Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
“I’m so glad that’s over.” I sit down on the edge of my bed, preparing to take off the excruciating shoes that have been digging into my skin all night. Jett is there before I can blink, kneeling in front of me so he can unlace my shoes and gently pull them off my feet.
“There’s going to be a ton of events like this in your future. You’ll have to get used to them,” Jett retorts, referring to possible future award shows.
“Or, we can just get used to stealing her away early,” Dax cuts in while undoing his tie.
His cheeky grin paired up with the expensive tuxedo is doing something to me.
All night, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of him.
“The tabloids can talk about how clingy and possessive Rory Cromwell’s pack is and we can laugh into the sunset. ”
“We can always blame it on the prime, whichever one of us that ends up being,” Jett laughs.
My cheeks flush at the thought. It sounds accurate to the reality of it, though. I don’t know if I’d be able to handle those kinds of events for long periods of time. The idea that they would take the blame for me in that regard makes something pinch in my chest in the best way.
Tonight was the charity ball for Alpha Xi’s philanthropy and it was a black tie event.
I’ve never seen so many college students in a formal setting before.
It was impressive, how Sam was able to wrangle up that much buzz for this event.
And the money they raised was well past the point that Sam wanted, so I’m happy for him tonight, along with the charity that the money will go to.
The dress I’m wearing costs way too much, but the way all three of them looked at me when I walked out of that dressing room made the number disappear. They were enraptured with me and the way the black material clung to my body like water. I found that made every penny worth it.
It didn’t matter anyway because Dax wouldn’t let me pay for it.
I’ve learned a lot about my boys recently, and one of those things is that Dax loves to spend money.
His love language definitely has to do with quality time and gift giving, the more the better.
The gifts can be of any multitude. I never know if it’s going to be food from my favorite place or a random piece of jewelry or little crystals that he says look like my “vibe.”
I am a fan of kyanite, though, so that worked out well.
Dax is so headstrong and loves to plan. From the outside looking in, others might think that Dax is our prime because he has his hand in a lot of our dates and loves to plan how we spend our time together.
He’s a natural at it and you can tell he thrives under that kind of pressure.
However, there’s a hidden limit. Dax’s plans can sometimes go a bit haywire, but Everett is always there to pull him back.
There’s an un-intrusive nature about Everett that makes him the perfect leader.
He lets us be who we are and do what we want, but he’s also always alert to any dangers nearby, to any issue that may arise.
I can see it every time we’re all together, the calm but also watchful disposition that he emulates.
Jett just loves to have a good time. It’s so nice to see him in his element outside of class.
Others might think he’s a loner, but I know that he just enjoys his solitude.
The more I get to know him, the more I realize that acting was the perfect thing for him to fall into.
He’s so comfortable in who he is that he won’t get lost in the character he’s playing, which is so important for people like us.
Jett loves antiques (although if you asked him, he’d just say he appreciates things that are timeless) and he loves a good thriller novel. I wouldn’t admit this out loud but I might have some recommendations from Atlas already in my cart to buy for him.
Everett scoffs, undoing his cuffs. “I don’t know how we’d even figure that out.”
Dax jokes, “Maybe we’re supposed to have a duel. A triad duel.”
The other two laugh at that, the conversation lighthearted and hypothetical, but my omega nudges me. They’ll never make the decision if they’re not pushed.
“I think there’s a clear choice,” I say, looking over at them. “The prime is someone who protects the pack no matter what, holds emotional space for them… one that goes out of their way to make sure the rest of us doesn’t have to lift a finger.”
Jett is already smiling, knowing what I’m going to say. Dax does, too, if the way he side-eyes his best friend is any indication. But Everett doesn’t seem to pick up on what I’m saying. He watches me, agreeing with my words, waiting for me to say who I’m thinking between Jett and Dax .
I think back to a few weeks ago when my professor apologized for his unprofessional behavior.
Ever since then, he’s been an absolute joy to work with.
He’s still picky, but now it’s more of a conversation between us than a battle.
He’s even gone as far as shutting down Nicole whenever she says anything negative to me during rehearsal.
The rest of the class has noticed and are just as surprised as me.
Rocco even pulled me aside one day and asked me what happened.
I just shrugged my shoulders and said it was a miracle, but I knew.
My alpha had gone to bat for me, and it had helped do wonders.
He is our safe place, the one who protects us quietly but fiercely. He is meant to be our prime. I know it as innate as I know that these men are mine.
I stand up, and walk to where Everett is lounging on my bed. He sits up straighter as I come up, his eyes narrowed with playful suspicion. “What are you doing, Omega?”
“I’m showing the prime how grateful I am,” I respond, getting down on my knees. One of the other alphas groan under their breath but I don’t turn to see which one. My gaze is focused on the alpha whose eyes are now widening at my brazen action.
“The prime ?” he asks, looking down at me with both surprise and admiration. “Baby, that’s an honor, but… you can’t be implying that it’s me , not at all.”
“Why not?” I refute, giving him a challenging look. “You’re the one who takes care of us. You hold strength for us when we can’t do it ourselves. Doesn’t your alpha feel it? Doesn’t it feel right to you?”
He looks over at his pack members, expecting to see opposition, but there’s no protest from them. Their alphas are perfectly content with the decision— my decision. They know it’s right for this pack as much as I do.
“Stop fighting it, man,” Dax says. “You’ve been keeping me in line for years now. It’s something that comes natural for you. You were always meant to be my prime.”
“You took care of me even before we knew we were pack,” Jett adds. “When I needed a place to land, someone to talk to, you were there for me. This decision is an easy one.”
A look of wonder takes over Everett’s face at their words. He looks back at me, and it’s like he’s seeing my position for the first time. His omega, on her knees, asking him to worship her. A gleam enters his eyes and they darken as he leans closer to me. “ Omega ,” he breathes.
My lips curve, my omega showing her naughty head as her prime’s dominance and power thrums before us. “You lead us without even trying,” I start, my hands slowly moving upwards on his thighs before pausing them. “I want you to lead us. Tell us what to do, Alpha. Tell them what to do.”
A rush of pheromones drift from everywhere, no single scent more distinguishable than any other. The aroma left behind is a perfect blend of us as we all wait, not daring to make a single move without the permission of our prime first.
“Are you sure, Rory?” Everett asks quietly, his expression soft.
Even when I am giving his alpha everything he wants on a silver platter, he is still thinking of me , about how this will be the first time I’ve been with them all , and it’s that exact consideration that makes me feel confident in this decision.
“I’ve never been more sure,” I mutter back to him, my eyes fluttering closed at the outpour of rain in his scent. It’s normally a calm drizzle, but now it’s like an electric storm. “ Lead us , Prime.”
The darkness in his eyes flash, his alpha coming right to the forefront.
“Jett,” Everett rasps, his voice more beast than man. “Take off our omega’s dress… carefully. It’s so pretty on her, I’d like to see her in it ag ain.”
I let out a gasp of arousal, my omega and I both pleased by him finally taking the charge.
I stand up when Jett moves forward, his scent more leather than amber as he stands behind me and caresses my arms softly before starting on the buttons.
The black rhinestones start to move out of place as the shoulders loosen.
Jett’s lips find my neck, and kisses down my spine as each hook comes undone.
It only takes a few seconds for him to get the dress off of me, and then I’m standing nearly nude, completely at the mercy of my alphas.
I catch eyes with the alpha in command and match his intensity tenfold.
I feel revered under his gaze. He could take me in entirely just as the other two are, their eyes falling upon my body with anticipation, but he stares at me with an assertiveness that makes my knees weak.
He’s looking into my soul, communicating with me without any words.
He’s whispering, you’re mine ; a silent claiming that makes me feel every bit the loved omega that I am.
Everett stands, his height causing me to turn my neck up higher to keep our eye contact.
One hand comes up to my face, holding me gently as his lips find my ear.
“I want you to be a good omega and let my pack mates take care of you,” he says with a hushed tone.
“Then I want my turn with you, my chance to worship you after they’ve already wrung out as much pleasure as they can. ”