“I wasn’t saying you guys did anything wrong, I’m so glad you told me I just want to take it slow. Is that okay?” I say quickly to try and fix their mood but it doesn’t improve.
“It’s not that, I would love to say yes and let you go and digest for now, but Aly, there’s more we need to tell you right away. Otherwise, you’re going to have questions when you realize some things and don’t have answers. Can you push through a little longer?” Nic asks.
Oddly enough, they’re all glancing over at Jeremy to see how he’s taking things but he’s just stone faced as usual. Why are they worried about him? It’s possible he didn’t want me to know this about them.
“Okay, I trust your judgment. Let’s keep going,” I say and Nic smiles his approval.
“Aly, in the supernatural community we have these things called mates. Sometimes they’re portrayed in the media but of course they get things wrong. Have you ever heard of them?” Nic asks.
My heart starts pounding in my chest at the mention of mates, has one of them found theirs and they are trying to let me down easy?
“Ya, I guess I know a little. They’re your perfect match right? The person made for you?” As I ask, I gaze around at them and they all give me deep expressions as I say it.
Nic smiles at that and nods, “yes, except you’re talking in the singular sense, which is one of the things media has gotten wrong. We mate in groups, usually multiple males to one female.”
My heart starts pounding with that tidbit of information, “are you using me as practice for when you share a mate?!” I shout, enraged at the idea.
They all balk at me like I’ve slapped them.
“No, no, calm down you’ve got it wrong Aly. We would never do that,” Kiran starts but I’m too mad to let him keep going. It all makes sense now.
“Why not? Why else would you want to share me, if not for practice?” I shout, trying to get out of Jay’s lap.
But he doesn’t let me, he bands his arms around me until I can’t move. Nic leans in and grabs my face, making me look into his eyes as he says, “Aly, we want to share you because youareour mate. We already know it’s you.”
I deflate at that, anger replaced by shock once again. I’m theirmate? The person destined for them? Then why were they looking around guiltily and watching Jeremy’s reaction?
Oh, “but not Jeremy’s?” I ask, avoiding looking at him.
I’m staring at Nic, who winces as I say it but before he gets a chance to respond, someone is pulling my chin away from him and to the other side.
I’m staring right into Jeremy’s eyes as he says, “you’re my mate too. I’m sorry I ever made you doubt that.”
And for a second, I’m not mad about the way he’s treated me. He looks so earnest and honest staring at me right now. But then he leans back and the spell is broken, my walls start building back up again.
“Okay, is that everything?” I ask.
And once again they share a guilty look.
“No, there’s more. I’m sorry Aly,” and Nic looks a lot more sorry than I would expect for that statement.
“Let’s take a break,” Kiran suggests and I love that he can tell I need it.
Nic looks ready to object but to my surprise Jeremy steps in, “she’s overwhelmed, she needs a break or she might lose it.”
Nic nods then looks back to me, “can you please stay through dinner so we can continue after? I just don’t want you trying to leave before we finish.”
“Yes, I promise I’ll stay.”
Three
Aly
We start heading downstairs to the kitchen and the guys are all being super careful around me.
Jay runs ahead of me to open any door, Kiran keeps staring at me and smiling, Jax keeps stealing peeks when he thinks I’m not paying attention, Nic is dead silent and Jeremy is completely ignoring me.
Some part of me wants to go reassure Jeremy, give him a hug or hold his hand but that’s crazy. I’m the one who’s whole world was blown up, shouldn’t I be wanting reassurance and affection instead of giving it out? Plus, experience would tell me, he wouldn’t want that from me but for some reason I feel like he needs it.
