Page 83 of Scrum Heat

“It’s bullshit.”

Theo’s voice cuts in immediately, sharp and low. “Someone wanted that article out there.Badly. I’ve already flagged it to a contact—he’s tracing the site’s contributor history and checking for dummy domains.”

“Because this is all totally normal,” Finn mutters. “Media manager for a semi-pro rugby club becomes small-town tabloid bait overnight?Please.”

“This isn’t random,” Theo says darkly. “I’ve seen this kind of thing before. Someone has an agenda.”

I stand there, blinking, the air heavy with tension and something else—something tight and charged.

They’re all watching me. I can feel it.

Waiting.

Rory’s voice softens. “That’s why we’re not letting it slide.”

My stomach twists. “...What does that mean?”

“It means we’ve been talking,” he meets my gaze. “And thinking. And we’re done waiting around for someone to come at you again.”

“It means protection. Respect. You don’t have to face this alone. It’s not just that you’re in this house, Frankie—you’re part of us. And we want to make that official.”

“Official?”

Rory meets my gaze evenly. “We want you in the pack.”

I blink at him, completely caught by surprise. My chest goes tight. I don’t know what I was expecting their reaction to the article to be, but itdefinitelywasn’t this.

“You think this is the right time? After that article?” I ask. “Because it kind of feels like a panic response—like damage control.”

Theo steps closer. “It’s not.” His voice is low, serious now. “Frankie, I’ve told you since day one—I knew we were scent-matched. The second you hit the floor in front of me, I felt it.”

I swallow. “I knew too. I just… didn’t want to say it.”

“Why?” he asks, tilting his head.

“I don’t know. It sounds stupid, it’s… Saying it out loud made itreal.”

Finn’s voice is gentle. “Real’s a good thing,” he smiles. “You’d have the pack’s care. Our protection. We already look out for you,obviously, but if you were bonded...”

He trails off, and I feel it in my chest.

That word:bonded.

“I don’t even know how itworks,” I admit. “I’ve met packs before, sure, and I've read a lot online, but... I’ve never actually spoken to anyone about the logistics. And I never imagined it’d be like this.”

“Neither did we,” Theo huffs a quiet laugh. “But we want you, Frankie. All of us do.”

“All four?” My voice is small.

Rory nods. “We’re sure.”

I pause for a moment, my heart pounding so loud I can hear it in my ears. It’s not that I don’t want it—it’s that I want it more than I’ve allowed myself to even think.

“And this isn’t some idea you’ve just come up with in the last ten minutes?”

“No,” Rory says firmly. “We’ve been talking about it for days. Quietly. We wanted to give you space, time. But after today… we’re not risking someone trying to take what’s ours.”

Mine.

---