43. Benjamin

My blood is rushing through my veins, making me a bit dizzy. With Zara upstairs, wrapped in the scents of her alphas, this feels right in every way.

Henry and Liam are behind me as we enter the living room, where the soft glow of the morning sun spills through the window, giving everything a golden edge. It's peaceful, almost sacred, and I'm suddenly aware of the gravity of what's about to happen.

"Ready?" Henry asks, his voice steady, but I can spot that flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

Liam gives a silent nod enough to tell me he's all in.

"Yeah," I reply, trying to keep my voice from betraying the whirlpool of emotions inside me. "Do we need pomp and ceremony?"

Liam and Henry chuckle. "Nah," Liam says. "That's not us."

"Good," I breathe out.

As they stand before me, I take a deep breath and focus on what they mean to me—partners in this wild adventure that life has thrown us into. They are more than friends; they're the anchors that will keep our omega and our baby safe and our pack balanced.

First, I turn to Henry. "You ready?"

He bares his wrist without hesitation. "Do it."

I place my teeth against his skin with slow, deliberate movements, feeling the warmth and texture of his flesh against my lips. As I apply pressure, there's a slight give and I taste the metallic tang of blood on my tongue. With an almost audible click, the bond solidifies between us, and I feel something shifting deep inside me. A surge of power and responsibility settles over my shoulders like a heavy cloak, but it's a burden I gladly bear. Henry's face is contorted in pain from the bite, but his eyes shine with fierce loyalty and belonging. And I can feel it too - the unbreakable connection that now runs bone-deep between us.

As the moments tick by, I release his wrist from my teeth and slowly lower his arm to his side. In the quiet of the room, the only sound is our synchronised breathing, a reminder of the connection we now share.

"Your turn," I murmur to Liam, turning towards him.

With an unwavering gaze, he steps forward, offering up his wrist without a word. As I sink my teeth into his skin and our bond solidifies, a wave of completeness washes over me. It's as if all the puzzle pieces have finally slotted into place, revealing a clarity and understanding that this is just the beginning.

We stand in silence for a few heartbeats longer, allowing the weight of our new bond to settle in. The atmosphere feels charged with energy, crackling with potential and possibility.

As I reluctantly release Liam from my grip, I extend my arms towards the two alphas in front of me. They eagerly clamp down on my wrists, their sharp teeth piercing through my flesh and completing our pack bond. In that moment, I can feel their thoughts and emotions coursing through me, intertwining with my own. We are now bound together in an unbreakable unity.

With one final burst of energy, they release their bites and let go of my wrists. The intense pain shoots through my body like a bolt of lightning, but amidst the pain, there is a sense of fulfilment and connection. We are one pack, united and ready to face whatever challenges may come our way.

"Fuck me," Liam mutters, his voice low and ragged with emotion. I can see the sweat glistening on his forehead from the intensity of our encounter.

Nervously, I let out a shaky laugh, trying to process the weight of what just happened between us. It was like a dream, but so real at the same time.

"That was perfect," Henry murmurs, his eyes fixed on us. "Do you think Zara feels it somehow?"

I close my eyes, feeling the familiar pull in my gut as my instincts take over. The rut has hit me hard, and I know I need to knot my omega now or risk losing control.

"Maybe," I whisper, my mind foggy with desire and longing.

My body is on autopilot as I start toward the stairs, the need to be with Zara and reinforce the pack bond with the other alphas, completely consuming me. Liam and Henry are close behind, the energy between us crackling with shared urgency.

We reach the door to the bedroom where Zara is resting, and I pause, collecting myself. I can't just burst in like a man possessed; I have to remind myself that this is also about her needs, her comfort.

Gently pushing open the door, I see her stirring, her expression one of drowsy curiosity. But as her eyes catch mine, they widen slightly, as she can sense the shift in dynamics.

"Everything okay?" she asks, worry lacing her tone.

I swallow hard and offer her a reassuring smile. "More than okay," I say. "We're bonded now—properly. You might feel a bit of it too, maybe?"

She blinks at me for a second before understanding dawns on her face. A slow smile spreads across her lips. "I thought there was something different when I woke up just now. I can feel the equilibrium has changed."

Henry moves forward, sitting on the edge of the nest. "How do you feel about that?" he asks softly.

"Like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be."

I cross the room and kneel by the nest, my hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair from her forehead but not touching her, not until she says.

She tilts her head, giving me silent permission, and my fingers trail gently against her skin. It's electric, the connection humming between us now amplified by the bond I share with Henry and Liam. She takes a deep breath, and I can see her sinking into the sensation, the acknowledgment of our newly forged ties.

"Come here then," she murmurs, her voice a blend of tenderness and need.

As I lean in to kiss her, Henry and Liam join us on either side of the nest, our pack gathered around its heart. Her lips meet mine with an urgency that tells me she feels it too—the rut, the bond, the insatiable need to be claimed.

Our kisses are deep and meaningful as we each take our turn, affirming our commitment to Zara and to each other. The scent of arousal fills the room, a tangible sign of our synchrony that has us all teetering on the brink of something monumental.

"I need this—I need you all," she murmurs.

There's no room for hesitation. We understand the intricacies of our situation.

Slowly, we undress until we are naked in her nest. Any shyness that I thought I might feel isn't there. It is natural, and it is right.