Page 35 of Echoes From the Void

Bishop laughs softly, the sound rich with satisfaction. “He’ll be the hardest to claim. Too much pride.”

“Good thing I like a challenge.” I roll my hips against him one more time savoring his groan and shudder. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being my first. For showing me it’s okay to need this. To need them.”

His hand cups my face, thumb tracing where my fangs have retracted. “You’ve always been meant for this, Frankie. For us. Even when you were that angry girl in my class, something in you called to something in me.”

Through our strengthened bond, I feel his complete acceptance—of my power, my darkness, my need for all of them. It gives me courage for what comes next.

“I should find the others,” I say, though making myself move from his embrace proves harder than expected. “Before Matteo actually does wear through the floor.”

“Or before Leo spontaneously combusts from excitement.” Bishop’s lips quirk. “I can feel him practically bouncing through the bonds.”

“And Dorian?”

“Has reorganized his books three times in the last hour.” He slowly lets me down, shadows helping gather our scattered clothes. “He’s in the library basement, obviously.”

“Obviously.” I pull on my shirt, watching his oath marks continue to shimmer. “Any suggestions on order?”

Bishop considers through our new bond, his strategic mind analyzing the connections. “Matteo first. His protective instincts are already heightened from the changes he’s going through. Then Leo—his energy will help balance the intensity. Save Dorian for last...”

“Because he needs to pretend he’s not waiting for it?”

“Because he needs to know we won’t give up on him,” Bishop corrects gently. Through our bond, I feel his understanding of our most reserved mate. “Like you didn’t give up on me.”

I lean in to kiss him one more time, feeling how naturally our shadows blend now. “Thank you for being my first.”

“Thank you for being our Alpha,” he returns. “Now go claim your pack properly. I’ll check on Finn.”

“And Tori?” I can’t help teasing. “Should I be worried about leaving her alone with my brother?”

Bishop’s smile carries knowing amusement. “I think some bonds form whether we plan them or not. Rather like ours did.”

“Besides,” Bishop adds as I reach the door, “your wolf is still watching them.”

“For protection,” I protest.

“Of course.” His disbelief flows through our bond, warm with affection. I feel him with more clarity now. Like switching from black and white television to high definition. “Just like Dorian’s constant reorganizing is purely for academic purposes.”

I flip him off, but there’s no heat in it. Through our strengthened connection, I feel his love, his certainty, his absolute faith in what we’re becoming. It steadies me for what comes next.

“Go,” he says softly. “They’re waiting. All of them.”

I pause at the threshold, letting my shadows dance one more time with his oath marks. “I love you, you know. Even when you’re being all strategic about pack dynamics.”

“I love you too. Even when you’re pretending not to be a total softie about your brother’s potential love life.”

Laughing, I slip into the shadows, following the pull of the remaining bonds.

Time to claim my pack properly.

All of them.

Even the ones who pretend they’re not waiting for it.

Through our new bond, I feel Bishop’s pride, his love, his absolute certainty that this—all of this—is exactly what we’re meant to be.

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