Chapter 10
TEN
Devlin
I wake up, my skin still alive with the scent of them – Lorcan, Tadhg, Cathal – a perfect blend of all three, woven together in a way that makes my omega hum with satisfaction. Their touches, their words, are etched into my mind, burned into my soul. But then, as the haze of pleasure begins to lift, the weight of what happened presses down on me like a crushing wave. The bond is still fresh, still too new, too raw, and it leaves me restless, disoriented.
My fingers twitch at my sides, desperate to feel the marks – those heavy, possessive marks on my neck. They’re mine, claimed, sealed. But even as I reach for them mentally, there’s a hollow ache in my chest.
I try to move, to roll over, but my body feels like it's still trapped in the aftermath. Slow. Sluggish. My limbs are heavy with exhaustion and satisfaction, yet somehow, I feel...unmoored. The sheets tangle around my legs, and I feel a strange, soft ache in my muscles, in places I didn’t even know could be sore.
I know what happened. I know who I belong to now. But the reality of it still feels like a dream. Like I’m suspended between worlds. The bond is there, a steady pulse beneath my skin, but my mind is struggling to catch up. It’s a blend of instinct, of possession, of something undeniably real – but also something that terrifies me.
I belong to them. To all of them – even if Cathal and I aren’t bonded yet.
The thought should be comforting. It should feel like home. But instead, it makes my heart flutter in an unfamiliar way. Something inside me stirs. Something unsure, something hesitant.
The bond continues to hum under my skin, settling, nesting into the hollow spaces within me. My omega instincts are quiet now, but the unease in my chest hasn’t gone. There’s a gnawing feeling deep inside – a fear, a worry, I don’t fully understand. What have I done? What does this mean for me, for us?
I push myself up, squinting into the daylight streaming through the curtains. My head throbs, and everything feels like it’s moving too fast, too slow. Panic bubbles in my chest, as the realisation sinks in. I’ve missed it. The wedding reception.
How long has it been?
The question feels like a weight, suffocating. I glance at the bed beside me, expecting them to be there, to have stayed, to have comforted me through the nights. But they’re gone.
Have they left? The thought cuts through me like ice.
I swallow down the panic, but it swells up again, spreading like wildfire. I blink rapidly, trying to shake the fog in my mind. Why would they leave me? What if they?—
No. No, stop it. Get a grip, Devlin.
I try to breathe, but it feels like the air is thick, too heavy. I can't make sense of what I’m feeling, but all I know is this: I’m not just lost in my own head right now. I’m lost in them .
Just as my mind spins further, a knock at the door cuts through the tension, and before I can respond, the door swings open.
There they are.
Lorcan. Tadhg. Cathal. All standing in the doorway, like they belong here. Like they belong with me.
My breath hitches in my throat, and suddenly, I’m frozen. I open my mouth, but the words die on my tongue, caught between something like relief and something too raw to speak. I stare at them, and for the first time, I notice the change. The subtle shift in them, too. It’s like the bond is already shaping them, just as it’s shaping me.
Lorcan steps inside first, his eyes dark, soft, but heavy with meaning. His presence is a steady anchor in the storm brewing inside me. He moves to the bed, sits beside me, and reaches for my hand.
“You’re alright,” he promises, his voice low and comforting, almost like a reassurance I didn’t know I needed. “You’ve been in heat for three days, Red. We’ve been taking care of you.”
I blink, feeling the world tilt. “Three days?”
Tadhg’s voice is steady, a grounding force as always. “You were a bit out of it, Clover. We weren’t about to leave you to fend for yourself.” His eyes soften as he watches me. “Your reservation at the hotel was only for one night, but don’t worry – we handled everything. We grabbed your things, checked you out, and settled the bill.”
Cathal lets out a quiet chuckle, his eyes bright with something like affection. “You were a bit of a mess, Embers. But don’t worry, we had it covered.”
I swallow, a lump catching in my throat. They planned for me. They thought ahead. For us. It’s such a simple thing, but it means the world in a way I can’t explain. They didn’t just care for me. They cared for us . Without even asking. Without hesitation. And it makes something warm bloom in my chest. A flutter.
I didn’t think I could feel something like this. Not after everything that’s happened. But here it is, soft, unfamiliar, terrifying.
“I…I didn’t even realise…” My voice cracks, the words heavy on my tongue. My heart thumps in my chest, and I can’t look them in the eye.
Tadhg moves closer, his touch light on my shoulder, but it’s enough to calm the storm in my mind. He’s so steady, so sure. His presence wraps around me like a blanket. “It’s alright,” he swears. “We’ve got you.”
The weight of his words hits me in a way I can’t explain. They’ve got me . It should be enough. And yet, there’s a tension in my chest, a feeling I can’t shake. It’s not fear. It’s something else – something too big, too raw, something I can’t quite name.
My throat tightens again, and the words slip out on a shaky breath. “Thank you,” I breathe. “For…for looking after me. For everything.”
Cathal grins, his trademark lazy smile making my stomach twist. But there’s something deeper behind it, something that speaks of care. Of something more than just a pack.
“You don’t have to thank us,” he says softly. “That’s what a pack does.”
A pack. My pack .
The words settle in, heavy and comforting. They hum deep inside me, mingling with the bond that pulses under my skin. But even as my heart tries to settle into this new rhythm, I feel the tug of conflict. A part of me feels so right here. Another part feels...lost.
I push the sheets off me, suddenly restless. “I should freshen up,” I protest, my voice hoarse from more than just sleep. More than just the pleasure we shared. I need space. Time to breathe. Not because I don’t want them, but because there’s too much, too soon.
Lorcan squeezes my hand once before letting go, and I slip out of bed, heading for the en-suite. I close the door behind me, and a breath escapes me, shaky and uncertain.
I stare at my reflection, and I barely recognise myself. The marks on my neck stand out, bold against my flushed skin. They’re already starting to heal, but it will be a few days – or maybe even weeks – before they take on that silvery luminescence of scars.
A pang for Cathal’s bite hits.
I feel the bond with the others, thrumming beneath my flesh, like a second heartbeat. They are there, constantly, always present now. Not just as a connection, but as a part of me. I feel them in ways that go beyond instinct – beyond familiarity. I feel their strength. Their care. Their need to protect . Their love.
It should be overwhelming. It is, a little. But it also feels...right. Like it’s always been this way, even when I didn’t realise it.
As I step into the shower, the warmth of the water soothes my aching body, but it doesn’t erase the sensation of their presence, still wrapped around me. It’s a new scent, a new feeling woven into my own, and it leaves me wondering just how much I’ve changed.
And then, faintly, I feel it.
Cathal. His presence is muted, not as strong as the others, but it's there – soft and lingering at the edges of my mind.
A pang of sadness pulls at me. He’s not part of the bond – not yet, maybe never. But there’s something in his energy that makes me feel like I’m leaving something behind. Something I hadn’t realised I wanted until it was too late.
I close my eyes, leaning into the spray. It’s too soon to think about this. Too soon to try to unravel the threads between us. But I need to. For the pack. For me.
I just don’t know if he’ll let me.
Sighing, I step out of the bathroom feeling fresher. I comb my damp hair back and wrap my body in the comfort of soft, fluffy towels. It still feels strange, moving through this space that has become ours rather than just theirs. But the bond hums gently in the back of my mind, grounding me in a way I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to.
Once I’m dried and dressed and have sorted my hair, I head for the lounge. The guys are already there, waiting for me. Lorcan leans casually against the back of the sofa, Tadhg lounges with his ankle resting on his knee, and Cathal stands near the window, gazing out over the city. They turn to me as one, as if sensing my presence before I even make a sound. The connection between us makes my chest tighten – both comforting and overwhelming all at once.
“Hey,” Tadhg grins, eyes raking over me as his approval and admiration flares through the bond. “You clean up nice.”
I shake my head but can’t quite keep the smile from my lips. “Glad to hear it. I had to scrub myself several times over. I didn’t think all that cum and slick was ever going to come off.”
He laughs as Lorcan steps forward. “We were thinking…How do you feel about getting out for a bit? Fresh air, change of scenery?”
I don’t even hesitate. “Yes. Please. I feel like I’ve been trapped in here for weeks.”
Cathal chuckles. “It’s only been a few days.”
“Exactly.” I grab my coat. “Let’s go.”
The sun is bright, but the air is crisp, a cool breeze skimming over my skin as we step out onto the streets of Cork. It feels good to move, to stretch my legs, to breathe in something other than the scent of heat and bonding and tangled sweat-soaked sheets. The guys keep close around me, not in an overbearing way, but in a way that reminds me, subtly but undeniably, that I am theirs now. It sends a warm shiver through me, even as I push my hands deep into my coat pockets.
As we walk, we exclaim over things we recognise and things that are new. The city has changed so much in our absence, and yet at the same time, it still feels undeniably like home. So many landmarks remain unchanged, and the vibrancy and heart of the city is as strong as ever, making me nostalgic for what was.
I can’t stay though. I’m not that young naive Cork beta anymore.
Eventually we find a restaurant nestled along the river, something warm and inviting after skipping past the upscale fine dining places, and settle into a table near the window. As soon as we’re seated and have ordered some small plates to share, the conversation naturally drifts towards us – what happens now, how we move forward as a pack. It’s strange, talking about it in such practical terms, but necessary. We can’t stay wrapped up in the haze of bonding and heat fucking forever.
“So,” I start, wrapping my hands around my mug of tea. “How is this actually going to work? Logistically, I mean.”
Tadhg leans forward. “Well, for starters, we’re not actually as far apart as you might think. Back in England, you were in Exeter, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, for uni, and then I stayed after I graduated. I work remotely, boring spreadsheet work that I don’t fully understand but they pay me well for, but I never had a reason to leave, so I guess I can afford to be the flexible one here,” I say diplomatically.
Although it feels like a massive upheaval to my life.
What about them? What are they giving up to be with me? Is this what I really want?
My sudden doubt and panic must show on my face because the guys exchange glances that I can’t quite read.
And then Tadhg is pushing calming, reassuring vibes down the bond.
Fuck! The bond. How did I forget about that? Two of them at least can feel everything I’m feeling.
I need to find a way to shut that off. Or at least get it under control. They don’t need my emotions screaming at them every second of the day like some over emotional, hysterical omega.
“That’s actually not too bad,” Lorcan says thoughtfully. “We’re based in Silver, up in North Devon. It’s not exactly next door, but it’s a hell of a lot closer than if you’d been in London or, I don’t know, Scotland.”
I blink. “Silver? Silver Sands? That tiny village near the coast? The surf place?”
Tadhg smirks. “You know it?”
“Not well, but I’ve driven through a couple of times. It’s beautiful. Right by the largest village in England, right?”
Cathal nods. “That’s where our company is based. High-end construction, mostly bespoke builds.”
I raise a brow. “So you’re all business owners.”
“Partners, yeah.” Lorcan grins. “Surprised?”
“A little.” I take a sip of my tea. “Not sure why. I guess we don’t really know each other all that well…history aside.”
Tadhg winks. “It’s the rugged charm. People always assume we’re farmhands or mechanics.”
I huff a quiet laugh, then glance between them. “So…this means, geographically at least, we can make this work.”
Lorcan’s expression softens. “Yeah. It’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
It is. It’s reassuring to know that whatever challenges we’ll face, distance won’t be one of them.
“When are you heading back?” I ask.
“In the next couple of days,” Cathal replies. “What about you?”
“Same,” I say, then pause as something clicks. “Wait. What flight are you on?”
Tadhg pulls up his phone, checking the details before showing me the screen.
I stare at it, then laugh. “Well, that’s a bit convenient.”
Lorcan leans in, glancing at the screen. “Same flight?”
“Same flight.”
“That settles it, then,” Tadhg says, satisfied. “We’ll get you home safe.”
I hesitate, then take a deep breath. “I was supposed to go visit and stay with my family for a few days, but…” I trail off, knowing I don’t need to explain.
The pack bond is new, and I can already feel how it tethers me to them in a way that makes the thought of being away from them feel wrong . And there’s no way I’m ready to drag them all with me and introduce them to my ma and pa as my new pack.
“If you want an excuse to get out of it,” Lorcan says carefully, “we could always offer an alternative.”
I look at him. “What do you mean?”
“Come to Silver with us,” Cathal says simply. “Just for a couple of weeks. Let the bond settle before you throw yourself back into normal life. I think it would be…uncomfortable for you guys to be apart, and none of us want you to be in pain, baby.”
My heart gives a strange, eager little lurch. “Are you all sure?”
Tadhg snorts. “Devlin, we just bonded you. You really think we’d be fine with you going off on your own right now? It would be painful, for all of us and our alphas would go insane trying to get to you.”
I glance between them, warmth blooming in my chest at the quiet certainty in their eyes. I don’t have to think too hard about my answer.
“Alright,” I say softly. “I’ll come with you.”
Lorcan grins. “Good.”
Cathal nudges my knee under the table, quiet approval in his simple touch. Tadhg just smirks, looking far too pleased with himself. And I sit there, holding my tea, feeling something settle inside me.
This is happening. I don’t know what the future holds, but at least, for now, I know exactly where I belong.
As we finish up our meal, Lorcan and Tadhg stand, stretching before grabbing the bill between them.
“We’ll go settle up,” Lorcan says with a wink, already heading toward the front.
Tadhg follows, ruffling my hair playfully on the way past. “Try not to miss us too much.”
That leaves just me and Cathal.
The easy warmth of the moment cools slightly, tension creeping back in as the weight of unspoken things lingers between us. He sits back in his chair, hands clasped together on the table, staring at them as though searching for the right words.
“I need to say something,” he mutters finally, glancing up at me. His blue eyes – so similar to Tadhg’s yet so much more serious – are laced with something raw and uncertain.
I nod, bracing myself. “Okay.”
He exhales, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I’m sorry. For everything. For how I treated you, for how I made you feel like you weren’t enough when you were always too much – in the best damn way.” His throat bobs. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know that I regret it. All of it.”
A lump forms in my throat. I don’t doubt his sincerity – I can feel it – but that doesn’t mean everything is magically fixed.
“I appreciate you saying that,” I say carefully. “But you do realise this isn’t something that just goes away overnight, right?”
He nods quickly, almost too quickly. “Of course. I don’t expect?—”
“I’m not saying I don’t want to try,” I interrupt, my voice softer now. “Because I do. But this…you and me? It’s going to be a slower path than it is with Lorcan and Tadhg.”
His shoulders relax slightly, as though just hearing that is enough to ease some of his fears. “That’s okay. I’m more than okay with that.” He swallows, then holds my gaze. “I’m just thankful for the chance to be in your life again, in whatever capacity.”
His words settle something inside me, and I reach across the table, covering his hand with mine. “Don’t be silly. You’re my fated mate, Cathal. We just have a few things to work through first. But I do believe we’ll get there.” I squeeze his hand. “Because I still have feelings for you.”
Understatement , my omega screams. She can shut up. We know we still love him, but we don’t have to tell him that. Not yet.
Cathal inhales sharply, as if my words physically affect him. His fingers tighten around mine, and for a moment, he just stares at me like he’s committing this moment to memory. Then, hesitantly, he asks, “Can I kiss you?”
A small laugh escapes me, the tension between us shifting into something warmer. “You’d better,” I tease.
He doesn’t hesitate. Leaning across the table, he cups my cheek and brushes his lips against mine – soft at first, almost like he’s waiting for me to pull away. But I don’t. I lean into him, deepening the kiss just slightly, letting him feel that I mean it. That I want this.
The moment is sweet and tentative, full of promise, but it doesn’t last long.
“Oi, get a room, will you?” Lorcan’s voice breaks us apart, amusement thick in his tone.
I pull back to find Lorcan standing beside him, smirking as Tadhg scrubs a hand through his twin’s hair. “Can’t leave you alone for two minutes, can we?”
Cathal huffs, batting Tadhg away. But there’s a lightness in his expression now, a flicker of hope where there used to be only regret.
I smile, warmth blooming in my chest. Maybe things aren’t perfect yet, but for the first time in a long time, I believe they can be good.