Page 72 of Ruffled Feathers

“Today, tomorrow, and every day after,” I promised, our own secret vows right here in the living room of the Packhouse.

My sister, Elizabeth, poked her head in. “Okay, lovebirds, it’s time. I’m going to take my seat, so give it thirty seconds.”

Elizabeth had been a lifesaver when it came to our commitment ceremony planning. She’d flown over from California a week ago to do the last-minute organizing, and I loved her for it. I blew her a kiss, and she rolled her eyes, but still grabbed it and stuffed it in her imaginary pocket.

Stepping out onto the back patio, I held Otillie-James tightly to my side. On the back lawn were all our friends and family, spread out to see our claiming ceremony. There were animals everywhere, rabbits chewing on the lawn, and goats with large bows on their necks eating the plants beside the deck. Honkers lay in the sun in the front row, though he was much trimmer than he’d been when I first met him. All the extra dogs to run around with had really made him lose weight.

Akio sat at our feet, the rings tied to a pillow around his neck. Otillie-James squatted down in her dress, uncaring that she was precariously balanced on her heels already. “You ready, boy?” she whispered. “Go to Lance.” Akio trotted off down the aisle to the collectiveawwwof the crowd.

Helping her back to her feet, I wrapped her arm in mine. We followed Akio down the aisle, between the two groups of people who’d come to help us celebrate our love. No one seemed perturbed by the fact there were two Omegas, except maybe my parents. They had their noses screwed up, either at the outdoor wedding, or the animals, or Otillie-James. I really didn’t care. If I never saw them again after today, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

I had my family now, and they were about to declare their love for me, in sickness and health, for better or for worse.

Truett, Sonny, and Lance stood at the end of the aisle. The officiant was there in the background, under the arbor thatLance had built with his own hands. Our Pack looked at us like we were everything they’d dreamed of and more.

I’d been worried that I might get lost in the shadow of their love for Otillie-James, but I’d been so wrong. Every day, they showed me how much they loved me individually, and how much they loved us together. Sonny and Truett showed me every night how much they desired me, and I’d been late for work many a morning because we’d decided to “be economical with the water usage” and shower together.

Lance and I had a solid friendship, and I knew I could rely on him to be at my back if I needed him. Plus, he was a surprisingly happy snuggler. He said our love was a bromance, and I was happy with that.

Then it came to the woman beside me. She was all of that and more. Worth every moment of doubt, worry, and confusion to make it to this point.

We stopped in front of the guys, our hands still tightly entwined. “Omegas,” Truett breathed, a world of reverence in that word. Sonny looked like he was fighting back tears, which made Otillie-James give him a watery grin. Lance just beamed, a smile so wide that it pulled at the scars on his face. He was completely clean-shaven today, and so fucking handsome, I was a little jealous he didn’t swing my way even a smidge.

The officiant cleared his throat. “Let’s get started, shall we?” he asked softly, and I nodded. I was ready to be part of the Chalmers Pack. “Friends and family, we are here to witness true love in its most purest of forms…”

The party had been going for hours, the drinks flowing as our reception continued late into the night. Elizabeth and her partner had relaxed once our parents left, and they were dancing with my new Omega. Otillie-James was laughing, her hairbeginning to come out of the multitude of pins that kept the curls trapped like a halo around her head. Her parents had left an hour ago, citing that they were too old for partying, but they’d been so happy for us, it made up for the disdain of my own folks.

Lance stood beside me, our shoulders touching as Truett and Sonny did the rounds. “She’s beautiful today,” he murmured. “I mean, she’s beautiful every day, but…”

I patted his back. “I know.”

He smirked at me. “You look amazing too. Truett had to adjust himself like crazy as you two walked down the aisle together. We’re all counting down the minutes until everyone leaves.”

Laughing, I shook my head. The party was winding down, but the day had been so perfect. Though I wasn’t going to lie and say I wasn’t anxious for my bonding bites.

We would all be claimed today, our Packbonds completed. Lance would get bond marks from the Alphas, and I would get claiming bites from everyone. I was ready, more than ready. My Omega had been grumpy about being on the outside for months, but I wanted it to be perfect for me, for Otillie, for the Alphas.

And it was.

It was another hour before the bulk of people started to leave, and one look at Sonny told me he was ready to forcibly bounce everyone off the property. He strode toward me and kissed me possessively. “My mate, how are you feeling?”

I whimpered at the old-school wording, my Omega’s pleasure washing over me. “Ready to be in my nest with my Pack,” I whispered against his lips.

He looked over at Truett and Lance. He made a quick hand gesture, then he picked me up. It wasn’t an easy feat; I wasn’t a tiny Otillie-James. I was built more like a Beta than an Omega. But he carried me into the house and up the stairs like it wasnothing. I purred against his chest, letting myself go completely to my Omega instincts.

I could hear the pounding of feet up the stairs, which meant the rest of my Pack wasn’t far behind me. I could hear the soft giggle of Otillie-James, followed by the deep rumble of Lance’s voice.

Sonny walked into the middle of my perfect nest, laying me down gently. “My handsome Omega. Mine,” he growled, and I knew his Alpha was riding him just as hard as my Omega was riding me. “Going to claim you tonight. Make you mine, body and soul.”

“Yes,” I breathed and pushed myself up to kiss him. He tugged off my bowtie, before moving down to deftly unbutton my shirt as his lips traced over mine.

Someone cleared their throat, and I lifted my head. “Did you two start without us?” Truett demanded lightly, but his eyes were filled with burning heat. “Rude, but that’s okay. We have all night to catch up.”

He was watching me with an almost predatory gaze. I met his eyes and licked my lips, watching his pupils dilate. Behind him, Lance was slowly unwrapping our Omega with the kind of reverence that people reserved for their idols.

We all stopped, watching as her ceremony gown slipped down her body and pooled at her feet, leaving her in an ice-blue lace underwear set that matched my suit pants.Sexy little Omega.

The pheromones in the room ratcheted up to ten, making my dick hard and begin to leak precum. Fuck, if we weren’t careful, the amount of lust in this room would push me into preheat.

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