Chapter 43 Harlan
Harlan
Rose is drunk by the time we leave the house. It’s adorable. She’s tripped twice, and in the end I just scoop her up and carry her to the car. Her face tucked against my chest is almost too much to bear. Every exhale warms straight through my ribs.
Evander opens the door, and I lower her carefully into the seat.
It takes a full minute to convince her to let go of my jacket.
She finally releases me only after Evander promises to sit beside her while she takes the middle of the front seat and I drive.
It’s a tight fit, but it works—and I get the quiet ache of having them both within reach.
My Starlight starts to snore softly against Evander’s shoulder. Our eyes meet over her head, and he sighs. “I’m so glad we found her.”
I trail my knuckles along his cheek, then down to touch her knee. “I’m so glad I found all of you,” I murmur, glancing at the back seat where Logan watches us with that sharp, hungry look that hollows me out and fills me at the same time.
When we pull up to the house, Evander insists on carrying her.
I run ahead to open the door. Inside, he takes her straight to the bedroom, the rest of us following close behind.
It’s nearly two in the morning. We stayed far too late—drinking, eating, playing ridiculous college party games—and it was the most fun this pack has had in years. Maybe ever.
We start stripping off coats and shoes, voices quiet and tired. Evander works carefully, trying to remove her boots without waking her, but Rose stirs anyway. Her lashes flutter, and she blinks up at us.
“Are we gonna… beyond?” she slurs, words thick with sleep and alcohol.
Wyatt chuckles. “What was that, Sugarplum?”
“Blonde,” she tries again, slower.
The room stills. Every muscle in my body goes tight. If she’s asking what I think she’s asking, we know the answer—but we’d planned to make it special.
Kai and Wyatt share confused looks. Evander’s mouth curves, amused. Logan catches my gaze, eyes steady—he understands exactly what she means.
Before Rose can say another word, she’s gone again, soft snores filling the space. I let out a slow breath, half relief, half longing. I don’t want that moment to happen like this. She deserves more than a half-slurred question. She deserves something beautiful.
“So,” Logan says quietly, breaking the silence, “we’re not the only ones thinking about bonding.”
The words hang heavy between us.
Wyatt sighs. “We were going to do it next weekend. Nice dinner, surprise her.”
“It’s a good plan,” Kai agrees, “but she’s already thinking about it. Maybe waiting isn’t right anymore.”
He’s right. I want to make it special but I don't want to hold off and have her thinking we don't want her or some shit.
“Tomorrow morning, if she’s up for it,” I decide. “We make it happen.” I look to Wyatt. “You have enough to make a real breakfast?”
He nods, resolute.
“She’ll probably sleep in,” Kai adds. “I can go out early, get flowers, roses.”
“I’ll pick up something special,” Evander says softly. “Something that shows we mean forever.”
“I’ll handle the paperwork,” Logan adds, completely serious.
We all turn to stare at him. “What?” he says with a shrug. “It’s important.”
The laugh that breaks out eases something in my chest. I reach out, catch him by the back of the neck, and press a slow kiss to his mouth. His smile after is pure love.
When the lights go out, we slip beneath the covers.
Logan and Kai bracket our sweet omega tonight, and I don’t mind.
She’s a restless sleeper when she’s had too much wine.
She smacks Kai when he tries to spoon her and almost knees Logan in the groin.
They grumble and shift, giving her a small island of space in the middle before curling toward their other partners instead.
I watch her for a long time—her slow breathing, the peace on her face. Tomorrow, if everything goes as it should, she’ll wake surrounded by love. By us.
And this time, it’ll be forever.