Page 59 of Ember

“Currant,” Ben said, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth. “Don’t worry, sweetheart; no one can place it.”

“Like a cranberry,” Alejandro added, patting Ember’s hand. “We don’t have them much in the United States.”

“They were actually illegal to grow for a little while, because of the rot they could bring,” Ben added. “I didn’t have a name for my scent either when it first came in.”

I listened as the conversation turned to more uncommon scent notes, and I relaxed. I was used to it being just me and Ember, and lately Alejandro. I waited to feel annoyed or overwhelmed with the two new additions. But Rian was quiet, and Ben had an easygoing charm that didn’t demand to be the center of attention.

I found myself looking at the alpha and omega pair anyway. Both of them looked at Ember like she hung the moon, which was the correct response. But they sent speculative looks at me and Alejandro.

It might work. Maybe.

An emotion welled up, and it took me a minute to place it.

Hope. That we would actually have a pack. It wouldn’t just be me and Ember against the rest of the world.

I shoved the feeling back down. I knew better; I knew how many ways this could fail. I’d already experienced how people you loved could turn on you, could twist and turn that feeling.

It was too soon for hope. Hope could break me if I wasn’t careful.

Chapter 23

Alejandro

After Ben and Rian left, Ember and West pulled me down for couch snuggles. It was quickly becoming my second favorite part of the day, the first being whenever they decided to tag-team me.

Ember snuggled on my left, West on my right, and I put the nature channel on. Ember liked to watch either cute baby animals or lions chasing antelopes. It was bloodthirsty and endearing.

She rubbed her cheek on my shoulder. “Are you okay with everything?”

“With what?” I gestured at the TV. “The show? I love the nature channel.”

We had a thick, soft blanket over us and I could have fallen asleep right then and there.

“No, with Ben and Rian.” She looked uncertainly at me and then West. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to replace you. Or do too much at once.”

The alpha and omega pair smelled amazing. Even now their scent was on the couch, just enough to meld with the rest of ours, and it made me want to purr and kiss at the same time.

If they didn’t elicit such a reaction from me, I still would have been fine. Ember couldn’t take her eyes off Ben or Rian, and judging by West’s suspicious looks, he felt the same way. Ember deserved whatever and whoever made her happy. West too.

But the thought of touching either of them? That wouldn’t be a hardship at all.

“I don’t think it’s too much.” I squeezed her against me, my arms around both omegas. “The more the merrier, right? Ben didn’t snarl at me for being around his omega, so that’s a good sign.”

“He didn’t.” West sounded thoughtful. “They smelled good.”

Ember grinned at the other omega and reached over my chest to touch his shoulder.

It was way, way too soon for me to start thinking about a pack, but I could see it. Our scents were compatible, and Ember already spent time with Ben and Rian.

A few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever find the love I saw my parents share, and now I was looking at forming a pack.

“You don’t think three omegas is too many?” Ember directed the question to me.

I thought about Rian, the quiet brooding, the pale skin that flushed when he was around the group too long. Desire rose at the idea of having him. West and Ember, Rian and West, Ben and Ember. Any combination seemed tempting.

“Sounds like a great time. You omegas are the territorial ones.” I snorted. That was only a partial lie. “If you don’t mind sharing your nests and alphas, I’m down.”

West brushed his cheek over my shoulder. I didn’t miss how he angled his body to mine. He was still resistant, but I was fine with taking everything slow.

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