Chapter 25 #2
"Five if there's traffic," Grayson corrects drily, but he's there too, his hand warm on my back.
Being surrounded by all three of them—their scents, their warmth, their support—makes something in my chest settle.
"I'll be fine," I promise. "They're going to love you guys."
An hour later—showered, dressed, fortified with coffee, and driving Seth's truck—I'm standing on my parents' front porch.
The door opens before I can knock.
Ben stands there, arms crossed. "Heat's over, huh?"
"How did you—"
"Your scent's different. And you've got a claiming mark the size of Montana on your neck." His eyes narrow. "Which one?"
"Wow, no 'hello, how are you, nice to see you.'" I touch the mark self-consciously. "Just straight to the interrogation. Very welcoming, Ben."
"Which. One."
I sigh. "Seth. During heat. I asked for it."
Ben's expression softens. "Are you happy?"
"Terrifyingly happy," I admit.
"Then I'm happy for you." He pulls me into a hug. "Seth's a good guy. They all are."
I hug him back, blinking away tears. "Thanks, Ben."
"Come on. The parentals want to hear about this." He pauses. "Well, not all about it."
My parents are in the living room. They look up when we enter, and both Dad and Papa are on their feet immediately.
"Bea," Mom says, eyes going to the mark. "Oh, sweetheart."
"I'm bonded. To Seth. During my heat." Saying it out loud makes it real. "I don't regret it."
Dad pulls me into a hug. "Are you happy, Bea-bee?"
The childhood nickname makes me tear up. "Yeah, Dad. Really happy."
"Then that's all that matters," Papa says, joining the hug.
Mom's crying happy tears. "My baby's bonded."
"There's more," I say. "I'm moving out. In with Seth and the others. Into Seth's house."
"Already?" Dad asks, thoughtful but not upset.
"I can't be away from him. The bond pulls." I touch my chest. "And River and Grayson want me there too."
"We understand," Papa says gently. "The bond pull is real. Especially in the beginning."
"Your Papa couldn't be more than a room away from me for the first month after we bonded," Mom adds with a soft smile. "It gets easier, but that need to be close? That's normal."
Dad nods. "And you're sure about all three of them?" he asks, but his tone is understanding, not judgmental.
"More sure than I've been about anything. They respect me, support my dreams, take care of me without making me feel trapped." I touch the mark. "This is what I want."
"Then we support you," Dad says firmly. "Always."
"They're coming to Christmas Eve dinner too," I add.
"Of course," Mom says immediately, her eyes warm. "They're family now. We'd love to have them."
"Actually," Ben says, and something in his tone makes us all turn. "Speaking of moving... I bought a cabin. Out near the ridge. I'm fixing it up and moving out before New Year's."
Silence.
"You bought a cabin?" I find my voice first. "When? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Closed last week. Didn't want to say anything until it was final." He looks at me. "And with everything happening with you, it didn't seem like the right time."
"Oh, so you waited until I dropped my bombshell to drop yours?" I raise an eyebrow. "Convenient timing."
"Ben." Mom's voice is thick. "This is wonderful news."
"You're not upset?" Ben looks surprised.
"Upset that our son is finally getting his own place at twenty-six?" Dad laughs. "We've been waiting for this."
"We thought you were going to mooch forever," I add with a grin.
The teasing breaks the tension. Soon we're all talking over each other about cabin layouts and renovation plans.
"So both my kids are moving out," Mom says, shaking her head with a smile. "The nest is officially empty."
"Not until after Christmas," Ben says. "I'm not abandoning you for the holidays."
"Me either. One last big family dinner before everything changes."
"It's not ending," Dad corrects gently. "It's expanding."
Later, drinking hot chocolate, Ben nudges me. "You really happy?"
"Yeah." I touch the bond that connects me to Seth. Even from here, I can feel him—working at the station, thinking about me. The love flowing through the bond is steady and warm. "I really am."
"Good." He bumps his shoulder against mine. "You deserve it, Bea."
Outside, snow starts to fall. The first real snow of December, dusting the trees white. Through the window, I can see downtown Honeyridge Falls twinkling with Christmas lights.
My phone buzzes. Seth.
Seth: Missing you. Can feel through the bond that you're happy. That makes me happy too.
I smile, warmth spreading through my chest.
Me: Told them about the bond. They want you guys at Christmas Eve dinner.
Seth: We'll be there. River's already planning what to bring. Grayson says he'll behave. (I don't believe him.)
I grin.
Me: Tell Grayson to at least pretend. Ben's threatening the shovel talk.
Seth: Ben can give me all the talks he wants. I'm bonded to you now. Not going anywhere.
Me: That's very brave of you. You clearly haven't experienced Ben's shovel talk yet.
Seth: Worth it.
The bond pulses with his love—steady, certain, forever.
I love you, I send back.
Love you too. See you soon.
I look around at my family—Mom and Papa arguing about Christmas menu, Dad sketching renovation ideas, Ben watching with quiet affection.
When I came home from college, this wasn't the plan.
But here I am. Bonded to Seth. Moving in with all three of them. Bringing my pack home for Christmas.
The bond with Seth pulses warm in my chest—steady, certain, new. But there's something else too. Something incomplete. Like I'm holding my breath, waiting for the other pieces to fall into place.
River and Grayson.
I haven't bonded them yet. And despite how right everything feels with Seth, I can feel that absence. That pull toward something more.
My phone buzzes again.
River: How's it going with your family?
Grayson: Ben threatening violence yet?
Me: All good. They're excited for Christmas dinner. Fair warning though - Ben's already sharpening his shovel talk.
River: Bring it on.
Grayson: I've survived worse than overprotective brothers.
I smile, tucking my phone away.
But as I sit here with my family, warm and safe and happier than I've been in years, I can't help but think about what comes next.
The bond with Seth is still so new. Still overwhelming sometimes, feeling him constantly in the back of my mind. I'm not ready to add two more bonds to that. Not yet.
But I will be. Someday.
And when I am... I hope River and Grayson will still be waiting.