Because they were courting me and wanted to keep me. “It doesn’t feel real,” I admitted.

“We’re very real, and no matter if we make light of it, we’ve been waiting a long time for you. I don’t say that to put pressure on you. I say it to tell you how serious we are about this courtship. It’s not a fling, and it’s not all of us liking your scent and figuring we’d have a go.”

My eyes slid away from his instinctually. Luke didn’t let me get away with it. He curled his fingers into my hair and firmly guided his gaze back to his. “I know talk like this makes you uncomfortable because you’re so used to thinking no one wants you, but I need you to hear me and believe it. If you understand, tell me ‘Yes, Alpha.’”

The command in his tone was just shy of a bark. Not compelling me, but offering the dominance we’d spoken of as a lifeline. Let him lead me to where I needed to be and start the journey of getting my head around them and what was happening between all of us. “Yes, Alpha.”

Luke’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “Good girl.”

My stomach swooped, and I groaned. “I shouldn’t like it when you guys say that. But, fuck me, I do.”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

“I—” Luke looked at me expectantly, and I tried to find the right way to explain it. “Because I’m a woman, not a girl? People would turn it into something it’s not meant to be. They always find a way to make it look bad.”

He nodded. “I agree. You are an incredible woman. But in this house with us, there’s no one else to make it seem like what it’s not. I’ll stop if you want me to, but I like the look in your eyes when I tell you you’re my good girl.”

The words brought out a soft whine, and he laughed. “Should I take that as you wanting me to keep saying it?”

“Yes, please.”

Luke winked. “Good girl. Now let’s get you some food.”

He lifted me off the counter and held me in his arms, pushing the door open with his foot. We made our way slowly downstairs, and already I could smell something amazing.

“Just not in public,” I said. “I can’t—I don’t want them to know.”