42. Liam

Ican barely keep my hands to myself as I tap out the message to Alan, leaving Ben to sort out Mia with his mum. I hate that we have to send her away, but it's for the best right now, and it will only be a couple of days before we, at least the alphas of us, can come out of the haze of the rut and Zara's heat long enough to care for her.

"Sorted," I declare after pressing send, stuffing my mobile back into my pocket and moving closer to where Henry is cradling Zara, who looks both exhilarated and a bit overwhelmed by the sudden change in her life's direction.

The atmosphere is charged; we're on the cusp of something new and exciting. It feels like we're all plugged into the same current, buzzing with anticipation.

Zara leans into Henry slightly before reaching out a hand to me. I take it without hesitation, bringing it to my lips to kiss lightly. "I want a shower before things get worse," she says. "Yesterday was weird. It was sudden, and it was fierce, but now that I think about it and know it wasn't the real deal, I can feel the difference bubbling under my skin already."

"Shower, food and rest before things turn, yeah?" I say, letting Henry take her upstairs while I turn back to the kitchen. Henry is better in this area than me, but I know Zara likes sarnies and right now, all she needs is sustenance not a gourmet meal.

"Sorted?" I ask when Ben comes back in the kitchen looking like something struck. This is moving fast, and I take a second to evaluate his temperament.

"Yeah, mum's on her way. She is excited, to say the least."

"Well, she gets granny time, so not surprising."

"More than that. I told her about the pack and Zara. She is thrilled."

"Oh, nice. Scott family approval. Love it."

We share a smile.

"You one hundred per cent sure?" I have to check.

"Yes," he replies with no hesitation. "I'm not letting that bitch hold me back from the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Grinning, I slap him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit."

I start making a stack of sarnies, piling them high with every bit of salad, ham, and cheese I can find. This is nurturing in its simplest and most basic form. Keeping Zara, our omega, fed and happy is top of the list.

The doorbell rings just as I've wrapped the last sandwich in cling film. Ben's already bolting for the door, ready to welcome his mum, who's come to whisk Mia away for some unexpected granny time. I hear his muffled voice, the creak of the door swinging open and then shut again, followed by that soft hum of adult-to-baby babble that tells me Mia's in safe hands.

Heading up stairs, leaving Ben to say goodbye to Mia, Zara's emerged from the shower wrapped in a fluffy towel, her hair damp and her cheeks flushed. She is dazed and in no fit state to be on her feet. Henry's with her, his hands gentle but possessive around her waist.

"Shower good?" I murmur, balancing the tray as I hold open her bedroom door.

Zara nods, her eyes glazed over. "Yeah, it helped."

I place the tray down on the floor near her nest and help her get settled. She is just in a towel which I want to rip off her and devour her, but there will be plenty of time for that later.

Henry darts off and returns to offer Zara one of his t-shirts, which she accepts with a soft smile. He helps her into it, and she sighs contentedly as the scent of one of her alpha's fills her senses.

There's something primal about these moments; we're orbiting around Zara like planets around the sun. I need to give her something of mine. Going back to my room, I look around for something meaningful, and then it hits me. I grab my favourite hoodie - the one I've lived in on lazy Sundays, the one that's soaked up more of my scent than any other piece of clothing. It's comfy and worn in just the right way. Darting back to Zara's room, I see her nibbling on a sandwich, as Henry returns the towel to the bathroom to dry on the rack.

I hold out the hoodie to her. "Will you accept this?"

She gives me a look that could melt iron before she nods enthusiastically. Holding it out for her, she slips her arms into the sleeves. The hoodie swamps her smaller frame, but she looks bloody adorable in it. "Thank you," she whispers, and something flickers in her eyes - gratitude mixed with affection and desire.

Suddenly Ben appears at the door, his expression full of relief and need as he looks over at Zara nestled in garments from both Henry and me. "Mia's with mum," he announces.

Zara's face falls slightly. "Is she okay?"

"Happy as a clam," Ben assures her. With a soft smile, he places a carefully folded rugby shirt on the bed. "For when you miss my scent."

Her smile grows wider as she reaches for his shirt, pressing it to her face for a moment before letting it rest next to her on the pillow.

"Thank you. I needed this. I feel a bit less agitated now that I'm surrounded by your scents."

"We'll leave you to rest now and check on you in a bit."

"Okay," she says with a sleepy smile.

We leave her alone and stare at each other out on the landing. "So now?" I ask.

"Good a time as any," Henry agrees.

We both stare at Ben as this is up to him. As the prime of our soon-to-be-pack, he has to bind us to him with a bite to the wrist.

"Let's do it," he murmurs, and we head back down for this pivotal moment where our lives are going to change irrevocably.