Chapter 29
ANITA
It’s been four full days of intensity, of heat-induced pleasure so overwhelming I genuinely don’t know if I’ll ever be able to walk normally again.
I’m only half joking about that.
But I smile despite the soreness because my whole body feels absolutely delicious. Satisfied in ways I never knew were possible.
It’s nighttime now, and I woke up in peace and quiet, and actually alone for the first time in days. And that clawing hunger inside me is gone. My heat is over.
The guys brought me food throughout, feeding me by hand in between intense sessions, caressing me gently until I fell into exhausted sleep, only for me to wake up hours later crying desperately for them again.
It felt like being trapped in a weird fever-induced dream, a never-ending loop of pleasure and need and more pleasure.
So. Much. Sex.
I’m slightly embarrassed by how much I loved every single second of it.
But now I feel semi-normal again. Well, except for my stomach growling so loudly it probably woke up the neighbors.
I carefully ease myself out of bed, testing my legs. They’re shaky but functional. I shuffle to the bathroom and turn on the shower, and oh my God, it feels amazing to stand under normal water temperature without needing four Alphas to join me.
I take my time washing my hair properly, scrubbing away days’ worth of sweat and slick and everything else, and by the time I step out, I feel almost human again.
As I dress in soft leggings and an oversized sweater that hangs off one shoulder, I can’t help but think that it’s bizarre how good it feels to wear actual clothing.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and immediately find half a dozen increasingly frantic messages from Marcy.
Where are you?
Anita, your followers are LOSING IT.
You can’t just disappear for days without warning.
Are you alive???
ANITA, I SWEAR TO GOD!
If you don’t respond in 24 hours, I’m calling the police.
I panic slightly and quickly type back: So sorry! I actually had my heat, and four Alphas helped me through it. I’m fine. Better than fine. Amazing, actually.
Her response comes back almost instantly: FOUR?! FOUR ALPHAS?! ARE YOU INSANE? I NEED TO HEAR EVERYTHING IMMEDIATELY.
I laugh out loud and type: Promise I’ll tell you everything, but I’m guessing we need to do a session tonight?
Marcy: Your followers are going to hunt you down if you don’t. They’re going INSANE needing to know what happened with the investigation and where you’ve been. Yes, let’s do tonight. How soon can you be ready?
Me: Just give me a couple of hours. I need food desperately and to properly wake up and get things ready.
Marcy: You got it. I’ll be ready when you are.
I head downstairs following the most incredible smell—garlic, butter, meat cooking, something savory and perfect.
The kitchen and dining area come into view, and all four of them are there. Jasper is at the stove, Slater is setting the table, Mason is opening a bottle of wine, and Dylan is pulling something out of the oven.
Jasper grins when he spots me, looking up from whatever he’s stirring. “There she is. Sleeping Beauty awakens.”
Slater is on his feet first, crossing the space in three long strides, pulling me into his arms, and kissing me thoroughly. “How are you feeling? Ready for more?”
I laugh against his mouth. “I think I’m good for today. Pretty sure my heat has finally calmed down. But that was intense, right? Tell me that was abnormally intense.”
He chuckles, his hands warm on my waist. “It was spectacular, and I will never forget it for as long as I live. None of us will.”
“Best days of my entire existence,” Mason confirms from across the room, raising his wineglass in a toast.
Jasper just grins wider. “Unforgettable.”
Dylan pops out of the kitchen, carrying a massive plate piled high with creamy mashed potatoes, perfectly seared steaks, and roasted vegetables that smell like heaven.
I’m literally drooling just staring at the table. “You have no idea how hungry I am. I might eat everything on that table by myself.”
They bring me to a chair, all five of us settling down, and the moment I cut into my steak, I moan embarrassingly loud.
“God, this is incredible,” I say around my first bite.
“You’re starving for meat,” Dylan observes with dancing eyes.
I point my fork at him. “Don’t.”
“Can’t get enough of it in you, apparently,” he continues with a straight face.
I laugh so hard I nearly choke, then grab the dinner roll from my plate and throw it at his head. It bounces off his forehead perfectly.
“Inappropriate!” I declare, but I’m grinning.
They all laugh, the sound filling the dining room with warmth.
“It’s so strange seeing you in actual clothes,” Mason says thoughtfully, studying me. “Like, genuinely weird.”
“You’ve had it pretty good for the last few days,” I point out, spearing more vegetables. “Walking around naked, everyone naked constantly, no rules.”
“You bet we have,” Slater agrees. “Absolute heaven.”
They’re all nodding enthusiastically, and I shake my head at them, unable to stop smiling.
“So I need to do a radio show tonight,” I say between bites. “I completely vanished on my followers for days without warning. They’re demanding updates, and Marcy says they’re going insane.”
“What will you say?” Jasper asks, his expression turning more serious.
“Still working that out,” I admit. “I don’t want to give away too much since Reed might be listening, and I absolutely can’t let him suspect I have anything to do with being Ash. But I’ll think of something vague enough to be safe.”
I’m still eating—the food is seriously amazing—when Dylan suddenly gets up and disappears into the kitchen.
He returns moments later, carrying a huge sticky date pudding and a tub of vanilla ice cream.
Everyone at the table literally starts drooling.
Mason dashes into the kitchen to grab small bowls and spoons for all of us, and within seconds, we’re devouring the dessert with almost no conversation, just appreciative sounds.
“Dylan, you and Jasper can cook for me always,” I say seriously around a mouthful of sticky, sweet perfection. “This is absolutely divine. Life-changing. I’m never eating anyone else’s cooking again.”
“For you, we will,” Jasper says with a warm smile. “Can’t have our Omega starving.”
My heart does a little flip at the casual way he says our Omega.
After we finish eating, the guys start clearing plates and loading the dishwasher.
“Go set up your radio show,” Slater says, kissing my temple. “We’ll handle the cleanup.”
I head into the spare room where my equipment awaits. Everything is exactly where I need it, perfectly arranged, and my chest tightens with emotion. I’m not alone anymore.
I share a house with these four amazing Alphas, and the more I think about it, the more I know deep down inside that I can’t walk away from them.
They’ve already shown me they’re completely different from my first pack.
They cherish me instead of controlling me, worship me instead of diminishing me.
And if I’m going to spend my whole life running from potential hurt, then I’ll never find anyone good enough, right?
God, I love them all so much.
I spin around in my chair, grinning like an idiot, unable to believe how incredibly lucky I am.
My phone buzzes with a message from Marcy: Ready when you are. I need to leave a bit early today, so can we start soon?
I answer: Yep, I’ll be on in five minutes.
I’m quickly setting up, adjusting my microphone and pulling up my show notes, when Mason and Dylan appear in the doorway.
“All ready, then?” Mason asks with obvious curiosity.
I laugh. “You two want something?”
“We’re very curious. You know that,” Dylan says, leaning against the doorframe, and be still, my heart—my handsome Alphas, who have completely turned my life upside down in the best possible way.
Then an idea strikes me.
“How about I introduce you two as guest stars?” I suggest. “No names, obviously, but people can ask you questions directly. I bet my followers would absolutely love that.”
“Yes!” they both say in perfect unison, practically pushing into the room with enthusiasm.
I laugh at their eagerness as I grab spare headphones—I always keep extras—and they drag in additional chairs, positioning themselves on either side of me.
I see that Marcy has turned everything on remotely, so I take a deep breath and launch into my usual intro with a flick of my activation button.
“Good evening, heat seekers. This is The Heat Line, where we turn up the temperature on conversations nobody else wants to have. I’m your host, and I know I left you on a major cliffhanger for several days.
Things have been absolutely hectic but also amazing, and I promise you’ll eventually find out everything. ”
I pause, gathering my thoughts. “Starting with the fact that I moved in with some Alphas. I won’t say too much yet because my next investigative project is still underway and I have to be extremely careful about what I reveal publicly. But once it’s done, I will tell you everything. I promise.”
I can see calls already lighting up on my phone screen that Marcy manages.
“But since I can’t give too much away about that yet, what I do want to tell you is that today we have two very special guests. Two Alphas who have graciously agreed to answer all your burning questions.”
I grin at Mason and Dylan. “Let’s call you… Thor and Loki for tonight.”
Dylan bursts out laughing. “I’m clearly Thor.”
“You’re definitely Loki,” Mason tells him.
“Nope, I called it. I’m Thor.”
“Anyway,” I interrupt, still grinning. “Welcome to The Heat Line, gentlemen. Remember, everyone, no real names. We don’t reveal identifying information here, and this is a judgment-free zone. First caller, you’re on.”
“Hi, longtime listener, first-time caller,” a woman’s voice comes through. “So does this mean you’ve finally found your scent matches? Is that why you moved in with them?”