Page 27 of Their Alpha

But Fletcher was already compatible with someone. He was married to Gideon. Gideon depended on him. The bond would essentially split Fletcher in two. Whether he wanted to or not, he would always reserve a piece of himself for me. He wouldn’t have a choice. There were ways of breaking bonds, but those ways had dire consequences for both parties.

“It’s going to be alright,” I promised Fletcher, pulling his body close to mine. “We’ll figure out a way through this, I promise.”

Fletcher’s face pinched again, but instead of bursting into tears, like I was certain he would, he let out a heavy breath, wilting with it.

That motion also caused my knot to go down. I thought it was fast for a knot to recede, but a second, cleansing breath from Fletcher and the way he suddenly tensed and pushed me away explained why.

“It’s over,” he said, relieved, but also squirming to get away from me.

I had to admit, I was as glad as he was for his heat to be over. I took a long step back in respect of his post-heat aversion to touch and held my hands up to let him know I wouldn’t go anywhere near him now.

The bond between us was as strong and bright as any new bond could be, though.

“Let’s just take things one step at a time,” I said.

Fletcher nodded and moved awkwardly off the bathroom counter. He grimaced at the aches in his body. I could almost feel them myself.

“Why don’t you take a nice, hot shower to wash the last of this off you and I’ll go check on Gideon,” I suggested.

Fletcher gave me a look like he would never be able to wash off the things he was feeling and as if it was his job to check on Gid. But he didn’t protest. He just nodded in defeat and stepped toward the shower, turning it on.

I left the room to give him the privacy he needed, but I felt the bond stretch as I did.

In the bedroom, Gideon was still sleeping peacefully. He was still naked and he, too, needed a shower, but the bits of dried cum all over his body coupled with his blond hair as his head rested on the pillow made him look like some sort of dirty, fallen angel.

It was a good sign, at least, that he was smiling in his sleep. He had one hand resting on his very slightly distended belly.

My alpha hummed in contentment at the sight of him, remembering the breeding orgasm we’d had that had filled his womb with so much of my seed. It would drain out gradually throughout the next few hours, but seeing that slight pooch now ignited the visceral feeling within me that I’d done a good job.

I drew in a breath of Gideon’s scent, studying him for a moment and trying to ascertain whether I felt any sort of a bond with him. I couldn’t remember if I’d ever heard of a three-way bond before, but I hoped. Bonding with just Fletcher was a problem. Bonding with both of them could be the greatest triumph of my life.

I felt something, but it wasn’t remotely the same as the new connection between me and Fletcher. It could have just been normal affection and the closeness I felt when I’d successfully taken an omega I liked through heat. I wanted there to be something more, and it was true that something tickled at the back of my head, telling me this was special,but I couldn’t grasp hold of it like I could with my new bond with Fletcher.

I stood there staring at Gideon for way longer than I’d thought I would. When the shower shut off behind me and Gideon began to stir, it dawned on me that I was being creepy. And that Gideon would probably be terrified if he woke up with a huge, messy alpha standing over him.

I retreated quickly to the dressing room, searching for the overnight bag I’d brought with me. It was still there on the cabinet, but as soon as I spotted it, I lost interest in it.

“Fletcher?” Gideon asked as he came out of sleep. He pushed himself up to sitting, saw me, and smiled. “Artemis,” he said, sounding relieved instead of afraid.

I wanted to roar in victory at that. Gideon wasn’t afraid of me anymore.

Instead of making a big noise, I moved carefully back into the bedroom and sat on the far corner of the bed.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I smiled at him. “How are you feeling.”

“Good, actually,” Gideon replied. He lowered his head bashfully, then peeked up at me through his lashes while pressing a hand to his belly. He probably remembered the breeding orgasm we’d had.

My heart flipped and fluttered in my chest. Gideon was so freaking charming. He had this paradoxical feeling of innocence and sensuality about him that drove me wild. I wanted to pull him into my arms, kiss him all over, and then protect him with my life.

But those were emotions, not a bond.

“Fletcher,” Gideon said with even more warmth a moment later, glancing past my shoulder into the dressing room.

I pivoted to find Fletcher walking towards us, a towel around his waist, rubbing his hair dry with another towel.

“Hey, baby,” Fletcher said softly, sounding confident, even though I felt the worry pouring from him in a tidal wave. “How are you feeling?”

Fletcher tossed his hair towel aside and slipped onto the bed, gathering Gideon into his arms the way I wanted to.

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