42. Malachi

42

MALACHI

I stand in the doorway of our pack’s common room, the soft light of dawn painting everything in hues of gold and amber. The scent of cedarwood and amber, my own pheromones, mingles with the lingering traces of Aria’s heat and the unique fragrances of each pack member. It’s a heady combination, one that speaks of intimacy, connection, and profound change.

As I survey the room, I notice subtle but significant differences in the way it feels. The air seems charged with a new energy, a sense of unity that wasn’t there before. Our bond, always strong, now feels unbreakable.

Zane is the first to join me, his usual intense demeanor softened by exhaustion and something else—a newfound peace. He paces the room, his gaze sweeping over everything as if seeing it for the first time.

“Morning,” he grunts, but there’s a warmth in his voice I’ve rarely heard before. “The air feels… different. Charged. Like the calm before a storm, but… good.”

“How are you feeling?” I ask, studying his face closely.

He pauses, considering my question. “Different,” he finally says, his brow furrowing as he searches for the right words. “Like… Like I understand my place in the pack better now. Does that make sense?”

I nod, feeling a swell of pride and affection for my second-in-command. “It does. I feel it too.”

As we talk, Quinn and Dash emerge, both looking tired but content. The way they move around each other has changed. There’s a new awareness, a deeper respect in their interactions.

“Where’s our radiant omega?” Dash asks, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Don’t tell me she’s still basking in the afterglow while we’re down here looking like we’ve been through a romantic tornado.”

“Still sleeping,” I tell him, my voice calm and authoritative. “She needs the rest. We all do.”

Quinn nods, running a hand through his tousled hair. “That was… intense—beautiful, but intense. It’s like we unlocked a new level in the game of pack dynamics, and the cheat codes are written in pheromones.”

“I had no idea.” Dash practically tosses himself into a chair. “No wonder omegas need multiple alphas.”

“Tired?” Quinn teases him.

We settle into the comfortable chairs, the familiar surroundings feeling somehow new in the aftermath of our communal experience.

Zane shares how the experience helped him confront some of his own insecurities about his role in the pack. His voice, usually gruff, softens as he speaks. “I always thought being strong meant being alone, but now… I see the strength in our connection.”

Quinn talks about feeling a deeper connection to his omega side, something he’s always struggled with as an alpha. “It’s like I’ve discovered a whole new part of myself,” he muses, his clever eyes alight with curiosity. “The equations of our dynamics just got a lot more interesting.”

Dash, usually so carefree, speaks earnestly about the sense of responsibility he now feels toward Aria and the pack. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the fun one, but now I understand the weight of that fun and how important it is to our balance.”

As I listen, I feel my own perspective shifting. The alpha in me has always seen leadership as a burden to be shouldered alone, but now, I see the strength in our diversity and the unique gifts each member brings to our pack.

Suddenly, a minor disagreement breaks out between Zane and Dash about how to best support Aria moving forward. Zane’s protective instincts flare, his posture tensing. “We need to be vigilant,” he insists, his eyes flashing. “The world is still dangerous.”

Dash counters, his usual laid-back demeanor giving way to passion. “But we can’t smother her. Aria needs joy and freedom too.”

“Both of you have valid points,” I interject, my voice calm but firm. “Zane, your protective instincts are one of your greatest strengths. And Dash, your ability to bring joy and lightness to Aria’s life is invaluable. We need both approaches. Our strength lies not just in our individual abilities, but in how we uplift each other.”

As I speak, I see understanding dawn in their eyes. The tension dissipates, replaced by a sense of mutual respect and appreciation.

“You’re right,” Zane admits, surprising me with his willingness to concede. “We’re stronger together, each playing our part.”

Dash nods, a grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, who’d have thought the big bad alpha and the goofball musician would make such a good team?”

The room fills with laughter, the sound warming my heart. This is what a pack should be—a family supporting each other and growing together.

As our conversation continues, my mind begins to turn to the challenges that await us outside these walls. Logan, the mayor, and the complex political landscape we’re navigating all seem less daunting now.

“We should have a formal pack meeting soon,” I suggest, my tone shifting to one of leadership, “to discuss everything that’s happened and plan our next steps.”

The others readily agree, and I feel a surge of confidence. Whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together, stronger and more united than ever before.

As the morning wears on, I excuse myself to start drafting an agenda for our meeting, but before I leave, I take one last look at my pack. Zane is steady and strong, his intense gaze softened by newfound understanding. Quinn’s mind is already whirring with plans and possibilities. Dash, always vibrant and loyal, is a beacon of light in our group. Aria, although she is currently upstairs, is our heart, our omega, and the one who brought us all together.

A wave of emotion washes over me—love, pride, and determination. We’ve been forged anew in the fire of Aria’s heat, our bonds strengthened and resolve tempered. We are Pack Clarke, and we are ready for whatever the future holds.

As I head to my office, the weight of leadership feels lighter, transformed from a solitary burden into a collective strength. Our pack has always been strong, but now, there’s a palpable shift, a sense that we’ve moved from merely coexisting to truly thriving as a family.

I glance back at the common room, catching sight of Dash teasing Quinn about something trivial, while Zane watches with a bemused smile. The easy camaraderie and unspoken understanding is more than I dared hope for when we first formed this pack.

As I sit down at my desk, I take a moment to center myself, inhaling the residual scents of our bond.

I hate this feeling, as though I’m waking from a fever dream when I want nothing more than to run back to Aria and remain in the nest with her for the next half of forever.

I don’t know how long I sit at my desk, staring at the blank papers before me, when I hear a soft creak from the door.

I look up to see Aria rubbing sleep from her eyes. For a moment, all I can do is look at her in that sexy silk robe that hangs to mid-thigh.

“Hey, you, you should be sleeping.” I push back from the desk, intent on getting up and putting her back to bed.

“Stay,” she murmurs and slowly walks over to me.

I reach out to her, and she takes my hand graciously before settling on my lap, her knees splayed on either side of me. Her pupils are still blown, and she smells like oranges and cream. Pressing a palm to her forehead, I find she isn’t hot, but it’s as though her heat is hanging on fiercely.

“You alright?” I question, trying to peer into her soul.

“Yeah. Awake, but also not.” She rolls her hips with a whine.

“Is my omega feeling needy?” I ask, tugging at the sash of her robe and letting it flutter to the side.

“Yes,” she murmurs, her voice a soft purr as she leans into me. “I woke up, and you weren’t there. I need you, Malachi.”

Her words send a surge of heat through me, my alpha instincts responding to her call. I can feel her desperation, her longing, as if it were my own. This is the power of our bond and the depth of our connection.

I run my hands up her thighs, feeling her soft, smooth skin beneath my fingertips. She shivers at my touch, her eyes fluttering closed as she grinds against me. Her scent intensifies, filling the room with a sweet, heady fragrance that makes my head spin.

“I’m here, Aria,” I murmur, pressing a gentle kiss to her collarbone. “I’ve got you.”

She whimpers, gripping my shoulders as she rolls her hips again. I feel the slick heat of her arousal, the evidence of her need. My own body responds in kind, my alpha instincts roaring to life.

I slide my hands up to her waist, lifting her slightly as I stand. She wraps her legs around me, her arms circling my neck as I carry her to the couch in the corner of my office. I lay her down gently, her robe falling open to reveal her beautiful, flushed body.

She looks up at me with trusting, beseeching eyes. “Please, Malachi,” she whispers. “I need you.”

I kneel beside her, running my hands over her body and exploring every curve. She arches into my touch, her breath coming in soft gasps. I lean down and capture one pert nipple in my mouth, swirling my tongue around the sensitive peak.

She cries out, her hands fisting in my hair as she holds me to her. I lavish attention on her breasts, moving from one to the other, while my hands continue their exploration of her body. I can feel her slick arousal coating her thighs, and I know what she needs.

I trail kisses down her stomach, gripping her hips as I settle between her legs. She whimpers, her legs falling open to reveal her glistening sex. I inhale her intoxicating scent before dipping my head to taste her.

She bucks against me, gripping the couch cushions as I explore her with my tongue. I lap at her folds and circle her clit, dipping inside her to taste her sweet nectar. She moans and writhes, her body responding to my every touch.

I insert a finger into her tight, wet heat, crooking it to hit that sensitive spot inside her. She gasps, lifting her hips off the couch as she grinds against my hand. I add a second finger and stretch her, preparing her for what she truly needs.

“Malachi,” she murmurs, her eyes flashing open to meet mine. “Please. I need… I need more.”

I growl, my alpha instincts taking over. I stand, quickly unfastening my pants and pushing them down. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of me, hard and ready for her. I kneel between her legs, positioning myself at her entrance.

“Is this what you need, Aria?” I ask, my voice a low rumble.

“Yes,” she whispers, her eyes never leaving mine. “Yes, please.”

I thrust into her, a low groan escaping my lips as her tight heat envelops me. She cries out, wrapping her legs around my waist and digging her heels into my back. I begin to move, my hips rolling against hers as I claim her, body and soul.

Her moans fill the room, her body meeting mine thrust for thrust. I can feel her pleasure, her need, and her love as if it were my own. This is the power of our bond and the depth of our connection. We are one, united in our passion and love.

I feel her climax approaching, her muscles clenching around me. I lean down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as I thrust into her one last time, and my knot settles deep inside her. She screams her release into my mouth, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure crash over her. I swallow her cries, my own orgasm ripping through me, intensifying as her inner walls clamp down on my knot and pulse around me, drawing out every last drop of my essence.

We stay locked together, our breaths mingling and hearts pounding in sync. I can feel her satisfaction, her contentment, as if it were my own. This is the beauty of our bond—the profound intimacy that binds us.

Her eyes flutter open, meeting mine, and a soft smile graces her lips. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice filled with emotion. “I needed that… needed you.”

I brush a tender kiss against her forehead, wrapping my arms around her to hold her close. “I’ll always be here for you, Aria. Always.”

We lie like this for a while, our bodies entwined as our bond hums with contentment. Eventually, my knot recedes, and I slip out of her, immediately missing her warmth. I grab a nearby blanket and drape it over us as I pull her into my arms.

She snuggles against my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. “I love you, Malachi,” she murmurs, her voice soft and sleepy.

My heart swells with emotion, my arms tightening around her. “I love you too, Aria, more than words can express.”

As she drifts off to sleep, I can’t help but marvel at the journey we’ve taken—from a group of misfit alphas to a true pack, bound together by love and loyalty. Aria has changed us, changed me, in ways I never thought possible.

I press a gentle kiss to her temple, inhaling her sweet scent. The future is uncertain, filled with challenges and potential dangers, but with Aria by my side and our pack united, I know we can face whatever comes our way.

For now, though, I simply hold her, cherishing this moment of peace and connection. This is what it means to be pack, to be family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As I sit here, holding my sleeping omega, I make a silent vow. I will protect her, cherish her, and love her with every fiber of my being. I will be the alpha she deserves, the alpha our pack needs. Together, we will face the future, strong and united. Together, we are Pack Clarke, and we are unbreakable.