Pack Nest
SCARLETT
Saint pushed the dead rabbit closer to me with his nose, then sat back on his haunches, tail thumping hopefully against the ground. His red eye glowed with pure, innocent pride while the blue one watched me expectantly.
Eat it, mate. I caught it for you.
I bit my lip hard, staring down at the poor little fluffball. Its death felt so undeserved. One minute it was hopping around happily, the next it became a gift from my…..what were they to me?
But Saint was looking at me like I’d just hung the moon. His tail gave one slow, uncertain wag. If I rejected it, I was pretty sure his massive wolf heart would shatter right there in the forest.
“Okay… okay,” I whispered. “But Lily gets some first.”
Saint’s ears perked. He looked at Lily, then back at me, clearly processing. Then he padded over to her.
Lily’s brown wolf eyes went wide with panic. She tried to scurry behind me, pressing her smaller body tight against my legs like I could protect her from the giant silver-black death wolf.
“S-Saint, wait—!”
Too late.
Saint leaned down and dragged his big, flat tongue in one slow, affectionate lick right across Lily’s entire furry face, from chin to forehead. A massive, sloppy wolf kiss. Like he was saying You’re pack too. Don’t be scared
Lily froze, completely stunned. Her ears flattened. Then she blinked rapidly, looking absolutely betrayed and confused at the same time.
I couldn’t help it and I burst out laughing.
Saint gave a happy little chuff, tail wagging again as he trotted back to me and sat proudly in front of the rabbit like he’d just completed an important mission.
Lily shook her head hard, trying to get the slobber off, then looked at me with the most betrayed expression a wolf could manage.
I sat down right there on the forest floor, cross-legged, and gently picked up the rabbit. Lily skittered between my legs, still side-eyeing Saint like he might lick her again.
“Here, girl,” I murmured, placing the rabbit in front of her.
She hesitated for half a second, then leaned in and bit down. Her small wolf teeth tore into the flesh with a wet sound. She ate hungrily, almost desperately, like she hadn’t had real meat in a long time.
Saint nudged my arm with his big head, whining softly.
I sighed. “Alright, alright. My turn.”
I let my fangs descend, small, delicate things compared to theirs, but still sharp enough. They weren’t the massive weapons most wolves had, but they were mine. I leaned down, bit into the rabbit’s shoulder, and tore off a piece.
Warm blood filled my mouth. The taste was metallic, wild, strangely rich. I chewed slowly, trying not to think too hard about it. A trickle of blood ran down my chin.
Before I could wipe it away, Saint leaned in and dragged his warm tongue slowly up my chin, licking the blood clean with a happy rumble. His tongue was so big it covered half my lower face.
I squeaked, cheeks burning. “Saint!”
He just wagged his tail harder and licked me again, this time across my cheek, like he couldn’t stop himself.
Lily was already halfway through the rabbit, eating with enthusiastic little growls.
I took another small bite, cheeks burning as Saint kept licking at my chin and jaw like he was cleaning me. Kane and Rhys circled closer, their massive wolves brushing against my back and sides, golden and ember eyes watching me eat with dark satisfaction.
Kane made a low, approving sound and gently nipped at my shoulder, while Rhys pressed his huge black head against the top of mine, inhaling my scent.
I was sitting on the forest floor, eating a raw rabbit with my bare hands and fangs, surrounded by three gigantic wolves who were treating me like their precious little mate while Lily devoured the rest between my legs.
This was officially the weirdest hunt night of my life.
And somehow… I was smiling the whole time.
Saint’s tail started wagging again, thumping loudly against the ground as he watched me eat. Every time I took a bite, he gave a happy little huff like…..I was the best hunter in the world.
I reached out and scratched behind his ear. “You’re such a good boy, Saint.”
His tail went into overdrive.
I took one more small bite, then gently placed the rest of the rabbit in front of Lily.
“Here, finish it,” I whispered, stroking her soft brown fur. “You need it more than I do.”
She tore into what was left with happy little growls, tail swishing as she ate. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, still tasting blood on my tongue.
Saint stayed glued to my side the entire time, when I scratched behind his ear again and called him a good boy, his tail started thumping so hard it sent leaves flying everywhere. He leaned his massive head heavily against my chest, tongue lolling out happily as he panted warm breaths over my gown.
When Lily finally sat back, licking her chops, she looked a lot more satisfied. She even gave Saint a tiny, reluctant tail wag like she was starting to accept that the big scary wolf wasn’t going to eat her.
Kaiden appeared a moment later, leaning casually against a thick tree trunk with his arms crossed and that trademark amused smirk on his face. His eyes sparkled with mischief under the moonlight.
“I did not know you were such a carnivore, Scar,” he drawled, voice laced with teasing. “And a heartless one at that. Poor little bunny never stood a chance.”
I gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to my chest. “We are all animals,” I shot back, trying to sound dignified even with rabbit blood on my chin and Saint’s massive head still resting on my chest. “Some of us just… embrace it more enthusiastically.”
Kaiden’s smirk widened. “Enthusiastically is one word for it. I’ve seen less enthusiastic bloodbaths.”
Before I could fire back, Saint let out a protective growl and shoved his huge head more firmly into my lap, almost knocking me backward.
Kane gave a playful snap of his teeth in Kaiden’s direction, while Rhys simply pressed closer against my back like a living throne, golden eyes fixed on Kaiden in clear warning.
Kaiden raised both hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Relax, big guys. I’m not stealing your precious Omega. Just appreciating the view.”
I rolled my eyes, cheeks still burning as I kept scratching behind Saint’s ears.
Kane made a sound that was suspiciously close to a wolfish laugh and bumped his head against my side, nearly knocking me over again. Saint took the opportunity to lick the other side of my face, leaving me thoroughly slobbered on.
He was practically vibrating with joy now that I’d accepted his food and even shared it.
The forest around us was still alive with distant howls and the occasional victorious growl as other students finished their hunts. But right here, in our little circle, it felt strangely… peaceful.
Saint suddenly flopped down dramatically, rolling onto his back and exposing his belly to me with a happy whine, tongue lolling out. His red eye sparkled with pure puppy energy.
I couldn’t resist. I reached over and rubbed his belly with both hands. His back leg started kicking in bliss.
Kane immediately got jealous and shoved his big head under my other arm, demanding attention too. Rhys, ever the elegant one, simply rested his chin on my shoulder, golden eyes half-lidded in contentment.
Kaiden shook his head, still smirking. “I take it back. You’re not a carnivore. You’re a wolf whisperer.”
I grinned, blood still faintly staining my lips, surrounded by three massive wolves who were happily letting me pet them like overgrown house dogs.
“Yeah,” I said softly, scratching Saint’s belly while Kane nuzzled into my side. “Maybe I am.”
Lily finished the last of the rabbit and gave me a look that clearly said You are so screwed.
I just sighed, smiling despite myself, and buried my face in Saint’s thick fur.
Yeah… I really was.
******
Lily had shifted back and quickly thrown on her clothes behind a tree, muttering the whole time about “giant slobbery wolves” and “never accepting wolf kisses again.”
The Triumvirate had also shifted back into their very naked, very muscular human forms before dressing (thankfully).
Now they walked with us like three oversized bodyguards who had zero intention of giving me any personal space.
Saint stayed glued to my side the entire walk back still in human form but acting exactly like his wolf had. Every few steps he’d bump his shoulder against mine or lean down to nuzzle the top of my head like he couldn’t stop touching me.
Rhys and Kane flanked us, refusing to fall behind even though Saint was technically assigned to our group.
When we finally reached our tent, I stopped and turned to face the two giant Alphas who clearly had no plans of leaving.
I pointed between them. “You two know you can’t sleep in here, right? This tent is tiny. It won’t fit all of us. Saint’s already pushing it because he’s in our assigned group, but you two…”
Rhys tilted his head, golden eyes calm and utterly unbothered. He stepped closer, voice soft and dangerous. “We’ll make it fit, darling.”
Kane grinned like a shark, folding his massive arms across his chest. “Yeah, love. You can sleep on top of us. I don’t mind being your personal mattress.”
Saint gave a quiet, hopeful little sound from behind me, already ducking into the tent like the decision had been made.
I stared at them, mouth open. “This is not how this works! You two are not part of our group. Professor Ryan will lose his mind if he sees you..”
“Then he shouldn’t look,” Rhys said simply, stepping past me and into the tent like he owned it. Kane followed right behind him, ducking his huge frame through the flap with a smug smirk.
I threw my hands up. “Are you serious right now?!”
Kane poked his head back out, still grinning. “Dead serious, love. You think we’re letting you sleep alone after you let us rub all over you and ate the bunny Saint killed for you? Cute. Adorable, even.”
Saint was already inside, spreading out one of the sleeping bags like he was making a nest. He looked up at me with those big ice-blue eyes, patting the spot beside him innocently.
Rhys had claimed the other side, calmly removing his shirt because “it’s too warm in here” while Kane flopped down like he owned the entire tent.
I stood at the entrance, face burning. “This tent is meant for three people. Not five.”
Kane patted the tiny space between him and Saint. “We’ll squeeze. You can sleep on top of me if it’s too tight. I volunteer as tribute.”
Lily, who had been watching the whole thing with wide eyes, finally burst out laughing. “I’m going to sleep in Kaiden’s tent. Or Milo’s. Anywhere that doesn’t involve watching you get wolf-handled by three giant Alphas.”
“Lily!” I hissed, betrayed.
She just waved and disappeared towards kaiden, still giggling. “Good luck, Scar!”
I looked back at the tent.
Saint was already reaching for my hand, tugging me gently inside. Rhys watched me with that serene, terrifying smile. Kane winked and patted his chest again.
“Come on, love. We’ll be good. Mostly.”
I groaned, covering my face with both hands, but my feet still carried me forward.
“Fine. But no funny business. And if Ryan catches you two in here, I’m blaming all of you.”
Kane’s low, filthy chuckle followed me inside. “Wouldn’t dream of it, princess.”
As the tent flap closed behind me and three massive bodies immediately surrounded me in the small space, I realized one terrifying truth:
I was probably never getting rid of them.