Prologue I. #3
I’ve never been happier than I am when I wake up wrapped in their arms. It’s like a dream come true. Secretly, I feel a little smug that my first relationship will be my last. The idea has a romantic twinge to it. They’re my soulmates and scent matches after all.
It’s nice to be taken care of. They encourage me to quit the coffee shop, making it clear I’ll never have to work two jobs anymore. After a particularly brutal shift, I listen. It earns me praise for having more time in my schedule to spend with them.
I’ve started to get used to the bond, to the point where I don’t even notice it in my chest sometimes. When Ian tells the pack we have something serious to discuss tonight, I’m not nervous in the slightest.
“We’ve been waiting to find you for a long time, Ariana.” The dark haired alpha sits across the dining table from me. “A pack isn’t complete without an omega. And you’re ours.” The possessiveness in his voice makes the bond hum.
“We’re ready to move forward with the bonding ceremony,” Liam’s sage scent is laced with satisfaction. “I know it’s fast, but when you know, you know.”
“You’ll be Ariana Hale.” Cole wraps an arm around me, pressing his lips into my brunette hair. “Doesn’t it have a nice ring to it?”
We’ll all share Ian’s last name. Pressing my hand against my mating mark, I nod. It still burns when it’s touched, but at least we’ll match now.
Cole tightens his hold on me, making me giggle when he starts to flutter kisses across my face. Liam gets up and goes around the table, engulfing me in his own embrace and planting a kiss to my neck, making the mark ache. Ian smiles triumphantly across the table, pale eyes fixed on me.
* * *
The date’s set for two days later.
I’ve always dreamt of how my bonding ceremony would go. I’m sure every omega does at some point. It’s their big day. I pictured being surrounded by my friends and family, in my mother’s old gown.
Instead, I was the last to know the ceremony was being planned. I would have liked to have some input in it. Worried how the day will turn out, I voice my concerns to Liam the night before.
“We wanted to do it as soon as possible,” he pulls me onto his lap, sliding a hand down my back to knead the flesh below. “Ian’s mom started working on it right after your heat. Don’t you want to be part of the pack right away?”
I do, but this isn’t the way I imagined my bonding ceremony going. You only get one, after all. And it’s hard to imagine me and Ian’s mom having similar tastes in decoration. Liam’s green eyes narrow at my hesitation.
“If you don’t, that’s fine. I’ll go tell Ian,” displeasure has started to tinge his scent, making my heart sink. He begins to pull his hands away from my body, but I grab them and return them to their original spots.
“No, of course I do,” I smile at him, every omega instinct screaming in terror of disappointing my alpha. “I was just being stupid, I’m sorry. The sooner the better.”
His scent returns to normal and he tightens his hold on me. “It’s okay. I know you omegas are sensitive.”
I’ve never liked the idea that omegas are more emotional or irrational than others. I can’t deny that after my marking, I’ve been more sensitive to what they think, but I think I’m normal enough in other aspects.
His words make sense though. We’re scent matches, why should we delay things if all of us know we want to be a pack? Maybe I am just being sensitive. I should be happy they’re so eager to bond with me.
Besides, how many people have stories of less than ideal ceremonies but amazing bonds? At least ours is indoors, so we don’t have to worry about getting rained on. The relationship between us is what’s most important at the end of the day.
My friends from home can’t make it due to the short notice, but a couple of my old coworkers from the coffee shop show up.
And the pack even bought my parents plane tickets!
It’s the first time any of their pack has flown, and their beaming faces make up for not being able to plan the ceremony with them.
I resolve to focus on the joy of the day.
Of the ribbon my mom ties in my hair as my something blue, not the uncomfortable corset and heels of the dress and shoes Liam picked out for me.
Of how handsome my alphas look in their dark suits, not the fact that there’s hundreds of guests and I don’t know more than ten.
I drone out the officiant, keeping my eyes on the three alphas next to me instead. When the pack members hand me the paperwork to sign last, under all their signatures, the pen shakes wildly in my hand.
Just nerves, I tell myself. Omegas are sensitive.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cole nod his head reassuringly.
He purrs quietly, the noise steadying me.
Reassured, I scratch my name across the dotted line, completing the bonding license.
Since they’ve already marked me, all that’s left is for me to return the bites tonight.
“You’re ours now,” Ian whispers.
“And you’re mine,” I whisper back, as if we’re both in on a secret. He smiles at me, leaning forward for a kiss.