Page 81 of Welcome to Bone Town
That one simple question solidifies something I’ve been turning over in my mind for the past few days. I think Roman’s finally ready to lead our pack.
Cora smiles brightly. “I want to stay.”
58
SIX MONTHS LATER
“You okay?” Roman sets his hand on my leg as the small plane hits a bit of turbulence.
“Just don’t like flying, remember?” I smile, thinking of that first flight Roman and I took together and how different things are between us now.
We’ve been nearly inseparable for the past six months. After we both officially became the leads on the excavation of Lunara’s temple, we immediately hired Archer, Bear, and even Jax as part of our crew. There’s no one else we’d want to work with day after day. The crude tents around the dig site were replaced with more permanent dwellings, and we were given a little makeshift cabin big enough for all five of us. It’s tight. We don’t get much space for ourselves, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I smile at the four men who’ve become my home. Roman is next to me, with Bear and Archer in the seats facing us, and Jax just across the small aisle from them.
“Are you gonna finally tell us where we’re going?” Bear kicks Jax’s foot.
My treasure hunter arranged this whole thing. The tiny private jet, the accommodations, everything. He’s been planning it for… well, I’m not sure how long, but I’m sure it’s been in the works longer than when he first pitched the idea of a vacation to us.
Not just any vacation, a private bonding ceremony. Two weeks away together.
After the temple, I stopped having constant pre-heat symptoms, but we still don’t know if I’ll ever go into heat naturally or not. Jax assures us that this is the week, and we’ve all learned to trust his intuition, strange as it seems sometimes. I have been feeling a little extra clingy and emotional, so maybe he’s right.
But we agreed that whether I went into heat or not, this week we’d commit our lives to each other and become an official pack—with or without bonds.
“Nope,” Jax answers. “You’ll see when we land. But I will tell everyone your real name.” Jax waves a ticket in the air. Because he wanted to keep the destination a secret, he hasn’t let any of us see the tickets.
“Don’t you dare,” Bear growls. “I swore you to secrecy.”
“And I won’t tell anyone—outside of the pack.” Jax yanks his arm up as Bear lunges for the ticket, keeping it out of reach. “But packs don’t keep secrets.”
“Come on, Bear, I’ve guessed every name under the sun and still haven’t figured it out,” Archer pleads. “Don’t you think it’s time.”
Bear takes Archer’s hand. “I like our little game. Are you sure you want it to end?”
Archer leans over the armrest and kisses Bear. “I want to know you.”
Bear pauses for a moment to kiss Archer again, then turns to Jax. “Alright. Do it.”
“Lady and gentlemen, may I introduce you to Bartleby Archimedes Hudson…the third.” Jax’s smile could give the Grand Canyon a run for its money with how wide it is. “I kinda like it. Maybe we should name our first born son Bartleby.”
“No way,” Bear groans.
“We can talk about it after we knock her up.” Jax takes my hand and kisses the middle of my palm.
I close my eyes, taking in the rich anise smell of my bonded mate, imagining for a moment what it’ll be like to add three more tethers next to Jax’s.
“Not this time, though,” Roman says. “Right, Jax? I need to hear you say it.”
We were all a little shocked I didn’t get pregnant in the temple, and as much as the old hurt and worry still hit me in the gut, looking back, I’m kinda glad. I don’t want any of my mates to feel obligated to stay because of a baby, and despite how strong our connection was, the relationship was still so new. When we got home and settled in together, we discussed it as a pack and decided we wanted a bit more time before having kids.
Which I’m okay with, truly. As much as I want a family, I’m enjoying my time with my men, and work on the temple is keeping me far too busy to think of much else. We didn’twant to suppress my heat—since we still want to bond and aren’t sure what suppressants would do to my body after the experience with Lunara’s relic—but the guys agreed to cover up this time around. Though Jax did so begrudgingly. That man is crazy, but he really would do anything to make me happy. He bought a box of condoms big enough to last a month at least, so we should be good. Hopefully.
“I know. I know,” Jax grumbles.
“Say it,” Roman demands, just shy of a bark.
“I’ll wrap my dick. Promise.” Jax crosses his heart. “But, oh, love, when you’re ready…” He makes a whooshing sound through pursed lips, brings his hand to my belly, and leans across the aisle, bringing his lips to my ear. “I can’t wait to fill you so full of my cum your body bulges. Any that slips out, I’m pushing back into your cunt, right where it belongs until you’re carrying our little one,” he whispers so only I can hear.
