Chapter
Thirty
LEXIE
Candles flicker across the expansive dining table, illuminating the mouthwatering feast laid out in front of us. The rich aroma of perfectly seasoned roast lamb mingles with garlic, rosemary, and a sweet fragrance I've never smelled before. My stomach growls embarrassingly loud, reminding me that despite all the physical activity, I haven't had a proper meal since breakfast, even if Aidan has been supplying me with plenty of tasty snacks.
"I can't wait for you to try this recipe," Aidan says with a grin, pulling out my chair. His hand brushes my shoulder, a casual touch that somehow manages to feel both soothing and possessive. "Good thing we made enough to feed a small army because I'm starving."
"You and me both," I tell him.
If there was any doubt Aidan's love language is food, it's gone now.
I sink into the offered seat, wincing slightly as certain well-used muscles protest. The pleasant ache between my thighs serves as a vivid reminder of everything we've done thisweekend. All five of them. In various combinations. My body feels simultaneously exhausted and more alive than ever.
"Everything okay?" Darren asks, noticing my slight grimace as he takes the seat beside me. His scent, as subtle as it is on the suppressants, is always calming.
"Just a little sore," I admit, feeling my cheeks heat. "In a good way."
Zayn chuckles from across the table. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"As you should," I quip back, finding my confidence. It's strange how comfortable I've become with them all in such a short time. With five different men. A pack. My pack? The thought sends a flutter through my chest that I'm not quite ready to unpack.
Jax enters from the kitchen carrying a bottle of wine in each hand, Dmitri following with another behind him. "We couldn't decide," Jax explains, setting the bottles on the table. "So options it is."
"This is... a lot," I say, taking in the spread before us. Roast lamb, golden-brown potatoes, three different vegetable sides, fresh bread, and what looks like homemade cranberry sauce. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
"It's no trouble," Jax says, smirking proudly. "After everything that happened earlier, you need proper fuel."
"Besides," Aidan adds, "we like taking care of you."
The words fluster me automatically.
When was the last time I was with one person who actually enjoyed looking out for me and treating me like I'm special, let alone five of them?
"We should probably discuss things," Jax says carefully, looking around at the others at the table. "If you're up for it."
A weighted silence falls over the table. Five pairs of eyes focus on me with varying degrees of intensity.
"Things?" I ask with a laugh that sounds nervous despite my best attempts. Maybe I've been reading this whole situation wrong.
"You're special to us," Aidan says earnestly. "All of us."
I look around at them, these five impossibly beautiful men who have somehow decided I'm worthy of their collective attention. It's overwhelming, but not in a bad way.
Not at all.
"You're all special to me, too," I admit honestly. "But I'm still processing. This wasn't exactly how I expected my weekend to go when I signed up for that dating app."
Darren laughs, the sound warm and genuine. "Yeah, well, I didn't expect to present as an omega at twenty-seven either. Life's full of surprises."
I give him a smile and squeeze his hand. "It definitely is."
"What we're trying to say," Jax begins, pouring a rich, ruby-red wine into my glass, "is that we'd like this to continue. Beyond just this weekend."
The wine catches the candlelight as it swirls in my glass. I take a sip to steady myself, the flavor grounding and smooth on my tongue.
"Continue," I repeat carefully, looking around the table. "You mean... all of us?"
