Chapter 183
Alexander's POV
I pushed open the front door of our pack house and felt different right away. The weight was gone - Frank's threats, that damn bounty, all the danger to my family. My wolf was happy, still buzzed from the fight but ready to get back to what really mattered. Behind me, Arabella, Lucas, and Tristan followed, all of us thinking the same thing: Alice.
Esme walked out from the living room with our little girl in her arms. Alice looked up, her eyes got big when she spotted us, and those tiny hands reached out right away.
"Da!" she squealed, her whole face lighting up.
Arabella rushed forward, tears already streaming down her face. She grabbed Alice and held her tight against her chest, covering that little face with kisses.
"Mama's baby," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Mama's back. I'm here now."
I put my hand on Arabella's shoulder, feeling her shake under my palm. Seeing them together again filled some hole in me I didn't even know was there. My family. Safe. Whole again.
Lucas stepped up, without his usual smartass smile - something softer on his face instead. Alice spotted him over Arabella's shoulder and immediately reached for him.
"Nee-koo!" she yelled, leaning so far Arabella almost dropped her.
"I knew you'd miss me most, troublemaker," Lucas laughed, taking her from Arabella and tossing her up in the air. Alice's giggles filled the room, washing all that blood and violence right out of my head.
Esme nodded at me, her eyes knowing. "She was perfect. Brave, just like her mom."
"Thanks," I said, knowing the word wasn't enough for what she'd done. "We won't forget this."
"Family protects family," she said simply before slipping out the door.
---
"One more story," Arabella begged as Lucas finished reading from the colorful book. We were all crammed into Alice's nursery, surrounding her crib while she fought sleep like only a stubborn baby could.
"She's gonna pass out any second," Tristan said quietly, fixing his glasses as he looked down at Alice. Her eyelids were dropping, but she kept jerking them open.
I started humming some tune my mother used to sing to me. The memory was faded as hell, but the song stuck around. Alice's little hand wrapped around Arabella's finger, holding on tight even as she started to drift off.
"She's scared I'll disappear again," Arabella whispered, her eyes wet.
I put my arm around her waist and pulled her against me. "You won't. Not ever again. It's over, Puppy. Wesley's dead. Frank's dead. No more threats, no more hiding."
Lucas reached across the crib and brushed Arabella's cheek. "We're all home now."
Tristan didn't say anything, but I caught his nod.
When Alice finally gave in to sleep, her grip on Arabella's finger loosening, we stood watching her for a few minutes. The way her tiny chest rose and fell, those soft little breaths, the total peace on her face—this was what we'd fought for. What we'd always fight for.
---
The second our bedroom door closed, I pushed Arabella against the wall and caught her mouth in a deep, claiming kiss. "We won," I growled against her lips. "Now it's time to celebrate."
Her body just melted into mine, that surrender that drives my wolf fucking crazy. Her hands slid under my shirt, fingers tracing my back, like she was discovering me all over again.
Lucas came up behind her, his hands in her hair, pulling her head back to expose her neck. "You know how fucking worried I was about you?" he whispered, lips on her skin. "I need to feel you're safe, whole, ours."
Arabella let out this soft moan as his mouth found that spot below her ear, her body trapped between us. Her eyes fluttered open and found Tristan standing a few feet away, watching like he always does. She reached out her hand to him.
"Tonight," I said, reaching for him too, "all four of us. Complete. Together."
He stepped forward and took both our hands, his eyes meeting mine with something I hadn't seen before. The air between us charged with something new.
"Tonight, I wanna try something different," Arabella breathed, looking between all of us. "I want all of you... at the same time."
"You sure?" I asked, stroking her cheek. "It's gonna be intense."
She nodded, determination in her eyes. "I'm sure. I want to feel completely yours—all of yours."
Clothes hit the floor fast as we moved to the bed. Arabella's moans filled the room while Lucas explored her body with his mouth, working down her stomach, between her legs. Her back arched off the mattress when his tongue found her clit.
"Alexander," Tristan's voice cut through. I turned to him, surprised by how direct he was being. "Tonight, I want you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Completely," he nodded, steady despite the flush spreading across his face. "This is about connection. Being complete. I want to be part of that fully."
I moved closer, my voice dropping so only he could hear. "I need to prep you first. You've never done this."
His eyes stayed locked with mine. "I know. I trust you."
---
"Tristan, kneel," I ordered, my Alpha voice in full effect.
He dropped down without hesitation, his usual control giving way to something rare from him—surrender. The sight sent a rush of heat straight to my cock.
Across the bed, Lucas had positioned himself between Arabella's thighs, face buried in her pussy. "Let me taste you, sweetheart," he murmured. "I want you dripping wet for us."
"Lucas..." Arabella gasped, fingers tangled in his hair as her hips lifted. "God... right there..."
I slicked my fingers with lube and moved behind Tristan. "Relax," I said quietly, starting to work him open with slow, careful movements. "I won't hurt you." Despite going easy, my actions made it clear who was in charge, my need to claim him obvious.
Tristan's breath caught, his body tensing then slowly giving in. The usually composed professor reduced to shallow breathing and soft groans.
"Didn't expect you to be the first to try this, bookworm," Lucas looked up from between Arabella's legs, his mouth wet with her juices. "Guess you've got a wild side after all."
"Shut up and keep going," Tristan shot back, but with a small smile.
---
When everyone was ready, the energy in the room had changed to something primal. I pushed into Tristan slowly, feeling his tight resistance gradually give way. His sharp breath turned into a low moan as I set a rhythm, my hands gripping his hips hard enough to bruise.
"Fuck, you're tight," I growled, voice rough. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
Tristan just nodded, unusually vocal, soft grunts escaping with each thrust.
Lucas had Arabella in front of us, sliding his cock into her with one smooth motion that made her cry out. "That's it, baby," he urged, matching my pace. "Take all of me."
Arabella locked eyes with me over Tristan's shoulder, her face flushed, pupils blown wide. The sight of her—my mate, carrying my babies, taking Lucas's cock while watching me fuck Tristan—sent a wave of possessiveness through me that almost hurt.
"You're mine," I told her, making it clear. "All of you are fucking mine."
As we moved faster, more desperate, I felt the bonds between us get stronger. This wasn't just sex; it was proving something. We'd faced death together, fought side by side, and now we celebrated being alive in the most basic way possible.
Right then, we were complete—Alpha, mate, and pack. Family. Home.