41. Benjamin

Once inside my room, I flop onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling. There's a part of me that's terrified about the heat. Not because of what it means physically—that part is basic instinct, something we alphas are born ready for—but because of what it represents emotionally. Zara needs someone she can trust implicitly, someone who'll be there for her every step of the way without fucking it up.

I mean it with everything I've got that I'm going to be there for her, and she accepted my offer, so this is a good thing. Nicole is behind me, and Zara is in front of me. A whole world of possibilities is just waiting to happen.

Knowing I can be this for Zara and Mia, and even for myself, has a sort of peace settling over me. This is right. It's perfect, and I know now that Nicole was a means to an end for me. She gave me Mia, which brought Zara into my life. It's funny how fate works, but I truly believe this was fate at play—from the very beginning.

Turning over, I sigh—a slow release of breath that takes all the anger and pain away with it and leaves me restful. It's been a long time since I went to sleep properly without being dragged under by sheer exhaustion, unable to sleep because of the pain and needing to be there for Mia.

Making a mental note to ring my mum tomorrow to see if she will have Mia for a couple of days when Zara's heat hits full-on, I think that's best. It breaks my heart to have to part with her for a couple of days, but three alphas in rut with an omega in heat is no place for a baby.

Settling deeper into my pillows, I let my mind stray further. It's been a hell of a ride these past few months, but as I shut my eyes, the last thing I think about is Zara's smile, the way her entire face lights up when she's genuinely happy. It's a beautiful sight, and one that I need to see more often.

Sleep comes easier than usual tonight. Maybe it's because, for the first time in a long time, I feel like things are finally clicking into place.

But whatever it is, I drift off with the promise of tomorrow tingling in my veins—a future where Zara's scent fills my senses, not just during her heat but every day after that.

A future.

As dreams start to weave through my consciousness, they're full of laughter, the warmth of bodies nestled close, and the sweet tang of satisfaction that comes from knowing you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

It's a new day tomorrow—a day closer to Zara's heat and all the challenges that come with it. But for tonight, at least, everything is perfect in its place.

***

When I wake up, it feels like I've slept for a week and am groggy with it. I'm in the exact same position I was when I fell asleep. Rubbing my hand over my face, I realise a soft knock at the door woke me.

"Yeah," I call out groggily, getting up and going to the door.

It's Henry and Liam.

"We need to talk," Henry says, fixing me with a glare that catches me off guard.

"What did I do? Or not do?" I ask.

"Get compos mentis and then come downstairs," Liam says.

Raising an eyebrow at this order, I slam the door in their faces and turn to the shower.

The spray of the water is a wake up call, like a slap to the face, but in a good way. Steam fills the shower cubicle as I quickly scrub away the grogginess, trying to figure out what I've missed that's got Henry looking at me like I've betrayed the bloody crown or something.

Dressed in fresh clothes and more awake now, I head downstairs. As I descend, I can hear Liam's laugh and Henry's deeper chuckle. Whatever this is about, it doesn't seem they're too pissed off.

In the kitchen, they're both sitting at the island, mugs of tea in their hands. The morning light pours in through the window, washing over them and for a moment, I feel this surge of something akin to pride.

"What's up?" I ask, grabbing a mug for myself and flicking on the kettle. "Is Mia okay?"

"Mia is fine. I've taken care of her this morning. Zara is sleeping in. I think her heat, her real one, is about to hit any minute," Henry says.

"So then what?"

He and Liam exchange glances. "We have something to ask you. A proposal, as it were," Liam starts, but then looks at Henry.

Henry rolls his eyes and slaps Liam on the shoulder. "Okay, mate, you've chickened out. I've got this."

"Got what?" I snap, getting pissed off as I pour hot water over a tea bag.

"Liam and I are deadly serious about being with Zara. We feel she is our fated mate, and we have discussed at length this morning how that affects us. All of us."

"Okay, and?"

"How do you feel about her?"

Exhaling sharply, I find it's too fucking early for this. "One day at a time is how I feel about her."

"But you're going to be there during her heat?" he presses.

"Yes, we discussed it last night. Can we get to the point of this annoying conversation?"

"We need to know if you see yourself with her, in the future. Long haul," Liam takes over again.

"That's a heavy question and one I can't answer. Yes, I'm attracted to her. Yes, I'll be there for her heat. Yes, there is something between us that is new and exciting. Do I think it's fate?" I pause.

"That's the question of the day." Henry takes a sip of his tea.

"Yeah, I guess I do. Everything happens for a reason." I've said it and confronted it out loud, and it feels good. It feels right.

"So if we are all in this one hundred per cent, perhaps we should make this more formal," Henry says, searching my eyes as he places his tea down and pushes it away.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, for God's sake, man," Liam exclaims, running his hand through his hair. "You two could beat around the bush all fucking day. We want to make a pack with you as our prime if you'll have us. Okay? There. Ball. Court. You." He points at me and then crosses his arms.

I stare at them both, my mug of tea halfway to my lips. A pack with me as their prime? It's a serious commitment. "You have agreed to this, the two of you?"

"Yep," Henry says. "Look, we know it's fast, I mean, or is it? We've known each other forever. It makes sense. We are all living here, contributing to the household, and raising Mia. Why not make it official?"

I set my mug down with a clink against the countertop. My mind races through every moment we've shared since we could walk. It does make sense in the weird way that our world works. "So, we would be a pack and we would, I assume you're suggesting, we mate with Zara—as a pack?"

"That is what we are suggesting. Eventually. The pack thing needs to come first, and the mating, while Liam and I feel we are ready, has to go at your pace. You've just had your bond broken with her. We know rushing into another mating is probably the last thing on your mind, right now…"

"Yeah," I say, but it is half-hearted. The idea of forming a pack with these two idiots and then all of us mating with Zara, giving Mia stability and love from all sides, is not as scary as I thought it would be when they first hit me with this.

"Yeah…?" Liam asks. "You don't sound so sure."

"No, I'm just surprised that the idea isn't making me run a million miles away. If anything, it's rooting me here."

"So, you're in?" Liam clarifies, still looking slightly sceptical, as if he can't believe what he's hearing.

"Yeah," I say more firmly this time. "I'm in. But we do this right. We talk to Zara together. This has to be her call, too."

"Of course," Henry agrees readily.

"We'll do this properly," Liam adds. "We respect her choice no matter what."

It feels like stepping off a cliff and trusting that the water below isn't too shallow. But I know without a single shred of doubt that I'm ready for the plunge.

Light footsteps catch my attention, and suddenly, Zara appears in the doorway, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her hair is tousled, and a look of confusion crosses her face.

"Why did no one wake me?" she asks, blinking at us. "Has Mia been fed? She's fast asleep, I didn't want to disturb her if someone has seen to her?"

"Mia is perfect," I murmur, staring at her in wonder.

Liam turns to her with a wide grin while Henry gives her a soft smile. "Morning, princess," Liam says. "Tea?"

She nods slowly, still half in dreamland. "Sounds good," she mumbles before yawning widely. Her scent surrounds us, and a low growl escapes me as it does Liam and Henry. We are in our rut together because of Zara, this gorgeous omega who has entered our lives and swept us all off our feet.

"You're just in time," I say gently, "We have something important to discuss with you."

Her eyes flick between us all, a glimmer of wariness mingling with the sleepiness. But then she straightens up a bit, as if bracing herself for whatever we're about to throw at her. "Alright," she says with more vigour than before. "What's going on?"

"We've been talking," Liam begins, his tone unusually earnest for this time of the morning. "About us. About you. And about Mia."

"And?"

Liam's about to go on, but he looks to me, silently passing the baton as the would-be prime alpha of this new pack. I clear my throat, feeling the weight of what I'm about to suggest. "We want to form a pack," I say slowly. "The three of us together—with you, if you want it—as our omega."

Zara blinks rapidly as she processes the words. She looks at Henry and then at Liam before her gaze settles back on me. "A pack?" she repeats softly.

"Yes," I affirm, watching her closely. "We'll take care of Mia as a family, and well… we'd like for you to be part of that family. In your own time, of course, if that is something you know in your soul you want." I can't leave that part to chance. She has to be all in. No wishy-washy agreement because she feels forced into it. I don't think I can take another rejection in this lifetime.

She takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. "That's quite a proposal for this early in the morning." The corners of her mouth twitch as if she's fighting back a smile or perhaps nerves. "Can I have that tea first?" she asks, only half-joking, gesturing to the kettle with a quirk of her eyebrow. Liam immediately moves to get it done, the universal signal that no matter how tense the situation, a good cuppa can make everything better.

I watch her as Liam prepares her tea, trying to gauge her reaction beyond the initial shock. She's poised, but I catch the slight tremor in her fingers as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

Once Liam hands her the mug, Zara wraps her hands around it, inhaling the steam before taking a tentative sip. "Okay," she starts, setting the mug down on the island with a little more certainty than before. "You want us to be a pack? So, mating with me?"

"We see you as part of our, well, our everything already," Henry murmurs, knowing she needs to hear from all of us. Not just me. "The three of us are going to form the pack first. That is our thing. But we see a future with you, Zara. It's fate and we want to mate with you, when you and, of course, Ben, are ready for that. Full disclosure, Liam and I are ready for that now."

"Wow, okay," she says, and I see something shift in her expression—a softening around her eyes, maybe even a touch of relief. She takes another long sip of her tea before nodding slowly. "And just where would I fit into this pack? What's expected of me?"

"You'd be at the centre," Liam says quickly. "Our omega. It wouldn't just be about duties or roles; it's about support and about love."

"And no rush on decisions about mating," I add firmly, knowing she needs to feel free, not pressured. Knowing what little I do about her previous relationship; her free will is more important than anything else right now. "We just want you to know where we stand and make sure you're comfortable and happy with any choices you make before your heat arrives and things get…"

"Heated?" she giggles.

"Yeah." I return her smile, and I see no fear in her gaze. No hesitation. No doubts. She is fucking incredible.

Zara takes another sip of tea, letting the warmth settle inside her before she speaks. Her eyes scan each of us, affection and deep thought dancing in her gaze. "It's a lot to take in," she admits, her voice steady but soft. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt something different with you three. Like a pull." She sets the mug back on the island and folds her arms, suddenly looking more determined. "Like it is fate that brought me here to all of you."

"So, not to put words in your mouth… we need a yay or nay," Liam says, the worry in his voice echoing around the kitchen that she is going to shove this back in our faces and run.

She smiles. "It's a yay. It's fast, and it's wild, but I know it's right. I feel it in my soul," she glances at me, "and my biology doesn't lie. The three of you together threw me into this heat early. If that isn't fate screaming at me to accept you as my future mates, then I don't know what is."

The tension in the room evaporates like steam from a hot shower when you open the window, and my heart tries to beat its way out of my chest with the force of my relief that she didn't reject me. Us. Liam exhales loudly, the kind of sound you make when you've been holding your breath underwater and finally breaking the surface. Henry looks like someone's just given him the moon.

"Yay," Liam murmurs and draws her to him for a kiss. It's deep, and he clings to her as she does to him.

When they break apart, I clear my throat as Zara slams her hand to her head. "Heat?"

"Yeah," she croaks. "You fuckers are killing me here."

Chuckling, Henry grabs her and scoops her up before she falls off the stool. "Let's get you back to your nest."

"I'm okay. It's not full on yet."

"Yet," I murmur. "I'll call Mum and see if she can take Mia for a couple of days."

"And we'd better call in work," Liam murmurs. "We won't be going anywhere for a few days."

"Alan is going to throw a shit fit," I sigh, but reach for my phone anyway. There are plans to make and things are moving quickly now. There is no time to fuck about second-guessing my decisions. This is happening, and I know it's going to be perfect.