#best sip trunk providers

[a1routes]

Top SIP Trunk Providers: Finding the Best Options for Your Business Needs

In today’s fast-paced business environment, seamless communication is essential to success. One of the most effective solutions for streamlining business communication is SIP trunking. If your business is considering transitioning to a more modern, cost-effective communication system, understanding SIP trunk providers and their offerings is crucial. In this blog, we’ll explore what SIP trunking is, the best SIP trunk providers, and how you can choose the best option for your business needs.

What is SIP Trunking?

SIP trunking (Session Initiation Protocol) is a method that businesses use to connect their on-premises Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems to the internet or the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This allows businesses to make and receive voice calls, video calls, and messages over the internet rather than relying on traditional phone lines.

The major benefit of SIP trunking is its ability to reduce costs, increase scalability, and improve communication efficiency. By using the internet for communication, businesses can eliminate expensive phone bills, especially for long-distance and international calls. SIP trunking also allows businesses to scale up or down as needed, making it an attractive option for companies of all sizes.

Why Choose SIP Trunking for Your Business?

There are several key reasons why SIP trunking is a smart choice for modern businesses:

Cost Savings: Traditional phone systems often come with high setup costs, expensive call charges, and long-term contracts. SIP trunking eliminates many of these costs, especially when it comes to long-distance or international calls.

Scalability: With SIP trunking, businesses can easily scale their communication needs as they grow. You can add or remove lines and capacity without the hassle of physical installations or infrastructure upgrades.

Reliability: SIP trunking services come with high availability and failover features to ensure that your business remains connected, even if the primary connection goes down.

Advanced Features: Many SIP trunk providers offer features such as call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, call recording, and more. These features enhance the flexibility and efficiency of your communication system.

How to Choose the Best SIP Trunk Providers

Selecting the best SIP trunk providers for your business involves evaluating several factors. Here’s what you should consider when choosing a SIP trunk provider:

Pricing Structure: SIP trunking providers offer different pricing models. Some may charge per channel, while others offer pay-as-you-go models. Compare pricing options to find the one that fits your budget and communication needs.

Call Quality: High-quality voice communication is essential for businesses. Look for SIP trunk providers that offer excellent call quality, low latency, and minimal downtime. Many providers offer high-definition voice capabilities and will have Service Level Agreements (SLAs) guaranteeing a certain level of performance.

Support and Reliability: A reliable SIP trunk provider should offer responsive customer support, including 24/7 technical assistance. Look for a provider with a strong reputation for reliability and uptime, as business communication should never be interrupted.

Scalability: As your business grows, your communication needs will evolve. The best SIP trunk providers will offer easy scalability, allowing you to add more channels or locations without complex upgrades.

Integration with Existing Systems: If your business already uses certain communication tools or a PBX system, choose a SIP trunk provider that can seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure. This will save you time and effort during setup and ensure smooth operations.

Top SIP Trunk Providers for Your Business

Here are some of the best SIP trunk providers to consider for your business:

A1 Routes At A1 Routes, we specialize in providing businesses with high-quality SIP trunking services tailored to their specific needs. Whether your business is located in the TC Energy Center, 700 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002, or beyond, we offer affordable, reliable, and scalable SIP trunking solutions. Our SIP trunks feature advanced call routing, high-definition voice quality, and seamless integration with your existing communication systems. We provide businesses with a cost-effective, easy-to-manage communication solution that will scale as your company grows.

Twilio Twilio is a leading SIP trunking provider known for its flexible cloud-based communications solutions. Twilio’s SIP trunking services are known for their scalability, high-quality voice, and low latency. They offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model, making it a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes.

Bandwidth Bandwidth offers a robust SIP trunking solution with excellent voice quality and a variety of additional communication services, including messaging and 911 emergency calling. Their SIP trunks are easy to configure and scale, making them a popular choice for businesses looking for reliable communication solutions.

Voxbone Voxbone offers SIP trunking services with a global reach. Their services include toll-free numbers, direct inward dialing (DID), and call routing across multiple countries. Voxbone is a great option for businesses with an international presence.

8x8 8x8 is another popular SIP trunking provider, offering high-quality voice and video services along with cloud PBX and UCaaS solutions. 8x8’s SIP trunks are known for their reliability and ease of use, making them a good option for businesses of all sizes.

Why Choose A1 Routes for Your SIP Trunking Needs?

At A1 Routes, we provide best SIP trunk providers solutions designed to enhance your business communication at an affordable price. Our SIP trunks are built to provide crystal-clear voice quality, high reliability, and easy scalability, ensuring your business stays connected with minimal downtime. We also offer exceptional customer support to help you with setup and troubleshooting.

If you’re ready to enhance your business communication, contact us today at 1-347-809-3866 to learn more about our SIP trunking solutions.

Conclusion

Choosing the best SIP trunk providers for your business is essential to ensure that your communication system is reliable, cost-effective, and scalable. By considering factors such as pricing, quality, support, and integration, you can find the ideal SIP trunking solution for your company. At A1 Routes, we offer top-tier SIP trunking services to meet the diverse needs of businesses in Houston and beyond, helping you streamline your communications and reduce costs.

[ezaccesscommunications]

Website: https://www.ezaccesscommunications.com/

EZ ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS is a reputable telecom expense management specialist, offering a range of services including expense management, network solutions, IT solutions, mobility solutions, voice solutions, and security solutions. With over 50 years of experience, the company is known for its efficient, honest, and professional approach. EZ ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS provides unbiased consultations and strives to deliver the best in-class telecommunications services, ensuring customer satisfaction through open communication and expert support.

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/savacom-palm-coast

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[goldenherc9]

Herculean Gains: Jock Alpha Edition

Dudes this request for this edition came from my good bruh @rod-tf huhu was total fun writin it bros

Rodney nervously adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses as he stepped into Herculean Gains. His oversized sweater hung off his thin frame, and his skinny jeans were a little too tight, emphasizing his small, twinky build. He wasn’t the gym type—he was a nerd, through and through. Computer science major, top grades, and way more comfortable in front of a screen than near a dumbbell. But lately… he felt out of place.

He wanted to be bigger. Stronger. More dominant.

A deep, booming voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Yo, lil’ dude, you lost or what?”

Rodney turned—and nearly dropped his notebook.

Standing before him was Hercules Gold, the biggest, most alpha guy Rodney had ever seen. Towering, bronzed, and ridiculously muscular, Hercules looked like he belonged on the cover of Jock Kings Monthly. His gym tank barely contained his bulging pecs, and his sweat-drenched shorts clung to massive quads. His smirk radiated pure cocky dominance.

Rodney gulped. “Uh… I wanna get big.”

Hercules raised an eyebrow, grinning. “You? Bro, you’re, like, a little gay Harry Potter.”

Rodney’s face burned red. “I-I know! But I wanna change.”

Hercules crossed his arms, sizing him up. Then, with a smirk, he reached under the counter and pulled out a massive red shaker.

“This is Himbo Juice—Jock Alpha Edition.” He shook it, and the thick, shimmering liquid sloshed inside. “One sip, and you’ll never be the same.”

Rodney hesitated. “Will it… change who I am?”

Hercules snorted. “Nah, bro, it’ll just make you who you were meant to be.” He shoved the bottle into Rodney’s hands. “Now drink.”

Rodney swallowed hard—then chugged.

BOOM.

Heat exploded through his body. His arms surged outward, biceps and triceps ballooning with thick muscle. His sweater ripped apart, exposing rapidly growing pecs covered in a layer of manly chest hair.

His waist thickened, abs carving into an eight-pack of pure power. His legs grew into massive, muscular trunks, straining his jeans.

His glasses changed to sunglasses as his jawline sharpened, his features morphing into a rugged, bro-tier chad. His styled nerdy hair morphed into a an alpha masculine jock cut.

Video provided by @rowdy317 (thanks bro for the big help on this, stay awesome my red beast dude!)

His mind… shifted.

“Uh… bro?” Rodney now Rod muttered. His voice was deeper. More confident.

Hercules smirked. “How ya feelin’, big guy?”

Rod turned to the mirror, flexing his huge arms. His brain, once filled with coding, equations, and anime, now held only one thing—being a STRAIGHT ALPHA JOCK KING.

“Haha, bro, I feel fuckin’ awesome.”

Hercules clapped him on the back. “Welcome to the real you, bro.”

Rod just grinned, flexing. No more nerd shit. Just gains, chicks, and dominance.

-------------------------------------------------------

Wanna a tf then ask away with what ya want (more info the better) or DM me with it bros, i will do my best on the tf you want, time to transform mah dudes

[hyperfixatedoncrimminalminds]

Hello, could i request a spencer reid x daughter who gets really car sick and on a long drive with reid and morgan feels gross🤍

Spencer Reid x Derek Morgan x Daughter Reader

Request: Hello, could i request a spencer reid x daughter who gets really car sick and on a long drive with reid and morgan feels gross🤍

Tw vomiting, talk of being sick, if you you don't like these then don't read.

Third person pov...

As the sun rose in the distance, Spencer Reid and his daughter Y/N, packed their bags for their long-awaited trip to visit her grandmother in Las Vaga.

The teenager was excited to see her grandmother, she doesn't get to visit her often with her Dads work, but she couldn't shake the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

She knew the long drive ahead would be difficult for her. You see Y/N  inherited his sensitive stomach and tendency to get car sick of course Spencers wasn't as bad but Y/Ns was.

As they loaded their bags into the car, Spencer's colleague and friend, Derek Morgan, joined them for the ride.

Y/Ns face lit up seeing Uncle Derek, and she quickly ran to give him a hug. "Uncle derek! Your comkng as well!" She exclaimed, Derek grins at his niece.

"Of course i am peanut, its been a while since i last saw Mrs Reid" he tells the girl, using kne hand to put the rest of the luggage in the trunk while holding his niece.

The three of them settled into the car, with Morgan taking the wheel while Spencer sat in the passenger sear leaving Y/N in the back.

At first, Y/N was thrilled to be on the road, chatting and playing games with her dad and Uncle Derek. But as the hours passed by, her excitement turned into discomfort.

She tried her best to ignore the queasy feeling in her stomach and the constant swaying of the car, but it was getting harder by the minute.

Spencer noticed the change in his daughter's mood and asked her if she was okay. The H/C girl put on a brave face and nodded, not wanting to ruin the trip for everyone.

She didn't want to be known as the 'car sick kid,' especially in front of Uncle Derek, who she looked up to.

But as the car continued to zigzag through the winding roads, the young girls condition worsened. She started feeling hot and dizzy, and her stomach churned with every turn.

She tried to keep her focus on the road ahead, but all she could think about was how she wanted the car ride to end.

As they stopped for a bathroom break and some snacks, Y/N silently prayed for the rest of the journey to be over quickly.

She tried sipping on some water and munching on a granola bar, but her stomach refused to settle. She felt a lump form in her throat, and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer.

As they drove on, the young girl tried to distract herself by looking out the window and pointing out interesting sights along the way.

However, her stomach had other ideas and she had to close her eyes and take deep breaths to prevent herself from getting sick.

She could hear her father and uncle Derek talking in the front seat, but their voices were distant as she focused on trying to keep her stomach settled.

"Hey princess, are you feeling okay back there?" Reid's concerned voice broke through her thoughts. His daughers eyes flicked open and she saw her father looking back at her through the rearview mirror.

"I'm fine, just a little queasy" she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

"Maybe we should pull over and take a break" Morgan suggested. "I know a great roadside diner up ahead" he says as he drives a little more slowly and carefully.

Uncle Derek also noticed Y/Ns discomfort and turned on the air conditioning, hoping to provide her some relief.

"Dad" she called out weakly.

Reid turned around in his seat, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"I feel like I'm going to throw up" the young girl replied, her voice trembling.

Reid immediately asked Derek to pull over at the next rest stop. Running to the bathroom she threw herself over the toilet and began emptying her stomach into it

Concerned for his daughter Spencer ran after her. "N/N!" He yelled sitting behind her after ahed finished throwing up he took her in his arms and rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

Derek handed her a bottle of water and some tissues while apologizing profusely for not being more cautious about her sickness, was fine with her throwing up, he gave Y/N a bottle of water and some crackers to settle her stomach.

He also fished out her motion sickness medication from her suitcase and rubbed her back soothingly as she started to feel better.

After a few minutes she leant away from the toilet and against her dads chest feeling his warmth.

Suddenly tears start streaming down her face as she apologized to her dad and Uncle Derek, the men instantly concerned begin comforting the distressed girl.

They weren't angry or annoyed, jsut concerned about her They both comforted her and assured her that it was okay and nothing to be ashamed of.

Uncle Derek even shared his own stories of getting car sick when he was younger.

As they finally reached their destination, Y/N couldn't be happier to get out of the car and feel the solid ground beneath her feet. Despite the rough journey, she had made it, thanks to the love and support of her dad and Uncle Derek.

"Are you feeling better now, princess?" Reid asked, placing a hand on her forehead.

"Much better, thank you" The H/C girl replied with a smile. "I'm sorry for being such a hassle on the drive."

"You're not a hassle at all, N/N We don't mind taking care of you" Morgan chimed in, giving her a pat on the back.

Y/N felt a warm feeling in her heart as she looked at the two men who had become like family to her.

She knew that she had a tendency to get car sick, but that didn't stop her from going on long drives with her father and his team. And she was glad that they didn't mind and always took care of her whenever she needed it.

As the evening went on, Y/N felt her energy returning and she was able to enjoy the conference with her father and Morgan by her side.

Sure, she still avoided the car on the way back, opting for a train trip instead, but she knew that she had the love and support of two amazing men who always had her back.

The end!

Woo third one today!

Hoped you liked this oneshot, I'm planning to get through most of the requests this week as I have it off from college.

Sorry for any grammar and spelling mistakes

Requests are open!

Word count: 1177

[sleekervae]

Under the Blooming Moon | Woosung x Reader

Masterlist

A/N: Something a little different, but since listening to The Rose and Woosung's solo work, I've had this scenario kicking around in my head for a while. Had to get this one out of my system and omg I think this is the longest thing I've ever written on this platform 🥲

Summary: Every year the blood moon rises, potential mates gather with their wolf pack for The Union. A carnal game of cat-and-mouse parlays into the wolves finding and claiming their mate for life, and Woosung already has his heart and claws sunk onto his omega best friend...

Warnings: light violence, blood (biting, scratching), some allusions to sexual harassment, werewolf smut

⋆ WORD COUNT — 8.2k

It was that time of year again. The air had picked up a particular sharp chill as it blew through the trees of Namhae Pyeonbaek forest, branches bustling and scattering loose raindrops across the thick thrush. The rains had fortunately lifted hours ago, setting the stage for what was sure to be a messy and chaotic night.

The moon hung high over the tree canopies, deep ruby in colour, with beams of sinister red light slicing through breaks in the leaves to provide only small semblances of light, all of which were drowned out by the roaring bonfire in the middle of the forest. What was just a typical spacial phenomenon to the lay eye represented a far more lecherous promise.

Far off from any trails or where humans dared to lurk, the wolf pack had gathered for their annual Union ritual. They were all relatively young, equal parts eager and anxious with a libidinous, insatiable appetite for tonight's activities. While the ritual sounded dastardly and vile at first, at the end of the day it was a massive cat-and-mouse game, a competition for beta wolves to find and capture their perfect life mate.

And Woosung had already his eye on his potential prize.

While the other beta wolves engaged in lively banter and indulged in drinks, he chose a more reserved and introverted approach, leaning against the weathered trunk of a thousand-year-old pine, sipping cautiously from his plastic cup. His intense gaze remained fixed on Iseul, undeterred by her unawareness as she conversed with her friends. Her soft bangs and long, dark locks swayed in harmony with the gentle breeze, occasionally brushing against her exposed skin, causing him to detect a subtle shiver running down her spine due to her lack of a coat. However, Woosung was well aware that Iseul had knowingly embarked on this evening's adventure, and if their plans unfolded as intended, a jacket would be the least of her concerns.

From his earliest memories, Woosung harbored a deep desire for Iseul. Their mothers had been best friends, and they had envisioned their pups sharing the same bond. Time proved them right. Raised side by side, they navigated the challenges of being hybrids in a world often unforgiving to their kind. In the face of adversity, Woosung and Iseul clung to each other, learning to rely on one another. This dependence evolved into a lifelong friendship. It was only when Woosung encountered his first heat cycle that he confronted a truth far more profound: his longing for Iseul extended beyond the boundaries of friendship. She was the one he wanted, fully and without consequence. However he was a little awkward back then, and the idea of confessing his feelings to Iseul was just as daunting as the notion of being scalped for a hat.

But he wasn't a teenager in his first awakening anymore. He had grown up, worked on his self confidence and -- of course -- his body. Obviously, there was nothing he could do about his height, he felt he was finally up to the challenge to pick and claim Iseul.

If she would have him, though. There was indeed the possibility that she would shut him down about as gently as a... well... a wolf.

Many betas pursued mates by resorting to quite vile and degrading methods, but Woosung and his friends weren't about that. They remained steadfast in their conviction, undeterred by the ridicule they sometimes faced from larger betas. For Woosung, the idea of a mate was intrinsically tied to mutual desire and respect. He wanted her to be as willing and eager to be with him as he was with her.

"Woosung? Earth to Woosung!" a pale hand waved in front of his face, breaking him out of his trance and his focus landed on one of his best friends, Dojoon. The happy-go-lucky beta chuckled at his shaggy-haired friend, "Where'd you go? I was talking to you,"

Woosung cocked a brow, "Where did I go? I've been here the whole time," he sassed back.

"You know what I mean," Dojoon rolled his eyes, "You're staring at Iseul again, aren't you?"

"I am not," Woosung replied sharply.

"Oh-ho-ho, yes he is," their other friends, Hajoon and Jaehyeong suddenly appeared at Woosung's other side, "He's been staring at her like Jaehyeong stares at ramyun,"

He glowered at the younger betas, "Aren't you guys supposed to be stalking potential mates instead of me?"

"Don't say it like that," Dojoon grimaced, "It makes us sound like animals,"

Jaehyeong cocked a brow, bumping Hajoon with his elbow, "Who wants to tell him?"

"You know what I mean, smart-ass," Dojoon scolded back, "Why are you even here? I thought you and Ji-Woon were already a thing?"

"We are, technically," the youngest beta shrugged back, "But she wanted to do this so we can make it 'official', or some shit,"

"Aw, adorable," Woosung smirked, "You better hope Muscle-Brain-McGee over there doesn't claim her, first," he nodded in the direction of the betas gathered closer to the fire, where a handful of them surrounded the pack's beloved figure, Yung. Yung was in the midst of shotgunning a beer can, encouraged by the echoing chants of his friends. With a mighty gesture, he tossed the empty can into the grass, then raised his fists triumphantly into the air, proudly displaying his array of bulging muscles through his snug t-shirt, captivating the attention of everyone around.

Hajoon rolled his eyes, "What a show dog," he muttered. Woosung couldn't agree more, the view of Iseul in the warm glow of the fire much more interesting to him, anyhow.

However, he was surprised when he shifted his gaze and discovered that she was already watching him, suppressing a mischievous smile. The shock nearly caused Woosung to fumble with his drink, but he managed to maintain his composure and playfully winked in her direction. Iseul chuckled softly and discreetly waved back in response.

Dojoon chuckled beside him, slinging an arm around his shoulders, "God, you are so obvious,"

"Oh, leave him alone, Dojoon," Jaehyeong scolded.

"And who are you to scold your alpha?"

"Well, for one: he's taller than you," Hajoon decided, "And he's the only one out of us who's actually got a mate,"

"Can't argue there," Woosung snickered.

On the other side of the bonfire, Iseul only swiveled her head when she caught wind of the boisterous revelry. She couldn't help but see Yung and his friends' juvenile behavior, and despite Yung's chiseled physique and k-drama good looks, she found his personality less than appealing. Naturally, she scanned the sea of radiant faces until her eyes locked onto Woosung, who met her gaze just moments later. Her heart skipped a beat when he winked at her, his charming, boyish grin quickly replaced with an expression of distaste as his friends took the piss out of him.

Woosung had been her most trusted confidant, privy to secrets about her that not even her closest girlfriends knew. She had observed his transformation from a slightly awkward, endearingly nerdy teenager into a sharp and agile young beta. He stood out in their pack as one of the few wolves who treasured her intellect, determination, and confidence over her physical attributes. Even during the times when she felt like the least among the female pups, as they underwent their awakenings and developed in ways she hadn't, he never failed to make her feel beautiful. Her fondness for him had gradually evolved into a subtle crush, particularly when she witnessed his prowess during pack hunts. It wasn't just about his physical appeal; she loved him regardless of his shaggy wolf's cut or sharp cheekbones. Not that she'd dare admit it, but he was the only one she ever thought of when she experienced her heat cycles.

If anyone was going to claim her tonight, she secretly hoped it would be Woosung.

"Iseul, stop staring," her friend, Duri, poked her shoulder, "You're being obvious,"

"What?" Iseul whipped around.

"Yeah," her other friend, Chae-Won, nodded, "Don't pay those mutts any mind,"

"I wasn't, believe me," she assured them.

"Good. Here's to hoping they won't pick up our scent," Chae-Won sighed, grimacing at the thought of Yung or one of his friends forcing her down, "I'll castrate one of them if I have to,"

"Ji-Woon's already covered," Duri smirked at their friend, "Jae had her scent pegged loooong ago,"

Ji-Woon gawked at her, scolding her with a whisper, "You didn't tell anybody, right?"

"That you two are already fucking? No, your secret's still safe with us," Iseul chuckled.

"Good," Ji-Woon huffed, "If the alphas were to find out --"

"They'd give you a stern talking to about breaking ritual and that would be it!" Duri assured her.

Chae-Won chuckled with amusement, "I bet I know someone who already has Iseul's scent pegged,"

Ji-Woon grimaced as she turned to Iseul, "Ugh! If that muscle-headed-meatball even comes within a hair of you, I'll tear out his gizzard and feed it to the strays," she growled, talking about Yung

Iseul rolled her eyes, "Chae's talking about Woosung, Teen Wolf,"

"Oh!" Ji-Woon nodded, sneakily stealing a glance at the group of boys behind them. She offered a fleeting smile when her gaze settled on the silhouette of her man engaged in conversation with Woosung. She then briefly assessed the older beta before returning her attention to Iseul, "No, I won't tear his gizz out,"

"How thoughtful of you," Iseul chuckled back.

A prolonged, resonant howl echoed through the air, capturing the attention of all the betas. They turned to face one of their alphas, Yoongi, who stood at the center of the encampment. Yoongi was a robust, unflappable, and sagacious leader, earning the unwavering respect of every beta under his and his brothers' protection. It was an exceedingly rare sight to witness alphas co-leading, given the often intense clashes of egos and struggles for dominance. However, all seven of them brought unique and distinctive qualities that made their pack one of the most formidable in South Korea.

"The Union is about to start! All participating betas are to meet at the edge of the clearing -- asap!" he called.

"At start of project!" his co-alpha, Jimin, called from behind him.

With that the mass of excited (and quite horny) betas migrated to the edge of their makeshift campsite. Duri sighed as she walked arm-in-arm with her friends, gazing longingly at Yoongi and Jimin, "If only alphas were allowed to participate in the Union,"

Iseul cocked a brow at her, "You forget they're the fucking alphas. They don't need to participate in this shit," she pointed out.

"Yeah! If Namjoon points at me and tells me to get on all fours, I'm there without question," Chae-Won nodded.

A familiar voice from behind the girls called out, "C'mon, girls. She's just saying that because she wants the privileges of alpha's mate," Dojoon said.

The girls turned around, smiling appreciably at their friends. Duri spoke up first, "And you don't fantasize about being alpha one day?" asked curiously.

"Of course he does, just not the boring parts," Woosung pointed out, "Diplomacy, security, pack treaties, mange breakouts..." he shuddered at the last one, "Nasty stuff,"

"Says the guy who spent a full two days lounging in a literal mud bath," Iseul teased back.

Woosung smirked back at her, "I didn't hear you complaining, Iseul," he pointed.

"I lost a bet; I wasn't supposed to complain," she replied, "You're lucky I didn't catch ticks,"

"Like I'd let that happen to you,"

Their friends meanwhile exchanged knowing glances between them, the boys tittering amongst themselves as they followed the male betas. Jaehyeong passed Ji-Woo and tossed a saucy wink her way, and the young beta couldn't help but blush and smile with giddy. Duri looped an arm around Ji-Woo's shoulders, tutting at her.

"God, you guys are gross," she commented with a smirk.

Ji-Woo rolled her eyes, peeling Duri's arm off of her as she followed the females, "Oh, go fantasize about Jungkook,"

"If Yung catches you, not even your wet dreams will save you," Chae-Won teased back. Duri flipped her off, she and Chae-Won chased after Ji-Woon meanwhile, knowing Iseul would catch up with them.

The young beta crossed her arms, nervously nibbling on her inner lip as she locked eyes with Woosung. His usually dark eyes were now speckled with gold, radiating beautifully against his illuminated complexion in the warm, flickering glow of the fire.

"So... are you ready?" he asked, praying his own anxiousness didn't show through his exterior.

They started walking together, "Am I ready to get shoved face-first into the dirt while a neanderthal tries to fuck me into his submission? Sure, why not?" she replied.

Woosung chuckled, "Sounds like you don't plan on getting caught tonight," he noted.

"If I can help it," she shrugged back, "You get the better end of the deal, anyhow: you get a say in who you want," her lips fell into a pout and Woosung saw he never saw anything cuter that night.

"Very true," he nodded, "But you never know, maybe you'll be tracked by somebody who would treat you right?"

"And maybe Duri's going to become an alpha's mate?" she chuckled back, "You have to agree though, Woo, this whole blood moon ritual is kind of ridiculous. For the twenty-first-century, anyway,"

"Maybe. But I like to think some of us adopted the twenty-first-century way of thinking," he replied.

"Besides you, I can't think of a single person," she said, "... Well, your friends are alright, too,"

"I'll let them know you said so," Woosung simpered.

They were coming to the starting line, with the girls grouped separately from the boys, all anticipating the howl to begin. Iseul glanced at Woosung, her stomach filled with excitement as the adrenaline surged, and her curiosity reached its peak, "So... out of curiosity... is there anybody here you're hoping to mate with?"

Woosung looked around, hoping he could throw her off his intentions as she shook his head, "I don't know. Obviously someone very obedient, submissive, knows how to cook and clean but fucks like a banshee, obviously," he smirked at her, living for that annoyed expression overtaking her face. She smacked his arm and he simply laughed.

"I know you're only joking, but if any part of you is serious I hope you die old and alone," she huffed.

Woosung's smirk never left as he started for his group, walking backwards to keep her in his line of sight, "In that case, you better hope I don't catch you, Iseul!" he teased.

Iseul tittered under her breath, her confidence flaring as she cocked her chin up, her own dark eyes illuminated with flecks of gold, "... I might not fight if you did," she admitted.

How it was that seven small words could get his heart racing so quickly he had no idea, but Woosung swore his mind blanked out as those seven words echoed in his head. There was a possibility that she was just teasing him, but then he knew when she was kidding around. Something in her tone told him she wasn't this time.

He couldn't help the pep in his step as he turned around, running to find his friends to tell them, "Dojoon!"

The group of female betas were chattering with giddy, some of them dressed skimpier than others, some had slipped notes into the pockets of potential suitors they wanted to tip off. And from the smell, so, so many of them were smack-dab in their heat cycles. Either way, the surrounding atmosphere was thick with lascivious anticipation, and of course there was a little bit of fear involved, too.

Iseul glanced behind her nervously, hoping to spot any trace of Woosung in the sea of faces. She caught him briefly, warming up with his friends for what she'd promised to be a long chase ahead of him. He caught her eye briefly, neither of them paying attention as Jimin reiterated the rules they'd heard time and time again. He winked at her again.

Iseul swore her heart stopped.

"Are you ready, girls?" he announced. The female betas let out a chorus of sharp howls, the sound echoing through the trees and across the horizon. Woosung could distinguish Iseul's pitched tone from miles away, her passionate howl igniting a fire in his core.

"Then... GO!" Jimin's call transformed into a prolonged howl, nearly overwhelmed by the sounds of excitement and squeals as the girls sprinted off into the shadowy depths of the woods. They usually had a minute's head start, but they all knew it wouldn't be long until the boys were upon them.

Iseul tried to keep close to her friends as best as she could, though when she looked over her shoulder again she was dismayed to find she was on her own. Nevertheless, her blood was pumping steadily, her legs burning with adrenaline and her feet thundered across the muddy landscape as she ran as fast and as far as she could. She leapt over bushes and careened around tree groves. Already she could hear howls and screams of the other females echoing through the trees, some twisted with salaciousness and eroticism. The boys were already prowling through the forest, and it wouldn't be long until they came upon her, too.

She slowed down at an old pine, stopping to catch her breath. It felt as though she had been running for hours, when Iseul knew that five or so minutes had only passed. This game wasn't supposed to end until dawn broke over the horizon, or until the males and females had found their mates. Either way, the night ahead of her was long and already the air was thick with the stench of sweat and sex.

Disembodied cries of lust continued to rattle her heightened hearing, intermingled with predatory howls. She could pick out Jaehyeong's pitch in the cacophony, and she had to wonder if he'd already pounced and claimed Ji-Woo, just like she'd always gone on and on about. Iseul shook her head at her friend's fantasies, never the less finding her enthusiasm endearing. Among the racket, Iseul could also pick out Yung's howl; a deep, ground-shuddering sound that reflected his own brutishness. She didn't like how close he sounded.

While she continued to run, Iseul came to the alarming realization that she hadn't heard Woosung's howl, not even once, not even when the boys initially set off. She couldn't help but wonder where he went, debating whether or not it was safe to call out to him, or if she'd gone too far for him to find her. But the latter was ridiculous, she knew he had her scent down to memory, if he wanted her he could find her easily.

That is... if he even wanted her in the first place. Who was to say he even took her previous pass at him so seriously.

The sharp snap of a twig pricked at her ears and Iseul turned hastily on her heel, her fingers curled God willing she needed to unleash her claws. But alas, there was nothing behind her.

Iseul, feeling a mixture of panic and indignation, turned around to find Yung's towering and imposing figure looming over her. His eyes bore a determined look, flecked with fiery gold and oranges, and his intent was clear - he was ready to claim her as his mate by any means necessary.

"Hi Iseul," he greeted, feigning politeness, taking a step forward. She took a step back, her worst nightmare coming true.

"Oh. Hey Yung," she said, doing her best to keep a brave front. The fact was she couldn't lie; she found Yung quite intimidating to be around on normal days. A frat-party-eque sex fest was even worse.

"I found you," he noted, his smile disgustingly lecherous.

"That you did," Iseul took another step back.

"So, you know what that means for us, right?" he asked, taking a step closer.

"That I didn't run far enough," she gaped back, not eager to a chase but she was willing if she needed to.

Yung chuckled darkly, "Oh, don't be that way, Iseul. You know the rules of the Union..." he reiterated, reaching out to stroke back her hair.

Iseul moved her head away, glaring sourly, "Yeah. The rules state you need to catch me, not just find me. That's just lazy," she pointed out.

"Somehow, I think you'll grant me the exception," he noted, "You and I would have beautiful pups together,"

She simpered back, "Not in this lifetime, show dog,"

Yung reached out, attempting to grab her, but with a swift movement, she extended her sharp claws and scratched him across his cheek. Yung yelped in pain and surprise as the sting of her claws met his flesh. It was a warning, a defense against his forceful advances.

Iseul wasted no time. She turned and bolted into the trees again, away from Yung, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Yung, nursing his bleeding face, roared in frustration as she disappeared, picking off her scent and taking off after her.

Sure, he was fast, he was practically the golden boy of the betas, but he wasn't as fast and agile as Iseul was. She knew he'd be hot on her tail and she had to find somewhere to hide, she'd even take the bog if she could find it. She didn't know where she was going, hell she couldn't even concentrate on looking straight ahead. Yung's vile scent was still in her nose and so long as that scent lingered, she knew she wasn't safe.

Rounding a grove of trees, Iseul was ready to hurl herself into the thrush when a pair of arms grabbed her. She screamed, fighting like a caged animal when she heard a familiar, soothing voice.

"Calm down! Calm down, Iseul! It's me! It's Woosung!" her friend held her tight against his chest as he fought to keep his grip on her. Iseul then relaxed, surrendering in his arms as her body suddenly felt incredibly heavy.

"Oh, thank God!" she panted, "I was this close to being mauled," she pinched the air with her pointer finger and thumb.

Woosung took a whiff of the air, "Don't thank the big guy, yet. Yung's still coming,"

As though on cue, the mighty werewolf emerged from behind the tree trunks, taking both of them off guard. He snarled viciously at Woosung, his own claws bearing from his fingertips.

"Let go of my mate," he growled.

Woosung shook his head, "Yung, c'mon -- we can talk about this. You know, like -- civilized men?"

Yung chuckled with pity, "We're not men, Woosung. We're barely human. And you have what belongs to me. I want it back,"

Iseul snarled back, "Oh, fuck you! Calling me an it!?" if she was stronger then Woosung she would've lunged for the beta, but Woosung held her fast against him. She could feel his heart thundering through her back.

It was then that Woosung had an idea, the only way he knew he could get Yung off of Iseul's back. Though, Iseul may not forgive him for it.

"She's not yours though, Yung," he pointed out, "I can smell her, you didn't claim her,"

Yung scoffed, "We were about to get there,"

"Not even in your dreams," Iseul spat back.

"But that means," Woosung continued, "That if you didn't claim her, then she's still fair game," he gave the bigger beta a cocky smirk. Yung's expression went from sheer anger to panic. He knew what Woosung was thinking.

"Don't do it," he warned him, "Don't you even think about it,"

Iseul caught on. If she wasn't so frightened, she may have been a little excited at what he was proposing. Woosung's breath cascaded down her ear, his vice-like grip on her loosening as he brushed his nose across the swoop of her neck. She smelled so fucking good. Iseul shuddered.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear. Before Iseul had the chance to even ask, she felt his sharp teeth puncture the skin where her shoulder met her neck.

Her scream echoed across the forest.

As quickly as he latched on, Woosung released his bite. But the damage was done; her heat had overwhelmed her the moment he'd broken her skin. A sharp, pleasurable sensation coursed from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. Her heat had never felt so visceral before, consuming her to the point she fought to catch her breath. She could feel her blood trickling down her chest, and even more vividly, she could smell her own blood within Woosung's mouth.

Yung's spirit deflated, his claws retracting, and the once-ferocious gleam faded from his eyes. He understood the futility of his situation; that fighting back now would lead the alphas to exile him from the pack, not that it would make a difference if he did.

Iseul belonged to Woosung, now.

With a scathing snarl, Yung spat at the dirt, backing away slowly, "Fine. She's all yours. You enjoy," he turned on his heel and disappeared in the dark.

Both Woosung and Iseul sighed with relief. Woosung wiped his chin with his hand, guilt shuddering through him at the sight of her blood staining his hand. Guilt... but also a twinge of desire.

"He's gone now," he let her out of his arms. Iseul took two steps before she collapsed against a tree trunk, her legs as wobbly as jello and her skin felt as though it was caging an inferno. Woosung dashed to grab her before she could hit the ground, "Woah! You okay?"

She nodded, she let him set her down gently on the ground. Her breathing settled, as did the adrenaline coursing in her blood. Iseul was dirty, exhausted, but when she looked up at Woosung, sleep was the last thing she had on her mind.

"I'm fine," she huffed, averting her gaze to the clumps of grass and weeds before her, "That was -- oh my God!"

"I'm so sorry, Iseul. I didn't know what else to do," he crouched before her, laying a comforting hand on her knee. She was hot to the touch, every inch of her felt as though it was burning. Though she wasn't in pain.

Iseul cracked a smile and she placed her hand over his, "It's okay. Really, I'm okay," she assured him, "My dry-cleaning might have some questions about this, though," she pointed to the blood seeping into her t-shirt. Woosung simpered quietly, jokes were certainly a good sign.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, his concern still sprawled across his expression.

She shrugged listlessly, "Not so much, anymore. I'd rather it was you than... you know," she sighed, "... Um... does this mean that...?"

"I think so," Woosung admitted, "We're mates, now,"

He expected Iseul to unleash a barrage of curses, to scold him for his reckless behaviour, but her hand on his remained steady. Her head fell back against the tree trunk, her eyes shimmering with flecks of gold, more radiant than Woosung had ever witnessed. She was utterly captivating, and the scent of her blood only intensified his smoldering desire.

What a dichotomy, he thought.

If Iseul wasn't so exhausted in that moment, she may have let her baser instincts win. She may have begged Woosung to take her hard and fast against this tree, to make her scream for him again and again. But Woosung wasn't just any werewolf, he was her friend first and foremost. And he already seemed so spooked from before.

"Well... do you wanna sit with your new mate until she regains the ability to walk again?" she asked, suppressing a chuckle.

Woosung's smile was genuine now, his tense shoulders relaxed as he gladly obliged her. He took his place beside her, careful of the bite as he looped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. She smelled so tantalizing, his desire for her continuing to bubble in his gut and he prayed she didn't notice how he adjusted himself.

Iseul cuddled up into him, his familiar musk so comforting and the skin of his arms a cool contrast to hers. She didn't bother to suppress her smile when he laid a kiss on her temple, she felt as safe as she possibly could out here, under the blooming moon.

Indistinctive howls and moans continued to echo through the night, haunting Woosung and Iseul like harping banshees as they walked through the forest. While they couldn't see anybody, they knew better. There were couples thrusted into bushes, cloistered in the trees, copulating in the shadows and all around them.

The fire had definitely gone out by now, but the smell of burnt wood and kindling was as sharp as ever as it drew the pair back to their camp.

Any sting from Woosung's bite had subsided by now, but Iseul's state of desire remained the same. Nevertheless, she walked hand-in-hand with Woosung, silently processing what had just happened. Woosung really claimed her, after years and years of debating whether or not she should make the first move, praying that one day he'd come up to her and ask her himself, he'd really done it. Sure, it wasn't as romantic as she originally imagined, but the intent remained the same.

"So..." she sighed, "Are you gonna' rush and tell Dojoon and them what happened?" she asked, a mocking smile on her lips.

Woosung cocked a brow, glancing down at her curiously, "They might ask why I smell like your blood, so..." he chuckled, "But I'm not gonna -- I won't run and gossip with them, if that's what you mean,"

"That might be a tough one to play off," she simpered, "Did you follow me?"

"Hm?"

"Did you follow me -- back there? Or, did you just happen upon me like some sort of white knight?" she asked.

Woosung grinned sheepishly and his gaze averted to the ground, "I may or may not have been following your scent. It's easy to pick you out by now," he said.

Iseul smiled back, "Lucky you had," she replied, "Although it did kind of hinder your chance,"

"How do you mean?" Woosung asked, picking off the glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

She shrugged bashfully, "Well -- you didn't really get a chance to catch your mate properly. You know... after a ten minute chase, it's supposed to be filled with anticipation and sexual tension until you finally take her under a tree or something,"

Woosung cocked a brow, a sly smirk curling at his lips as he stopped in his tracks. Iseul stopped a couple steps after him, her gaze profoundly captivating.

"Is that what you want, Iseul?" he asked, taking a step closer. She wasn't intimidated as she had been with Yung, though she couldn't help the apprehensive pinching swirling in her gut as he looked at her that way. Something within him suddenly changed, shifting from the familiar, carefree Woosung to a more primal and instinctual version of himself.

She liked it a lot.

"... Maybe I do," she replied truthfully, "What would you say if I told you that... I only ever wanted you to be my mate?" she took a step closer as well.

Woosung though he was dreaming, he must've been. But the prickling breeze and the howls wailing over his head assured him over otherwise.

His excitement began to grow again, he cursed at himself for wearing fitted jeans because he knew that Iseul would be able to pick out the tent in his pants if she looked.

"I would say that I've longed to hear you say that for nearly my entire life," he admitted, bringing his chilled hand up to her cheek. Her skin wasn't as hot as before but she still felt so warm, the blood on her neck still tacky as his fingers fluttered down to her collarbone.

"How about I give you a five minute head start?" he offered.

Iseul gulped at his words, suddenly feeling her blood rushing to her cheeks. She was elated when the flecks of yellow and gold reappeared in his irises. She bit at her inner lip, a newly renowned adrenaline bubbling in her gut.

"A whole five minutes?" she queried, "Are we feeling confident?" she brought her hand to his chest, fingers flexing against the indent of his pectorals.

"Very," he leaned in, approaching her lips with his own. Iseul's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, waiting imminently to be lured into his trap before he whispered into her ear, "Your time starts now,"

Like a shot, Iseul pivoted on her heel and swiftly disappeared into the woods once again, a surge of renewed vitality propelling her as she ran. Woosung never truly appreciated the expression "I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave," more than he had in that moment, her slim physique but a flashing memory before his eyes though nevertheless her smell was still thick in his nose.

Iseul wasn't sure where she was going, much like previously she was itching to get as far away as fast as she could. Only difference here was she found herself laughing as she ran, coursing with giddy. She knew Woosung was a formidable hunter, he'd be on her in no time. Nevertheless, the chase this time was a little more more tantalizing than the last. She leapt over thrushes and ducked around trees, running until her legs burned and her chest began to tighten. She was excited, but it didn't mean that she was going to make this easy for him.

She finally stopped when she came to a clearing, dimly lit from the reddened tinge of the moon. The cacophony in the air had diminished, with many of her fellow betas either having found their own partners or chosen to remain hidden. Meanwhile, she was certain that numerous males had surrendered and retreated back. It was probably somewhere after midnight now, maybe closer to one in the morning? So much had already happened in such little time and yet Iseul still had so much energy to burn, anticipation prickling at her spine as she cased the area. There was no sound, not even a smell.

Iseul became nervous after ten minutes of waiting, wandering around the trees or stopping to stare up at the moon. She waited for the first whiff, the first crack of a twig or squelch of mud, giving her ample time to take off should she need to. If she even wanted to.

Her head whipped around when she heard a snapping in the distance, her apprehension elevated as she began to back out of the moonlight.

And then she smelled him. He was here.

She froze suddenly when her back made contact with something unexpected — not a tree trunk, but a chest. Almost immediately his scent overwhelmed her, the tip of his cold nose brushing softly across the unscathed side of her neck, her warm breath eliciting goosebumps over her skin. All thoughts of running vanished in a snap, her baser instinct taking over as his arms wrapped around her slim figure.

"Does it count now?" he tittered into her ear, his tone low and laced with a darker promise.

"Yes. Now it counts," she muttered, her voice just brushing above a whisper, "You took your time,"

"I wanted you to feel like you were winning," he teased, turning her so they came nose-to-nose. His face was infinitely closer now, maybe because her fingers were pressed against his nape, subtly pulling him lower. It didn’t take amazing eyesight to notice the tent growing in his pants. At this point her juices were trickling into her pants.

“I think I did win,” she looked at his lips. She loved the deep dimples in his cheeks; she had wanted to kiss them since she first noted them.

“We both did,”

She nodded, her fingers sliding under the edge of his t-shirt.

He shivered as he laid his lips against hers, simply pressing them there, pushing them gently against her own before disclosing them slightly with a barely-there lick. He moved back an inch to look at her, make sure she was alright.

Iseul's eyes were closed, her cheeks soft and warm under his palms, her lips inviting and thicker now that blood was rushing to them. Just as Woosung realized he wanted to stare at her some more, her eyelids lifted gently. Looking at his lips, she stretched forward, laying a peck on his dimpled smile before breathing out and sucking his lower lip into her mouth.

His growl was inhuman once he felt the warmth of her mouth on his tender skin. His hand went to the back of her head, pulling her closer while his other palm landed against the small of her back, her legs open so he could slot his hips between them, his pelvis meeting hers eagerly.

“Dammit. You’re beautiful,” he moaned, his mouth tracing her jaw. His mind raced at the thought all the sinful things he could do to his little eager mate.

She nodded and stretched her neck for him, offering him her throat. He bit instantly -- without breaking the skin this time, not even giving her time to think about it, causing her to moan and press her crotch against anything that could dull the edge of pleasure.

His hands went from her waist to the backs of her thighs, squeezing firmly, "Jump,"

"What?"

"Jump!" Iseul barely had her feet off the ground before his large hands held her fast against him, her legs wrapping around his torso. Then his knees were in the ground, using his core strength to lay her down under the tree canopy. He hissed when his muscles released.

“Did that hurt?” she asked, ready to fuss over him.

He shook his head curtly, “Listen, I don’t care about how far we go, okay? We can take this as slow as you want, we don't even --”

“Let’s play it by ear, mh?” she cooed, cupping his cheek as he kneeled over her.

He nuzzled his cheek against her palm, “Let’s do that," and he went in for another kiss.

She was teasing his lower lip with the tip of her tongue, making him frown as he tried to chase after her, “You've always been like a kid chasing for a treat, haven't you?”

“Just kiss me, you tease!” Woosung chuckled as he grabbed her face, pushing his open mouth against hers, his tongue making its way between her teeth, against her palate, caressing hers lewdly, slippery flesh against slippery flesh.

Iseul's hips grounded against his naturally, his palms lowering to grab her ass and lead you through the motion.

His own hips shyly pushing into hers caused her blood to boil, her skin flushed as her body temperature skyrocketed, “Keep moving on me,” he huffed out, his right hand leaving her hip to tease the hem of her shirt, “Can I?” he asked, waiting at the threshold of the naked skin below.

“I can take it off if you’d like,” she whispered, kissing the side of his neck.

“God, yes,”

The shirt was gone in a second, leaving her flushed chest clad only in her bra.

His focus went to her breasts immediately, “Oh.”

Iseul smirked and laid her hand on his, leading it to her left mound, making his fingers grab onto it, “You can squeeze it,”

He nodded and closed his eyes, relishing in the soft material. She was glad her bra was a thin cotton piece; she could feel him closer, harder, better.

Woosung watched her expression as he started massaging the flesh, gripping it energetically and pulling whimpers from her lips. He stopped immediately, “Too hard?”

She shook her head and giggled, “No, it's perfect. It’s perfect when it hurts just a little— Just like that, uh…” her eyes rolled back and her eyelids fluttered, “Just fine, Woosung. Damn perfect,”

He grinned, rutting his hips harder against her, “You like when it hurts?”

She hummed, too busy finding the perfect angle to meet his thrusts. “Kinda,”

Experimenting, he felt for her nipple pushing against the fabric before pinching it between thumb and forefinger, making her whimper even more. Her jaw fell slack before her back arched, her hand coming over her lips, a weak purr leaving her throat.

“Harder?” he asked, his free hand helping her grind against his thigh, gripping her asscheek, squeezing it, “Do you need it to hurt more? Better?”

She was far too gone to actually formulate sentences, no matter how small. The feel of his cock hardening, lengthening against her core was far too intense. She could feel it twitch and stretch, pressed against the zipper.

“Iseul,” he called for her attention.

She gave a small moan that meant both pleasure and acquiescence.

Deliberately, attentively, he pushed the cup of her bra down, studying the tender, thin skin of her breast while his lips pressed into her neck, leaving trails of kisses as he caressed her breasts, her hips, everywhere he could reach. He lolled his tongue out and managed to lick her nipple with the very tip of his tongue.

“Fuuuck, Woo, please, God… Just fuck me. I wanna cum. I— please. Make me feel good, Woo,”

He liked hearing her beg for him, he liked it way more than he ever thought he would. Somehow her pleas hit so much deeper within him. Maybe it was because she always looked so independent and self-sufficient, that feeling needed by her turned him on so wildly and inexplicably.

He nudged her left nipple with his lips, teasing it softly before sucking it into his mouth. The moan she emitted made his hips jut forward, a low grunt echoing in the air as he reckoned he needed to take his jeans off, still, having her warm torso against his was too much of a revelation for him to part from her hot skin.

Her hands buried into his hair as he swirled his tongue around her nipple before suckling on it lightly. Her body grew heavier at every movement trying to keep herself focused while his lips slid down her stomach to her aching core.

The wolf knew once he got this close to her beautiful heat there would be going back. Every day the taste of her would end up lingering on his tongue until he got to taste it again. This girl did things to him he could never explain to even her let alone anyone in the pack. Woosung was swift as he popped the buttons on her jeans, shoving her pants impatiently until he had her fully, vulnerable to him. His tongue moved up from her leaking hole to her throbbing clit. He couldn’t help but smile a little at how her whole body jerked at the new found pleasure.

Iseul felt how his tongue licked at one particular spot that jolted a surge up her pine, her body jerking. In seconds, she felt his lips wrap around the small nub, coaxing light moans to slip out of her while her fingers still tangled in his hair, “Woosung…”

His moan rattled vibrations against her core. With a slight pop, Woosung broke from his light snacking and bit into her thighs, a little treat just for him.

The smaller wolf giggled affectionately, caressing his head before he crawled over her. Propping herself up on her elbows, she watched Woosung strip himself of his clothes until they were both now bare. Her lust blown, golden eyes stared down at his twitching, hard member before licking her lips.

“Spread your legs,” he only had to tap her knee gently for her to move her legs apart more than enough for him to sneak in between. Wrapping his fingers around his cock, he rubbed the reddened tip against her clit making, elated as her head fell back, “You want it, baby?”

Iseul nodded frantically.

“I can’t hear you," his tip poked at her slit. The little game tortured him as much it did her, but he wanted to hear her beg again.

“Yes, I want it...” she jerked her hips against his movements, gasping when the tip of his cock entered her slightly, “I want it so bad,"

She always knew how to touch that extra nerve in his body every all the time. It was almost magical how Iseul had so much control over him by being so perfectly submissive. Woosung pushed his cock into her snug little hole with soaked ease, her cunt flowing, making it all the more harder not to just pound her into oblivion. His hips moved slow, letting the sounds of watery sloshing ring in his ears. Arms pressed down the sides of her body, caging over his mate as he relished in her warm walls.

Iseul held onto his forearm as she watched her pussy getting stretched by his cock. The amount of times she dreamed of this happening was a little embarrassing. Now that it was happening, she had him snug inside of her felt so invigorating, she could giggle in glee.

Their foreheads pressed together softly as Woosung whispered, “Is this good?”

She nodded, gasping and moaning. “Yeah…”

The one word was all that needed to be uttered for him to quicken his pace a little, skin slapping against skin ever so slightly. Woosung shifted down to his elbows now as he caressed her cheek, nosing at the base of her neck near her previous bite. His tongue drifted over the dried blood.

“Look at you,” he chuckled darkly, “I wanna' mark you again. Can I?”

“Please, Woo,” she begged, wrapping her arms around him,“Do it”

“Good girl,” He cooed.

When he opened his mouth and bit down — her voice echoed in a heavy cry, laced in pure lust and ecstasy. Woosung groaned, his knot sensitive as she clenched and pulsed around him. Her blood was sweet in his mouth as he broke the skin, pulling his canines out before licking over the wound to seal the punctures.

She now had matching marks, teeth punctures on either side of her neck.

And she fucking loved it.

“You're mine. You're all fucking mine,” he whispered breathlessly, still thrusting into her steadily.

“I'm yours,” she cupped his cheek, struggling to keep her gaze as the pleasure tickled her every nerve. “I always have been...”

Lips pressed against hers, tongue exploring everything he knew was willingly submitted to him tonight. Once the kiss broke the softness melted along with it as the beta pounded into her cunt. Arms back up, muscles popping out furiously before hooking one of her legs around his waist.

Her moaning became an uneven pattern melting into the sounds of their wet skin grinding and slapping against each other. As soon as Woosung leaned in closer, Iseul muffled a few of her whimpers into a heated kiss while her hand moved down to find that little nub, rubbing it to match with his thrusts. The tight ball in her lower belly exploded before she could even expect it, her legs trembling and a flurry of moans passing her lips.

Woosung felt her walls clench around him, already feeling the pressure around his cock push him closer to his orgasm. His thrusts grew a little more brutal, pawing at her hips and hammering into her while she gave him that beautiful, innocent smile to reassure him it was okay to keep going despite her sensitivity.

“Cum inside me…” she whimpered, her body literally shook with the force of his thrusts.

Her adorable whisper was all it took for the wolf to finally come undone, filling his mate up with his seed in sloppy and rough thrusts. Only until the last drop did he pull out slowly watching a little bit of his release dripping out of her.

“... That's it,” Iseul giggled, brushing his shaggy hair out from his eyes, "We're stuck together,"

Woosung's boyish grinned returned, his nose poking into the crook of her shoulder again as he collapsed on top of her. His scalding body was a surreal contrast to the cold, wet ground beneath her. All traces of the dominant wolf had vanished from his eyes, irises still flecked with gold as they adored her.

"You're mine," he cooed, laying a kiss over her pulse point, "You're so much more than just my mate, Iseul,"

"So are you," she awed, "I'm curious, though..."

"What about?" he asked.

She didn't want to ruin the mood they had, but she had to know, "... If we didn't mate tonight, would you have picked somebody else?"

Woosung gulped, not knowing how to tell her that he had eyes on her for the longest time, to the point that he rarely noticed the appearances of the other female betas. While he acknowledged their attractiveness, he also realized that many people were indeed "pretty." Nobody even came close to Iseul's beauty, “Probably not. None of them would taste as good as you,”

Iseul giggled, swatted at his bicep, “You didn't know what I tasted like until now.”

“No, but you smelled really fucking good,” he smiled, nudging her cheek with his nose, “I thought I lost you earlier… just for a second,”

Her head shook with dismay, "No one's gonna' mess with us, now. I’m yours now, remember?” she lay a small kiss on his chest.

Woosung caressed her cheek, not being able to help mimicking a little smile of his own, “You’re mine,"

[glittter-vamp]

Ohio Is For Lovers | J.B

CHAPTER 15

Joe Burrow x Reader.

Warnings:18+ MDNI. Mention of Pregnancy. Angsty. Mention of Miscarriage. Alcohol. Raunchy jokes.

Word count: 4.7k

6 Months Later:

Getting your luggage at baggage claim in the sea of people at this busy airport, you make your way outside. The freezing cold winter weather smacks you in the face waking you up and sending shivers down your body. You had just flown into Cincinnati from Providence for the holidays. After what happened 6 months ago you got your shit together as quick as you could, stayed at your parents for a few weeks before you left to Providence and left your old life behind. You never found out who set fire to your apartment because the apartments surveillance system wasn't functioning properly and you also never found out who was behind the hit and run but you wanted to move on from that and you did, focusing on your new life in Rhode Island. Things had been going really well for, you loved your new Job, loved the new city and have met some pretty cool and nice people along the way.

You wait for a bit outside in the freezing cold weather, the crazy traffic and honking overstimulating you a bit but you finally spot the familiar car. "Hey bitch!!" Peyton yells and honks not caring about being annoying to those around you as he pulls up with Sasha riding shotgun. They both hop out of the car and hug you tight. "Oh I've missed you so much!!" Sasha says. "Me too bitch! Spending thanksgiving alone this year fucking sucked, I missed out wine and Chinese take out." Peyton says. "I missed you guys too and I told your ass I'd send you a ticket to come to me for that weekend!" You say to Peyton as you guys hop into the warm car, Peyton taking your luggage and putting it in the trunk. "Here, we got you some hot cocoa!" Sasha says passing it to you in the back. "You guys are the best, thanks." You smile taking a sip of the delicious chocolate and milk. "So, how was the plane ride?" Peyton asks as he gets us out of the crazy airport. "It was fine, lots of crying kids on board but thankfully I had my headphones." You nod.

"I hope your mom and dad aren't too upset you didn't go with them to Paris and decided to spend the holidays with us." Sasha says sipping on her own hot beverage. "Nah, my sister and her little family went, so they're enjoying that and have forgotten all about me by now." You shake your head. Your parents were yet another trip for the holidays, this time they invited you but you really didn't feel like traveling far for the holidays and skipped out on it, plus you were spending a lot of money on your new place. "Are you hungry? There's this new Mexican place in downtown where that Thai place was." Peyton asks. "I'm so down for some food, I haven't ate anything since last night." You agree. You guys talk about what you had been up to the last few days and end up at the Mexican restaurant sooner than you'd thought you'd be, which you knew was courtesy of Peyton's speeding. Walking into the restaurant it wasn't too busy, few people every other table. 

After you guys get seated and given menu's Sasha speaks up. "So...meet anyone new?" She wiggles her eyebrows at you. "No, you know I told you I don't want to date anyone for a while." You sigh. "Okay well maybe not date but have you hooked up with anyone? What are the guys like over there?" Peyton grins. "I haven't hooked up with anyone but I have gone to a few gay bars over there and the guys are cute! You're going to have a great time when you go." You smile nodding. "You're hanging out with other gays out there!? Oh, I should of let your ass walk here, how dare you replace me." Peyton scoffs making you and Sasha laugh.

"What about you guys? Anyone you guys are hiding from me?" You ask looking at your two best friends, Peyton shaking is head no. "I've been out with this guy a few times from work...his name is Jason." Sasha smiles. "Oh yeah you mentioned him to me a couple weeks ago, you guys hooked up yet?" You ask and she blushes. "Yeahhhh!" You and Peyton laugh making her blush even more. "Okay... okay! Hush there's people around!" Sasha says getting embarrassed. You guys enjoy your dinner and then head over to their apartment. Sasha and Peyton had moved in together since the whole weird note situation and my place getting burned down. They thought it would be safer for the both of them since they both lived alone. The place was super cute, spacious and just outside of the downtown area with good security.

"So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?" Sasha asks Peyton and I after we all shower and change into our pajamas. "Wellll, I kind of promised Tee and Ja'Marr I'd hang out with them before they leave for the holidays." You bite your lip. "Wait...you still talk to them?!" Peyton asks as he makes us some drinks from the bar they had near a window. "Yeah...they text me all the time before games and keep tabs on me. We have a group chat & they are always asking when I'm coming to a home game so I thought we can go to one tomorrow if that's okay with you guys."  You say, your friends looking at you weird.

"You're not scared that they're telling Joe about what you're up to and how you're doing?" Peyton asks. "I don't... really care, What are they gonna tell him? That I'm doing good and I'm happy?" You shrug. "What about running into him tomorrow or having to see him?" Sasha asks. "I watch him every week on my tv and I have no issue ignoring him if I have too." You shrug. "Does he know his friends and teammates still talk to you?" Peyton asks. "Probably, Tee posted us on his story, it was a picture from when we volunteered last year, I don't really think they care much for Joe's opinion on this. After I basically told Joe to get out my life...the guys reached out and we had drinks one night before I left Ohio and they heard my point of view of things. They supported my decision, they knew Joe and I weren't compatible no matter how much we all wanted . " You shake you head taking the drink Peyton was making for you out of his hands.

"Do you... like either of them or something? Did you hook up with his teammates?" Sasha asks and you snort rolling your eyes. " Oh bitch, please tell me you did!" Peyton grins. "No! First off, one of them literally dated Mariana... no fucking thanks. Second, I am never ever getting involved with another professional athlete much less another football player that still plays with Joe and are really good friends with him. That's weird." You shake your head. "I mean, you could do the funniest thing ever and hook up with his teammates and kick Joe while he's been down, you know I like supporting women's rights but I also loveeeee supporting women's wrongs." Peyton smirks making Sasha laugh and you roll your eyes at him.

"Like I said, I'm not putting myself through that shit again. Once is enough." You shake your head taking a sip of the drink. "Can I ask you a question? You don't have to answer but I'm pretty intrigued to know." Sasha speaks up and you nod. "Do you miss Joe at all?" Sasha asks and Peyton rolls his eyes as her question. "Oh girl c'mon on, let's not ruin Y/N's night here." Peyton scoffs. "What?! It's a valid question! She almost had a baby with the guy! ad everything happened so quick!" Sasha defends herself making you laugh as you sit on their couch.

"I'll be honest, even though he did bring unnecessary drama in my life for a while and things were never perfect between, he was still a very comforting person for me so I miss that, I think that's why I stuck it out so long with him, things felt at ease when  was around him...and maybe I miss the sex." You bite your lip making your friends chuckle. "That makes me sad that you guys ended the way you did and felt like this about him." Sasha pouts. "It is what it is, I'm sure he's moved on plenty since us." You shrug. "I heard he was dating a swimsuit model now, seems like he can't fathom being alone." Sasha snorts. "Can straight men ever?" Peyton laughs. "Good luck to her." You breathe shaking your head. You guys talk a bit more and enjoy your drinks while watching a Christmas movie before you all go to bed, you sleeping in their guest bedroom which was super cute and cozy.

************************

In the morning Peyton made you guys a delicious breakfast with French toast, eggs & bacon and you texted the group chat with the guys letting them know you were in town and if it was possible to get three tickets for tonight's game. Tee almost immediately texting back that he would get back to you as as he could about them.

"I say we go ice skating tomorrow." Sasha says as we sit around enjoying our breakfast. "I'm not that type of gay." Peyton says making you and Sasha laugh. "Oh come on! It'll be fun, maybe you can fall into the arms of a big strong guy." Sasha wiggles her eyebrows. "Girl, I'm 6 foot 5, I am the strong the guy?!" Peyton shakes his head making us laugh. We finish our food and as Sasha and I cleaned up since Peyton made breakfast, your phone dings. Drying your hands quickly on a towel nearby, you pick up the phone and see it was the guys, they had gotten tickets for you and your friends for tonight's game.

"The guys got the tickets." You say to your friends as you respond to the guys and thanking them for pulling some strings so last minute. "You know its supposed to be cold as shit tonight right guys?" Peyton says. "That's why whiskey exists!" You smile and he rolls his eyes. "Hey, you don't have to come if you don't want grandpa." Sasha says to Peyton. "Oh, I'm going!  You bitches aren't leaving me behind." Peyton says leaving us in the kitchen in the sassiest manner making you laugh. "You need to have your revenge dress moment tonight." Sasha says to you as you start the dish washer. "What are you talking about?" You chuckle looking at her weird. "In case you run into Joe! Which I'm sure might happen, you need to look good to see what he could of had if he wasn't such a dumbass ad respected you." Sasha nods. "Girl, it's going to be like 15 degree's tonight. I'm gonna be warm, I really don't care about making Joe feel some type of way." You shake your head. "Ugh, have some fun will you!" Sasha scoffs making you laugh.

************************

It was afternoon now and you guys had just finished getting ready for the game. As always, you just wore whatever you wanted not really caring too much about team colors. You just wore mostly black layers, cozy boots and some thermal blue jeans wanting to stay as warm as you could tonight. "The uber is here!" Sasha says walking into the living room from her room. We all head out into the cold air and make our way to the car the SUV that was waiting for us. "Do you know who they're playing today?" Sasha asks me as we ride in the back of the car. "Not a damn clue." You shake your head. "Go sports!" Peyton says making you guys laugh. You guys make it to the stadium, happy that you guys left when you did because the place was super packed with people making it hard to find your seats after you got through security.

"I'm getting us drinks!" Peyton says to Sasha and I. You guys not and Peyton leaves to the concession stand which wasn't that far away. "This is exciting!" Sasha smiles. "Last time I was here, it was with Mariana and then Joe and I had fight in the locker room." You snort shaking your head. "Crazy how time flies." Sasha shakes her head. Soon Peyton returns with some strong drinks for everyone and you take a picture of you three posting it on your story. After a bit, the game eventually starts and pretty much you three just cheer when everyone else cheered. It was a bit a weird for you to see Joe playing on the field right now, you guys hadn't talked since the day at the hospital when you lost the baby. 

You remember going out for those drinks with Ja'Marr and Tee and them trying to convince you to at least talk to Joe but you knew if you did in that moment, you probably wouldn't have left to Rhode Island and be where you are now. Part of you felt guilty for a bit after that, but it was really the only way for you to get out of every situation that had you unhappy plus, getting threatening notes and your apartment set on fire just wasn't something you wanted to stick around and play with to just attempt to be with Joe.

"I really... don't understand this fucking game, I'mmmm getting us more drinks." Peyton says making you laugh. "Get me vodka this time please!" Sasha says to him before he leaves us. "I don't know much about football but it seems like no one is having a good time out there, people keep getting hurt and they look so cold." Sasha says. "We are so undeserving of these tickets." You laugh shaking your head. All of a sudden you guys then spot Tee and Ja'Marr getting into it with some players of the opposing team on the field after a dirty hit on the field.

"What the hell is going on out there?" Peyton asks handing us drinks. " The other team is playing dirty and the guys aren't having it." You shrug. Taking a sip of the new drink, the game continues until half time. "We should get sushi after this!" Peyton says over the loud music that was playing, Sasha and I nodding in agreement.

You guys talk amongst yourselves and take plenty of pictures during halftime and before you knew it the guys were back on the field. They were pretty much neck in neck with the other team so this game could really still go either way. You spot Joe running on the field getting into position and instead of throwing the ball to one of his teammates he makes a run for it with the ball. "He's really... not that fast. Reminds me the rat from Ice Age with the acorn" Peyton says making your snort. "That's a squirrel not a rat!" You laugh as Joe runs with the ball almost making it to the end zone but out of no where this huge player from the other team tackles him, hard. The hit looked painful and it wasn't long before everyone spotted Joe holding his elbow in pain. "Oh fuck." You stand up feeling your heart sinking in your chest. "That doesn't look good." Sasha shakes her head standing next to you. "Are you fucking kidding me?! That was a baby hit!" You hear some guy behind you angrily yell to which you rolled your eyes at, as did many other fans around him.

Soon you heard the sea of people becoming disappointed and worried over Joe, the medics soon were on the field checking him out and every time they attempted to move his arm Joe would immediately wince in pain. "Oh baby... he's out. There's no way he's gonna keep playing." Peyton shakes his head. They get Joe up from the ground and he walks towards the tunnel looking extremely upset and in pain. The crowd cheers for him but even behind the cheers you could tell they were as upset as he was.

The energy in the stadium after that had did a complete 180. Luckily Joe's injury didn't cost them the game but people were still sad over what happened. As we were leaving two security guards approach us and you already knew the drill. " Y/N Y/L/N?" One of them asks me, Peyton already looking at them weird and getting defensive. "Yeah, let me guess. I gotta follow you." You raise an eyebrow at the man and he nods. "C'mon guys." You tell Sasha and Peyton who look at you weird. "It's the guys sending for us, we're not in trouble." You tell them and they nod still suspicious of this but still following you guys to the golf carts.

"This makes me feel like Beyoncé when she's backstage." Sasha says making you and Peyton look at each other and start laughing. "Humble yourself honey." Peyton snorts, Sasha flicking him off. You guys get taken the room you haven't seen since you had basically hated Joes guts. You all thank the guys and they let you know the drill with snacks and drinks. There was a few women in there probably waiting on their husband or boyfriend but you guys find a spot somewhere and sit down. "This is pretty cool." Sasha looks around. "They said anything was for grabs right?" Peyton says eyeing the snacks. "Go crazy." You chuckle as he gets up and heads over to the snack table.

"You think Joe is okay?" Sasha asks you. "Probably not." You shake your head. After a little while you hear two familiar voices call your name. Smiling you get up from your seat turning around seeing Tee and Ja'Marr. "Hey guys!!" You smile at them giving them each a hug. Sasha and Peyton greet them as well and you guys sit down at an empty table. "So how have you guys been?" Ja'Marr asks us. "Pretty good... Thanks for the tickets, that was quite the game." Sasha smiles. "No problem and yeah, this one's a tough one. Critical timing too since the play offs start very soon." Tee shakes his head. "At least you guys won though! Something good came out of it." You smile trying to lighten their mood. "Yeah but Joes out the rest of the season, he tore his UCL so if we were to make it to the Super Bowl... he can't even play. That's gonna fuck us up so much." Ja'Marr shakes his head. You couldn't help but to feel horrible for everyone especially Joe.

You all catch up for a bit, them asking you a billion questions about Rhode Island and asking if you'd ever return here to Ohio. Ja'Marr had asked you about Mariana, specifically if you've heard anything from her and you'd tell him no which was the truth. You didn't know exactly why he was asking but you didn't really want to ask. That was his business and you weren't getting into anything that had to do with her ever again. "I need to pee." Sasha says to you, Peyton nodding in agreement. "Bathrooms are over there to your right." Tee points. They thank him and they walk off leaving just you, Ja'Marr and Tee.

"So... have you talked to Joe at all?" Ja'Marr asks, both men looking at you for an answer. "No, I debated on reaching out a few times but I heard he was dating someone and I'm not getting into that type of drama again like that. Hell no." You shake your head. The guys look at each other for a moment and then bust out laughing which had you confused. "Dating who?! Dudes only focus has been football and stalking you on social media all these months." Tee laughs. "It was all over social media that he was dating some model & why or how would he be stalking my social media?" You ask confused since it was private. "That was just a stupid rumor started by some dumb gossip website and we've caught him on your Instagram a bunch of times. I think he has a fake profile which we've told him how weird that shit was by the way and his excuse was that he just wanted to make sure you were happy and safe." Ja'Marr shakes his head rolling his eyes.

"Did he leave already?" You ask. "Nah, he's in a medical room dealing with his emotions and shit. He doesn't wanna see anyone, he's going through it." Tee shakes his head with a disappointed look on his face. "Although... maybe he wouldn't mind seeing you." Ja'Marr smirks and your eyes open wide. "Hell no, no way." You shake your head. "No way what?" Sasha asks coming back to us, Peyton following her. "They want me to go talk to Joe." You shake your head. "Oh?" Peyton looks at you and you shake your head no. "He's down this hall to your left. C'mon guys, let's get some snacks and talk about how much Rhode Island sucks." Tee says to your friends and you scoff. "What? Guys! No—assholes." You mutter annoyed at them as they all ignore you and leave you standing out in the hall like an idiot.

Sighing you make your way to the door where Joe was behind, taking a deep breath before knocking and opening the door. Immediately you heard his voice. "Get out." He says in a very monotone way. You peek your head in and see he was laying down on a stretcher facing up in a dimly lit room with his good arm draped over his face. "I guess I deserve that attitude." You nod closing the door behind you. Your stomach flip flopping from nervousness. Joe freezes and peeks under his arm towards you.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Joe asks slowly sitting up. His injured arm in a sling. "I'm in town for the holidays and the guys gave me tickets to the game tonight." You awkwardly say stuffing you hands in your back pockets. He looked like he had been crying. "Of course they did." Joe scoffs. "I know I'm the last person you wanna see right now or ever but I just wanted to check up on you." You bite your lip awkwardly. "Yeah right, like you give a shit about what happens to me." He scoffs, it sucked hearing those words come from his mouth but you couldn't blame him, you weren't the nicest to him the last time you saw him. Plus, he was upset cause of his injury which is understandable.

 "I know I shouldn't have bothered you but I just wanted to apologize on how I left things... and your injury tonight...but I'll uh, leave you be." You nod reaching for the door again awkwardly. "Wait!" You hear Joe say before you could even touch the door. "I...shouldn't have snapped at you like that, I'm sorry. I'm...I'm not even mad at you." He shakes his head as he sits looking down at his dangling feet. He was still in half of his uniform and even though he was a grown ass man well over 6 foot, he looked so small to you in this moment. "You don't have to lie, I know the way I handled things was beyond fucked up." You sigh leaning against the door. "Honestly, you had every right. I was being a stupid jackass, my parents knocked some sense into me after I came clean with everything. You put up with too much shit with me and I was worried too much about myself and not enough about you. I'm surprised you didn't come fined me and ran me over with your car" Joe admits. "Well...to be fair I didn't have one at the time so, maybe that worked in your favor." You tease making him chuckle. 

"Maybe it was just a classic case of right people, wrong time." You shrug. "You really think we could of been right for each other if things weren't so fucked up around us and I wouldn't have fucked up most of it?" Joe asks. "I'd like to think so, we pretty much ignored every red flag between and around us Joe... I think that ultimately fucked everything up because we choose to ignore and ignore." You say, Joe nodding. "How's Rhode Island?" Joe asks and you snort. "You should know...the guys told me about your Instagram stalking." You tease seeing Joe's freeze and his face turn a light shade of pink. "Fucking assholes." Joe mutters shaking his head making you chuckle. "I didn't mean to be weird, I just still feel paranoid about your safety with everything that happened. M=Ja'marr thinks Mariana was behind everything, he found some weird folder with information about us two...I think she was going to try and blackmail us if news hit about the affair she was having on Ja'Marr. She's disappeared. We think she left Ohio." Joe fills you in and you scoff. "That fucking crazy bitch." You shake your head. 

"Things are pretty good, I like the city, co workers are pretty cool." You nod changing the subject. "I'm really happy to hear that." Joe says giving you a small smile. Before you could reply there was a knock on the door followed by the voice of a man you didn't recognize. "Burrow, your parents are looking for you dude, pack it up, get some rest." The guy says. "I should... get back to everyone, I'm sure they're hungry and waiting on me." You say to Joe and he nods looking sad. "I'm really sorry I couldn't be the man you deserved Y/N, I kill myself over it everyday." Joe says somberly. "People aren't perfect Joe, don't beat yourself up over it, but I really do hope you recover as quickly and good as possible. I would tell you to not be too hard on yourself while you recover but I might as well talk to a brick wall for that." You joke making Joe chuckle. "Take care of yourself and you should come to more games, helps motivate the guys." Joe says glossy eyes which almost triggered your own emotions that you were pushing down. " I will take it under consideration, take care of yourself." You smile at him before leaving the room and letting out a deep breath trying to control your emotions before you meet everyone up again. 

**************************************************

A month later:

The holidays came and went. You spent time with your best friends and you were now back in Rhode Island in your home. Winter had officially struck the north east as it was snowing today. Cuddled up on your couch with the fire place on and a glass of wine in your hand you were on facetime with your friends. "So, when are you coming back?" Peyton asks you. "Uh! no Sir, it's time you guys come to me. We can do something this summer...I just finished the guest bedrooms and we can hit all the bars out here, maybe even drive to Boston for a weekend." You suggest. "I'm down for some Boston cheeks." Peyton smirks making Sasha roll her eyes and you laugh. "Did you spend the homegoods gift card we got you for Christmas?" Sasha asks changing the subject. "I did! I got stuff for the guest bathroom and a few holiday clearance stuff for next Christmas." You nod. You talk more with your friends about what you guys had planned for the next few weeks until your doorbell rang. It was 7PM on a snowy Friday night and you weren't expecting anyone over. "Uh oh booty call! We'll let you go so you can have your fun." Peyton winks. "It's probably my neighbors stupid doordash again, she keeps putting my door number for some reason, but I'll talk to you guys later." You sigh getting up. You hang up your phone tossing it on the couch and setting down your wine glass on your side table. You go to your door opening just a bit expecting some poor delivery driver in this snow but you almost choke on your own spit when you saw who it was. "Wh-what are you doing here?" You stand there frozen in place. 

"I'm... done ignoring." Joe responds. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I know I said this last chapter was coming Sunday but I couldn't wait that long lol Ohio Is For Lovers has officially wrapped up and I just want to thank you guys sosososososo much for reading and supporting this series. I haven't written a series in years and the love and support you guys have shown me has meant soooo much! If you haven't checked it out already I have been working on a new Joe Burrow series called Cherry Waves, so check that out if you'd like and if it's not for you I plan on doing a small holiday series in November. Thanks again for the support 🖤🖤🖤

[ejzah]

A/N: This is just a little snapshot of the Deeks-Blye family.

***

I Don’t Need Anything Else

“Alright, alright quit wiggling. Aunt Anna and Uncle Callen are waiting to swim with you,” Deeks said as he wrangled Sophia into the tiniest bathing suit imaginable. Caleb sat on the floor, alternating between babbling and chewing on a stuffed red dog. He had been through the same treatment with equally tiny blue swim trunks a few minutes ago.

Outside, most of the team and their families and the moms were enjoying Kensi and Deeks’ new pool and everything and anything Sam threw on the grill.

“Ok, Sophie my love, you are all set.” Transferring her to one hip, Deeks stooped to pick up Caleb.

“Hey baby,” Kensi said, coming up behind him. She pressed up against his back, kissing his neck, and he leaned into her, sighing as she kissed him a couple more times. “I came to see how you three were doing in here.”

“The Pastry Twins are all ready for swimming.” He gestured to his handiwork, showing off each twin in turn.

“Aw, you look so cute!” She held her hands to her chest, then reached for both of them.

“How’s everybody doing out there? No bloodshed yet?” he asked.

“Sam finally ran out of food to grill and Callen’s trying to convince Rosa to switch to Russian as a foreign language. Again. Oh, and Kilbride is looking for you,” Kensi told him.

“Huh, that can’t be good. Did he say why?”

“Nope. But he seemed fairly cheerful. For Kilbride.”

“Alright. I’ll got see what he wants,” Deeks sighed.

“Good luck.” Kensi held him back for another kiss. “I’ll stand by if you need rescuing.”

“Mm, best wife ever.”

He found the Admiral sitting on the patio, toting his absurd fishing hat and a glass with a small orange umbrella.

“I hear you were looking for me, Sir.”

“Ah, Deeks. You’ve been hard to pin down,” Kilbride said, nodding as squinted up at Deeks.

“Well, twins keep you busy. How’s NCIS treating you?” Deeks asked taking the seat across from him, and Kilbride groaned, taking a long sip of his drink.

“I swear these people get more idiotic every day. As if I have time to fill out another pointless slip of paper when there are international catastrophes going on,” he ranted. Deeks smiled, feeling oddly sentimental about the familiar conversation.

“Maybe you should consider retirement,” he suggested.

“We can’t all just leave,” Kilbride grumbled back, but with a hint of smile. “I’ve had several people ask about you, you know. Apparently you’re a hot commodity these days.”

“Oh, I’m aware,” Deeks said with a chuckle. “The first time I got a call from the CIA, I was a little concerned. Now it’s just getting annoying cause they always seem to call during nap time.”

“I’ve heard some of the offers: Lead agent of your own team, head of the legal department, lead analyst. They would all be prime positions that would allow you to not only stay closer to home, but also provide for your family.”

“They’ve been getting on your case too, huh?”

Kilbride rolled his eyes, expelling an exasperated sound. “The damn fools won’t leave me alone.”

“I appreciate it, and it’s certainly nice to be wanted, but I’m happy where I am.” Deeks paused and glanced around to take in the yard filled with people. He spied Rosa guiding Caleb around in an inner tube, Callen dipping Sophia’s toes in the water, Kensi laughing with Fatima. “I have a family, a home, a good job. Peace. I don’t need anything else.”

Kilbride nodded, begrudging respect in his eyes. “You’re a lucky man,” he said.

“Yes, I am, Sir.”

[voicesms]

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Textlocal

MSG91

Twilio SMS

Kaleyra

Gupshup

These platforms offer:

Transactional and promotional messaging

OTP and alert systems

API access for automation

Global delivery and DLT compliance (India)

Whether you’re looking for a bulk message provider or full bulk SMS messaging services, these platforms deliver speed and reach.

🚀 Conclusion

From VoIP minutes for call centers and SIP trunk providers to bulk SMS services, having the right communication tools in place is essential to running a successful, scalable operation. Whether you’re a small business or a global contact center, these solutions will keep you connected and competitive.

Looking for help picking the right VoIP or SMS provider for your business needs? Drop your use case in the comments or contact us for a custom recommendation!

Would you like this blog formatted for your website or exported as a downloadable PDF? Or want help tailoring this to a specific audience (like BPOs, SaaS, or e-commerce)?

[ethanlmiller]

Travel in Style with Seatac Professional Limo: Your Luxury Transport Destination in Seattle

Traveling in style and comfort in Seattle has no comparison to the service offered by Seatac Professional Limo. You may be flying, cruising, going for a wedding, or going on a wine tour; our best-in-class services make sure that you reach the destination on time, safely, and in style. From SeaTac airport limo service to wine tour limo services and wedding limo services at affordable rates, we provide all kinds of luxury ground transportation.

Smooth SeaTac Airport Limo Service

Traveling to or from Seattle? Don't risk the stress of fighting traffic or waiting on sketchy ride-shares. Our SeaTac airport limo service is prompt and elegant from the door of the airport. Our courteous drivers track flight arrival times in real-time to get you on your way promptly and safely. With upscale interiors, spacious trunks, and free services, you'll be treated to first-class from the airport to your destination.

Reliable Shuttle Service in Seattle from Airport to Pier 91

Planning a cruise holiday from Seattle Pier 91? Our transport from Seattle airport to Pier 91 is designed for convenience and comfort. Forget carrying bags around town or wasting hours in queues. Our large cars are ideal for families and groups traveling to the terminal. We provide a smooth transfer from your cruise ship to your flight so you can start your holiday hassle-free.

SeaTac Limo Service for Any Event

At Seatac Professional Limo, we are pleased to provide more than the usual airport ride. Our SeaTac limo service is tailored to meet a variety of needs:

Corporate Events: Impress business partners and clients with our executive limousines.

Prom Nights: Arrive in style and make the night one to remember.

City Tours: See Seattle's famous attractions in style.

Special Moments: Birthdays, anniversaries, or nights out become lifetime memories.

Each journey is designed to meet your needs with beauty and efficiency.

Celebrate Love with Budget-Friendly Wedding Limousine Services

Your wedding day must be simply the best. Seatac Professional Limo offers wedding limo services at affordable prices to make your wedding day even more special. We know that every couple has its own taste and budget, and therefore, we provide customized packages. We have a fleet that ranges from traditional stretch limousines to luxury SUVs, which can accommodate the bride, groom, and bridal party in comfort.

Our drivers are professionally trained to provide courteous and discreet service so that your day is seamless. Want to arrive in style? Rent wedding limo services from us and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Explore Wine Country with Wine Tour Limo Services

Need to get away from the city traffic? Relax for the day in Washington wine country with our executive wine tour limo packages. An expert sommelier or simply someone who just adores a fine red drink, our wine tours provide just the right mix of luxury, convenience, and indulgence for you.

You don't have to worry about parking, driving, or directions. Our skilled chauffeurs drive you to the best vineyards in the region as you relax, sip, and soak up the scenery. It's perfect for anniversaries, birthdays, or even just treating yourself to a day of rest.

Why Go for Seatac Professional Limo?

There are numerous companies that transport folks around Seattle, but none hold a candle to the quality, professionalism, and dependability of Seatac Professional Limo. Here are some reasons that we stand above the rest:

On Time and Reliable: We know how precious time is, particularly when it comes to traveling.

Luxury Fleet: Select from a range of luxury sedans, SUVs, stretch limos, and party buses.

Seasoned Chauffeurs: Our drivers are courteous, professionally trained, and familiar with Seattle like the back of their hands.

Personalized Packages: Whether it's a wedding, vineyard tour, or airport pickup, our service is designed to meet your needs.

Clear Pricing: No unexpected fees or surprise fees.

Easy Online Booking

Reserving your luxury car is just a click away. Our user-friendly website allows you to book and customize your car within minutes. Whether you wish to reserve limo wedding services or pre-book a shuttle service in Seattle from the airport to Pier 91, our platform is convenient and efficient.

Happy Customers' Testimonials

"We used Seatac Professional Limo for our wedding, and it was wonderful. The limo was beautiful, the driver was excellent, and it was all so smooth!" – Amanda T.

"I've booked their SeaTac airport limousine service for business travel on many occasions, and they have never let me down. Always professional and on time." – James B.

"Seatac Professional Limo's wine tour was absolutely wonderful! Highly recommend their wine tour limo service!" – Sandra L.

Book Your Ride Today

Whether you are heading to or from work or one of the most memorable days of your life, Seatac Professional Limo provides transportation that's safe, luxurious, and easy. Let the travel arrangements rest on someone else's shoulders—ride with the most reliable limo company in Seattle.

Call us today to learn about our services or to book your next ride. See why more and more customers are opting for Seatac Professional Limo for SeaTac limo service, airport rides, and special occasions. Make each ride something to remember with Seatac Professional Limo—where professionalism meets sophistication.

[sinchvoice]

The Benefits of Integrating Text-to-Speech Technology for Personalized Voice Service

Sinch is a fully managed service that generates voice-on-demand, converting text into an audio stream and using deep learning technologies to convert articles, web pages, PDF documents, and other text-to-speech (TTS). Sinch provides dozens of lifelike voices across a broad set of languages for you to build speech-activated applications that engage and convert. Meet diverse linguistic, accessibility, and learning needs of users across geographies and markets. Powerful neural networks and generative voice engines work in the background, synthesizing speech for you. Integrate the Sinch API into your existing applications to become voice-ready quickly.

Voice Service

Voice services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Voice as a Service (VaaS), are telecommunications technologies that convert Voice into a digital signal and route conversations through digital channels. Businesses use these technologies to place and receive reliable, high-quality calls through their internet connection instead of traditional telephones. We at Sinch provide the best voice service all over India.

Voice Messaging Service

A Voice Messaging Service or System, also known as Voice Broadcasting, is the process by which an individual or organization sends a pre-recorded message to a list of contacts without manually dialing each number. Automated Voice Message service makes communicating with customers and employees efficient and effective. With mobile marketing quickly becoming the fastest-growing advertising industry sector, the ability to send a voice broadcast via professional voice messaging software is now a crucial element of any marketing or communication initiative.

Voice Service Providers in India

Voice APIs, IVR, SIP Trunking, Number Masking, and Call Conferencing are all provided by Sinch, a cloud-based voice service provider in India. It collaborates with popular telecom companies like Tata Communications, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Airtel. Voice services are utilized for automated calls, secure communication, and client involvement in banking, e-commerce, healthcare, and ride-hailing. Sinch is integrated by businesses through APIs to provide dependable, scalable voice solutions.

More Resources:

The future of outbound and inbound dialing services

The Best Cloud Communication Software which are Transforming Businesses in India

[a1routes]

Best Cloud PBX Providers: Top Options for Seamless Communication in 2025

In today’s business world, efficient communication is more important than ever. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, choosing the right cloud PBX provider can have a major impact on your team’s productivity, collaboration, and overall success. As we move into 2025, cloud PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems are becoming increasingly popular due to their scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. This blog will explore the best cloud PBX providers for seamless communication in the coming year, helping you find the perfect solution for your business.

What is Cloud PBX?

A cloud PBX is a phone system that is hosted on the cloud rather than on-premises. It connects your business to the public telephone network via the internet, offering a wide range of features that improve internal communication, customer service, and overall efficiency. Unlike traditional PBX systems, which require expensive hardware and infrastructure, cloud PBX systems operate entirely in the cloud, making them easier to maintain, more cost-effective, and more flexible.

Key features of cloud PBX systems include:

Voicemail-to-email

Call forwarding and routing

Conference calling

Call analytics and reporting

Integration with business software

Mobile accessibility

These features, coupled with the ease of use and scalability of cloud solutions, make cloud PBX systems ideal for modern businesses.

Why Choose a Cloud PBX System?

Cloud PBX systems offer numerous advantages over traditional on-premises systems. Here are just a few reasons why businesses are increasingly turning to the best cloud PBX providers:

Cost-Effective: Traditional PBX systems involve expensive hardware and maintenance costs. Cloud PBX providers eliminate these upfront costs, and you pay only for what you use, making it more affordable for businesses of all sizes.

Scalability: Whether you’re expanding your team or opening new offices, cloud PBX systems allow you to easily scale your communication services without the need for additional hardware or complex installations.

Mobility and Flexibility: Cloud PBX services can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, giving your team the flexibility to work remotely or from multiple locations while maintaining seamless communication.

Advanced Features: Cloud PBX providers offer features that improve communication and collaboration, such as video conferencing, integration with CRM systems, and mobile apps that allow employees to manage calls on the go.

Reliability: Many of the best cloud PBX providers offer high uptime guarantees and automatic failover systems, ensuring your business communication remains uninterrupted, even during network issues.

Top Cloud PBX Providers for Seamless Communication in 2025

When looking for a cloud PBX provider, it’s important to evaluate factors like cost, features, customer support, and scalability. Below are some of the best cloud PBX providers to consider in 2025:

A1 Routes At A1 Routes, we offer cutting-edge cloud PBX solutions designed to meet the unique needs of businesses located in the TC Energy Center, 700 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002, and beyond. Our cloud PBX system is highly scalable, cost-effective, and reliable, making it the perfect choice for businesses looking to enhance their communication infrastructure without breaking the bank. We provide advanced features such as call routing, voicemail-to-email, and seamless integration with other business tools. Our dedicated support team is always available to ensure your system runs smoothly, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

RingCentral RingCentral is one of the leading cloud PBX providers, offering a robust platform with a range of features such as video conferencing, team messaging, and integrations with popular business tools like Salesforce and Microsoft Office 365. RingCentral’s flexibility and scalability make it a top choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one communication solution.

Nextiva Nextiva offers a powerful and user-friendly cloud PBX system with features like mobile apps, call analytics, and voicemail-to-email. Nextiva’s platform is highly customizable and can be tailored to the specific needs of businesses in various industries. Their excellent customer support and affordable pricing make them a popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses.

8x8 8x8 provides a comprehensive cloud communication solution, including voice, video, and messaging services, all in one platform. Their cloud PBX system offers great scalability, making it an excellent choice for businesses that are rapidly growing. 8x8’s affordable pricing and high-quality service make them a strong contender in the cloud PBX space.

Vonage Vonage is known for its reliable and cost-effective cloud PBX services, providing businesses with features like mobile apps, call forwarding, and integration with popular CRMs. With a focus on customer satisfaction and ease of use, Vonage is a solid option for businesses seeking a streamlined, affordable telephony solution.

Why Choose A1 Routes for Your Cloud PBX Needs?

At A1 Routes, we pride ourselves on offering best cloud PBX providers solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of businesses. Whether you’re located in Houston or beyond, our cloud PBX system is designed to provide seamless communication that scales with your business. We offer robust features, including call routing, voicemail-to-email, and integration with essential business tools, all at an affordable price point.

Our cloud PBX system is reliable, scalable, and backed by our exceptional customer support team. We’re committed to helping businesses like yours improve communication, reduce costs, and enhance overall productivity.

Contact us today at 1-347-809-3866 to learn more about how our cloud PBX solutions can transform your business communication and take it to the next level.

Conclusion

As we move into 2025, cloud PBX systems are poised to become the standard for business communication. By choosing one of the best cloud PBX providers, businesses can enjoy enhanced flexibility, cost savings, and scalability, all while improving their overall communication infrastructure. Whether you choose A1 Routes or another top provider, the future of communication is in the cloud.

[telerainincphil]

How to Integrate Social Media, Chat, and Voice for a Seamless Omnichannel Strategy?

The digital-first world is here! Everyone, including customers, anticipate unified communications engagement on multiple channels. Whether they contact via social media, chat, or voice, they expect a coherent and unified experience. Businesses that fail to unify these touchpoints have disconnected communications, which leads to poor customer satisfaction and lost opportunities.

Understanding customer preferences is the key to business success.

A unified communications platform and omni-channel contact center can help here. Organizations can offer synchronized and seamless interactions. Through the services of SIP trunk providers, enterprises can consolidate communication infrastructure and reduce operational costs.

Why Integration Is Necessary in an Omni-Channel Contact Center

A disconnected communication strategy brings about frustration to both customers and support teams.

Without integration, businesses face issues such as:

Customers ask questions multiple times on multiple channels.

Lack of context when switching from chat to voice calls.

Boosted operational inefficiencies and service delays.

With unified communications, companies can break down these silos so that all interactions are grabbed and handled within a single system. This omnichannel functionality improves efficiency and delivers an enhanced all-around customer experience.

Here are the steps to Integrate Social Media, Chat, and Voice for an Omni-Channel Strategy

1. Deploy a Unified Communications Platform

Businesses must use a unified communications platform that integrates social media, chat, and voice into a single system to achieve seamless integration. This approach allows agents to receive real-time information to fully understand previous interactions.

2. Implement an Omni-Channel Contact Center

An omnichannel contact center enables businesses to:

Manage several customer interactions simultaneously without interruption.

Route inquiries to the correct agent automatically.

Deliver a consistent experience across touchpoints.

By deploying an omnichannel contact center, businesses can effectively bridge the gap between social media, chat, and voice, allowing for a seamless customer transition between these channels.

3. Use SIP Trunk Providers for Scalable Voice Integration

Voice remains a core customer support channel. Traditional telephony infrastructure, however, isn't agile enough for modern omnichannel strategies. That's where SIP trunk providers come in.

With SIP trunking, companies can:

Reduce communication costs compared to traditional phone lines.

Scale voice services with ease to accommodate business growth.

Enable remote and global connectivity without additional infrastructure costs.

4. Integrate AI-powered Chatbots with Live Agent Support

Automation plays a crucial role in simplifying customer interactions. Businesses can leverage AI-powered Chatbots to handle routine queries while offering a seamless escalation to human agents whenever needed.

Best practices to implement Chatbots:

Make sure Chatbots provide accurate, pertinent responses.

Provide easy escalation to live agents where required.

Personalize interactions according to customer data.

With Chatbots integrated into an omnichannel contact center, organizations can optimize response times and reduce operational workload.

5. Maximize Social Media Engagement with Real-Time Monitoring

Social media is no longer just for marketing alone—it's now a significant customer service channel. Customers expect companies to promptly respond to their questions, complaints, and feedback on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

How to use social media effectively:

Use social listening tools to track customers' mentions and sentiments.

Automate FAQ answers but allow personalized agent interactions.

Connect social media channels to the omnichannel contact center for ticketing and resolution tracking.

6. Leverage Cloud-Based SaaS Solutions for Accessibility and Compliance

For healthcare, finance, and e-commerce businesses, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS compliance is a must. A cloud-based unified communications solution enables:

Automatic compliance with secure recording and archiving.

Location-independent supervisor and agent access.

Reducing costs by avoiding costly on premise infrastructure.

A SaaS-based unified communications system, such as Telerain's integrated cloud-based software, ensures that businesses meet regulatory requirements while delivering secure and scalable digital communications.

Benefits of a Fully Integrated Omni-Channel Strategy

1. Better Customer Experience

Customers can easily transition from social media to chat to voice.

One-to-one interaction creates a more personal brand relationship.

Faster response times increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

2. Improved Operational Efficiency

Agents handle multiple interactions without confusion.

Automation with AI reduces workload and enhances productivity.

Centralized data ensures quick and accurate responses.

3. Cost Savings and Scalability

SIP trunking lowers telephony costs and offers flexibility.

A cloud solution wipes away expensive infrastructure investments.

Companies can expand operations without significant interruptions.

Wrapping Up

Adopt an omnichannel strategy! Integrate social media, chat, and voice seamlessly into a unified communications system. Select an appropriate omnichannel contact center to improve customer engagement, be more efficient, and decrease outlays.

With SIP trunk providers and hosted solutions like Telerain's unified communication software, businesses can future-proof their company and remain competitive in today's rapidly transforming setting.

Are you ready to build a perfect omnichannel strategy?

Contact us now.

About The Author: Telerain, your trusted partner in streamlined digital business communication solutions. Our integrated cloud software service combines a comprehensive suite of channels, including voice, SMS, fax, video, chat, and email, ensuring your business stays connected most efficiently and securely.

At Telerain, we prioritize the security and compliance of your communications. Our platform automatically addresses GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPAA regulations, guaranteeing that all interactions are recorded and archived compliantly. It means you can focus on your business, confident that your communications meet the highest data protection and privacy standards.

Our user-friendly per-user-per-month Software as a Service (SaaS) model ensures flexibility without the burden of legacy technology costs and complexities.

[uk-talk]

Reach the People Who Matter For You With 3CX Telephone System

In this mundane lifestyle, have you ever wondered how cool it would be if you could do both, travel and work? Sounds amazing right, but this can be done on a serious note with the help of the 3CX telephone system. 

Welcome aboard, where you can get to know not only about the 3CX telephone system but also about its benefits that can bring positive changes in ways of work and communication. 

Guide to 3CX Telephone System 

The 3CX telephone system is an open-standard, software-based system based on the SIP standards. It is flexible to work with a wide range of phone hardware and can also be connected with browser-based extensions and mobile apps. 

If you really want to get started with the 3CX telephone system, at the very beginning you’ll require a 3CX licence followed by a SIP trunk, which will help to connect it to your traditional phone network. Afterward, you need a stable internet connection, which can be either on the desktop or your phone, where you can download 3CX through a browser. 

Benefits of 3CX Telephone System 

Having a stable internet connection, a 3CX licence, and a SIP trunk will make your life easier. For better coordination, you are always welcome to connect with the experts of UK-Talk to get your things done better with the 3CX telephone system. 

It is easy to set up and integrate with a well-documented process based on the CRM systems linking. 

3CX telephone system comes up with a complete unified communication solution that enables CRM management, live chats, web conferencing, and messaging calls. 

Through the 3CX telephone system, you’ll be able to integrate with CRM, from where you can make and log calls, including keeping track of customer interaction and records from different channels. 

Live chats become easier with the 3CX telephone system to engage the target audience for your business. 

Welcome 3CX Telephone System in Your Home with UK -Talk 

As a fast-growing and leading business communication provider, UK-Talk emphasizes presenting the best for its customers. If you’re in search of good business communication, feel free to reach the experts of UK-Talk and the best 3CX telephone system as per your needs. Plenty of perks to go with UK-Talk when it comes to upgrading your business communications, which are as follows: 

Free 5000 minutes 

Call monitoring and recording 

Audio and video conferencing 

Choice of regional phone number or virtual geographic numbers

Call forwarding and routing 

Voicemail 

Three-way calling 

Advanced attendant 

Call barring 

Hunt group 

CRM integration 

[telerainincsblog]

SIP Trunk Costs: A Comprehensive Guide

SIP trunks offer businesses a flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional phone lines. However, understanding the associated costs is essential for making an informed decision.

Factors Affecting SIP Trunk Costs

Several factors influence the cost of SIP trunks:

Number of SIP trunks: The more trunks you require, the higher the cost.

Geographic location: Costs may vary based on your location and the provider's network infrastructure.

Features: Additional features like call recording, IVR, and advanced analytics can increase costs.

Usage: Your call volume and usage patterns can impact pricing.

Provider: Different providers offer varying pricing models and rates.

Common Pricing Models

Per-minute pricing: You pay a fixed rate for each minute of usage.

Flat-rate pricing: A fixed monthly fee, regardless of usage.

Tiered pricing: Costs vary based on usage tiers, with lower rates for higher volumes.

Hybrid pricing: A combination of different pricing models.

Cost Comparison

While it's challenging to provide exact pricing without specific details, here's a general comparison:

Small businesses: May find per-minute pricing or tiered pricing more affordable.

Mid-sized businesses: Might benefit from flat-rate pricing or hybrid models.

Large enterprises: Could opt for custom pricing plans tailored to their specific needs.

Cost-Saving Tips

Negotiate: Don't hesitate to negotiate with SIP trunk providers to get the best possible deal.

Bundle services: Consider bundling SIP trunks with other services like internet or cloud-based PBX systems.

Review usage: Regularly review your usage patterns to identify opportunities for cost optimization.

Explore promotions and discounts: Some providers offer promotions or discounts for new customers or long-term commitments.

SIP Trunk Providers

When comparing costs, it's essential to consider the range of features and services offered by different SIP trunk providers. Some well-known providers include:

Twilio

Vonage

Telerain Inc

8x8

RingCentral

Telnyx

Conclusion

The cost of SIP trunks can vary significantly depending on various factors. By understanding the factors that influence pricing, comparing different providers, and negotiating effectively, businesses can find a cost-effective solution that meets their communication needs.