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Cammie buries her face in Finn’s chest, still shaking. Beck moves behind her, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles.

Finn strokes her hair gently. “Tell us about it, baby.”

She turns her face into his chest and breathes him in, still shaking. A tremor runs through her as she finally speaks.

“I was at Tinto’s, and…” She takes a stuttering breath before continuing. “And the alpha was there. The one who pushed me. She was laughing. Coming toward me again.”

Beck’s hand keeps moving in those slow circles. “It was probably us going there tonight that brought it all back up.”

Leith lets out a deep, feral growl from across the room. He’s pacing again, alpha unleashed, eyes still wild, scanning for something to fight.

I lean down and press a kiss to the top of Cammie’s head, breathing in her vanilla-lavender scent for a moment to steady myself as much as her. Then I catch Finn’s and Beck’s eyes and give them a clear look. Take care of her. They both nod.

I stand and walk over to Leith. He’s practically vibrating with barely-contained rage. I put a firm hand on his shoulder, squeezing once. “Leith.”

He doesn’t stop pacing, but he doesn’t shake me off either. I keep my hand firm on his shoulder, grounding him.

“She’s okay, Leith. Look at her. She’s safe. It was just a dream.”

Leith doesn’t speak. He can’t. His alpha is still too raw. All that comes out is a low, continuous ragged growl, vibrating through his whole body. His muscles are locked tight, fists clenched so hard his knuckles are white.

I squeeze his shoulder harder, letting my own alpha push back enough to steady him. “Go to her,” I say quietly. “She needs you as much as she needs the rest of us. And you need her.”

Leith hesitates, a visible war crossing his face, then his body moves almost against his will. He stumbles forward toward the bed like an invisible force is dragging him there, unable to resist the pull of his omega.

Even though it costs me something, I stay where I am and watch.

Cammie is still curled against Finn’s chest, trembling. Leith climbs onto the nest like a man possessed, moving to her other side. The second he’s close enough, she reaches for him with a shaky hand. He takes it immediately, pulling her closer until she’s sandwiched securely between him and Finn.

I feel a small, quiet tug inside my chest. I’m not happy that she’s afraid. I’m not happy she had that nightmare. But I am happy to see my pack forming. No matter how much Leith might fight it on the surface, he’s hers. As much as the rest of us are.

Finn

Leith is right beside her now, breathing hard. His woodsmoke scent is still sharp and acidic, but it’s starting to fade at the edges. His alpha is beginning to settle.

Cammie wipes her tear-streaked face against my chest, leaving wet trails on my skin. Then she reaches for Leith the moment he lowers himself onto the mattress. She can’t seem to stop herself.

Leith pulls her in with a low, rough sound, wrapping her up in a hold that’s far more possessive than a simple hug. His body curls around her, one arm locked across her back, the other hand cradling the back of her head like he’s afraid she might disappear now that she’s back in his arms.

I stop. Relief washes over me as I watch the two people I love most in this world clinging to one another.

Leith’s purr kicks up a moment later. It’s deep and stuttering, like it’s rusty from lack of use. It’s not smooth like Beck’s, Piers’, or mine, but Cammie responds to it instantly. She practically crawls into his lap, pressing as close to him as she can, her cheeks rubbing back and forth against his tattoo. Her arms wrap around his neck, face buried into his chest, like she’s trying to disappear into him.

Leith’s arms tighten around her even more, that rough, broken purr rumbling louder as he holds her. His hand strokes slowly up and down her back, protective and possessive all at once.

Cammie’s sweet vanilla and lavender scent suddenly floods the room, heavy with need. The purrs that had been roaring from all four of us shift into something deeper. More desperate.

Beck’s hand keeps rubbing slow circles on her back. “Sugar, I think you’re having a heat spike.”

She’s rubbing and grinding against Leith now, hips rolling shamelessly in his lap. Leith’s hands are everywhere. Stroking her back, gripping her hips, sliding up under her shirt like he can’t stop touching her.

I touch the back of my hand to her neck. She’s burning up. “But she took a suppressant.”

Beck leans in closer to her back, taking deep, greedy breaths like he’s trying to swallow her scent whole. His voice is practically a growl now. “That was six weeks ago. And it was mild.”

Piers moves closer, eyes dark with hunger, clearly desperate to touch her too. “This is the first time she’s had all of us with her,” he says, “like this.”

I can’t stop myself either. My hand slides up her thigh, the other resting on her back right beside Beck’s. The air is thick with her perfume, with all of our scents mixing together, and it’s making my head spin.