Chapter 286

Mom’s words stick with me the rest of the evening. Wyatt and Beau stay up to help Steven with the security system but everyone else is starting to head to bed.

I’ve moved my wash to the dryer, and sit on the stoop near the door in the garage.

I’m not ready for bed yet, and I just keep thinking about what Mom said. It’s already too late for me, I realize. I guess I’ve always kind of known that, but having someone else point it out to me, someone who knows me as well as my mom does, really sticks it straight into my heart.

I can’t deny it if others see it too.

I’m already attached to the brothers.

So instead of running from the feelings, I lean into them. What’s the harm of a little fantasy? I close my eyes, listen to the rumble of the dryer, and try to imagine what it would be like to be loved by each of the brothers in turn.

Neil would likely be the only one who might stick to some kind of schedule. I’m certain he has some kind of political career in his future, but he strikes me as the time who would still be home in time for dinner, rain or shine. And if he couldn’t make it home to me, he would send the car and bring me to him.

Mrs. Hayes, I’d be introduced at state dinners and conventions. Some women might sink back from the attention, and though I wouldn’t be fond of it, exactly, I could see it as a necessary evil. Another battle that I would have to fight through.

Every smile was a weapon. Every glance a sword. Every callous word, an attack aimed straight at Neil.

I wouldn’t let any of those fools hurt Neil. I’d be closer than a bodyguard. I’d be the guard of his heart.

And if we were to have children, he treat them all as princes, as sons. He would strive to be a better man than his father.

Archer, the strong silent type, would show his love more than voice it. A touch of my arm, a squeeze of my backside. I couldn’t imagine he would let me by without hinting at his affections for me. During an event, he’d likely even pull me into a darkened alcove just to kiss me, to hell if we were caught.

He’d also be my most fierce protector. He’d be a shield with his body. It would take some doing, but hopefully, someday, if he was the one, I could convince him that two swords would be best. We could be warriors together, watching and protecting each other on the battlefield.

I’d be stronger with him beside me. I wanted him to feel the same way.

Steven would overwork himself, undoubtedly. Long hours in the lab would however yield positive results for the world. He was sure to make important discovers to help the betterment of werewolves everywhere. I wouldn’t blame him for putting the good of the world first.

But, I imagine, Steven would still make time with me. Days sleeping at his lab would be cut short.

“I need to get home to my mate,” I imagined him telling his colleagues as he piled himself into the back of car with a driver, too exhausted to drive himself.

Having him stumble into my arms, able to sleep only when he’s with me, would tell me everything he could not voice with words.

Only Beau, I struggle o picture as a mate. He was such a free spirit, I wonder if even the mating bond would keep his wandering eyes from straying.

I suppose I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t tie down something so wild. I wouldn’t want to cage a bird that’s so free.

But… I couldn’t help but think he might be drawn back, time and time again, to my side, almost confused as to how he got there. Maybe his wandering eye wouldn’t go very far after all.

I sigh and drop my head down to my raised knees. I’m such a fool for even fantasizing about this. None of the brothers are my mates.

Besides… if I do mate with one, that means I would lose the others.

I don’t even want to begin to think about that. The hurt cuts straight into me just from the thought.

Behind me, the door opens. I nearly slip in surprise, but instead, I lift my head and watch as Neil looks down at me.

“There you are,” he says. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“For me?” I ask.

He steps into the garage and lets the door close behind him. He takes a few steps out into the garage and then turns to look at me.

“You’ve seemed lost all evening,” he says. “Does it have to do with my father? With what happened?”

I can comfortably answer that. “No.”

He hums, thoughtful. “Then I admittedly am not sure the cause. But I would help you through it, if need be. Did something happen with your mom.”

I blush a little, remembering the nature of my conversation with my mom, and what I’ve just been thinking about. Neil picks up on that right away.

“Something happened with your mom,” he says.

“It’s not her fault,” I say. “She meant well.”

“What did she say?” he asks.

I think quickly about how I can tell the truth without telling all of the truth.

“Mates,” I say with a sigh. “She brought that up again.” Neil was at dinner. He knows the topic already came up once today. I shake my head a little. “Honestly, I don’t know what I want. What will finding a mate mean for my life?”

There. That’s enough of the truth to not be a lie, without getting too specific.

“What will I have to give up?” I ask. I mean in terms of my dreams as a warrior. Well, maybe I mean in terms of the brothers too.

Neil seems to pick up on the latter. His hands curl into his fists and his upper lip curls. As he growls, he jumps like he startled himself. He startled me too.

He gives me an apologetic look as he shakes his head. He doesn’t apologize, but he does say, “I don’t much like the thought of you being bound to some unknown.” He sighs. “Truthfully, I’m already annoyed at having to share you with my brothers.”

I push myself to my feet. Oh, shit. Does this mean that he knew what me and Beau were up to in my bed room after all? Had he been hoping his interruption would make us stop?

I don’t know. I can’t read his mind. But I still feel like I should apologize.

Yet before I can think to say the words, something dark takes over Neil’s eyes. He straightens.

“Maybe you need to be reminded that you are ours,” he says. Then, corrects, “Mine.” He steps closer to me, looming over me in that sexy, overbearing Alpha way.

I’m ready to drop my panties already.

Oh, no. Wait. I’m wearing Beau’s boxers. Neil really isn’t going to like that. I swallow hard.

“If you think I will allow some other man to come into your life and steal you from us, you are mistaken.”

His voice is hard and dangerous. His Alpha voice.

Gods, he really does sound pissed. It’s so fucking hot.

“You are mine, Chloe. And now you will prove it.”

I nod, unable to speak, not wanting to without permission.

His eyes are dark, his voice low and sexy, as he commands, “On your knees.”