Chapter Heathen
Heathen
The early morning sun lit up the room. I woke up encased in heat. I felt like a lioness surrounded by my snoring lions. Dane’s heavy arm was across my waist, Kade’s hand was on Uriel’s chest, and Uriel’s fingers were wrapped around my ankle.
The air was thick with the scent of what went down last night—sweat, cum, and a satisfied pack.
Carefully, I slipped out of the tangle of limbs. Dane’s arm tightened briefly, but I pressed a kiss to his shoulder and he released me with a sleepy grunt.
My body was littered in bruises. I lifted my fingers to my neck and dragged down to my shoulder, a smile played on my lips. Their marks left my skin swollen and tender, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I swiped my phone and Dane’s shirt from the floor.
My legs were jelly, and I was unsteady, but my pulse buzzed against the calm new soul-links. I tiptoed into the hallway, closing the door softly behind me. I was marked, and hungry, but first, I opened SnarlChat and called Ami.
She answered on the second ring, her face filling the screen. Her cat-winged eye-liner only highlighted her eyes, hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“BITCH.” Her voice was a harsh whisper-yell. “You ghosted me for DAYS. I was about to file a missing person’s report.”
“I’m sorry,” I laughed softly, leaning against the hallway wall. “I’ve been… busy.”
“Oh?” Ami’s brow curled upward as she gave me a knowing look. “Then they dropped to my neck. Her jaw fell open. “Oh my knots! Are those–Vee are those BITE MARKS?”
My hand flew to my neck, fingers brushing over the tender area. “Yeah.”
“SPILL,” she shrieked, then slapped her hand over her mouth, and I remembered it was late there.
“Three,” I whispered, unable to stop the smile pulling at my lips.
Ami stared at me for full five seconds. “Who?!”
“The sergeant, his brother, and the gym guy.”
“You lucky bitch. You’re mated, and to all three?!” It wasn’t a question. Admiration shifted to shock then something softer. “And you’re okay with that? Like, really?”
My throat tightened as tears welled. “I’m more than okay. I can smell again.”
“I’m so happy for you, hoe,” she whined as her eyes went glassy and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I’m healing–” My voice cracked. “They’re my scent mates. All of them.”
“Holy shit,” Ami breathed. Then a grin broke across her face as she batted the tears away. “So the sex must be INSANE.”
I snorted, heat climbing up my neck. “Ami,” I warned.
“I’m right though.” She wriggled her eyebrows. “Three? How can you even walk right now?”
“I’m managing,” I muttered, but I was smiling.
“Good riddance to fuckface.” Her expression turned serious. “I was stressed out of my fucking mind that you’d go back to him.”
My smile faded. “He’s gone. Dane… took care of it.”
Ami went very still. “Dead.”
“Yeah.”
She searched my face through the screen. “Before I celebrate on the outside, because you can bet your ass I’m cheering on the inside, how do you feel about that?”
“Free,” I whispered.
Ami nodded slowly, and then smiled. “Good. I hope it was slow.” She paused. “Why do I feel like there’s more?”
I bit my lip. “We have a daughter.”
“You what?!” She yelled.
“Shh!” I hissed, glancing at the closed bedroom door. “Long story short, Dane’s ex was going to abandon her. I brought her home. Her name is Dahlia. She’s four.”
Ami’s hand was over her heart. “Vee. I swear. I was thinking it was some Twilight shit and your Alphas were vampires who impregnated you. Three mates and a kid?”
“Um, team Jacob, and when you say it like that, it sounds insane.”
“Because it is!” But Ami was grinning. “But also? I’m so fucking happy for you. You deserve all the knots and the happiness. You look different. Lighter, bestie.”
Tears pricked my eyes again. “I feel different. Like I’m finally living.”
“That’s all I ever wanted for you,” she said quietly. “When do I get to meet her?”
“Soon. I promise. Things are still settling, but–”
“A tiny creak from the bedroom door broke the silence. I turned. It was nudged open as a little head popped in, steel eyes searching the hallway. She took a step out, still wearing Dane’s oversized hoodie like a robe, her long hair a messy tangle.
“Is that her?” Ami whispered, craning her neck like she could see.
“Yeah.”
“Go be a mom! We’ll talk later.” Ami squealed before hanging up.
I lowered my phone. Dahlia padded toward me, her little feet quiet. She didn’t look afraid. There was a curious look in her eyes. She was scenting the air, her nose wrinkling.
“Dahlia,” I whispered.
She didn’t say anything, but came closer.
I crouched low, even as my muscles screamed and a sharp pain shot from my belly to my pussy. I hissed through my teeth and grimaced as she stopped in front of me. I reached out, smoothing her wild hair back.
“Hungry?” I asked softly.
She gave me a small nod, her eyes searching mine. She saw the changes—the bite marks and the way the Alphas’ scent clung to my skin, but more than that, she saw the peace staring back.
She reached out and moved messy hair back, mirroring what I’d done. And took my hand. Her fingers were warmer now, the chill gone as we made our way down the hall.
The house felt different today, or maybe it was me who was different.
When we got into the kitchen, I put her on the counter.
“What should we have?” I asked, as I pulled out eggs from the fridge. She watched my every move. I realized she wasn’t only watching me cook, she was learning how I did things—feeling it out as I had countless times before. When she didn’t answer, I tried again. “How about pancakes?”
Her eyes widened. Victory.
“Pancakes it is, but… what kind?” I asked as I walked back to the fridge. “Blueberries, strawberries…”
“Yes,” she said, her voice clear. “I want those.”
“Then those you will get.” I kept my tone light. “If I can make it, you’ll have it.”
I grabbed the bowls and pans I needed, then started cooking.
The heavy sound of footsteps grew near. Kade appeared first, shirtless and yawning, his hair a wild nest. He stopped when he saw Dahlia.
A soft, genuine smile broke across his face as he prowled toward us.
He was shirtless, but wore checkered pajama bottoms. His shoulders flexed, his muscles moved beneath his skin.
“Morning, Ghostie,” he chirped, ruffling her hair then coming to me. He nipped at my bottom lip before heading straight for the coffee.
“Mm, good morning to you too,” I laughed. The smell of coffee wafted through the kitchen, mingling with the pancakes.
“You want one, Lumberjack?” he asked, like waking up to me in the morning was the most normal thing.
“Yes.” It was a plea.
As I stacked the first three blueberry pancakes on the plate, Uriel appeared next, looking slightly dazed.
He walked over to where I was and leaned against the counter.
He kissed me on the cheek, then his mark on my neck.
He glanced at Dahlia with a protective curiosity.
“Pancakes? I could eat all of these in one bite.”
“You should chew so you don’t choke,” Dahlia warned. The spatula in my hand froze and I laughed.
“Yeah, have some manners, Uri,” I teased. A goofy grin spread across his face as his shoulders shook.
“But I’m hungry,” he said as he patted his stomach. Behind me, Kade clinked cups together.
Dahlia crossed her arms as she gave him the side eye. “Eat slowly and you can eat as much as you want.”
“Yes, senorita,” Uriel said with mock seriousness.
Finally, Dane entered. He paused in the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the scene.
He looked at me as I made Dahlia’s plate, then the child looking at the strawberries, and then his brothers.
His shoulders relaxed, a smile pulled at one corner of his lips.
He strode in like a man without a care in the world, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. His hand slid up the back of my neck and into my hair as he leaned down.
He pulled me close until our noses touched.
“I missed you,” he murmured.
“I’m making breakfast,” I corrected, then kissed him.
“I was going to do that. You beat me to it.”
“Sucks to suck,” I teased as I pulled away. He smiled at Dahlia.
“Good morning, Dahl.” It sounded like doll. His mini-me laughed. Then Uriel showed her how to roll a pancake and take a bite. When the pancakes were ready, Dane set the table and Kade gave us coffees, Dahlia got orange juice. Dane pulled me into his lap at the head of the table.
The bad guys were gone and we were together. We were a family and for the first time, I wasn’t waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I looked around the table—at the men who were stuck with me and the little girl I was excited to get to know.
“So,” Kade said, grinning through a mouthful of whipped cream. “What are we doing today?”
Dane looked at Dahlia, then me, his eyes softening.
“Today? We’re staying home.” He squeezed my hand, his thumb rubbing circles into my skin. My eyes blurred, but I laughed. Happy tears. Home wasn’t just this house anymore. It was these three Alphas who’d marked me and the child we’d protect no matter what.
“Yes,” Kade hissed.
“Old cartoons and junk food!” Uriel cheered. Dahlia’s eyes widened with excitement.
“What’s our pack name?” I asked, realizing I didn’t know Dane’s full name.
Kade choked on a strawberry and Uriel looked at him like he wanted to give him something to choke on.
“It’s fitting. Go on tell her,” Kade rasped as he sipped his coffee.
I turned in Dane’s lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Well?”
His cheeks were pink and he ran his tongue along his bottom lip. “My last name’s Heathen.”
The room went silent, and then it was filled with laughter.
“You were right, Kade,” I said when I caught my breath.
Dane’s lips moved against my ear. “We’re Pack Heathen, Babygirl.”