His slightly formal tone makes my nose wrinkle, but I nod as everyone besides me and my pack shuffle out of the house.
When it’s just the nine of us left, Declan sighs, running his hands over his face. “Okay, look. I know we promised to stay away—”
“Is this about Mabel?” I frown, crossing my arms.
“Yes, but just listen? Please?” I nod begrudgingly, and he continues. “I know we promised to stay away, and we will, but I need to know how she’s feeling. What she’s thinking. Does she really think that we made the whole thing up? That we’re trying to trap her because we think she’s…naive?”
“I…” I sigh, standing from my spot on the couch. “I don’t think she really does. But I also know she doesn’t think you’re a true scent match. Honestly, I don’t know either, Dec.”
“But…I scented her. We all did.” He looks at the members of his pack, who all nod in agreement. Even Nolan. “And you said—”
“Dec,” I shake my head, “all I know ismyexperience. We know they gave her the same concoction they gave me, but it didn’t have the same effect on her. She can’t scentanythin’—not even Rory’s scent all over the sweatshirt she was wearin’.”
“It could still be true,” Declan insists, even as Rory’s expression turns dejected. “Maybe her nose just doesn’t work anymore.”
“It could,” I say gently, “but if she isn’t open to it…” Huffing, I shake my head. “Even if youareher true scent matches, it doesn’t give you ownership of her. It’s still her choice to make.”
Rory looks pained. “But you could—”
I hold up a hand, stopping him. “As much as I love all of you, she’s been through too much for me to try to push her in a direction she doesn’t want to go.”
“So what, we’re just supposed to…accept this? What world exists where true scent matches don’t end up together?” Declan sounds desperate, a sound that breaks my heart.
But I’ve already hurt Mabel enough by trying to make decisions for her. I’m not about to do it again.
“This one. At least for now.” My jaw is tight, and I sigh, taking a deep breath. “Just…give her time and space. She’s still recoverin’ from the trauma of the last five years.”
“How long?” Rory seethes. “How long are we supposed to just sit on our hands while our true scent match is alone and afraid? According to you, if we bond her, she’ll be able to scent us—”
“And what then?” I snap. “What if sheisn’tyour true scent match? If that’s your whole reason for wantin’ to be with her, and it turns out you’re not a match—you’ll still be bonded, and she will be just the same as she was before. Will you be able to accept that?”
“That’s not the only reason why,” Declan mutters.
“How is it not the only reason?” I cross my arms. “You’ve not even had a full conversation. What reason could you have for wantin’ to be with her?”
Declan doesn’t have an answer for that.
I can feel the muscles in my shoulders tighten, but they relax slightly when I feel Kole’s hand grasp my shoulder. I glance at Nolan and Aidan, who haven’t said a word. “You two are awfully quiet.”
Aidan’s fingers absentmindedly stroke the jagged scar on the front of his throat. The ink of his tattoo covers it, but he’s always aware of it. “I don’t blame her.” His usually stoic voice holds the barest hint of emotion. “I don’t think I’m ready to let anyone bite me again either—and I only haveonemark. She has five.”
The old flame of rage at the alpha who scarred the man who is like an older brother to me flickers in my chest, but I push it down. “And you?” I look at Nolan.
He shrugs. “I’m not about to beg someone to be with me.” There’s an undercurrent of hurt in his voice, and I can’t help but notice he said “me”, and not “us”.
Is thisjustabout Mabel?
Declan whips his head around, eyes narrowing. “Nolan, that’s not—”
Nolan cuts him off, standing abruptly. His expression of feigned nonchalance crumbles on the spot, a stark difference from the calm and easygoing alpha who told her to “take care of herself" only a few days ago. “It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t want us? Fine. We don’t need her.” He storms out of the room, a flurry of hurt feelings and misplaced anger.
“That’s not fair,” I shake my head, “none of you are bein’ fair to her…except for Aidan.”
Hayden surprises me by speaking up, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “She’s got some real damage, guys. I’ve seen it. I went to high-five her the other day and she flinched back on instinct.”
Growls rip out of Declan and Aidan, but they quickly catch themselves.
“We fucking know that, dumbass!” Rory snaps at Hayden, standing and pulling at his bun. “Why the hell do you think we want to help so badly?”
