Chapter Twenty.

The next morning, I woke up with the soft light of dawn streaming through the curtains. As I stretched under the blanket, last night’s memories crept back into my mind. Micah’s warmth, his gentle kisses, and the way he’d looked at me like I was his entire world—it was intoxicating.

But alongside the sweetness came a pang of uncertainty.

I sat up, hugging my knees as the apartment around me remained still and quiet. Morgan got back in the late hours last night and was still dead to the world. The pack had been nothing but welcoming and kind, each of them offering pieces of themselves in ways that left me feeling seen and valued. Yet, beneath the surface, I felt a tug—a reminder of the life I’d built before stepping into this whirlwind.

Morgan’s face flashed in my mind. She was my rock and my confidont. The thought of pulling away from her, even just a little, made my chest tighten. She’d been my safety net, and the idea of trading that security for the unknown made me uneasy.

But I've perfumed now, the thought of ever relying on the Omega acadamy for my heats fills me with dis-ease.

Then there was the pack. They’d offered me a place among them, a chance to belong to something bigger than myself. It was what I’d always wanted—or thought I wanted. But now that it was within reach, I couldn’t ignore the quiet voice in my mind asking: Do you really want this? Or are you trying to be what they want you to be?

I would never wish to use them though.

Sigh

Micah had been so sweet, so genuine, and the idea of spending more time with him filled me with a quiet excitement. But Theo’s intensity, Elias’s quiet strength, and Callum’s steady presence—all of them had expectations. Not ones they’d voiced outright, but ones I felt nonetheless.

Could I truly balance all of this? The thought of trying to give myself fully to the pack, to each of them, while still holding onto the life I’d built, felt overwhelming. I wanted to give them a fair chance, to explore the connections forming between us, but at what cost?

I stood, wrapping the blanket around me as I moved to the window. The early morning air was crisp, the world outside quiet and still.

Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe I just needed to take this one day at a time. But even as I tried to calm my racing thoughts, I couldn’t help but feel like I was standing on the edge of something huge—something that could either make me whole or leave me more fragmented than ever.

Would the pack still want me if I wasn’t ready to give them everything? Would they understand my need to take this slowly, to hold onto the pieces of myself I wasn’t ready to let go of?

A soft buzz from my phone broke the silence, and I glanced at it.

Theo 🥰: I’ll pick you up at 6. Wear something warm.

I smiled faintly, but the knot in my stomach didn’t ease.

One day at a time, I reminded myself.

For now, I would focus on tonight. On Theo. And on trying to figure out where I truly belonged in all of this.

~~~~

Theo picked me up at 6pm sharp.

The evening air was crisp, and as Theo and I walked toward the secluded spot he had prepared for our date, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. The drive had been quiet, filled with the hum of the engine and the occasional brush of his hand against mine. There was a comfort in the silence, though my thoughts kept drifting to what was coming—the bond that would be formed between us.

Theo’s scent, salted caramel, was a constant reminder of his presence, and as much as I tried to focus on the moment, the future weighed heavily on my mind. The marking, the claiming, the knotting—it was inevitable, something I knew would come eventually. Being with him meant that.

As we settled on the blanket under the stars, Theo looked at me with an intensity I couldn’t ignore. His gaze was soft but focused, the kind of look that made me feel like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

“what have you been thinking about?" Theo asked, his voice low, like he was considering his words carefully.

I turn to him and give him a small shrug and smile.

“About the future. About us?" He guessed

I couldn’t help but hold my breath.

"Yes." I whisper my response.

He reached out, his hand brushing my cheek, the touch grounding me. “You know what it means to be with me, Ivy. The bond between us, the connection that comes with it. The marking. The bite.”

I nodded slowly, my heart pounding a little faster. “I know,” I whispered. “I know that it’s coming. That it’s part of the bond between us.”

Theo’s expression softened, and there was a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “It’s not just about the bite, though. It’s about us, Ivy. It’s about the pack. The way we all come together, how we support each other. It’s something that deepens over time. I don’t want you to think it’s just about claiming you, because it’s not. I want you with me, yes, but I also want you to feel like you’re part of something bigger. Part of all of us.”

His words soothed something inside of me, the nervous flutter that had been building in my chest. “I understand,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ve never felt more at home than I do with all of you.”

Theo smiled, his gaze tender as he took my hand in his. “You’re important to me, Ivy. To all of us. I want you to be comfortable with what’s coming, with the bite and the knot. You’re not just mine—you’re part of something, part of this pack. And when the time comes, it’ll be because we all share something special.”

I felt the weight of his words, the meaning behind them. It wasn’t about ownership. It wasn’t about marking territory. It was about connection. About trust. About being together in a way that made everything else fade into the background.

“When we mark you,” Theo continued, “it’ll be because we’re ready. Because we’re all ready. You’ll be part of this bond, part of us, and when it happens, you’ll understand it. The knot—it’s not just physical. It’s how we tie ourselves together, how we make sure no one is left behind.”

I nodded, my chest tight but full of warmth. “I know. I’m not scared, Theo. I just… I don’t want to lose myself in it all.”

Theo’s thumb brushed over my knuckles, his voice low but reassuring.

“You won’t. You’ll always be you, Ivy. The pack is here to support you, and I’m here, too. You’ll never lose yourself. This bond won’t take that away from you. It will make us stronger, together.”

I leaned into him, my head resting on his shoulder. The night seemed to settle around us, the stars above twinkling as if listening to our words. I didn’t know what the future held, but in that moment, with Theo’s arm around me, I felt something I hadn’t expected—peace.

All my thoughts and concerns pushed to the back of my mind.

The night around us felt almost still, as if the world had slowed down to watch us. Theo’s presence was overwhelming, his scent of salted caramel intoxicating as he leaned in closer. My heart raced, and every breath I took seemed to draw me deeper into him, into this moment.

“You’re driving me crazy, Ivy,” Theo whispered, his voice dark with desire. His lips hovered just above mine, teasing me with their closeness, but I was too far gone to wait any longer. I reached up, pulling him in for a kiss that was urgent, hungry, full of everything I’d been holding back.

Theo responded immediately, his hands cradling my face as he kissed me back with the same intensity. His lips were soft but insistent, demanding more of me. I couldn’t help but melt into him, my body leaning into his with a softness that contrasted with the fire building between us.

His kiss was slow, deliberate, as if he were savoring every moment, every taste. But it wasn’t long before the heat between us surged, and his hands slid down my back, pulling me even closer. My breath hitched when I felt the hard line of his body against mine, the strength of his muscles pressing into me, reminding me of how much he wanted me.

Theo growled low in his throat, the sound sending a wave of heat through me. I whimpered, unable to help it, the sound slipping from my lips before I could stop it. Theo’s lips were on my neck in an instant, his teeth grazing my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

“You make me lose control, Ivy,” he murmured against my skin. “I can’t stay away from you.”

I didn’t want him to. Every touch, every kiss, sent me deeper into him, and I found myself not wanting to escape. My body was alive with his touch, my senses overwhelmed by his scent, his warmth, his presence.

When he kissed me again, this time more deeply, I felt something inside of me shift, something undeniable and primal. I could feel the bond pulling me closer to him, urging me to give in completely. The promise of what was to come—the mark, the knot, the way he would claim me—was heavy in the air, and yet, I wasn’t scared. Not now. Not with him.

I rub my cheek along his neck where his scent was the strongest.

Instinctively scent marking him.

Theo pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze intense, full of unspoken words. His fingers traced the curve of my jaw, and he smirked, his eyes dark with need.

“I’m going to mark you, Ivy,” he said, his voice rough, full of intent. “You’ll belong to me in every way. And I’ll never let you go.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I looked up at him. “I know,” I whispered, my voice shaky but resolute.

Theo’s lips met mine again, fiercer this time, his tongue sliding against mine as if he couldn’t get enough of me. My body responded eagerly, a rush of heat flooding through me. His hands were everywhere—on my back, my hips, my ass pulling me closer, grinding in to me, pressing me into him. I could feel the desire, the hunger, in every touch.

When he finally pulled away, his breathing laboured, I was left breathless, my heart racing, my body aching for him.

“I’m not going to stop, Ivy,” he said, his voice low and full of promise. “Not until you’re mine completely.”

I knew then, in that moment, that nothing could ever pull us apart. We were tied together, bound by more than just the bond between Alpha and Omega. We were connected in a way that nothing could break, not even time.

And as Theo kissed me again, deep and slow, I knew that whatever came next, I would face it with him and the pack by my side.