59. Adrian
Adrian
The brief hit of Ever's bond in my chest was a tease. It wasn't enough. Begrudgingly, I had complied with Cald's order to muffle it nearly completely, to the point we could just simply feel there was a bond with them on the other side.
But I had needed to. He made the right call, like always. We were all out of sorts and pissed to hell after the interaction with Asshole One and Asshole Two.
Sage seemed to somehow be the most grounded of the three of us while we had found our feet and brushed our hands of the situation. Security had been informed and was on it, and we'd file the police report tomorrow. So for tonight, we were done.
He'd also texted our pack chat to let them know we were okay and to stop their freak-outs before they could start. I'm sure us all muffling the new shared connection at the same time was a little jarring and confusing.
But now? Now all there is, is a bubbling need and excitement ready to feel both of my mates with me. Because that's what Everette is to me, too. Mine.
"Sooo are we still up for the original plan for tonight?" Sage looks between us, eyes a bit wide, waiting.
"Yeah. Zero reservations…" Calder grips our shoulders and smiles, looking between the two of us. "Tonight was a clusterfuck none of us could have predicted. But it's handled and handled for good. Our future starts now."
Bouncing on his feet, Sage whoops his excitement. Their quickly rebuilding energy and excitement is contagious. I can't help myself and the shit-eating grin that takes over my face.
With a knowing look, we each focus and slowly weave whatever magical threads bind us back into place. The feeling of both my omega and my alpha coming to life again in my chest is enough to make me close my eyes in an effort to stop the sudden tears threatening to overflow any second.
The effort is futile. Shaking my head, I lean into the bond and send every bit of my affections to both of them, some spilling over to the alphas in the same room as me, just as my tears spill too.
"We're here, brother." Calder's voice surrounds me as he pulls me close for a hug, tapping my back and holding me close. "It's the most beautiful gift we could have ever received. I know what it must mean for you to have both of them with you now," he says lovingly, full of understanding.
Opening, my eyes snap to Calder, trying to decipher his words, what he's insinuating.
There's no judgement, no condemnation. I can feel him even stronger now.
And so can he. They both can. There is no hiding the depth of my love for Everette.
Based on the energy and the look coming from Calder, though…
"You…you knew. Wait, how long have you…known? "
"Since about the night it started." He chuckles, gripping the back of my neck, smiling warmly and near-teasingly.
"For one, you're not as stealthy as you think you are.
And Everette certainly isn't. And two," his voice lowers to a sincere whisper, "how much you love him has been evident for a very long time. "
I smile in return before glancing away, blood rushing to heat my cheeks, nodding my agreement. Having their support in this means everything. I'm done hiding, done denying who and what I am, and who I love.
Rett and Opal's smiling faces and little moments the three of us have shared over the recent weeks shuffle in my mind's eye, ultimately landing on one of the more beautiful days of my life: the two of them dancing in the rain at the wildflower farm.
For hours, for days, I had stared at that photo, unable to look away.
Even still, I can't possibly believe someone like me has been blessed enough to have two mates.
The fact that both of their eyes are mesmerizing green hasn't gone unnoticed.
Maybe there's a green-eyed goddess I need to offer my thanks to for crafting and birthing them both.
"I'm so incredibly proud of you, Adrian.
Especially in recent weeks. You've shown nothing but devotion to them both.
" Our eyes meet, emotion clogging my throat and stealing my breath.
The weight of those words renders me mute and at a total loss.
Every time I try to open my mouth, to say something, to express how grateful I truly am for having him, them, all of them.
For their support and their unconditional love… nothing comes out.
But between the strength of our new pack bond, now even stronger between all of us, he feels it all. It's evident on his face as his own eyes sheen and gather with tears.
Pressing our foreheads together, he hugs me, Sage leaning in, too, and joining with his wordless support, keeping me upright.
"Thank you." It's all I can manage without crumbling and falling apart entirely.
Not lingering too long, sensing where I am emotionally, he knows what I need.
In an effort to slow the overwhelm clouding me entirely, he grips my shoulder with a sheen lingering in his bright golden eyes that says plenty.
"It's unbelievable," Sage adds, eyes unfocused and searching inside himself and sorting through each of our new, stronger bonds.
"Fucking indescribable," I huff in an unflattering croak.
Forever isn't just a possibility. It isn't a hope or a maybe for some day in the future.
It's now and we're living it.
Our bond is officially complete as a pack and our lives will never be the same.