He’s methodical as he cleans me, making sure every inch of my skin is scrubbed clean before he moves on to my hair.
“So, my parents know that you’re…courting me?” I say, though he hasn’t formally used that word.
“Yes, they didn’t seem surprised,” he says, running his deft fingers through my hair.
“And you’re working on getting along with Forrest?” I question, wanting to get his perspective on things.
Elliot sighs behind me. “I like Wells. He’s easy to get along with. Forrest…we’re working on it.”
I hum under my breath and wonder if Wells told them to not make their conflicts my problem. While I might be the center of this pack, the glue that holds everyone together, I know it’s not my job to make sure everyone gets along. Their relationships with each other are separate from mine.
“It makes me really happy to see you trying. You’re not worried about being in a pack?” I ask him, plying him for more information.
Maybe I’m needy, but I just need to know that he’s all in, that he’s not going to break my little Omega heart into a million pieces if he realizes that he can’t handle pack life.
“I’m going to New Hampshire, Claire. I’m not going anywhere if you’re not there, I promise.” His voice is soothing as he wraps his arms around me. “I’m sorry that I ever made you feel like I didn’t want you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you know how deeply I feel about you.”
If I wasn’t so sore, I’d fuck him in this shower right now.
I spin in his arms and rub my hands up the expanse of his muscular chest.
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I tell him and he grins down at me, leaning forward and giving me a rough kiss.
I can’t believe I’m actually leaving this ship with the pack I’ve always wanted. Well, minus the bond marks I’m desperately craving.
“Claire,” Andie’s gentle voice says as I approach her and her pack at the buffet.
I wrap my arms around her, and she squeezes tight. When I pull back, I get a good look at her neck.
Bonded. They bonded her during her heat.
I blink at the marks and then back up at Andie. “Congratulations, Andie,” I say, happy for my friend.
“Thanks. I’m thrilled. What about you, Claire? Did everything go alright during your heat? Apparently so many Omegas went into heat they had to use some staterooms, moderators had to sit in the room to watch everything that happened and they bolted the balcony doors so no one jumpedto their death,” she says, waving her hands animatedly as she speaks.
“I guess I can’t be too mad about getting the Under the Sea Suite then,” I grumble and Andie winces.
“That might be worse,” she says and we sit down at our own table as the men take their own.
Forrest grabs me food while one of her Alphas does the same for her. “Are you all getting off the ship too?”
“We are. That’s why I wanted to see you. Promise me we’ll keep in touch,” I nearly beg her and she grabs my hand over the table.
“As if we aren’t bonded for life after this cruise,” she jokes. “Plus, I’ll be moving to Massachusetts anyway. We’ll be so close.”
I give her a warm smile and she leans in so that our packs don’t over hear. “No bond marks?”
“I didn’t sign the waiver so that they could, and it’s probably the best for now, anyway,” I tell her, even though there’s a tinge of sadness in the words. In a perfect world, I’d be leaving this ship bonded to them all. Part of me realizes what we’re doing is the rational way to go about making a pack, life long plans that will affect every one of our lives. But my hopeless romantic, needy Omega heart wishes I was leaving here fully bonded.
“Without all the pressure of the ship, and your heat looming over your head, it will make everything easier,” she tells me, and I hope that she’s right, but there’s also a part of me that worries that the second I get off this ship, everything is about to fall apart.
Chapter 32
Wells
We’re disembarking,each of us taking at least of two of Claire’s bags along with our own, as we head to the gangway.
“So long Haven of the Seas. I love you!” I shout at the ship and Claire snorts at me.