Chapter 10: Carter

Chapter

Ten

CARTER

I pace outside the breakroom door, my nerves frayed and my inner alpha restless. It's been over an hour since Ember disappeared inside to build her nest, and the silence is maddening. Every instinct in my body screams at me to break down that door, to go to her, to help her prepare for what's to come.

But I force myself to stay put, reminding myself of the boundaries she set.

"Do you think she fell asleep?" Jayce asks, voicing the concern we've all been harboring.

I shake my head, even though I'm not sure. "Her scent is too strong. She's awake in there."

The air is thick with the sweet aroma of omega in heat—of our omega in heat. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess not to let out a possessive growl.

I've never smelled anything so intoxicating in my life.

"Maybe we should check on her," Mason suggests, his usual calm demeanor cracking under the strain.

Adder opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, the door creaks open. We all freeze, our eyes locked on the figure emerging from the dimly lit room.

Ember stands in the doorway, looking smaller and more vulnerable than I've ever seen her. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes bright with fever, and her scent— god , her scent. It hits me like a freight train, pure and unfiltered now that she's opened the door. My mouth waters, and I have to physically stop myself from surging forward.

"I'm, uh... I'm ready," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you still want to..."

The hesitation in her tone simultaneously breaks my heart and enrages me as my mind floods with irritation at the thought of who could ever make her feel unwanted.

As if we could ever not want her.

"Of course we do," I say, surprised by how steady my voice sounds despite the chaos raging inside me. "May we come in?"

She nods, stepping aside to let us enter. The sight that greets us steals my breath away.

The breakroom has been transformed. All the lights are off, the only illumination coming from the soft glow of moonlight reflecting off the snow outside. Ember has organized every soft thing we could find—couch cushions, blankets, even our clothes from our gear bags—and arranged them into a massive nest on the floor.

Something primal stirs in my chest at the sight.

Our omega has built a nest for us.

For me .

I want to growl with pride, to show the world that this incredible woman has chosen us. But as I take in the makeshift nest, a pang of guilt twists in my gut. Ember deserves better than this. She deserves the finest silks, the softest furs, a proper nest built in a home of her own. Not some hastily assembled pile of cushions in a community center breakroom.

I find myself imagining our penthouse back in the city, with its sleek lines and modern furnishings. It's a bachelor pad, built for four alpha hockey players, not a home for a mate.

We'll need to change that.

We'll need to find a place with a proper nesting room, somewhere Ember can feel safe and comfortable. We'll spoil her rotten, shower her with everything she could ever want or need.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

One step at a time, Carter.

"Is it... is it okay?" Ember asks, and I realize I've been staring silently at the nest for too long.

"It's perfect," I assure her, meaning it with every fiber of my being. Because anything this omega makes, anything she deems worthy of nesting in, is perfect to me.

She gives a small, relieved smile, and my heart skips a beat. "You can come in," she says softly. "If you want."

We don't need to be told twice.

We kick off our shoes, stripping down to our underwear with an efficiency born of years in locker rooms. But this is different. This isn't about getting ready for a game or a practice.

This is about being with our mate.

When I catch Ember staring at our half-naked bodies, the appreciative glimmer in her gaze stokes the hunger inside me. She catches me watching and her eyes flick away, the flush in her cheeks deepening.

Ember climbs into the center of the nest, still wearing Adder's oversized T-shirt. The sight of her in his clothes stirs something possessive in me, a need to cover her in my own scent.

To make sure everyone knows she belongs to all of us.

She looks up at us expectantly, a mix of desire and nervousness in her eyes. "Well?" she says, trying for bravado but not quite hitting the mark. "Are you coming in or not?"

I surprise myself by being the first to move. I crawl into the nest, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Up close, her scent is even more intoxicating. I want to bury my face in her neck, to breathe her in until she's all I know.

But I remember her conditions.

No marking.

No biting.

Especially not on the neck.

So instead, I lean in slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wants to.

When she doesn't, I press my lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

She tastes like cotton candy and something uniquely Ember .

I could get drunk on this taste alone.

My hands come up to cup her face, thumbs stroking her cheekbones as I deepen the kiss.

When we finally part, both breathless, I can't help but smile at the dazed look in her eyes. "Is this okay?" I ask, wanting—needing—to be sure.

She nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Yeah," she breathes. "It's okay."

Emboldened, I nuzzle against her cheek, careful to avoid her neck as I rub my scent on her. It's not the same as a true mating mark, but it satisfies something deep inside me to know that she'll smell like me.

Like us.

The others join us in the nest, each finding their place around Ember. Adder settles behind her, his chest pressed to her back as he noses at her hair. Mason takes up position on her left side, while Jayce mirrors him on the right.

For a moment, we just stay like that, a tangle of limbs and scents as we acclimate to each other's presence. I can feel the heat radiating off Ember's skin, smell the sweet desperation of her arousal. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess not to simply take her right then and there.

But this isn't about us.

This is about Ember.

About making her first heat with us as comfortable and pleasurable as possible.

"What do you need?" I ask, my voice low and husky with desire. "Tell us what you want, sweetheart."

Ember shivers at the endearment, her pupils dilating as she looks up at me. "I... I don't know," she admits. "I've never... not with more than one person before."

The admission sends a thrill through me. We get to be her first in this. Get to show her how good it can be with a pack that truly cares for her.

"We'll take it slow," Adder murmurs from behind her, his hands running soothingly up and down her arms. "Nothing you're not comfortable with."

She nods, some of the tension leaving her body. "Okay," she says. "I trust you."

Those three little words hit me like a punch to the gut. After everything she's clearly been through, even though she barely knows us and we definitely didn't get off to a great start, she's willing to trust us with this. I swear to myself in that moment that I will never, ever give her reason to regret that trust.

"Can I..." Ember starts, then hesitates. "Can I touch you?"

"Fuck yes," Jayce breathes, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Mason.

I chuckle, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. "You can touch us however you want, wherever you want, and whenever you want," I assure her. "We're all yours."

She smiles then, a real smile that lights up her whole face.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight.

God, she's beautiful.

Slowly, almost reverently, Ember reaches out to touch my chest. Her fingers trace the lines of my muscles, exploring with a curiosity that makes my skin tingle. I stay perfectly still, letting her set the pace.

Her other hand finds Mason's arm, stroking along the defined bicep. Behind her, Adder presses a kiss to her shoulder, while Jayce nuzzles against her hip.

The air grows thick with the scent of arousal—hers and ours mingling into a heady perfume. I can see the flush spreading across Ember's skin, feel the way her breathing quickens.

"Carter," she whispers, and the sound of my name on her lips sends a jolt of electricity down my spine. "Kiss me again?"

I don't need to be asked twice.

I capture her lips with mine, pouring every ounce of passion and tenderness I possess into the kiss.

She responds eagerly, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulls me closer.

When we break apart, both panting, I rest my forehead against hers. "We've got you," I murmur. "We're going to take such good care of you, Ember."

She nods, a small whimper escaping her as another wave of heat washes over her. "Please," she says, her voice thick with need. "I need..."

"Tell us," Adder encourages, his hands skimming along her sides. "What do you need, sweetheart?"

Ember takes a shaky breath, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of vulnerability and determination.

"I need you," she says. "All of you."

I capture her lips again, pouring all my longing, all my desire into the kiss. Her mouth opens under mine, and I taste her properly for the first time. Sweet, like cotton candy, but with an underlying heat that makes my head spin. I could get drunk on this taste alone.

My hands roam over her body, tracing the curves hidden beneath Adder's oversized shirt. I want to tear it off, to see every inch of her, but I force myself to go slow.

To savor this moment.

Ember arches into my touch, a soft moan escaping her. The sound goes straight to my cock, already hard and straining against my boxers. I pull back, panting, and see the same desperate need reflected in her eyes.

"Can I?" I ask, tugging gently at the hem of her shirt. She nods, lifting her arms to help me remove it.

The sight of her naked body steals my breath away. She's beautiful, all soft curves and toned muscle. Her breasts are perfect, topped with dusky pink nipples that beg for attention.

I want to map every inch of her with my hands, my mouth, my tongue.

But I'm not the only one who wants to worship her. Adder's hands slide up her sides, cupping her breasts from behind. Mason leans in to capture one nipple in his mouth, while Jayce focuses his attention on the other. Ember gasps, her head falling back against Adder's shoulder as pleasure overwhelms her.

I trail kisses down Ember's soft skin, savoring her sweetness. My hands caress her thighs as I settle between them, gently nudging them apart. She shivers in anticipation, her scent growing even stronger. I glance up, meeting her eyes, silently asking permission. She nods, biting her lip.

Adder cradles her head, capturing her lips in a deep kiss as I lower my mouth to her center. The first swipe of my tongue has us both groaning. She tastes even better than I imagined—sweet and musky and purely Ember. I lap at her eagerly, tracing patterns over her sensitive flesh.

Mason and Jayce each take hold of one of her legs, spreading her wider for me. Their touch seems to heighten her arousal—she writhes between us, little whimpers escaping as Adder continues to kiss her deeply.

I focus my attention on her clit, circling it with my tongue before sucking gently. Ember cries out, her hips bucking against my face. I hold her steady, determined to draw out her pleasure for as long as possible.

Jayce's fingers join my mouth, slowly pushing inside her. I can feel how wet and ready she is. The thought of being inside her soon has my cock throbbing painfully. But this is about making Ember feel good, showing her how cherished she is.

As I continue licking and sucking at her clit, I gather some of her abundant slick on my fingers. Carefully, I brush them against her other entrance, gauging her reaction. She tenses slightly at first, then relaxes with a soft moan.

Encouraged, I slowly work a finger inside, stretching her gently.

"Oh god," Ember gasps, breaking away from Adder's kiss. "That feels..."

"Good?" I ask, pausing to look up at her.

She nods frantically. "Don't stop. Please don't stop."

I redouble my efforts, working my finger in time with my tongue and Jayce's thrusting digits.

Ember's cries grow louder, her body trembling.

I can tell she's close.

"Let go, sweetheart," Adder murmurs, rolling one of her nipples between his fingers. "We've got you."

With a keening wail, Ember comes apart. Her inner walls clench around our fingers as waves of pleasure wrack her body. I keep licking, drawing out her orgasm until she weakly pushes at my head.

"Too much," she pants. "I need... I need..."

"What do you need, Ember?" I ask, my voice rough with desire.

Her eyes lock onto mine, pupils blown wide with lust. "You. Inside me. Now ."

A possessive growl rumbles in my chest. I surge up her body, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She moans, tasting herself on my tongue.

"Are you sure?" I ask, even as I line myself up with her entrance.

"Yes," she breathes. "Please, Carter."

I push inside slowly, gritting my teeth against the urge to slam home. She's so tight, so hot, so perfect around me. When I'm fully seated, I have to pause, overwhelmed by sensation.

I'm buried deep inside Ember, every nerve ending in my body singing with pleasure. She feels incredible around me, hot and tight and perfect. I want to stay like this forever, joined with her, feeling her pulse around me.

But the need to move is overwhelming. I start to pull back slowly, savoring the drag of her inner walls against my cock. Ember whimpers, her hands clutching at my shoulders.

"Is this okay?" I ask, my voice strained with the effort of holding back.

She nods frantically, her eyes wide and dark with desire. "Yes, god yes. Please, Carter, I need..."

I don't let her finish, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as I thrust back in. She moans into my mouth, the vibration sending shivers down my spine.

Ember wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer. The new angle has me hitting that spot deep inside her that makes her cry out with each thrust. I start slow, wanting to savor every moment, every sensation. But the heat of her body, the sweetness of her scent, the little noises she makes in the back of her throat—it's all too much.

I pick up the pace, driven by an primal need to claim, to possess. My hips snap against hers, the sound of skin on skin filling the room. Ember meets me thrust for thrust, her nails raking down my back in a delicious mix of pleasure and pain.

"Fuck, Ember," I groan, burying my face in the crook of her neck. I want to bite down, to mark her as mine, but I remember her conditions. Instead, I settle for sucking a bruise into the soft skin of her shoulder, careful to avoid her scent glands.

I can feel my knot starting to swell, catching on her entrance with each thrust. The added friction is maddening, sending sparks of pleasure shooting up my spine. I'm close, so close, but I want— need —to feel Ember come apart around me first.

Slipping a hand between us, I find her clit, circling it with my thumb in time with my thrusts. Ember keens, her back arching off the nest. The others are watching us, a pack of hungry wolves longing to devour, and I know I can't have her all to myself.

I carefully maneuver us so that I'm sitting with Ember in my lap, giving room for Jayce to come up to her from behind.

"That's it, sweetheart," I pant against her ear. "Let us both feel how good you feel."

" Fuck ," Jayce breathes, settling his hands on her hips, his hard length pressing against the cleft of her ass. "You're so hot."

I force myself to slow down as he gets into position, but he starts slow, gliding his cock against the swell of her ass, riding her split. She moans, her body arching in response to the friction, and the change in angle has me seeing white spots.

My hands mold around the perfect swells of her breasts, stroking and teasing the pert buds of her nipples. She moans, her head falling back only for Jayce to surge forward and capture her mouth from the side.

We thrust in tandem, me deep inside her, him rutting against her perfect ass, his arms wrapped around her waist from behind. He reaches around and starts stroking her clit, rubbing in insistent, small circles that have her screaming before long.

I'm so fucking close. Each thrust, I feel her tight heat relax a little more, ready to draw me in. And when the final thrust that brings me home locks my knot inside her, the way it swells makes her scream so loud I'm pretty sure they could hear her all the way in town.

Fuck, that's hot.

I see stars as my release follows hers, my seed spilling into her wave after wave. Jayce works her clit through the whole thing, his thrusts growing faster, too. More desperate. He comes on our omega's backside with a satisfied growl, and I can tell he's having every bit as much trouble avoiding the urge to bite down on the glands on the back and side of her neck as I am.

Jayce groans, continuing to grind against her as his orgasm subsides, leaning in for another kiss to the side of her mouth. The movement tugs at where I'm still locked inside her, sending sparks of pleasure through both of us.

We move together like that, rocking and grinding, stoking the flames of Ember's desire higher and higher. Mason and Adder touch and caress every part of her they can reach. It's a tangle of limbs and sensation, and I've never felt anything so intense in my life.

And I'm starting to think she feels the same way.