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"And I need you two to understand that." I look at Clint, then Tripp. "You're my alphas, too, all three of you. That doesn't change because Briggs bonded me first. That doesn't change because things got messy. We're a pack."

Tripp lets out a shaky breath. His fist finally unclenches. "We were scared, Autumn. We were scared he took advantage⁠—"

"He didn't." I shake my head. "He lost control, yeah. But I was right there with him and if we're being honest, I could have screamed for you if I was scared or being taken advantage of.”

Clint rubs his face, a rough, exhausted gesture. "We didn't think he'd mark you."

"Neither did I." I shrug. "But it happened, and now it's done. I'm not leaving, or going to Virginia. I'm staying right here, with all of you."

Briggs speaks. "I'm sorry." He pushes himself upright, wincing, but he meets his cousins' eyes. "I should've asked. I should've waited, gotten control of the rut. I didn't. I failed you, both of you. But I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. To her."

Tripp stares at him for a long moment. Then he moves to pull Briggs into a rough, awkward embrace. They both grunt, pain mixed with relief.

"You're an idiot," Tripp mutters into his shoulder. "A fucking idiot."

"I know."

Clint joins them, wrapping his arms around both, and then I'm pulled in, too, the four of us huddled on the gravel, our scents tangling.

"We're a pack," Clint says quietly.

“No more punching each other.” I press my face into his chest. "We stick together.”

We stay there for a long time, just existing in the warmth of each other. Eventually, I shiver, and Tripp stands, pulling me up with him.

"Come on. Let's get inside, get cleaned up. We got a stalker to catch."

An hour later, we're sprawled across the living room floor, blankets and pillows dragged from every corner of the house. Clint has his arm around my shoulders, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. Tripp is stretched out on the other side, his head in my lap, eyes half-closed. Briggs is behind me, his chest to my back, his legs tangled with mine, his nose buried in my hair.

We're a knot of limbs and warmth, a pile of pack.

"So," Tripp says, breaking the comfortable silence. "What happens now?"

Briggs shifts behind me, his arm tightening around my waist. "We need ground rules. If someone's feeling left out, we talk about it. If something's wrong, we don't let it fester."

Clint nods. "And no more spontaneous marking without telling the rest of us."

I laugh, genuine and bright. "That, too."

"What about the bonding?" Tripps asks.

My fingers twist in the blanket.

"I'm ready."

Three sets of eyes land on me immediately, causing heat to creep into my cheeks, but I force myself not to look away.

"I was ready before all this happened." I shrug one shoulder. "I just didn't want anybody feeling pressured."

Tripp's expression softens. "Omega."

"I mean it." I glance between them. "I love all of you, and I want a future with you guys. So, when it feels right..." My gaze settles on Clint and then Tripp. "I want to bond with you, too."

Tripp looks like somebody handed him the moon. Clint reaches over and squeezes my hand.

"We will."

Briggs presses a kiss against my temple.