Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,55
it isn't just the rum talking. I feel like every one of us needed to be here. Hallie, you, me, these guys…I don't know why or the reason, but we feel right together. You know?"
I understood what he meant, and I thought even Angus had too. He liked his pack whole. These guys might not cuddle or coddle each other, but they were a pack stronger than any I'd seen in the wild. It wasn't just the relationships between Jazz and me and our alphas, either. These people had a sense of one another, where they were physically in the hotel, what they were feeling—without having to be told. Some might have called their relationships dependent, but I called it soothing. "I know." I nodded. "I love it here. I love being Faust's omega, and I love being your friend, and I love this room, and I love—"
"Should I be hurt that the room was mentioned before me?" Hallie asked.
I lunged to my feet, propelled by guilt. Faust caught me around the middle and pulled me back down. "She's joking, kitten. We're all glad you're happy here."
His breath brushed over my face like a kiss, and I forgot what I'd been upset about. My lips parted and I blinked rapidly, having a hard time concentrating on such a handsome face. I wound my fingers around his and squeezed tight. "There. We're stuck together."
Faust looked from our hands to my face. The heat coming from his gaze made the fire seem pale in comparison. "I'll bind you to me in whatever way you'll allow." He kissed my knuckles. "If you want a ceremony, we can have one tomorrow."
"A ceremony?" Jazz asked, though it was my question as well. "What kind of ceremony? Like a wedding?"
"A binding," Faust explained. "The shifter version of a wedding for shifters who have found their mates."
"What about alphas who found their omegas?" Jazz asked Faust while looking accusingly at Knox.
"It's still a binding, though the ceremonies are usually a little more extravagant. All the binding ceremonies we oversaw in our old pack were quiet, joyful occasions."
His words were met with several moments of silence. The three alphas couldn't help the memories from flooding in, and grief wafted from each of the men like smoke from the fire.
"Where's my binding ceremony?" Jazz's bottom lip stuck out in a pout. "You didn't offer me one."
Though he sounded petulant, I felt I understood Jazz a little more in that moment. He didn't mind putting himself out there for the sake of the others. I doubted he cared that much about the ceremony and more about distracting his mate from his current sadness.
Knox took the bait. "I have no problem strapping you to me in every way possible." He reached behind his back, pulling out a pair of cuffs from seemingly nowhere. He moved like lightning, clicking one of the cuffs around Jazz's wrist before hauling the young man over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes.
"You brute! You scoundrel! It's too late! You should've tied me down when you had the chance." Jazz wailed in his position, butt up, head bouncing over Knox's spine.
Knox turned so Jazz could face me.
"Say goodnight, Storri," Knox prompted.
Jazz's cheeks were red, his brown eyes were dark, and he grinned lopsidedly. "Goodnight, Storri," Jazz chirped with a wave. "See you tomorrow morning!"
Hallie got to her feet. "That's my cue as well. I'll take the little angel for the night. You two go…be animals."
Knox and Jazz thanked her before Knox carried his omega out of the room.
I yawned, swaying slightly on my feet. Hadn't someone said something about one more drink?
"This turkey is cooked." Faust grabbed my hand, nodding his goodnight to Hallie and Diesel.
"Me? My cookie isn't turked!"
Though I'd made an amazing point, Faust still tugged me behind him into the warm hallway, and we walked by Angus sleeping in his bassinet. He whimpered, his fingers jerking like a dog having an exciting dream. I hadn't realized that from this angle, Hallie had had a clear view of the hallway and Angus the entire night while he slept.
"Goodnight, Storri." She waved. Diesel repositioned to the spot next to her, and I was glad he wouldn't be alone.
My thoughts wandered from the others the longer Faust led me through the corridors. After I'd run into my third wall, he lifted me, carrying me bridal-style through the hallways. Not having to worry about where I was going was a relief, and I sighed into him.