Page 79 of Puck Your Charity

Finn catches the movement first. He hits pause on his controller, stopping the loud racing game. The sudden quiet draws the attention of the others. Lawrence turns his head, a warm smile breaking across his face. Malcolm lowers his tablet, offering a nod. Victor shifts on the sofa, his icy blue eyes finding mine with quiet anticipation.

They wait for me to speak.

"Susan from HR at the hospital offered me a contract." The words rush out in a nervous breath. "She said I can get my job back if I accept a permanent bonding mark."

The second the words leave my lips, a warm, deep throb starts between my thighs. My breath hitches. A sweet, intense ache builds in my core. A thick wave of wetness coats my cotton underwear.

My May heat has started.

It lacks the terror and frantic panic of my presentation heat. This shift feels smooth and seamless, like slipping into a warm bath. My body knows I stand in a secure house surrounded by my devoted Alphas.

Finn drops his controller onto the rug. His brown eyes darken with intense focus. Lawrence loses his easy smile.

Malcolm sets his tablet down on the side table. "We can have our lawyers look over the contract before you sign anything, Olive."

Victor stands up from the sofa.

Four pairs of eyes lock onto me.

The atmosphere in the room shifts from relaxed downtime to absolute, devoted focus. Their scents spike, turning dark and possessive. They smell my heat, and their Alpha instincts rise to the surface to answer the call.

Finn reaches me first. His towering frame blocks out the sunlight from the windows. He steps into my personal space, inhaling the sweet scent rolling off my skin.

"Your heat is starting." His voice drops into a raw, vibrating rumble.

"I know." I offer a content smile. The hormones blur the edges of my rational thoughts, turning my focus toward their broad shoulders and large hands.

Malcolm steps up right behind Finn. He reaches out and scoops me into his strong arms, lifting me off the floor with zero effort.

"We have you." Malcolm presses a kiss to my forehead.

I wrap my arms around his thick neck and rest my head against his collarbone. Lawrence and Victor flank us, forming a protective wall as Malcolm carries me down the long hallway toward the master suite.

The thick blackout curtains seal the room in comfortable, cool shadows.

The oversized California King bed sits in the center of the floor. My nest dominates the mattress. The guys spent the past month helping me build it. Mountains of plush pillows, thick down comforters, and their worn, sweat-scented practice jerseys create a perfect, structured nest of comfort.

Malcolm sets me down in the very center of the blankets.

I sink into the softness. The combined scent of the pack rises from the fabric, wrapping me in a cocoon of absolute safety.

Lawrence walks into the room carrying a silver tray. He sets it on the bedside table. A pitcher of ice water, clean glasses, and a bowl of sliced strawberries sit ready for the marathon ahead. He pours a glass of water and brings it to my lips, making sure I stay hydrated before the fever takes over.

Victor sits on the edge of the mattress right behind me. He reaches out and begins massaging my tense shoulders. His large, calloused hands work the knots out of my back with firm, soothing pressure. He presses warm kisses to the nape of my neck.

Finn drops to his knees near the edge of the bed. He rests his hands on my denim-clad thighs.

The dynamic feels flawless. No jealousy exists between them. They share the space and the caretaking duties with seamless synchronization.

I reach up and wrap my fingers around Victor's wrists, stopping his massage. I look around the dim room, meeting each of their gazes. The intense throb in my core begs for friction, but I need to finish the conversation I started in the living room.

"I want the bonding marks." I keep my voice steady, fighting the haze of my approaching heat. "I want them tonight."

Malcolm pauses near the foot of the bed. His dark eyes lock onto mine. "Olive, you don't need to rush this for a hospital job. We can provide for you. You never have to work another day in your life."

"It isn't about the money, Mal." I reach out and grab his large hand. "I know you guys can buy me anything I want. But taking care of those kids fulfills me. I love the work I do. I love helping them through the hardest times in their lives. You can't provide that internal fulfillment for me. But you can help me get my job back."

I take a shaky breath, the sweet scent of my own apple pie thick in the air.