by Belle Harper
“Then what’s the problem?”
It was Galen who spoke up this time.
“Lexi, I thought Jack and Grayson told you everything… but I guess not.” He cleared his throat.
“Take a seat, Lex.” Ranger took a seat beside me. I looked to Raff and he nodded but didn’t let go of me as he pulled me to sit back down at the desk and then sat across from me.
My heart was racing. They left out the super hearing thing. What else could there be?
I turned to Raff when Galen didn’t say anything. His eyes went a little wild, he opened his mouth then closed it. He didn’t want to tell me? Or he couldn’t put it into words?
“I will start, since I come from a pack where this is… well… That this is… um, shit. Galen.” Ranger looked to Galen. His head was forward and his big, dark curls covered his eyes.
“In the wolf shifter societies—and in bears and a few others—they have been cursed. Have you heard of this?” I nodded. The curse that they couldn’t have females, and they turned normal females into wolf-shifters. I pressed my back hard against the chair. What the hell? I wasn’t going to be one. No way.
“Nothing is happening to you, calm down, Lexi. I was just trying to figure out where to start. So, I guess you know about the venom and how to turn a female. Works the same for my kind. But with shifters, there is not always success with the transformation.
“Because of that, what most packs do is pair or group males together. They usually pick their packmates when they are young, usually around their first shift. You still with me?”
Loud and clear, but this time I wasn’t so freaked out like when Jack told me. This was easier. I didn’t know if it was because of Galen or because Raff was holding my hand. He squeezed it, like he knew I needed to feel him still with me.
“So, a packmate is like Jack and Grayson?” Ranger let out a strange sound, then coughed. I watched him cover his mouth. He raised his hand up in apology to me.
“Sorry, that is a little different. They are gay and are bonded mates. Not bi.”
Okay, I already knew that. Oh… oh Callum. He said he was Ranger’s packmate.
“Callum is your packmate. You’re bi.” I didn’t realize Ranger was bi. The way he was all over the girls at school and forever tormenting me with his shitty pick-up lines. And the way he acted so rudely about thinking his brother was gay… he was deflecting from the real him. That had Ranger’s eyes flare, his mouth dropped open than closed. I had never seen him speechless. I quickly reached over to his fist, which was holding onto the edge of the desk, his knuckles white and placed mine hand over it.
“I’m sorry. Callum said that to Maverick earlier. I didn’t realize you weren’t open like that. Raff and I won’t say anything.” I looked over and Raff’s brows were drawn in a puzzled look toward Ranger. When Raff caught my eye, he nodded and smiled. God, he was such a beautiful guy. I turned back to Galen, who was watching us all, his head bouncing back and forth between us.
“Ranger, I didn’t know. I thought that just Mav was bi, but if—”
Ranger suddenly moved and stood. “Mav is bi? What the fuck. He never said anything… he didn’t tell me.” Ranger looked upset. I guess since Galen was his teacher, or the wolf vampire guy, and he knew that about his brother. Ranger didn’t know his own twin was bi and it upset him.
Ranger turned to me. “I’m not bi, Callum is my packmate. He is my best friend. We made that pack together when we were thirteen. It means that when I find a mate, he and I will both mate with her. She will have both of us, bond with both of us.” He looked to Galen for help as I let the words sink in.
“So, are you telling me that you and Callum will share a female?” They all nodded.
“But… wait up. What happens if the girl doesn’t want you both?”
I could see Ranger was still distracted by the news about Maverick, so Galen spoke up. “So, there are families in Kiba where there is a female and two, three males, or there is the Jones family. Callum and his brothers have four fathers and one mother. The only family in Kiba that doesn’t have this is the Lovells. Alaric is Alpha, and it would be impossible for him to share. Alpha’s don’t share well, and all their offspring are alpha-born.”
Wow, talk about an info dump. Callum has four dads? Holy shit.
“Do… vampires share, too?” That caught Galen off guard. He shifted on the desk he was sitting on.
“Not usually, no. And not with wolves… usually,” he muttered the last word. Usually. Was he saying that he would share if it was the right person? God, when he looked at me like that, it was hard to forget he was like mega old and drinks blood. Like I assume he does—he hadn’t spoken about himself at all. But yeah… wait.
“Raff, do you have a packmate?” Shit, how did I not think to ask that? When he chuckled and squeezed my hand, he shook his head.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Maverick
The ride home was tense. Ranger had been avoiding me today. When Rafferty marked Lexi, things calmed down a small bit, but the shifters were still pissed that she was with a rogue wolf. They didn’t understand why she wouldn’t choose a more worthy mate.
Honestly, Rafferty was worthy. I had seen what he had done for her—how he made her smile and helped her sleep with those nightmares she had. If any shifter deserved her, he did. Even though he did mark her without her knowing, which was dodgy as fuck. But he told her, and she asked him to mark her. I heard them last night. I tried not to listen, but after days of her sadness, I wanted to see what made her happy. So I could maybe try. But it was Rafferty that made her happy, just by being there.
But in the last few days, I realized, I was fucked. Her scent around my house, lingering through the doorways… and God, when she wore barely anything to dinner. Yeah, I couldn’t keep those thoughts out of my head and spent too much time in my shower. So did my brothers, which I wished I didn’t hear, especially if they were thinking about Lexi.
“What happened?” I thought that maybe Lexi had said something to upset him, but then again, she was always rejecting him and he was usually even more determined to be her mate. He just wasn’t the usual Ranger—and everyone had noticed today at lunch.
“Is there anything you want to tell me? You know, cause you’re my brother. My twin?” he snapped at me. I shifted to look at him as he drove us home. I tried to recall what he would be mad about. I didn’t think he would have cared this much about how I had to move in and protect Lexi from some Kiba shifters, from his packmate. That was over and done with. Fixed.
“You’re mad that I didn’t tell you about Lexi? Being unmarked this morning?” I honestly had no clue. When his eyes flashed to mine, I could see he was getting close to shifting. Fuck.
“Just tell me, don’t fucking shift in the car. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
The air in the car was getting thick and I could smell his anger, but then there was something else. Sadness?
“Ranger, please, I will tell you anything, just calm down.”
After a few minutes, I could finally feel him start to relax. He took a few deep breaths. “Are you bi?”
I was a little taken back by that, I wasn’t expecting that. Shit. I only told one person that. Years ago, I told him I liked boys, but that I also liked girls the same way. And he told me that was natural, especially with shifters. But I never spoke about it again. Fuck. I hung my head. I could understand why he was upset. I didn’t tell him, and my own twin found out from Galen.
“So, it’s true. You told Galen but not me. I didn’t know we kept secrets. Shit, is that why you haven’t been into any of the girls at school? I feel like such a shit brother. I should have figured this out sooner. Until Lex came along, you never did anything… did you? With girls, I mean. I have never seen you hook up, I should have known.”
I ran my hands down my face and groaned. Yes, I had been with girls, I hadn’t been with any guys, though. That was something I hadn’t worked out yet.
; “I have been with girls. I’m not a virgin.” The car suddenly stopped and the belt pulled against my chest before my head hit the headrest.
“Hey, what the hell?” I could see our place just up ahead. But that didn’t stop Ranger, he turned to me.
“Look, I know we haven’t been the best twin brothers. Well, I probably haven’t been the best since Mom died. But I just found out you are bi, and you are also not a virgin. These are things you could have shared with me. I know, I know… you’re the quiet brother, the steady one. I’m the loose cannon with a big mouth.” He looked out the window and I could see what he was staring at—Lexi was getting out of the car and Rafferty swung his arm over her shoulder and walked her into the house. They looked so happy, and I wished I was there, part of that.
Wow. Okay, hold up. Where did that thought come from? No, I didn’t. I didn’t want that. I will just keep telling myself that.
“Who was it?” Ranger asked. Who was who? I looked at him confused. “Your virginity?”
Fuck, I didn’t want to tell him that. But I would rather just get it out since he was kinda into her for a while. “Olivia.”
Ranger’s mouth dropped open and his brows creased. “Really? Olivia the one I was fucking?” I nodded. The very same one, except before Ranger came along, she had taken my virginity. When I realized the shitty mistake I had made, I told her that I wouldn’t tell Ranger or any of the Kiba boys if she wanted to move on with them. I knew that some of them might not have liked that I had been with her, especially since I was the son of the alpha. She would have been off limits to the others. I didn’t want to do that to her because I had made the mistake.
“Huh, anyone else? Like… Saint?” I didn’t look at Ranger, but I knew why he would assume Saint. He was my closest friend, practically my packmate. But we had never really spoken about that—it wasn’t official or anything. I wasn’t sure about his feelings toward me in that way, I was pretty sure Saint was straight, but I liked him, a lot. He was attractive but I didn’t see myself with him—we had too much history. There has only been one guy I have ever wanted to kiss, and I wasn’t about to tell my brother that.
“No, no. I haven’t even told him. Just fucked Olivia, and that was one time and I regretted it right after. I might seem old-fashioned, but I wish I saved myself. You know, for the one. My mate. Instead, I was horny and had a few beers in me. Olivia asked if I wanted to fuck and my cock said yes… and my head was too drunk to tell me no. But my heart reminded me straight after. And I felt like shit. I promised not to tell anyone, I didn’t want her in that way.
“It was stupid mistake I made last year. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but then you two were really together for some time there. And I wanted to tell you, for so long. But the more time passed, I realized I was too late. I took too long so I didn’t say anything.”
Ranger moved over and surprised me when he wrapped me in a hug. My arms wound around his body and I released a deep breath, relaxing into his forgiving hug.
“Mav, fuck. Dude, you have to talk to me more. You have to let me in. I hate this. We used to be so close. We need that again.” There was a long silence. I debated whether to tell him about my feeling towards Lexi or not. I held him tighter worried he would pull away.
“Lexi, she smells like mine. She is mine.”
Lyell was waiting for me in my room when I got inside the house. I felt emotionally exhausted and I wasn’t in the mood for anyone, even him.
“Lexi came and spoke to me.” Her name had my ears pricked. Lyell was not one to talk, so this must be important. I flopped onto my bed and turned to show him I was listening.
“She finished Emma, so I gave her the copy of Sense and Sensibility.”
I nodded. That was good; I was glad she was seeking out Lyell and he could help her like that.
“Well, you only gave me those two. I thought you might want to stock up on more. Or maybe get her a kindle? Then she can load up all the books she wants.”
That was a great idea. Why didn’t I think of that?
“That’s a great idea, I will look into it. I’m just tired. I’m gonna have a nap.” He left, closing the door behind him, and I sunk deep into my bed and tried not to think of all the day’s events. But my mind wouldn’t be still.
Ranger didn’t speak to me after I told him that Lexi was mine. I wasn’t sure if he was upset with me or upset that she smelled like that to so many shifters. But it had to be said, I couldn’t keep lying to him.
Lying to myself.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lexi
I was in the kitchen making a sandwich when Jett had appeared. He surprised me at first, just kind of snuck up on me.
“That looks good.” I didn’t know what to say. Did he want me to make him one? He just smiled and moved around me, pulling out a large bag of Doritos. He opened it and proceeded to watch me clean up the mess I made.
“Did you want to watch a movie with me?” I looked back at him. Um… I looked for someone else, but it was just the two of us here. I didn’t know what to say. Why did he want to watch a movie with me?
“I saw you like reading Jane Austen. We have like, every movie you could want. I’m sure we would have all of them. I have seen Pride and Prejudice, the one with Kiera Knightly. That one is pretty good. Or we could watch Clueless… that’s based off Jane Austen’s Emma.” I took a bite of my sandwich and just watched him as he spoke to me, like this was normal. It was normal for him to have me in his kitchen fixing myself a sandwich while he eats his Doritos and talks about watching a movie with me.
Raff had gone upstairs to his room when we got home. I followed him up and found Lyell on my way. I returned Emma to him and he gave me a new one. I had never read Sense and Sensibility. I thought I would make myself some food—I couldn’t believe how much food was in this house. Raff said to come in his room whenever I wanted, he was just catching up on some homework. He was giving me space, which was nice. I had never been in a relationship before, and well… I guess this was what we were now. He was my boyfriend? Was he? I was still trying to process the whole “multiple mates” thing from earlier.
“We have a popcorn machine.” They do? I cocked my brow and he knew he had me at popcorn. He chuckled.
“Come on, bring your plate. You haven’t had a tour yet, have you?” I shook my head. I didn’t know what half this house held; it was huge, and I only had been in a few rooms. As Jett led me down a hallway, I started to worry that this was a bad idea. Was he leading me somewhere to get me alone?
“It’s okay, you don’t have to fear me, Lexi.” He smiled again, it was warm and he seemed genuine. I nodded and followed him. Raff said shifters had really good hearing, so he would hear me if I called out. Right?
“Here is the movie room, and it’s got a stocked fridge, and here is the popcorn machine. I will start it up.” I slowly edged into the room. Holy shit. He wasn’t joking, it was a full movie theater with the red velvet walls and seating. There was a row of seats across the top and the bottom row was like a giant bed, with pillows and a few throws, this was the most colorful room in the whole house. You could spend all day here.
“Take a seat.” He gestured to the seating, I moved down to the front and sat down. I positioned a pillow behind me and took a bite from my sandwich. “Water?” Jett held up a bottle of water and I nodded. He threw it at me, I held onto my plate and flinched away, but it landed just away from me then rolled gently toward me. “Sorry, I wasn’t throwing it at you.”
It didn’t take long for me to relax and the screen started up.
“The one with Keira Knightly?” he asked, referring to the movie that I had never seen. I didn’t watch very many movies, only really seen Twilight and that was because I read the books. So I was a little excited.
“Yes, please.” The lights went off, just a small strip of light where the stairs were leading down to the bottom glowed lightly. Then the sound switched on, and it was all around me like I was inside the mov
ie. I was part of it. I could smell the popcorn and the movie started. I placed my empty plate beside me and pulled a throw up on me. This was perfect… too perfect.
When I felt the spot beside me dip slightly, I saw Jett had a huge bowl of popcorn between us. He reached in and took a handful to his mouth. He shoved so much in at once, he started to cough. I laughed. His eyes flashed to mine and they crinkled at the edges.
“Glad you thought that was funny… I was dying here.” And with that, I turned back to the movie smiling and we ate and watched in a comfortable silence. It was the first time since being here that I felt so comfortable in the presence of a Lovell brother. Other than Lyell, but this was different. This wasn’t sitting with me out of pity; this was wanting to sit with me.
While the credits were rolling, Jett leaned over and wagged his eyebrows at me. “Pretty good?”
I giggled. “That was so much better than I expected. Oh man…” I held my hands to my chest, all the feels. It was so romantic and the scene in the rain. So hot.
“Now let’s watch a real movie,” someone shouted from behind. I turned and saw Ranger standing in the doorway just as he started to bound down to us. I rolled my eyes. Really?
“Your spoiling a good moment here,” I told him, wishing he would just go away.
“Not that it wasn’t a real movie, that was great. But I mean, like something with more… action.” Ranger said, smile on his face. I looked to Jett, who was watching Ranger, he had bounced over and started up the popcorn machine again. I looked down to our bowl, empty except for a few un-popped corn kernels. Ranger reminded me that it was time to leave, Raff was waiting for me in his room. Shit, which one was his room again? I got up, and some popcorn fell off my lap. I reached down and started to pick it up and put it on my used plate. Jett stood and did the same.