Chapter 15 #2
“Happy. Honest. Ready to see where it goes.” I took a breath. “I have feelings for him, Jace. Strong ones. But I also have feelings for you. And I’m not interested in choosing between you because I think I can finally start to accept that maybe I’m allowed to want things for myself.”
“Good.” His response was immediate and certain. “Because I’m not interested in making you choose.”
Relief made me smile. He’d said it before. We’d been through this back at our special spot but for some reason I still needed to hear. One more time. And then it was time to finally accept it.
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“I grew up here. I’ve seen pack bonds my whole life.” He reached for my hand. “Pack dynamics work when everyone communicates and nobody’s ego is bigger than their omega’s wellbeing. So if you have feelings for Hollis, we include him. Simple as that.”
“There’s something else.” I might as well get everything out now. “I told Cassian that I’m interested in him too this afternoon.”
Jace’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve had a busy day.”
“I’m done hiding what I want. Done apologizing for it.” I squeezed his hand. “So I’m being honest. All three of you. If you’re willing. I’m ready to try.”
He started laughing. Genuine, warm amusement. “You moved to Hollow Haven and collected three alphas in under two months. That’s impressive.”
“Is that a yes?”
“That’s a yes.” He pulled me closer, tucking me against his side. “Cassian’s had a rough time. If you have feelings for him, he probably needs that. And Hollis is a good man. I respect him.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “So yeah. Three of us. Let’s figure it out.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” His voice was steady, certain. “But we should probably all meet. Talk about boundaries and expectations. Make sure we’re on the same page before this becomes official.”
“Hollis said the same thing.”
“Because he’s smart.” Jace smiled. “How about this weekend? The four of us. Neutral territory, maybe coffee at The Brew. Just talking, seeing if this could actually work.”
I pulled back to look at him properly. “You’re really okay with this. All of it.”
“I really am.” He cupped my face gently. “I want you happy, Talia. If that means sharing you with two other alphas and building something together, then that’s what we do.”
I kissed him. Direct and grateful and full of promise. He responded immediately, deepening the kiss until we were both breathless.
When we broke apart, he was grinning.
“Now. Want to cook some chanterelles? Because I’ve been thinking about this mushroom pasta all day.”
We migrated to the kitchen and fell into easy rhythm. Chopping, sautéing, talking. He told me about his work at the ranger station. I told him about the bistro renovations. Normal conversation between two people who liked each other.
Except now we were building toward something bigger. Something that included two other people and a whole lot of trust.
Over dinner, Jace pulled out his phone. “Should I text Hollis? Set up that meeting?”
“Let me.” I found Hollis’s contact and typed: I’ve talked with Jace about everything. We want to meet with you and Cassian this weekend. Jace suggested The Brew. All four of us. Are you free?
His response came within minutes: Saturday afternoon? 2 PM?
I showed the message to Jace, who nodded approval.
Perfect. I’ll ask Cassian.
I texted Cassian next: Are you free Saturday 2 PM to meet at The Brew? You, me, Hollis, and Jace. To talk about what we all want and if this thing could work.
His response was slower but equally direct: I’ll be there.
I set my phone down and looked at Jace in surprise. “This is really happening.”
“This is really happening.” He raised his wine glass. “To honesty. And figuring things out as we go.”
I clinked my glass against his. “To pack.”
“To pack,” he echoed.
After dinner, we moved back to the couch. Jace pulled me close and we just sat there for a while, comfortable in the quiet.
“Can I ask you something?” I said eventually.
“Anything.”
“What made you so okay with this? With pack dynamics instead of traditional coupling?”
He was quiet for a moment, thinking. “My parents had a traditional bond. Alpha and omega, just the two of them. And they were miserable. Constantly fighting, both of them wanting things the other couldn’t provide.
” He traced patterns on my arm absently.
“My aunt and her pack, though? Four alphas and an omega who’ve been bonded for thirty years.
Happiest people I know. Because they each brought something different and nobody had to be everything for anyone else. ”
“So you saw it work.”
“I saw it work better than the alternative.” He pressed another kiss to my temple. “Plus, I’m not the jealous type. Never have been. If you’re happy and I get to be part of that happiness, why would I complain about who else makes you happy?”
It was such a simple philosophy. So different from everything Vincent had taught me about possession and control.
“I really like you, Jace Maddox.”
“I really like you too, Talia Quinn.”
We stayed like that until he had to leave because he had an early shift in the morning. One more lingering kiss at the door, full of promise and possibility.
After he left, I stood in my cottage and looked around. Same space as last night, but everything felt different. Clearer. Like now that I’d finally stopped fighting myself about what I wanted, I could actually see the world around me now.
Three men. Three different ways of being seen. And Saturday, we’d find out if this could actually work.
But I already knew my answer. I was ready to try.