Chapter 18 Locked
Chapter eighteen
Locked
Ivy
It was another Monday morning as I sat in Dr. Laughlin’s office for my weekly checkup.
“I got your apartment keys. Thank you for that,” Dr. Laughlin smiled at me with a small chuckle. “So you’ve moved into the packhouse, and you’re all living happily ever after now.”
“Seems like it. Am I crazy? This was so fast!” I said, wiping my sweaty palms against my shirt.
“Nope, not fast at all. Pretty common, actually, with how quickly scent-matched packs pull in their mates. It’s just plain biology at this point. You want to be protected and taken care of by them, and they want to be with you and look after you.”
“It just seems like I’m rushing into something here,” I sighed. “What if I’ve made a huge mistake?”
“If I were to tell you to leave your pack tonight, how would you feel?” She asked me, checking my chart briefly as she talked.
I let the thought sit in my head to see how my omega side dealt with the idea. My mind screamed in anger, forcing a soft whimper out of me.
Dr. Laughlin smiled. “Don’t like that idea, do you? And there’s nothing wrong with that. The beta lifestyle you lived told you to take things slowly. The omega in you wants to be with her pack. And I can sense you do too, I can see it in your eyes and the way you talk about them.”
I smiled, picturing each of my packmates. “Yes, I love our time together so much.”
“Then embrace it! That’s what omegas do! But I’m a phone call away if it makes you feel better.”
She pulled out her thermometer and took my temperature. “Temp looks good. Have you had any more heat flashes since last week?”
“No, no others,” I shook my head.
“You might get more as you get closer to your heat. They’ll require more work on your pack’s end to help you, just a warning.”
“I’ll let them know. I’m sure they won’t mind,” I chuckled slightly.
“So let’s talk about your heat for a bit. It’s about a month away, more or less. Have you had any nesting urges? Do you have a space to go to when it kicks in?”
“We have a nesting room I need to start preparing. I’m making a list of what I want in there—things for the boys to do, water, and such.”
“It’s always a good idea to ensure both you and your boys are taken care of,” she said.
“Can you maybe tell me more about what goes on during a heat? Everything I read describes it in such weird euphemisms, but I kinda want the whole picture here.”
“Remember those mating urges you had during your heat flash last week? Now imagine that stretched over two to three days and far more intense. The desire to mate and be with your pack will greatly intensify. Your pack will sense and smell it strongly, and they will lose a bit of control as well, though not as strongly as you. You will demand a lot from them sexually, just giving you a heads up.”
“Sounds like a crazy sex scene. Will I remember any of it?” I asked, suppressing images of all four of my guys around me.
“Oh yeah, you’ll remember everything. You’ll be guided more by instinct during the heat than by logical reasoning. It’s why you want everything prepared beforehand and have clear boundaries with your pack on how you expect them to behave.”
“And we form our bond during the heat, right?”
“Yep, right at the end when you start to become more lucid. The pack leader, Demetrius, has to go first. The rest of the order is up to you and your packmates. A bite during an orgasm is exchanged, locking the link into place.”
“That’s so…weird.”
“I think it’s neat, but not every pack goes through with the bond. Some find it too invasive.”
“Too invasive?” I asked.
“Some packs don’t like the idea of having their emotional states shared, even partially.
The bond opens a level of sensitivity—mood echoing, deeper attachment, scent sharing.
Depending on the level of connection your bond has, some packs even develop far more sensitive connections with each other.
All these things seem great for performance, but hard for privacy.
Have you thought about whether you want to create that link? ”
“I do,” I said quickly, then hesitated. “I can’t explain it, but there’s this craving building inside me. Not just physical, either. Like I’m not fully theirs yet, and I want to be. I want us all to be connected.”
“I bet, especially from the performance angle. The world has only known one couple so far that has danced with that scent-matched bond, and they’re retired now. Exciting times for you and your pack!”
I pressed my hands against my cheeks, trying to cool the flush creeping up.
“Yeah,” I let out a large exhale. “Not overwhelming at all!”
***
The rest of Monday quickly flew by after Dr. Laughlin’s appointment. First there was lunch, then the afternoon rehearsals. Once the pack was all finished in the building, we jumped into the SUV to head back to the packhouse.
Sitting between Lukas and Preston, I stretched my arms and neck, trying to pop my back. There was a sore spot back there that I just couldn’t reach. A thought formed in my head to help us all relax.
“You know what I feel like doing when I get home?” I asked everyone in the car. “I’m going to try out the hot tub.”
Everyone’s eyes snapped to me, forcing me to giggle.
Facing me, Isaac raised his eyebrow mischievously. “Darling, are you asking us if we’d like to partake in group sex in the hot tub when we get home?”
I burst out laughing, shaking my head. “Enjoying time in a hot tub does not mean group sex, Isaac. I can tell we all look tired, and I’m very sore right now. It’ll be nice for our bodies.”
We arrived back at the packhouse and unloaded our gear from the pack SUV. I went upstairs to change into my swimsuit before walking outside to the hot tub, where I found Demetrius waiting for me.
“I wanted to make sure this thing turns on. We had it installed last year for exactly the reasons you mentioned,” he said, turning a few of the knobs. “I’m sure you could have figured this out, but this knob controls the heat, this controls the bubbles, and that one…”
“Looks like it adjusts the flow rate,” I said as I walked up to him and hugged him. “Are you going to join us?”
“I wish I could, but I need to wrap up a few emails first.” He kissed me before squeezing my butt. “Have fun!”
I climbed up the side ladder and slid into the hot, frothing water.
The heat and the bubbles felt amazing against my sore muscles.
After spending half the day in contorted positions, it really helped to relieve my aching back.
I closed my eyes and soaked in the warmth of the water, anticipating any minute now to be joined by three more.
Right on cue, the back door opened as Preston and Isaac walked out in their swim trunks. Isaac leaned next to me, gently kissing my cheek.
“Are you ready for group sex, darling?” he said, giving my cheek a little nuzzle. “Most packs claim to really enjoy the closeness.”
I shot him a teasing look. “Do you really want our first time to be in a hot tub? With an audience? I say no touching for ten minutes. Just get in and enjoy the hot water.”
Isaac sighed but begrudgingly got in, followed by Preston—both of whom snuggled up close to me, immediately breaking the no-touching rule. Lukas arrived next and hopped right in, drifting through the water to kiss my lips before settling down across from me.
“We’re not kissing right now, Lukas,” Isaac snapped as he leaned his head against my arm.
“I’m not sitting next to her, so I get to kiss,” Lukas said.
I resumed closing my eyes and relaxed against Isaac’s chest, enjoying the soothing rush of the bubbles as Preston and Lukas chatted a bit about the program cover.
The gentle breeze of the early fall weather felt so great in contrast to the warmth of the water.
The minutes floated by in heavenly bliss as the scent of three of my mates soothed me.
After a while, Isaac leaned forward and whispered to me. “I say we make out a bit. I won’t push us too far.”
“Says the man who, on our last date, drove me so far over the edge, I had to grind myself off on him.”
He grinned. “One of my fondest memories. Put it on my headstone when I die someday.”
“I have a game to play.” Lukas smiled wickedly, pulling all our attention to him. “We each get thirty seconds to try and make Ivy moan, and whoever can get a moan out of her gets to lick her anywhere they want.”
Isaac and Preston both snapped their attention to me, grinning like wolves. A blush immediately crept up my neck.
“Okay…” I reluctantly agreed before holding up my hands. “But here are some more rules. One at a time, nothing below the hips, and I will actively resist moaning.”
“Deal. I'll go first.” Isaac scooped me up and rotated me on top of his lap. I heard a timer start behind me as he moved his lips onto my neck. I instantly felt a moan try to escape from me, but I held back, covering my mouth with my hand.
Isaac playfully shook his head no as he pulled my hand down and brought his lips crashing onto mine.
His hands were reaching behind my back and pulling me tighter into his chest. His kisses felt hungry and possessive, almost desperate for my response.
I was just about to slip when another beep sounded from behind me.
“Time’s up!” Lukas clicked his watch. “Nice try!”
“My turn.” Preston pulled me off Isaac’s lap and sat me across his. The same click of the timer sounded behind me.
Preston started by nuzzling my neck and softly kissing along my jawline.
Once again, I almost immediately moaned but locked my mouth shut and squeezed my eyes closed.
He worked his way over to my mouth, where he softly claimed a deep, tender kiss from me.
His kisses were so refined and passionate, like a prince who’d finally found his destined princess.
I felt his hands drift up to my breasts.
Click!
“Sorry Preston, you lose!” Lukas shook his head. Now smiling widely, he took his watch off and tossed it to Isaac. “My turn!”