by J. L. Wilder
“Did I just break your bed?”
She clung to him. “I don’t care.”
He kissed her side of her head and stroked her bare back. “Did I break you?”
She shook her head. She was more afraid that she was breaking him. The euphoria of sex with him kept her from going as dark as she had been, but she still felt low. She was afraid if she let him go, he wouldn’t come back.
“Maggie?”
She lifted her head to meet his gaze and found him smiling. Confusion twisted her thoughts. Wasn’t he supposed to be sad?
“Baby, you’re not getting rid of us that easily. You know that, right?” He stroked her cheek and shook his head. “Just because you kiss me like you’re trying to say goodbye doesn’t mean I’m going to let you say goodbye. Got it?”
She searched his eyes for an answer to a question she didn’t even know how to pose. “I don’t deserve you.”
He rolled them over and filled her again, his shaft still hard. “You’re wrong.”
She opened her mouth on a gasp and attempted to form words as he locked his arms under hers and gripped her shoulders.
“It’s never going to be goodbye. It wasn’t two decades ago, and it won’t be now. You don’t get to tell me goodbye, Maggie. You can tell me that you’re scared. You can tell me that you’re unsure of what this whole thing is. You could even tell me that you love me. But you can’t tell me goodbye.”
She licked her lips as he slowly drove his shaft into her. He knew that she loved him. Maybe she should’ve been embarrassed or caught off guard, but she was glad he knew. She wanted to love him in a way that left him sure.
He smiled even as he drove them both higher with his slow thrusts. “I love you, too, Maggie. There’s no goodbye for me.”
She felt her heart swell as those words washed over her. He loved her. She opened her mouth to tell him that she loved him, too, but an orgasm took her by surprise.
Wyatt’s deep chuckle was sexy as he lowered his mouth to her ear and nipped her. “I know, Mags. You love me, too.”
26.
***Maggie***
Wyatt went to meet with his uncles after assuring that she was okay. After another several orgasms, she was definitely physically okay. She wasn’t sure about emotionally, but she needed time to think. She needed Sasha. She took a long, hot shower, easing her sore body. Wyatt had left an impression. He’d been so intense and determined to show her that things were okay. She could still feel his hands all over her.
When she made her way downstairs to find Sasha, she went with a blush on her cheeks. She was a grown woman, but the idea that she’d just had sex in her sister’s house was still embarrassing. Not that it was the first time, by any means.
Sasha was sitting at the kitchen counter, a smirk on her face. “Nice of you to join me, sex fiend.”
“Shut up.” Maggie sat next to her and rested her chin in her hands. “I’m sorry if you heard anything. That’s so awkward.”
“It’s only awkward if it was bad, and I’m assuming that it wasn’t. You have the look of a well-fucked woman.” At the shocked expression on Maggie’s face, she rolled her eyes. “Well, don’t act prudish now.”
“Moving on from this conversation...”
“Yeah, let’s talk about last night instead. Heard you passed out. Way to be dramatic.”
Maggie laughed because it was impossible not to laugh at Sasha. “It’s not funny.”
“No, not at all.”
Still chuckling, she shook her head. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Who cares? Let’s talk about you. I want to know what happened. The guys asked you to choose and you just passed out?” Sasha shrugged. “I get it. Way to put off choosing for a bit longer.”
Maggie bumped her sister with her elbow and rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t putting it off. I just panicked.”
“Because you can’t pick?”
Nodding, she chewed on her fingernail and sighed. “What does that say about me? I just feel horrible.”
“How could you choose? You love them each.” Sasha shrugged like it was nothing. “You don’t need to choose, Maggie. If you love them all, you love them all.”
“How are you so unphased by all of this?”
“Why would I care if you love one guy or eighteen? As long as you’re happy, Maggie. That’s all I care about. These idiots seem to make you happy. The only thing seemingly making you unhappy is you and your intense ideas about what is right and wrong.”
Maggie slumped in her seat as she studied her sister. “You’re serious.”
“Hell, yeah.”
She shook her head. “It can’t just be that easy. You should’ve seen their faces last night. They wanted me to choose between them, and they were hurting. Their faces...I don’t want to hurt them. I never have.”
“What are you going to do then?”
Looking away, Maggie hated herself for the thoughts she’d been having. She didn’t know what the answer was. She couldn’t pick one of them. She couldn’t and she wouldn’t. No matter how much she loved each of them, it was impossible to choose. So, she wasn’t going to. She understood that they needed that choice, though. She didn’t want to be a part of their daily life if it would just hurt them.
“You’re thinking of leaving again.”
Maggie met her sister’s eyes and nodded. “I don’t know what else to do. I wouldn’t leave you, though, Sasha. You could come with me. We could go wherever you wanted. I don’t belong here if I’m just going to hurt them. I can’t do it.”
Sasha scowled. “I can’t just pick up my life, Maggie, and I’m not going to. And you can’t run away every time the shit hits the fan. This is your home. This is where you belong. This is where Milo belongs.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Talk to your men! What is wrong with the four of you? You don’t communicate worth a shit. I’m starting to get angry. You are not leaving. Do you hear me? I just got you back and I’m not losing you.”
Taken aback by Sasha’s anger, she tapped her fingers on the counter and shook her head. “What am I supposed to say? Every time I open my mouth, I just make it worse. I told Wyatt that I love him this morning. Is that the communication I should be doing?”
“Sure, but maybe also talk to them about how you love them all and want them all.”
“And admit that I’m a selfish asshole?”
Sasha frowned. “You’re not a selfish asshole.”
“What else am I, then? I came back and jumped right back into having my cake and eating it, too. I’m greedy when it comes to them. I can’t keep it together. They deserve better.” She growled at the idea of it, though. “Ugh. I’m so messed up. I shifted in front of everyone yesterday. My dragon is out of control. I’m out of control. Why would they want me anywhere near them? It makes no sense.”
“Your dragon isn’t out of control. Your dragon responded to Jessi Flint and her minions being assholes. And everyone who heard that interaction rooted for you. No one thought you were out of control. You’re so hard on yourself. For no reason. All the people you love in life are telling you how great you are and how much they love you, too, but you clearly don’t trust any of us because you just don’t believe it.”
“How can I believe you when I spent my entire existence here being told I was a fuck up?”
“That sounds like something you should’ve gotten therapy for.” Sasha saw Maggie getting angry and cut her off. “No, I’m serious. You went to the city and helped other people, but did you ever get help for yourself? If you had a kid come to you and they told you what you’re telling me about their childhood, what would you say to them, Maggie? Would you tell them that they’re probably right and maybe they should leave and make life better for everyone else?”
“No, of course not!”
“Yet, you’re so quick to say it to yourself.”
“Because I don’t know what else to do! Dammit, Sasha, I don’t know!” She swallo
wed a lump in her throat and blinked away tears. “I can’t get past the voice in my head telling me what a horrible person I am. And then I see pain on their faces that I know I caused and it’s confirmed. I hurt them. I’m still hurting them.”
“Maybe you aren’t the one hurting them. Maybe they hurt themselves by asking the wrong question. Maybe you can’t choose for a reason and they should never ask you to.” Sasha cupped her sister’s face in her hands and smiled. “You need to work on how you love yourself, Mags. You are better than you give yourself credit for. Even this old clan has watched you and changed their opinions. No one thinks as horribly about you as you do.”
Maggie held Sasha’s hands. “I don’t understand any of this.”
“The guys are trying to figure it out. They don’t want you to leave, though, Mags. They want you here, with them. Just be patient. Maybe have some more sex and relax a little. Things are going to be okay. I promise.”
“And if they’re not?”
“Then I’ll leave with you. I won’t lose you again.”
Maggie fought tears and nodded. She didn’t know what was going to happen, but she didn’t have much hope. She forced a smile and nodded, though. “Sure.”
Sasha hugged her tight and blew out a sigh right into her ear. When Maggie complained, she just did it again. “Just accept my love, even if it means getting sighed on.”
“I don’t like it. Give it to someone else.”
“Fine. But my great advice goes with my love.”
“Keep that, too.”
“That’s rude.” Sasha elbowed Maggie and shook her head. “You should be nicer to me. I’m a pretty great sister.”
Maggie knew she had a great sister. A sister who yelled at her a little but talked her mostly off the edge. Maggie didn’t feel great, but she felt better. She still considered leaving a valid option if she kept hurting the guys. She would figure out how to co-parent with Maverick from afar. She just couldn’t hurt them.
“You’re not even going to ask why I’m a great sister?”
“I don’t need to ask. I already know you’re great.”
Sasha grinned. “Shucks. You’re going to want to know, though.”
“Fine. Why?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Maggie growled and stood up. “You’re a monster.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard worse. Your guys told me I was the bad sister last night.”
Maggie raised her eyebrows.
Suddenly laughing, Sasha shook her head. “God, that sounded bad. They meant that I’m more of a menace than you. So, that’s good. They don’t think you’re worse than me.”
Maggie backed away while shaking her head. “That’s like saying a crocodile is great because it’s not as bad as a shark.”
“I’m the shark? I love being the shark.”
She threw up her hands and walked towards the door. “Do you need anything from town? Do you want to come, actually?”
“You’re going back to town?”
Maggie straightened her shoulders. “Yes. It’s not like people could hate me more than they did when I first got to town.”
Sasha clapped her hands and grinned. “Oh, I can’t wait for you to see this. Come on.”
27.
***Maverick***
“I can’t believe you didn’t just tell us that!” Maverick was pissed at his uncles like he’d never been pissed before. “That’s information that would definitely help us.”
“And what if it wasn’t true? What then? You three would have convinced yourself that she was your mate and then? When things fall apart, this clan goes right along with it! We had to be sure!”
Wyatt was just as angry. “You’ve been sure! All the talk about her being special! You knew and you didn’t say anything. You left us in the dark and we hurt her because of it.”
Sawyer sank into his chair. “We tried to make her choose between the three of us. We hurt her. Do you understand that?”
Uncle Saul shook his head. “You should’ve come to us. We’re alphas for a reason! You come to your alpha when you have a problem. None of you ever did. We could’ve told you all of this two decades ago if you’d just asked!”
“How were we supposed to know that was a question we even could ask? All of the leaders told us we were wrong for what we were doing, going against each other for a girl. No one ever mentioned to us that maybe she could be the perfect woman for all of us! We lost twenty years!” Maverick wanted to vomit, he was so sick. He couldn’t believe it.
“Aren’t any of you happy about the fact that she could be your mate? You’re all too focused on the negative.” Uncle Jonah shook his head and glared at them. “As alpha, you won’t be able to do that. You need to think about the positive, as well.”
“We gave her a panic attack and she passed out!” Wyatt shouted. “So, yes, I am excited that she’s my mate, but I am also trying to reconcile with the fact that I hurt her.”
Sawyer stood up again and turned to his brothers. “Do either of you have any doubt, at all?”
Maverick shook his head and looked to Wyatt, who did the same. “We have one mate.”
Sawyer nodded. “Is this going to work? Before we take the vows to become alphas tomorrow, we need to be sure that we’re not going to destroy each other.”
“There is no backing out. You will take the vows tomorrow and you will all three become alpha. Mainly because it is your destiny, but also because Saul and I are old and need a break. And because we have gone over these vows so many times that I will murder anyone who tries to ruin this. Understand me?”
They all three looked at Uncle Jonah and rolled their eyes. Maverick wasn’t getting over his anger at the old man anytime soon.
Wyatt nodded to himself and then at his brothers. “It’s going to work. I know that it’s weird and will take some getting used to, but I love her. I love her with everything I have in me and I always have. If having her means sharing her for the rest of our lives, I will figure it out. I can’t let her go.”
Maverick nodded back. “We’ve made it work for bits of time without ever talking. If we talk and don’t close each other out, this can work. It has to. I love her, too.”
“So, we’re doing it.” Sawyer ran his hands down his thighs and blew out a breath. “I’m nervous. What if she doesn’t want this?”
“We’ll show her that we’re worth the effort.” Maverick shrugged. “She loves us. It will work.”
“The other thing, boys, is that you’ll know for sure when you each mark her. If you are all her mate, you’ll all be able to. Fate will allow it.”
Wyatt rubbed his temples and glared at his Uncle Jonah. “I’m getting tired of you.”
“What do you mean, fate will allow it?” Sawyer crossed his arms over his chest. “Is there a chance this won’t work?”
“If you’re wrong, it won’t. A true mate’s mark is bliss and a fake is a painful bite to the throat. So, either it works and you four are bound for life, or you could kill her. So, you should be sure.”
Maverick’s stomach dropped. “We could kill her. You’re serious.”
Uncle Jonah nodded. “So, if you aren’t sure, I wouldn’t take the chance.”
Uncle Saul smacked his brother. “We both agree that she’s their mate. Don’t scare them.”
“They need to know everything.”
Wyatt glowered at the old men. “Now we need to know everything. Nice.”
Sawyer looked at his brothers. “I’m sure she’s my mate. If you both are sure, then it’s real and true.”
“We have to talk to her first. If she doesn’t want to take the risk, I wouldn’t blame her.” Maverick would never do anything to hurt Maggie. Ever. “We have to do something, though. I never want to see her sad again.”
Wyatt agreed silently while Sawyer seemed lost in thought. “Let’s talk to her. We have time before the ceremony.”
“You do not.” Uncle Jonah stood up and shook his head. “Tonight is a speci
al occasion. You are meant to spend it with the previous alphas. It’s tradition. And tomorrow, you will be in preparations all day. After the ceremony, you can talk to her.”
Maverick growled and considered the consequences of throwing his elderly uncle and alpha out of a window. They might be worth it, he thought.
Sawyer sighed and nodded. “Fine. After the ceremony.”
Wyatt sank back into his seat and shrugged. “I’ve waited over two decades. What’s one more night?”
Looking down at Milo, who’d napped through their entire argument, Maverick couldn’t deny that there was a buzz of excitement coursing through his blood. They were so close to being okay.
“I’ll wait, but I’m considering putting you both in a nursing home.” He looked at his uncles and sighed. “I hate that you didn’t tell us. You don’t understand the mental gymnastics I’ve been doing, trying to figure out how this all could work. I’ve driven myself halfway insane and it all could’ve been avoided if you two had just been open with us. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that when I’m alpha, I won’t leave people in the dark. If we have information that could help them, we’ll give it to them. We’re not God. It’s not our job to play with people’s lives.”
Uncle Jonah stared hard at Maverick before nodding once and sitting back down. “I’ll consider myself properly scolded, Maverick. I’m sorry.”
He hadn’t been expecting his uncle to apologize, and it took all the wind out of his sails. He grunted. “Thanks.”
Sawyer suddenly laughed. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting any of that. Who are you and what have you done with our carefree brother?”
Maverick just shrugged and looked down at Milo. “I don’t have a clue.”
The door at the back of the room burst open and Maggie stumbled in, her head immediately snapped around to the still-open door, her finger angrily jabbing at someone. “You asshole, Sasha! I told you to go in and get him and you said you would. What is—”
