“Mine,” he mumbled against my skin. “Mine…”
And we both tumbled, still connected. Holding me close, he pressed soft kisses to my shoulder, both of us breathing heavy. When his knot loosened, I rolled to face him, pressing against his shoulder.
“Now, it’s my turn to mark you, alpha.”
“You don’t have to.” He rubbed his cheek against mine. “I understand if this is going too fast.”
“Oh, but you’re wrong, James. I do have to. My wolf is demanding it.”
“Tell me.” The word fell from his lips.
My teeth elongated, and I sank them in, marking him thoroughly as mine. My wolf loved the way she tore at his flesh, making sure it was a little bit jagged. She wanted everyone to know that I belonged to her. So did I.
Chapter Sixteen
Seth
Something clicked within our pack bond. At first, I called James to make sure everything was okay, since he had gone to check on Romi, but he answered, saying they would be at our house any minute.
When they walked in, I found out why I felt a change. Romi was marked.
A bite mark was fully healed on the side of her neck, and my wolf went nuts inside me, thinking it was automatically his turn. Animal.
“Where’s Heath?” James asked me, but my eyes never left my omega. Her cheeks were flushed, and her smell was everything sweet and calming in the world.
“Upstairs.”
James would have to tell Heath everything that happened. He was the alpha of our pack, and usually that would mean he would knot and mark her first. Good thing Heath didn’t have an inflated ego. He bounded up the stairs after kissing Romi on the cheek.
“Romi, come here, please.” I opened my arms. It would be the first time I’d held her, but I felt like she needed it. So did I. I had to make sure she was okay.
She walked over, and I pressed two fingers to her mark. She flinched and lowered her gaze. No way my omega would be afraid of me. “Are you mad?” Her voice was only a bit above a whisper.
“Mad? No. I’m so happy you and James are bonded. He didn’t push you into anything, did he? Just because you were having a mini heat doesn’t mean he should press.”
Already, I was planning the goriest ways to murder James if he was anything but gentlemanly to our girl.
“No. Not at all. He was kind to me. Totally consented.”
“Come here.” I folded her up in my arms. She smelled like her and now like James. I had to admit to a tiny streak of jealousy inside me but, more than anything, I was happy for them. Happy for my omega. As long as she was content, I would endure just about anything.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you have to go get Maddox?”
“No. He’s with Gram-Gram. I don’t have to go back to work tonight.” She paused and bit down on her bottom lip. “I am hungry.”
A purr erupted from me. “Thank you for telling me what your needs are. We have a ton to eat. Let’s find you something. I could eat, too.”
We walked into the kitchen, her hand in mine. We found some chicken salad, imitation crab salad, cheese, and other goodies, and soon she had a snack tray fit for a queen.
“Seth?” she asked, taking a bite of cheese. “Is this weird?”
“You mean you and James being bonded?” No use mincing words. That was a way to get feelings hurt.
“Yes. I thought you and Heath would be upset with me. You said you weren’t mad but…”
I leaned against the island right in front of her. She put her palm against my chest, and my heart fluttered overtime. Every touch from my omega was precious, and I hoped to never lose that honeymoon feeling. “I’m not.”
“What about you and me?”
