed. "We've all noticed. Your scent's been getting stronger. The nest-building instinct. The increased need for physical contact. Your heat's coming, Michelle. Probably within the next few weeks."
"I know," I admitted. "I've been ignoring it."
"Can't ignore biology," Dex said. "We need to prepare. Make sure you have what you need. Make sure we're ready to support you."
"I don't know what I need. I've been on suppressants for a long time now. I've never actually had a heat with pack."
"Then we learn together," Lucas said. "We prepare the nest, stock the bedroom, clear our schedules. We take care of you. That's what pack does."
"But my work—"
"Can wait," Ro interrupted firmly. "Michelle, heat is non-negotiable. You'll need us. We'll need you. Everything else pauses for that. You know that."
I did. I’d seen it happen with Callie after all. There was no way to work through a heat, especially once you had a pack and all your omega wanted was her alphas. I couldn’t help but protest though, "I have clients who depend on me—"
"Who will understand that you need a week for personal time," Dex said. "You're allowed to take breaks, Michelle. You're allowed to have needs."
Through the bond, I felt their protectiveness. Their determination to care for me even when I struggled to care for myself.
"Okay," I said quietly. "We'll plan for heat. Clear the calendar. Prepare the nest. Let my clients know I'll be unavailable for a week."
"Good girl," Dex said, and the praise made my omega purr.
"Mating ceremony," Lucas said next. "Do we want one?"
I looked at him. "Do you?"
"I want whatever makes you comfortable. If you want a ceremony, we'll have a ceremony. If you want to keep it private, we keep it private. But Michelle? Eventually we're going to want to make this permanent. Make you officially, irreversibly ours."
My heart clenched. "Mating bites."
"Mating bites," he confirmed. "But only when you're ready. No rush. No pressure."
"My mom's already planning a New Year's ceremony," I admitted. "She asked me this morning while you were in the shower. I told her I'd think about it."
"New Year's Eve," Ro said thoughtfully. "That's less than a week away."
"Way too fast," I said automatically.
"Is it?" Lucas challenged. "Michelle, we're already emotionally bonded. We're already living as a pack to an extent. A ceremony is just making it official. Making it public. Celebrating with family."
"And permanently marking you as ours," Dex added. "So that everyone knows you're claimed. Protected. Pack."
The possessiveness in his voice made my omega sing.
"You want to bite me on New Year's Eve," I said.
"We want to bite you whenever you're ready," Ro corrected. "If that's New Year's Eve, great. If it's six months from now, that's fine too. But Michelle? We're going to mark you eventually. Make you permanently ours. That's not a question. It's a certainty."
Through the bond, I felt their determination. Their patience. Their absolute commitment.
They weren't asking if I wanted to be mated. They were asking when.
"New Year's Eve," I heard myself say. "Let's do it on New Year's Eve. Let my mom plan her ceremony. Invite family and close friends. Make it official."
"You're sure?" Lucas asked, his eyes searching mine.
"I'm terrified," I admitted. "But I'm also sure. I don't want to wait. I don't want to keep questioning whether this is real. I want to be yours. Officially, permanently, irreversibly. I want mating bites and ceremony and everything."
"Even though it's fast?"