Epilogue
Sylvie
One year later
Christmas morning’s warm rays peeked through the sheer curtains of my Manhattan apartment. It was late, probably after ten, but my mates hadn’t gotten home from their runs until well after six a.m. Now they were all crowded around me in our California king-sized bed, fast asleep.
My head rested on Kenai’s chest, where his fingers had twisted into the ends of my hair before he’d fallen asleep. Next to me, Taimyr’s head lay on Kenai’s stomach, his fingers tangled in my hair at the base of my neck.
Aleksi’s arm wrapped tightly around my waist as he cuddled my other side. Everything smelled like them, and I inhaled deeply, wrapped in their warmth. There was nowhere else I’d rather be.
I let myself bask in the perfection of it for a few minutes more, just listening to their slow breathing. This was home. This was what all our hard work had been for.
Since last year, things had changed—and continued changing—for the better.
Unsurprisingly, with well-compensated and cared-for workers, output at the North Pole had increased.
There were even rumors that Santa was considering returning to more bespoke presents for children instead of the mass-produced trends we’d been dealing with the last few years.
It was all good news, but what mattered most to me was that my mates and their families were safe—and that they came home to me every night invigorated by work, not exhausted.
The Christmas season was always hard, but their overtime was compensated now, and it made the relief of Christmas morning even sweeter.
I slipped out of bed and quietly padded to the bathroom for a shower. Afterward, I wrapped myself in a bathrobe and headed to the kitchen, wanting to prep breakfast for my hardworking mates.
But someone was already there—Kenai, his Hello Kitty pajama pants slung low over his hips, the muscles of his back flexing as he stirred something on the stove.
He heard me approach and glanced over his shoulder, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Made you something. Hot cocoa—your favorite.”
“That’s not funny, Kenai.” But it was, a little. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his shoulder.
“It’s a little funny.”
“You’re lucky you’re so good-looking,” I murmured against his skin.
“Don’t I know it.” He turned and gently cupped my face, pulling me into a kiss. It was heated, his tongue already pressing into my mouth.
“Kenai, you need rest,” I managed to say against his lips as his fingers tightened around me. The scent of fresh snow and cardamom became overwhelming as he pushed me back against the counter.
“Rest?” Kenai’s laugh was low and breathless as he pulled back just enough to look at me, pupils blown wide. “No, that’s not what I need.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, his breathing ragged. His scent had changed too, I realized suddenly—deeper, muskier, almost overwhelming in its intensity. His hands trembled slightly where they gripped my waist, and I could feel the heat radiating off his skin even through my bathrobe.
Understanding crashed over me like a wave. “Oh,” I breathed, cheeks flushing. “You’re in rut.”
It made sense now—the post-Christmas letdown, all that adrenaline and overtime finally catching up to him now that the pressure was off. His body was demanding what it had been denied during the busy season. I ran my fingers through his hair soothingly, even as my pulse quickened.
“The spare bedroom. Now. Before you wake the others.”
Though knowing Taimyr and Aleksi, they’d probably sense it soon enough anyway.
His mouth moved to my neck, sucking at that sensitive spot over my scent glands until my legs were shaking.
“Nah, right here is fine.” He slid his hands down over my ass, gripping the backs of my thighs and lifting me onto the counter. “I’m going to put a baby in you, omega.”
Oh yeah, he was definitely in rut—and once again, I was grateful for my IUD. They all got like this during rut, and…I didn’t hate it. It reminded me how much he’d held himself back when we first met, how hard he’d worked to keep me comfortable.
Luckily, we’d learned a lot about each other—and our preferences—over the past year.
I held onto his antlers, pulling him closer, my tongue meeting his. I bit gently at his lower lip, and his hips jerked forward, those cute pink pajama pants hiding nothing.
“The little one’s all riled up,” Aleksi mused, a low chuckle from the entrance to the kitchen. His voice was thick with amusement but rough. I could smell the musk rolling off him too.
Kenai spun away from me immediately, charging the other alpha. “Don’t start with me, alpha.” He tried to lock antlers with Aleksi, but the larger man caught him by the shoulders, spun him, and pinned him against his chest with one broad forearm.
“Kisu…” He called to me in that deep voice as Kenai struggled against him, all writhing muscle and frustrated growls. “I think our mate needs some help.”
Kenai huffed, but it broke into a desperate sound when Aleksi’s other hand fisted in his white hair, holding him firmly.
“Now stop trying to fight me,” Aleksi said, his mouth against Kenai’s ear. “You’re herd. You’re ours. And we take care of our own.”
The fight went out of Kenai all at once, replaced by trembling need. I crossed to them, running my hands up Kenai’s heaving chest. “Bedroom,” I murmured. “Let us take care of you properly.”
Aleksi’s eyes met mine over Kenai’s shoulder, dark with promise. “Merry Christmas, indeed.”
Between the two of us, we guided our overwhelmed alpha down the hall, Kenai’s protests dissolving into needy sounds with every step.
Aleksi tossed him onto the bed, and I caught the legs of his pants, yanking them until his leaking cock sprang free. Aleksi slipped off my robe as I moved to straddle Kenai, stroking him until he was writhing.
“Sylvie, please…” His knot was already pulsing, swelling as I ran my tongue around the head of his cock, poking under the skin until another bead of precum appeared for me to lick away.
Behind me, Aleksi wasted no time in getting undressed, grinding against me, his length dragging through my slick. “Want me to prep her, Kenai?” he asked as his fingers teased my clit.
Kenai shook his head. “Can’t wait. Need to knot her…now.”
He was hot under my palms, flushed and sweating. This rut had hit him hard, and he needed relief. Understanding passed through the bond between Aleksi and me—one of his hands guiding me over Kenai, the other spreading my cunt open as he pressed me down over the desperate alpha.
Kenai groaned as I took him in, stretching around him. Aleksi pulled my hair to the side and kissed my neck as I swirled my hips, trying to work Kenai’s knot into me.
Then Kenai gripped my hips and rolled me underneath him, thrusting aggressively.
Aleksi’s jaw tightened, and I felt his protective instincts surge at Kenai’s rough treatment, but I soothed him through the bond, gesturing for him to come closer.
He relaxed a little, and a smirk broke over his face as he climbed onto the bed beside my head.
Now it was his turn. He brushed strands of hair back from my face as I swallowed him, letting Kenai’s thrusts push me deeper onto him. His fingers tightened in my hair as he grew harder in my mouth, my tongue tracing the vein that ran up the side of his shaft.
I was blissed out, caught between them when the scent of rain and cloves cut through the smell of sex.
“Damn, serves me right for sleeping in.”
Taimyr appeared over Kenai’s shoulder, his arm wrapping around the white-haired man’s waist. He trailed soft kisses up his neck, nuzzling close.
“Tai…need you…” Kenai panted.
Aleksi popped out of my mouth as he leaned away, fiddling in the bedside cabinet before tossing a clear bottle of lube to Taimyr.
The dark-haired man caught it easily, squeezing some onto two fingers that disappeared behind Kenai.
He let out a low groan, his hips slowing momentarily—at least long enough for Aleksi to push inside my mouth again, my lips already swollen and buzzing.
“You going to be a good boy and knot our omega while I knot you?” Taimyr growled in Kenai’s ear. We both moaned at that.
The vibrations made Aleksi grip my head harder. I reached out to him through our bond, and he huffed in response, but I knew he wouldn’t resist. A moment later, he tightened his grip and shifted forward to fuck my mouth, pressing against the back of my throat until my back arched.
Kenai’s hand found my breast, squeezing just shy of painful as Taimyr spread him open, and we all felt it through the bond when Taimyr bottomed out inside him.
For a moment, everything was still, as if we were all holding our breath.
Then Taimyr’s hand found mine, threading our fingers together. His other hand reached for Aleksi’s shoulder—for our anchor. Aleksi’s large palm pressed against Kenai’s racing heart, and Kenai—wild, beautiful Kenai—looked at each of us with something like wonder breaking through the haze of his rut.
This was what had been missing all those years they’d fought. Not just me, but the wholeness we created together. Four points of a compass. Four corners of home.
We’ve got you.
Aleksi’s rumble of agreement vibrated through all of us. Taimyr’s grip tightened on my thighs, and Kenai finally let go—not just into the need of his rut, but into the trust of knowing his herd would catch him.
We moved together like we’d been doing this for lifetimes instead of months, instinct and love entwined into something stronger than any of us alone.
This was what being herd meant.
Being complete.
Taimyr’s hips guided Kenai’s as he worked my rut-addled alpha’s knot into me, his hands tugging my thighs in rythmn with his thrusts, so we crushed Kenai between us.
Kenai’s whole body shuddered as I locked around him, and snowflakes danced through the air as he shattered, letting us catch all the pieces.
The effect was cascading as we all followed him over the edge, our orgasms merging into something far greater than the sum of its parts. Aleksi’s hot cum filled my throat as Kenai’s knot pulsed inside me, and Taimyr’s pulsed within him.
Reality blurred into warmth and comfort. I found myself wrapped around Kenai, Taimyr’s larger arms encircling us both from behind.
Kenai nuzzled his nose into my hair, grunting happily, his breathing deep and even. I opened my eyes when Taimyr’s fingers traced through my hair and found him smiling.
Not his usual teasing smirk, but something softer.
“Morning,” I whispered, not wanting to break the peaceful quiet.
“Good morning.” His thumb brushed my cheekbone. “You’re beautiful like this. Happy.”
My chest tightened. My Taimyr—who so often hid his feelings behind a joke, who’d been afraid of wanting too much—was looking at me like I’d painted the northern lights myself.
“I am happy,” I said. “So happy it scares me sometimes.”
“Me too,” he admitted quietly, his forehead resting against mine. “But we’re allowed this, Sylvie. We’re allowed to be happy.”
I kissed him softly. Thank you. I love you. I’m not going anywhere.
When we pulled apart, his eyes were bright. “My fierce mate,” he murmured. “We’re so lucky we found you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” I replied, squeezing his hand.
His dark eyes lit up, and he kissed me again until Kenai grunted from being squished between us.
I chuckled. “Where is our other mate?”
As I spoke, Aleksi walked into the room carrying a tray with glasses of water and steaming mugs.
He set it beside the bed and handed me a mug with a proud smile.
The warm, rich taste of cocoa filled my mouth—along with cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, and ginger.
Just like the first cup that had changed everything.
I took another sip and immediately started laughing.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said, still grinning. “Thank you,” I murmured.
Aleksi’s arms tightened around me. “For the cocoa?”
“For everything. For seeing me, for fighting with me. All of you.”
“Best legal counsel I’ve ever had,” Kenai quipped into my neck.
Taimyr nuzzled his shoulder. “Best thing that ever happened to us.”
I took another sip, smiling against the rim of my mug. “Here’s to many more Christmas mornings—and many more cups of suspiciously good hot cocoa.”
“To home and herd,” Aleksi said.
“To us,” we echoed together.