“Sweetheart, it’ll be okay. I promise you, you are safe here. Thorne hasn’t told us much, but we weren’t born yesterday. We know something is going on. Being on pack territory is one of the safest places you can be. We are like one giant family, everyone looks out for one another. You will be safe here.”

  I nod my head, realizing how dry my mouth has become. “May I have some water?”

  “Of course, darling.” She gets to her feet and goes to the cupboard to grab a glass and fills it with water from a bottle that was inside of the fridge. “When you’re finished, you can help me serve the soup. Is that all right?”

  I try to smile as sincerely as I can, but I’m suddenly not feeling so good again.

  Eleven

  Thorne

  My father has always been an understanding man. Stern, but understanding. Much different than Castor’s and Hunter’s fathers—the ones who are still with us. Coming to my parents with this before the others was the smartest decision, we knew that from the get go. We only told the others because we had to. Castor’s father is a good enough guy, but he’s by the book. He respects the rules and the pack, not allowing any gray areas. And Hunter’s father? The guy is just a no-good, drunken asshole. Who knows what he would have done if we’d told him this first. It’s a surprise he hasn’t ratted us out to Julian yet to begin with. I still haven’t asked Hunter how he convinced his father to keep his mouth shut about it.

  “This is quite the mess, boys.”

  I nod my head, still staring at the ground. We haven’t been in here too long, but it didn’t take me long to explain everything to my father. He’s a smart man and understood it all rather quickly.

  “We need to figure out the best way to handle this,” Castor says. “She is not going to be happy about leaving her family. She doesn’t even know she’s spending the night here and I can’t imagine she will be very happy about it, but we need to show her she will be safe here, with us. All of us.”

  “And her family?”

  I let out a huff. “It took some convincing for most of them but they understand. They aren’t shifters so this is different, but they get it. It won’t be easy for them either, but they know it’s what is best for her. Once the ritual is complete, she will be as safe as she can be. Here, with us.” It’s the truth. We will be able to sense her, feel her, even speak with her through a mind link. It’s something all shifters are gifted with after the ritual. “We also have to speak with Julian about this, get our house set up and her on board with the idea, and on top of that, get her comfortable enough to complete the mate bond, or it may never happen at all.”

  My father nods, taking a sip of his scotch.

  This room is one of my favorites in the house. Walking in here, you feel important. Leather armchairs, sturdy, wooden furniture, bookshelves lined with books, and a bar towards the back.

  “Yes, as I said, this is quite the mess. What are you thinking in terms of Julian?”

  This is one of the hardest things for us. We are unsure how he is going to take this news. He is in his position because we were unable to be due to our lack of a mate. Everyone knows this. Now that we have one, we are a threat to him. He won’t like that. Granted he won’t do anything right away, but this could potentially give us another threat to worry about. Anyone, at any time, can challenge him for the alpha spot. The only rule is you have to be mated. “We tell Leona, first. Let her know we will be staying here tonight, explain the pack rules to her, then we go to Julian. But we do not let her know about our worries when it comes to him. She is stressed out enough and she doesn’t need something else to worry her.”

  “I think that’s a wise decision, son.”

  “I agree,” Castor says.

  I look over to Hunter. He’s leaned back in his leather chair, hands flat against the arms, slouching back like a lazy prince.

  “What do you say, Hunt?” His eyes slowly move to mine. He shrugs a shoulder and then looks away.

  It takes everything in me to not jump up and pummel him like I want to. I would love nothing more than to pound his face in and make it one with the ground. He is irritating beyond belief. He is my biggest issue right now. Outside of everything else going on, Hunter is what is in the way this very second. Once Leona is mated to us, she will be safer than she is now. But he is standing in the way of that. Him and his whiny ass.

  “We should get back in there. I’m sure dinner is just about finished,” my father says, getting to his feet. He takes his glass with him as he exits the room. I follow right behind him.

  I find my mother and Leona serving soup at the dining room table. I come up behind her, sliding my arm around her waist and placing a kiss on her neck. Goosebumps erupt over her skin and I can’t help but laugh.

  “Dinner ready?” my fathers asks.

  “Appetizers and soup are. The timer will be going off by the time we finish this up.”

  Leona places a bowl of soup on the table in front of where she is standing.

  “Is there anything else we need before we sit?” Castor asks, looking to my mother.

  “No, dear. Sit down and let’s eat. I’m famished. I’ve been cooking all day, I forgot to eat some lunch.”

  “Sounds about right,” my father mumbles, causing the rest of us to laugh.

  I sit beside Leona, Hunter and Castor across from us while my parents each take a head of the table. We eat our soup, and munch on the appetizers while we wait for the main course which takes a little bit longer than expected. We chat while we eat. Mostly my parents talking about us when we were little. Hunter has even laughed a few times which makes me happy. Leona deserves to see the good parts of him. He isn’t an asshole all the time. Aside from that, Hunter deserves some good in his life. He deserves Leona. When we finish eating, we have dessert. Each of us enjoys a large piece of my mother’s special chocolate cake. I’m not so sure what’s special about it, but I’ve called it that ever since I was little.

  “When were you going to tell me we were staying here?” Leona asks me as we load the dishwasher together.

  “Mother spilled the beans.”

  “You could have told me,” she says with a hint of sadness.

  “Hey,” I say, taking her chin and turning her face to me. “I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. It’s nothing more than that, okay?”

  She blinks a few times and then nods. I press a kiss to her nose and continue with the dishes.

  “Just don’t keep things from me. I know you’re trying to help me, but I’d rather know. I don’t like feeling helpless. Not telling me things makes me feel like you think I can’t handle it.”

  “It’s not that I don’t think you can handle it, Leona. I know you can. It’s that I want to protect you. Yes, you can handle it, but you don’t need to. Let me help you.”

  “Help me, Thorne. Not do things for me. There is a difference.”

  I stop and turn to her as she continues to rinse dishes in the sink.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you?” I ask in the sweetest voice possible. I watch as her mouth turns up into a smile. I reach down and bite onto her neck gently, sliding my tongue across her skin. “I’ve missed you, baby.”

  She lets out a satisfied sigh, her head falling into my chest.

  “You guys ready for some games, or what?” Castor comes into the kitchen and Leona pulls away from me quickly. I don’t take offense to it, figuring she thought it was someone else and she’s trying to be respectful.

  “Games?” Leona asks.

  “Uh, yeah, games,” Castor says with comedic sass. Each day is getting easier and better between him and Leona. He looks up to me and winks. “I’m on Leona’s team.”

  She raises an eyebrow, looking back at him over her shoulder. “And what exactly is it we’re playing?”

  Twelve

  Leona

  When Castor said we were playing games, I’m not exactly sure what I thought we would be doing, but playing charades was not it. Castor is a great teammate. He’s patient and smart. Serena and Alistair are on a team, which leaves Thorne to be paired with Hunter. They both look more miserable than a cat sitting in the rain. Thorne gives me a smile every now and then, so I know he isn’t completely miserable. He knows I’m having fun and I’m sure that makes him happy. Seeing him get along with my family is one of the best things I’ve ever witnessed and I can only imagine he feels the same tonight.

  Each minute that I’m here, I feel more comfortable. I have less anxiety about being away from home and away from my family. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to just have fun. Forget about the mess of my life and enjoy being a teenager.

  We lose track of time, only noticing how late it is when the grandfather clock goes off, sounding for midnight.

  “Oh, my! Look at the time,” Serena laughs, her cheeks flushed from the wine she’s been drinking. “We should get to bed. You kids have a good night. Try not to stay up too late, you know you won’t be getting much sleep in the morning.”

  We all say our goodnights to them and they head off up the stairs.

  I take a seat on the couch, between Thorne and Castor. “Ready for bed?” Thorne asks, draping his arm over my shoulder. I curl into him, bringing my leg up to rest over his and my arm across his belly.

  “Few more minutes,” I mumble. Not wanting the excitement of the night to go away. Sleepiness hits me suddenly. I’m so comfortable and warm I don’t want to move.

  “She looks like she’s about to fall asleep right here,” Castor says quietly.

  He’s not wrong. It’s the last thing I hear before I drift into sleep.

  The next thing I know I’m being carried up the stairs in Thorne’s strong arms. He places me down softly onto a bed that smells just like him. I curl into myself, snuggling up to the pillows as he covers me with the blankets. He doesn’t join me as expected, but I’m too tired to say anything about it. The soft click of the door tells me he’s left me alone and I find myself sleeping soon enough.

  The mattress shifting has me waking slightly, a warm body cuddling up close to me from behind. Only it isn’t Thorne. My mind wants to panic but the overwhelming scent hits my nose and I’m calmed instantly. Castor’s arm drapes around my waist and he pulls me close to him, the curves of my body fitting perfectly into his. He isn’t as big as Thorne, but I fit perfectly just as well.

  His hand slides away from my belly and up my side and then brushes hair away from my face. He runs his fingers over my scalp, the gesture is sweet and relaxing, slowly lulling me back to sleep. I’m just about there when he begins to speak.

  “I’m sorry for being such an asshole to you,” he whispers. His fingers brush through my hair and I hum quietly to myself. This moment is perfect. “I’m sorry for acting like that date didn’t mean a thing. I’m sorry about Cassidy. Most of all, I’m sorry I left you alone in that tower.”

  I’m sure he thinks I’m sleeping. It upsets me that he feels he can’t talk to me like this while I’m awake, but I get it. I’m not sure I could do the same. We just aren’t there yet, but we’re getting close.

  “I should have listened to Thorne from the beginning,” he continues. “But I’m stubborn. You’ll soon learn that if you haven’t already.” He laughs quietly to himself and it makes me smile. I keep pretending to sleep, just enjoying the sound of his voice as we lay there in the dark, cuddled close together. “I want to make this right and I want to make it up to you.” He presses a soft kiss to my bare shoulder and slides his arm back down and around my waist, tugging me even closer. It doesn’t take long for his breathing to slow and even out. I find his hand with my own and interlock our fingers. I fall asleep again, this time not waking up until morning.

  A loud banging on the door has me groaning. I’ve found sleeping with Thorne makes me not want to get out of bed in the morning like I used to, and apparently, it’s the same with Castor.

  “Time to get up!” Thorne shouts from the other side of the door. His heavy footsteps move away from the door and I snuggle back into the pillow.

  Castor takes a deep breath and begins to stretch. The hardness of his morning wood digs into my backside and I can’t help it when I wiggle my butt a little. He groans and my body heats at the sound. Rough fingers slide up my arm, leaving goosebumps along my skin. His lips find the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. I shift my body, allowing him more room to move. He grinds into my backside while his lips and tongue glide along my neck and shoulder.

  I find myself pressing my ass into him, the ache between my legs needing attention. I reach behind me, my hand finding the top of his pants and pulling them down as best as I can. I don’t get far but he gets the hint and takes over. He gets rid of his pants and slides mine down immediately after. I kick them off and find him warm and hard behind me.

  “You sure about this?” he asks, his voice husky from sleep.

  “Yes,” I breathe out, pressing my hips back towards him. I am so, so sure about this.

  He shifts himself down, lining himself up with me. His hardness is hot between my legs and I’m aching for him. I need him inside of me. An excited feeling is pulsing in my chest, mixed with the nervousness I have of doing this with him. It’s not that I don’t want to, because I definitely do. It’s just that he’s only the second person for me to do this with and I’m a little nervous. Thorne is kind and accepting. Castor is different. What if this sucks for him? What if I’m nothing like what he’s expecting? I feel his soft, plump tip at my entrance and he starts to slide himself in. The very next second, there is a banging at the door again.

  “You two decent?”

  Thorne doesn’t walk away this time, he opens the door and walks in. I freeze, completely still. Castor stops moving, but feels a lot more relaxed than I do.

  Another reason I’m so nervous.

  Is it really okay to be having sex with him with everyone else around? I mean, I know it is. Mentally, I know this but it’s hard to accept. It’s hard to understand they are okay with me being with all of them.

  Thorne’s eyes lock with mine and a knowing smirk slides across his face.

  “Sorry to interrupt but Jillian and Toni are here. You’re going to want to get up now. Before they come up here and find you.” He winks at me before leaving the room and closing the door.

  Castor lets out a frustrated growl. “He’s right. Fuck, why does he have to be right?” He rolls over to his back and I do the same.

  “We could lock the door?” I ask, not wanting to sound like a desperate fool, but now he’s got me all worked up. I don’t want to stop.

  “You don’t know them. I’m surprised they haven’t busted the door down yet. Thorne must be doing some serious distracting.” He looks at me from the corner of his eye, a small smile crossing his lips. “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” I remember hearing that quote somewhere before. I rack my brain, trying to remember where I heard it. Ah, that’s right. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It was in a book Callan let me borrow a few years back. “Come on, let’s get up and get ready before they hunt us down.”

  Thirteen

  Leona

  I follow Thorne into the kitchen where I hear a lot of chatter. As I round the corner, I see two very good-looking girls standing there. Both look oddly familiar but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before. In fact, I’m sure I’ve never met these girls. They definitely don’t go to our school. They both have an unnatural shade of red hair that I could never forget. One reminds me of the burnt orange of a red fox while the other is a bit darker with black undertones. Their eyes lock onto me at the same time.

  And holy crap. They have purple eyes!

  “Oh my god, it’s her!” one of them shouts, causing me to come to a full stop. They grab each other and grin from ear to ear.

  “Girls, calm it down, would ya? She’s just—” Thorne tries to help me out, but it doesn’t work. They plow right past him, almost knocking him on his ass, which is impressive since they’re like half his size. They both grip me and pull me into a tight hug. All three of us stand there, melded together as one. It’s awkward as hell. “Girls, come on,” Thorne growls out behind a smile. I meet his eyes and I can tell he’s holding back a laugh.

  Both girls are giggling and I can feel their smiles against my face. Maybe this wouldn’t be so weird if I knew who the hell they were.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake! Toni, get off of her,” Castor groans from behind me. “Hunter! Come get your damn sister.” Castor comes over and peels one of the girls off of me and the other slides away, finding her spot on the side of the one Castor is keeping away. “You girls are a freaking mess.” Castor shakes his head and walks over to me. Placing his hand on the bottom of my back he guides me a little distance away.

  “Stop being such a party pooper, Cas!” one girl pouts.

  “Yeah, Cas.” The other one crosses her arms over her chest, popping a hip.

  “Did you even tell her who you are?” he asks flatly.

  “You mean she doesn’t know?” the first one says, her eyes moving to me. She looks offended, but only for a second. Her eyes find Castor and her brows furrow. “You mean to tell me, you finally found your mate, and you don’t even tell her you have a twin sister?” My eyebrows shoot up at her tone towards Castor as he stiffens on the side of me.

  The other one’s eyes go wide. “Hunter!” she shouts. “He’s not getting away with this.” She storms off into the foyer and up the stairs. The other one following behind. I’m so shocked by everything going on around me I can’t help but stand back and watch it all. It’s kind of funny but also a little terrifying. They’re like Lina… times ten.