Page 41 of Pack’s Prize

I felt happy. Almost… proud.

Roman and his pack were gone, and I had found a new pack, one that I felt comfortable with, one that had welcomed me into their home and their beds and their life. They’d shown me a different way of being together–less anxious, less desperate.

And also… so much more. I soaped up my hands and let them skim gently over my breasts, my belly, my swollen and sore folds, letting my mind wander, trying to nudge my mind into remembering.

Michael’s lips pressed against Elias’s, their tongues twisting together as they kissed over my shoulder.

Elias’s hand on Michael’s cock, stroking him until his release poured hot across my stomach.

The sweet sound of Theo’s incomprehensible words, and Michael’s, barely more intelligible in my state, urging the four of us on to higher peaks, my taut body vibrating with pleasure between theirs.

The kisses we had shared between us, our flavors merging into one, our scents warming the air.

I jumped at the quiet creak of the bathroom door as it opened to admit Michael, bearing a tall glass of water, a plate of fruit and cheese, and a small cup of coffee. Espresso,actually, knowing this pack. I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaling the scent.

“Thank you,” I said. My throat was sore.

Elias’s thick cock, fucking into my mouth, spilling down my neck as he gasped and shook–

“Of course,” Michael said. “Anything you need, Ava. Anything you want.” He hesitated for a moment. “Towels are on the rack, and there’s a robe on the hook just here if you want it.”

My chest warmed at his kind words. He’d given me so much already. So much he didn’t even realize: he and his lovers had given me hope, given me closure, given me mylifeback.

Suddenly, I felt like crying.To think I had been so desperate to throw myself away on Roman’s pack–their rigid hierarchy and hostility towards one another were now so obvious compared to the three men living together here.

I shook my head, rolling my shoulders back and letting water splash over my teary eyes.It was the hormones.

“Wait, Michael,” I said, “could you…” I trailed off, suddenly unsure of myself.

I had wanted to ask him to join me. To step into the water with me, to hold me in his arms and kiss me.

But this wasn’t my heat.

It wasn’t the sex I had asked for in our deal, nor was it the public courtship he had asked for.

What was it that I wanted?

It was just… Michael. His calming presence, his confident leadership. His boozy scent that had worked its way into my lungs.

“Ava?” he prompted, but I shook my head.

Hot water washed over me, just as realization did. My chest squeezed tight and I had to force the next words out.

“Nothing,” I said. “Just, could you make me some more coffee? I’ll be out in a minute and I need like, triple caffeine today.”

“Sure,” he said. “Anything.”

Anything.

Anything but the one thing I thought that maybe,maybeI wanted after all.

The one thing I’d known all along I couldn’t have.

Them.

CHAPTERFORTY-TWO

Michael