Page 23 of Accidentally Forever

Violet is spiraling, her breath coming in small pants. She sits back up, clawing at her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. She’s murmuring something I can’t hear, but the broken look on her face causes me to act. My own instincts are taking over as I slide in beside her, pulling her down and into my chest.

My purr starts up again, immediately calming the Beta in my arms. Her body sags against me, those sobs softening. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers.

“Don’t be. I’m not sure I’d be as strong as you have been for Sofie. Most would have given up already but you’re still here, putting her first, making sure she gets what she needs. I can see that it’s breaking you to give up control so while you’re here, let me pick up the pieces.” I press a soft kiss to her damp forehead. “Let me take care of you the same way you took care of your Omega. You’re safe here.”

She won’t believe me. Not yet but I have a feeling she’s going to be here a lot longer than just tonight. When I hear the nearly soundless ‘Okay’, I know that I’ve got one foot in the door with this fiery Beta and it’s all I fucking need.

Chapter seventeen

VIOLET

A sudden discomfort tears me out of Puma’s warm embrace, the Alpha sitting up with me. He cups my cheeks in his hands, pale green eyes searching my face. “What is it, love? What’s wrong?”

“I can feel her. Something… is off.” I scramble from the bed, my heart pounding in my chest as I throw open the bedroom door just for a naked Sofie to fall into my arms.

She’s trembling against me, her small hands fisting into the fabric of my shirt, her bare skin burning against mine, still feverish, still lost in the haze of her heat. Lance exhales sharply, his fingers flexing at his sides, his jaw ticking as he watches her burrow into me, pressing her face against my neck like she’s trying to crawl inside me. He looks wrecked, exhausted, still shirtless, still carrying the weight of the last few hours in the way his shoulders sit stiff and tense, like he’s waiting for another battle.

“I told you to rest,” he mutters, rubbing at his temple, his voice tight but still soft.

Sofie doesn’t even acknowledge him. Her grip on me tightens, her body pressing closer, her breath warm against my throat. “Couldn’t,” she whispers, her voice smaller than usual. “Needed you.”

I hold her tighter, my fingers stroking through her sweat soaked hair, hoping that touch grounds her. “I’m here, baby,” I murmur. “Not going anywhere.”

Lance lets out a low breath, shaking his head as his eyes flick to mine. “She’s still deep in it,” he muses, but there’s no mistaking the edge beneath it. “We took the worst of it off, but it’s not done. I have no idea how she has the strength to stand right now.”

Neither do I but having her back in my arms is everything I needed. I continue stroking my fingers through Sofie’s hair, pressing my lips to her temple, needing to feel her, needing to remind myself that she’s still mine, even as everything around us is shifting. “Were they good to you?” My voice is quiet, but I need to hear her say it.

Her big brown eyes blink up at me, hazy, dreamy, still lost in the afterglow. A slow, lazy smile spreads across her face, warmth radiating from her in waves, her whole body practically purring against mine. She doesn’t need to answer. I already know. Still, she nods, pressing her cheek against my chest, breathing me in, her voice barely above a whisper. “They were perfect.”

Shuffling down the hall, a grunt following hits my ears as Hawk comes up behind Lance. “Fucking hell.” He drags a hand down his face, his entire body sagging with relief.

And now I’m intrigued as Hawk pulls off his shirt and slips it over Sofie’s head. She lets out a little murmur of contentment before snuggling back into my chest. Lance leans against the arch, folding his arms across his chest. “She took off the moment Hawk’s knot loosened. Stumbling around, incoherent. I thought something was wrong but it seems she was just looking for you. I always knew you two were bonded but had no idea how strong it was.”

I frown, confused. Betas can’t bond anyone, not without an Alpha somewhere in the middle. “We’re not bonded.”

“Maybe not physically but yeah, you are. It’s why she’s seeking you out instead of resting with us. You are her home, her guiding light, everything she fucking needs. I might have a knot but you have her heart.”

I look down at the woman in my arms, wondering if that’s why it’s been so hard to let someone else in. Why we’ve never wanted to be separated. Why I thought I could take on the goddamn world for her. She’s been mine from before she was an Omega, but my feelings for her strengthened when her designation changed.

Lance leans down to press a kiss to Sofie’s head, a soft sound falling from her lips. “I’m not going to take her from you, Violet. Regardless of what happens, she will always be yours first.”

Hawk hums his agreement as I gather Sofie up in my arms and carry her back to the bed. Puma hasn’t moved from where he’s sitting up on the mattress, his eyes softening as I lay Sofie down and climb on after her. She wriggles, a tiny smile playing on her lips. “You’re in the middle, Vi.”

“Baby, you need—”

“No. I can smell him on you. I like it,” she whispers, her words slurry as she closes her eyes. “I think it might be my new favorite scent.”

Puma pulls me in between them, like this is perfectly normal, Sofie snuggling up to my chest as he drapes an arm over our waists. Lance and Hawk are still standing at the entrance, almost as if waiting to see us get settled. There’s no jealousy in their eyes, no anger, no possessive Alpha bullshit lingering in their expression. Just adoration and maybe even a little bit of love.

I ignore all of that, pulling Sofie closer into me until I’m sure I’m suffocating her but she doesn’t protest, holding onto me just as tight. The heat from Puma’s chest bleeds into me, his purr starting up again, lulling me to sleep.

“You’re not losing her. You will never lose her, love.” Puma kisses the back of my neck, a shiver running down my spine. I nod, tucking my head into Sofie’s neck, the mixture of her scent and the twins perfect. It smells so natural, soher.

Maybe this is her happily ever after.

Correction.

Maybe this isours.

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