Chapter 17
Talia
Ichanged my outfit three times Saturday morning before settling on jeans and a soft blue sweater that Hollis had once said brought out the gold in my eyes.
Then I immediately second-guessed that choice because wearing something one of them had complimented felt like favoritism, which was ridiculous because this entire meeting was about not playing favorites.
By one thirty, I was pacing my cottage living room and mentally rehearsing opening lines that all sounded either too casual or too formal. How did you start a conversation about four people potentially forming a pack? Was there etiquette for this? A script I should have memorized?
My phone buzzed with a text from Jace: Breathe. It’s just coffee. We’re all just as nervous as you are.
That helped marginally. At least I wasn’t the only one spiraling. It did have me peering out the window to make sure I wasn’t being watched though. I laughed even as I did knowing no one would be out there, Jace just knew me well.
I arrived at The Brew at five minutes to two, deliberately early because showing up late to a meeting about my own romantic future seemed wrong.
The coffee shop occupied a converted house on the edge of Main Street, all exposed brick and mismatched furniture that somehow felt cohesive.
More importantly, it had a back room that the owner rented out for private meetings.
Sarah, the owner, greeted me with a knowing smile. “You’re in the sunroom. I set up the corner table like you requested. Extra private, good natural light, comfortable chairs.” She paused. “And I’ll make sure nobody bothers you unless you ask for refills.”
“Thank you.” I wondered how much she knew, how much the town was already talking about the chef and her three alphas. Then decided it didn’t matter. We were doing this regardless.
The sunroom was perfect. Windows on three sides looking out at a small garden, the corner table positioned for both privacy and easy conversation. Four chairs arranged in a way that didn’t put anyone at a head position. Equal seating for an equal discussion.
I sat down, then stood up, then sat down again in a different chair. Stood up once more and moved to a third seat before forcing myself to stay put. This was absurd. They were just three men I cared about, not a firing squad.
Three men I cared about who were about to discuss sharing me like some kind of relationship negotiation. My stomach did an uncomfortable flip.
The door opened and Hollis appeared, carrying two cups of coffee. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a gray henley, his strawberry blond hair loose around his shoulders instead of tied back. The sight of him settled something anxious in my chest.
“I took the liberty of getting your usual,” he said, setting a latte in front of me. “Figured you might need the caffeine.”
“Was it that obvious I’d be nervous?”
“You texted me at six this morning to confirm the time. You already knew the time.” His smile was gentle. “And I’ve been nervous all day, so I’m projecting.”
“You’re nervous?”
“Terrified.” He settled into the chair to my right. “I’m about to formally discuss sharing someone I have feelings for with two alphas I barely know. That’s somewhat outside my comfort zone.”
The honesty helped more than reassurance would have. Before I could respond, the door opened again and Jace walked in, his usual ranger confidence slightly dimmed by what looked like carefully controlled anxiety.
“Sorry if I’m early.” He glanced between us. “Didn’t want to be late.”
“You’re exactly on time,” Hollis said. “Sit. Coffee?”
“Already got mine.” Jace held up a to-go cup, then chose the chair to my left. Which put me between Hollis and Jace, with one empty chair across from me for Cassian.
We sat in slightly awkward silence for about thirty seconds before Jace said, “So this is weird, right? It’s not just me?”
“Extremely weird,” Hollis agreed.
“I changed outfits three times,” I admitted.
That broke some of the tension. Jace grinned. “I drove past the coffee shop twice before I could make myself park.”
“I’ve been here since one forty-five,” Hollis said. “Sitting in my car reading the same page of a book over and over without processing a single word.”
We were laughing when Cassian arrived, and something about his expression suggested he’d been bracing for disaster and was surprised to find the opposite. He was dressed more casually than I’d ever seen him, dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that made his gray eyes more pronounced.
“Sorry I’m late.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s exactly two.”
“You’re not late,” I said. “We’re just early and nervous.”
“Ah.” He took the remaining seat, directly across from me. “That makes sense. I’ve been parked down the street for twenty minutes.”
“Apparently we’re all disasters,” Jace said cheerfully. “Good to know.”
More tension dissolved. Cassian ordered coffee from Sarah when she appeared, and we all busied ourselves with our drinks while trying to figure out how to start this conversation.
Finally, Hollis said, “I suppose we should address the obvious. The four of us are sitting here because Talia has expressed interest in all three of us, and we’ve each expressed interest in her.
And rather than forcing her to choose or competing in ways that would hurt everyone involved, we’re exploring whether pack formation is a viable option. ”
Trust Hollis to cut straight through awkwardness with clear articulation.
“That’s the situation,” I confirmed. “And I know it’s unusual. I know it’s complicated. But I also know that I have genuine feelings for all three of you, and the thought of choosing between you feels wrong in a way I can’t fully explain.”
Cassian leaned forward slightly. “For clarity, when we say pack formation, we’re talking about a permanent bond. Not casual dating or some kind of open relationship arrangement. Actual pack bonds that would be legally and biologically binding.”
“Eventually,” Jace added. “Nobody’s suggesting we rush into bonding before we know if this can actually work. But yeah, the goal would be permanent pack if we all decide that’s what we want.”
Cassian shifted slightly. “I should clarify my position on pack dynamics. I’m interested in Talia. I’m interested in coordinating with both of you for her wellbeing and building genuine friendships. But my romantic and physical interest is solely in her.”
“Same here,” Jace said immediately. “No offense to either of you, but my attraction is very specifically to the omega at this table.”
“Understood,” Hollis said. “I’m in the same position. I think we should establish whether we can actually be friends, though. Pack dynamics where three alphas merely tolerate each other sound miserable for everyone.”
That was fair. I watched the three of them assess each other with new attention, looking for compatibility beyond their shared interest in me.
It felt strange to sit there while they discussed me but I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I’d assumed I would be.
If anything, the omega side of me was practically purring at the fact that these three alphas were essentially staking their claim and the relief of knowing I wasn’t losing any of them was nearly overwhelming.
“I can work with that,” Jace said. “I mean, Cassian and I don’t know each other well, but Hollis and I have been friendly for years. And from what I know of your reputation, Cassian, you’re someone I can respect.”
“I’ve enjoyed our conversations,” Hollis said to Cassian. “I think there’s friendship potential there. And Jace, I’ve always appreciated your approach to conservation work. We have compatible values.”
Cassian was quiet for a moment, and I could practically see him analyzing dynamics and running probability calculations.
“I’ll be honest. I’m not good at friendships.
I don’t have a lot of experience with relationships that aren’t transactional or strategic.
” He met both their gazes directly. “But I’m willing to try.
For Talia’s sake, and because I can see value in knowing both of you. ”
“That’s fair,” Jace said. “We’re all figuring this out as we go.”
Sarah appeared with Cassian’s coffee and a plate of pastries I hadn’t ordered. “Thought you might want something to eat. On the house.” She disappeared before we could thank her, but I caught her knowing smile.
“So,” I said, taking the pastry plate as an excuse to resettle my nervous energy. “What does this actually look like? Logistically, I mean. Do we all date separately? Together? How do we handle time and attention and making sure nobody feels neglected or prioritized?”
I shuffled awkwardly in my seat. This was the weirdest conversation I’d ever had but it needed to be said. We all needed to know exactly where we stood if there was any chance that we could build something lasting.
“I think we start by continuing what we’re already doing,” Hollis suggested. “Individual time with Talia while also building connections between the three of us. Get to know each other without forcing anything.”
“That works for me,” I said quickly. “I like what we’ve been doing. The cooking lessons with Jace, afternoons at the bookstore with Hollis, working on bistro stuff with Cassian. Those feel natural.”
“Agreed,” Cassian said. “Rushing into cohabitation or merged schedules before we know if we’re compatible sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
“But we should be intentional about building the alpha relationships,” Jace added. “Because if we can’t function as a coordinated unit, this doesn’t work no matter how much we all care about Talia.”
“And I need you three to actually like each other,” I added firmly. “Not just tolerate each other for my sake. I can’t be the only thing connecting you.”