Chapter 29: The Thought

I thought the bonfire and the painting of Dorian had been the end to the ritual and the honoring of the realm. I was wrong.

Waking up the next day, the celebrations still going, I sat up in the furs and looked at Zachariah. “They still celebrate?” I asked. He groaned and rolled over, wrapping his arm around my waist.

“They will celebrate until after the ritual tonight.”

“I thought that was last night?”

He shook his head, burying it into my side, his eyes still closed. Atticus was curled up at my legs, Dorian on the other side of me. Both of them were asleep.

“The ritual is a show of unity. We shift sometimes; other times we put on a show, give the pack something to focus on, something fun,” Zachariah mumbled into me.

“Guess I should have a bit of fun before I have to make the hardest decision of my life,” I whispered, not sure if he was even still listening.

Zachariah held me tighter. Even Dorian and Atticus tightened their touch on me.

“I don’t know how I am meant to decide,” I admitted softly, laying between them.

They were all so different and reached me in different ways. Dorian gave me the safety, the seductive, slow passion that was filled with understanding and care. Atticus related to me in ways I never dreamed of and made me feel protected. While Zach offered freedoms I never thought I would have and kept me feeling alive—like every moment was to be treasured. Like I was to be.

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling where it went from hut tapestry to locked wood. I found no answers in the grain, but I did have three alphas who started easing the tension in my muscles. They massaged them—my legs, arms, head.

Dorian, Atticus, and Zachariah all started slowly kneading out all the anxiety.

I sighed as they did, my body humming with magic that connected us together. It was always so intense when they all touched me at the same time.

It was surreal to think the realm had chosen me to hold that kind of magic inside me—to hold the connection—but they had. And it felt so fucking good when my alphas nurtured it.

I moaned at Zachariah’s touch on my shoulders like a silken caress. Dorian’s fingers along my thigh were molten hot, sliding close enough to my center to make me gasp. Atticus, with his lips pressed along my hip, along my stomach—with every press making my back arch.

It was overwhelming. Delicious and overwhelming.

Another sigh escaped, this one more melodic than the last. I felt it—the power of that tiny noise. It resonated through my body, through all of us.

My alphas groaned, and that sound added to everything that went through me. I let out my voice a little bit more with the moan that Dorian pushed out of me, his fingers brushing my swollen pussy.

My voice carried, filling the tent.

Atticus growled, his eyes glowing as he looked up at me. Even Zachariah’s cool, calm, collected demeanor broke. His claws grew, and he cleared his throat. “Damn. That voice of yours is one hell of a weapon, Little Red.”

“Sorry,” I moaned, not meaning to let my voice out again in a husky whisper that sounded more like a song.

“Sweet Siren, you are going to make sure we don’t make it to the ritual if you keep speaking to us in that tone.”

I smirked, and a rush of power raced through me—one that made me actually feel like using my voice. Like it would be cherished and worshiped, not used against me or to hurt people.

My alphas brought that out in me, and I smirked, leaning into their touch so I could feel more of the power they gave in everyone.

It felt so right, having them touch me together—working together to bring out something inside me.

I couldn’t explain it, but it was what I imagined perfection to be.

“So, this ritual—” I panted, trying to think through the haze in my mind.

“I invited all the packs,” Zachariah said against my throat, “I thought it would be good for us all to come together to honor the realm that gave us such power on the blood moon.”

“The packs don’t normally come together, do they?” I asked breathily.

“Not usually.” Dorian was the one to answer, still teasing my thighs. “But Zachariah offered, and I think it might be good to see the packs together instead of so separate.”

Atticus was quiet; I eyed him and he smiled, “I’m just wondering how many fights are going to break out because of this. I accepted the invite, though. I will be interested to see for myself what it is like to have all congregated.”

“They won’t actually fight, will they?” I asked as Dorian climbed over me, pulling me into him. He pushed apart my thighs, slicked his tip against my pussy, then slid inside me, slowly and tenderly.

A ring in my voice sounded out. I clamped my mouth shut to stop it, but Zachariah leaned down by my ear, “That sound is too beautiful to be hidden, Little Red. It’s okay to let it out,” he whispered.

Atticus pulled my mouth to his, Dorian still thrusting inside me. “And no, Fox. We won’t let the wolves fight. If we are the alphas we are meant to be, then they will be on their best behavior.”

I couldn’t answer with them all touching and fucking me, so I simply nodded and fell into the sensation of being theirs. It made everything better, and in the back of my mind, I thought about Zach’s words. My voice. It was okay to let it out. But that was their opinion. What about the rest of the packs? What about Silas?

With that on my mind, I kept my mouth shut, my voice in, and let go to the feelings of the alphas.

Later on, when the orange glow of the sun bathed over the grasslands and everyone was getting ready for the ritual, I was helping Taylin with some of the decorations. I had helped him line the wooden stage with flowers and helped him greet the guests from the other packs, too.

That had been eye-opening. They had all greeted me with smiles and warm hugs like they had known me for years. Like they were happy to see me there, even though it was another territory. It was surreal.

Whenever I kissed one of the alphas in public, then another stole me for a kiss too, I expected anger or resentment from the other packs, but there was none of that. It was like all of them had fallen into an acceptance of what was coming. I was either going to be a part of them or not, but even if I wasn’t, I meant something now.

I had been introduced to them all, their lives, their customs, and I had been with their alphas. Somehow that meant something to them. I didn’t fully understand it, but I was glad for it. I felt good—like I belonged.

When I was with them, it was easy to forget everything that had happened before.

Throughout the day, my alphas would come over, kiss me, steal me away for secret whispers and stolen affection.

I loved it. I was a part of it.

Everyone was getting situated by the pop-up wooden stage, all the packs in their individual sections. Zachariah was dressed in loose black leather pants and a black cloak. He was on stage with Taylin, setting up the platform for the performances.

I had seen a few of them being practiced during the day and was quite looking forward to seeing them come to fruition.

I had dressed in a loose black dress that was long and dipped low at the front. It flowed around my legs, and I waltzed toward the stage, ready to stand with my alphas when Atticus pulled me aside.

I gasped as he pulled me between two huts.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked.

He looked like he was blushing, which was strange for Atticus. He was always sure of himself—except for now.

I grabbed his hands, “Something wrong?” I tried again.

He shook his head, “No. Not wrong. I’ve just been thinking,” he said quietly. A few people bustled past the tents, and Atticus pulled me further around them.

I frowned and let him pull me into a more secluded area, “Thinking about what?” I asked.

Then my brain went on a way of its own, “Wait, is this about the decision? Are you going to ask me not to pick you? Because I don’t want to force you into anything. I won’t be offended—”

“Shut up, Fox,” Atticus said, then kissed me. I took it, surprised and interrupted. Atticus pulled back and cupped my face with his giant hands, “I’m not backing out of anything,” he grinned.

“Then what are you thinking about? And why don’t you want anyone else to know?” I asked, looking around at the secluded place he had brought us.

“My sweet Fox. I am trying to tell you that I am going to be performing tonight.”

That was not what I had been expecting. My heartbeat picked up, and I imagined him on that stage in front of all the wolves. “Are you sure? Aren’t your pack scared of siren magic?” I asked.

Atticus shrugged. “I’m going to play my guitar. I think it’s time people knew what I can do, and tonight, they’re all together. I want to show them they don’t have to be scared of it. Or scared of my mom.”

I understood that. I hated hiding who I was too.

“Okay. I look forward to hearing it then, Atticus.” I smiled, trying to reassure him.

Atticus grinned suspiciously. “That’s the thing, Fox. I don’t want you to just hear it. I want you to be a part of it.”

I almost choked on my own saliva. “What?” My heart froze.

“I want you to sing with me, Fox. Will you?”

~