Page 56 of The Princess and the Pack

I groan, reminded of my authority. “Sounds like something my father would do. Make demands without thinking of others.”

“What you’re doing is good, Cillian. It’s going to save people—save omegas. Like Ivy. Stop comparing yourself to that dickhead.” Sloan grips my shoulder, steadying us both.

“Thank you,” I breathe. With his confidence in me, my heart rests a bit easier.

Sloan clears his throat, a smile on his lips. “Ivy’s almost here. I can feel her anxious little heart beating down the bond. Are you ready?”

Fuck, that’s magical—just as he said. To sense her even when she’s not near, to know her mood, and have the power to soothe her? I can’t wait to love her at any given moment.

Fate has truly been good to us.

“I’ll have to be,” I reply. “I want to be back in her heart.”

“You will be,” he says with surety.

The next moment, the chamber doors open.Fucking Oran.Never knocks, that one.

But he’s got my omega in tow—my beautiful Fate-blessed mate with the silvery new bond mark adorning her neck.

She’s a vision, and I’m thoroughly entranced.

Gods, Oran Rafferty does unspeakable things to my insides. The reverence he had for Sloan’s mark was…unexpected, to say the least.

After exiling him from the nest last night, I assumed Oran would be livid—jealous perhaps—that I let Sloan bite me. In the light of day, however, I don’t see the sense in that expectation. If my alphas always intended for us to be a pack, this bonding has only brought us a step closer to such ends.

All this time these men have been readying for my arrival, hoping to convince me that we belong together. Ironically, had Cillian told me of our scent match, he and the others would have learned of my shared desire for such an impossibility. Keeping secrets has only made our joining more difficult.

With all their scheming, I wonder about the intricacies of their plan to combat the way society is set to work against us. How will my family respond? And the most interesting question: if my heat is near, willallmy alphas see me through it? How will we explain that away?

Surely someone will have to know, given we’ll need sustenance at some point. I’ve never had a heat before, but from all I gathered through my snooping, it seems quite the vigorous occasion.

I can feel the blush rising to my cheeks just thinking of it. While I may have given myself to both Cillian and Sloan, I never truly considered the reality of all of us in bed—together.

Now that it’s within the realm of possibility, I’m practically gushing over the possibilities.

“Fuck,” Oran groans as my scent swells with lust.

I giggle, nervously. I quite like the idea of torturing him with my perfume. While I was incredibly angry with him last night, after seeing him and smelling his sweet, smoky scent, I’m of a different mind.

With the way Oran looks at me—like he’s mine to command—I have a hard time believing he ever meant to reject me.

Perhaps I’m foolish for assuming so much from a simple look, but he’s my mate, after all. The inner workings of his heart feel almost instinctual to me.

I don’t want to be hasty—there are still conversations to be had this morning. But I can’t deny my desire to spend time alone with my brooding mate and see where our connection takes us.

Cillian, on the other hand, I’m anxious to see. He’s done the most damage to my heart, after all. I had such fantasies about him and our life together.

While Oran and Sloan were always out of reach—only accessible in my dreams—Cillian was real. He and I were always going to be together, and I just wish he could have put the same trust in our future that I did.

I just don’t want to be made a fool of—like my mother. My gut tells me my husband is nothing like my father, but it’s hard to believe that when our marriage started with lies.

As Oran and I draw closer to my quarters, my heart pounds with nervous energy. Just knowing that I could leave this conversation either crushed or elated is a formidable thing to contend with.

So much is changing, so much is at stake, and I’ve had very little time to process it. But Fate has led me here. She’s given me this task—these alphas—for a reason.

When we arrive, I pause at the door to try to calm the riotous pounding in my chest. Oran steps closer behind me—his scent wrapping around me, filling my lungs and lighting some fire within. His presence at my back lets me know that whatever lies ahead, I don’t face it alone.

“We’ll tell you everything, Ivy. Please know we never meant to hurt you.” Oran whispers.

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