Page 25 of Bonds of Fate

“Does he need prep?” Gideon shakes his head, and Jay gets a look at the head of a black plug in Rowan’s entrance. Fuck. “That’s the biggest one, Gideon, fuck.”

“Don’t look at me, Jay. I’m about to take the real thing. Come on, Rowan, give it to me.”

Jay can see it hurts when Rowan pushes into him, groaning through his tears. Rowan doesn’t slow down until Gideon whispers something in his ear, just for the two of them.

Then he speaks loud enough for Jay to hear. “You ready there, big alpha? He’s being so good. Ready, Rowan?” Jay pulls the plug out to the music of Rowan’s growl and tosses it out of the nest to be cleaned and returned to the cabinet later.

For the second time in the last thirty minutes, he’s pushing into one of his mates. “Fuck, Rowan, you gotta relax, baby. So tight.” He checks on Gideon, who is‌ supporting most of the weight of two grown men. He’s surprised when Rowan realizes the same thing and puts both of his hands down beside Gideon’s head to bear some of their combined weight.

Jay pushes in and watches Rowan’s back roll as he does the same to Gideon. He tries to take over the rhythm, but both Jay and Gideon are way ahead of him, and by the time he’s caught his breath, Jay is taking his cues from Gideon. Holding Rowan between them, it’s easy to feel when the youngest alpha starts shaking continuously.

“He needs your bite to come; he’s gone too long.”

Picking up speed, Jay feels the release he’d been denied burst in his belly as he sinks his fangs deep into Rowan’s shoulder blade. The younger alpha’s hips stutter, and he forces his knot into Gideon below them, collapsing on Gideon, whose eyes roll back as he follows them over.

“Fuck, Rowan, is that bigger than your last rut? Holy fuck. Don’t fucking move. Jay, tell me you didn’t knot?” Gideon gets out through a clenched jaw.

Jay doesn’t answer, instead pulling out and heading to the bathroom to wash Rowan’s plug thoroughly. He’s asleep on Gideon’s chest when Jay returns.

Luca and Finn are similarly dozing, spooned in the corner of the nest.

“Be careful, or I will end you.”

“Of course, my love. But you’ll have to catch me first.” He dodges a swat to his face and pushes the head of the plug back inside his sleeping mate, who, luckily for Jay, doesn’t even twitch as Jay settles the base firmly in place. “Well, that went okay in the end?”

“Whose end, you ask? Mine. I am not joking. His knot has got to be bigger. Can you see?”

“Are you going to be alright?”

“If no one startles him, I’ll survive. I’m only glad he’s down for the count. He’s never been like this before. Everything I’ve ever done to help him keep his cool went out the window.” He’s whispering in hopes the alpha will rest and maybe come into his next wave much more in control.

“We should see if Leo can do his thing. I’ll see if he is up for company.”

Reaching into the pocket of his sweats, he sees a text from Grayson.

His stomach drops. Pulling his sweats on, he checks on his mates. Gideon’s eyes are closed, and he’s got his lower lip caughtbetween his teeth. He runs his hand through Gideon’s sweaty hair and whispers, “Gid, I gotta go. Nix claimed Grayson.”

Without opening his eyes, he whispers back, “Well, that’s two of you now, then, eh?”

Chapter Eight: Jay

Jay

“Well, that’s two of you now, then, eh?”

Jay feels his stomach drop to his toes. Suppressing the telltale urge to rub the back of his neck, he groans. “Gideon. What—”

“Now isn’t the time for you to explain why you lied to me, Jaybird. But I will need the full explanation when I am in a more convenient position to better smack you upside the head. Although, I suppose Ididdo that earlier.”

“I’m sorry.” His shame isn’t about the bond he’s been feeling in his chest since Nix woke up; it’s not even about keeping it to himself. It’s about making his mate feel bad when this was supposed to be a celebration.

Jay can’t help but think he’s gone about this whole thing wrong. Not the transition, but everything after. He’d thought his world was spinning fast then, but it’s only picked up speed. He’s stillreactinginstead ofacting,and maybe now is the time to stop putting off until tomorrow what he should have fucking doneyesterday.

“Jay, what does Gideon mean that you lied?” It’s Luca, who’s sitting up and leaning back in Finn’s lap. Both his boys look sleepy and satisfied, with soft cheeks and sleepy eyes. Rowan is still out, but his knot has slipped free, and Gideon gently rolls him to the side.

Jay sits his ass down again; Grayson and Nix will have to wait a few more minutes. Sighing, he rubs his hand over the back of his head, and Luca’s eyes widen a fraction. It’s his tell, and it gives away his emotions every time. He wants Gideon to call him out—to put him on blast and expose what he’s been hiding.

More than that, he wants to know how Gideon knew. His mate has never been about easy but has always been about honesty. He’s taken more raised eyebrows, rolled eyes, and flack from him about how he’s handled this whole affair, but this has got to be worse yet.

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