Page 88 of Stuck with my Pack
I’ve always been unbonded. It was just a fact of my existence, something I never really questioned before.
But now, it feels different. Now, it feels like a weakness. A vulnerability.
And what if Adam was right?
I take a slow, uneven breath and finally turn, looking at them—my Alphas, my protectors. The men who have stood beside me, fought for me, held me through my worst moments.
I take in the bruised knuckles, the tension still lingering in their jaws, the way their chests still rise and fall with the aftermath of adrenaline. The way their eyes are locked on me, tracking every tiny movement, every breath I take.
Brodie shifts beneath me, his arms still wrapped around me protectively, his fingers tracing slow, soothing circles against my back. “Talk to us, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice low, coaxing. “You’ve been quiet since we got in the car. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
I keep my gaze fixed on my lap, my fingers twisting into the fabric of his jacket. My chest is tight, a lump lodged firmly in my throat. I want to tell them. Ishouldtell them. But the words feel too big, too heavy.
Ethan exhales sharply from the front seat, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. “Sophie.” His tone is firmer now, a thread of frustration woven between the concern. “You’re shaking. You think we didn’t notice? Talk to us, honey.”
Tyler shifts beside me, his hand sliding over my knee, grounding, steady. “Baby, whatever it is, just say it,” he urges, his voice softer than Ethan’s but no less insistent. “We can’t fix it if we don’t know what’s wrong.”
I draw in a shuddering breath, my pulse pounding in my ears.
And then, before I can talk myself out of it, I force the words out.
“What if…” I hesitate, my voice barely above a whisper. “What if Adam is right and something is wrong with me?”
The car goes silent.
Tyler stills, his fingers tightening on my knee. Ethan’s sharp inhale is audible in the quiet, and Brodie’s grip on me turns, almost bruising, like he’s afraid I might slip away.
The weight of their silence is suffocating. I press on, rushing to fill the space before I lose the courage to say anything.
“We’ve never talked about it before,” I continue, my voice wobbling. “I—I never thought about it before. But bonding isn’t just about instinct. It’sforever.And I didn’t think…” I break off, my stomach twisting into knots.
I didn’t think anyone would ever want me like that.
Brodie curses under his breath. I swallow hard, my throat tight, but the words tumble out before I can stop them.
“What if…” I hesitate, my fingers tightening on Brodie’s jacket. “What if you don’t want to bond me?”
The question is barely more than a whisper, but it lands like a bomb in the confined space of the car.
The silence stretches, thick with something unreadable, something I’m too afraid to face.
Until Brodie’s fingers tilt my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes are molten gold, intense and unwavering.
“Sophie,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “Not want you? That’s not even fucking possible.”
Tyler leans in, his hand finding my knee, squeezing gently. “Baby, do you really think we don’t want you?”
Ethan exhales harshly, running a hand through his hair. “Christ, Sophie. We’ve been trying to give you time. We didn’t want to push you into something you weren’t ready for. Didn’t want you to feel like you didn’t have a choice.”
I blink, stunned. “A choice?”
Brodie cups my face, his thumbs brushing away a tear I didn’t realize had slipped free. “Sweetheart, we’ve been waiting onyou.”
Tyler huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “We’ve been walking around like fucking starved animals trying not to bite you every time you smell too damn good.”
Ethan’s jaw clenches. “Youareours, Sophie. That was never in question.”
Something cracks inside me, the fear unraveling, replaced with something warmer, more substantial.
