“So, you’re, uh, an administrative assistant?How long have you been doing that?”Madden’s voice was strangled, as if he could barely breathe.
“Since college.”She shrugged.“I’ll be honest, I was pissed you guys haven’t even stopped to get to know me.I mean, I know we’re mates.I get it.But I don’t even know your middle names or favorite color.Where do you live?When were you going to tell me you’re the Ruling Alphas?”She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.“Being Marked is… It’s hard.I’ve had this thing since I was born, and it meant my life was always in limbo.I went to college, but I rushed because I wasn’t sure when I’d meet my mates and even if they’d let me finish and get my degree.I didn’t know when I’d have to move.Where I’d have to go.”
She sought to calm her ragged nerves.“I’ve lived for thirty years, waiting for the other shoe to drop.Gabby is the same way, but at least her job allows her to telecommute.Plus, there was the fear of dealing with two men, two wolves, for the rest of my life.I never went looking for my mates simply because I was scared.I wasn’t looking forward to mating.Why do you think I’ve never attended a Gathering?And don’t get me started on Whitney.Your witches got herallwrong.”
Keller frowned.“I never realized.I mean, we never actually thought about what it’d be like for the women.”He shook his head.“Your life had to be a shade of hell, Scarlet.”
She shrugged, unwilling to wallow in her pity party.“No worse than any other Marked’s I suppose.It sucks, but it is what it is.”
Madden piped up.“No, it doesn’t have to be.The urge to mate is intense, I admit that, but we can work together to make the transition easier.”
Scarlet held up her hand.“No, it’s not horrible.When I met you, the Mark woke and let me know you belonged to me.By dinner,” she blushed, heat surging to her cheeks, “I was, uh, ready to cement things.But encouraging wolves to be a little understanding would probably help things when it came to your mates.I’m not saying everyone’s life is like mine.Hell, there are probably plenty of women who are eager to abandon everything in a blink for their mates.And then there are others who will have a hard time.”
She thought of Whitney, her poor sister who’d gone through life wishing for a Mark only to have the world play some cosmic joke.“We need to talk about Whitney, too.”Scarlet took another bite of her steak, suppressing the urge to groan at the taste.Her mates looked on edge already.“She doesn’t have a Mark, but she was summoned to the Gathering.It’s cruel.She worked through the disappointment and jealousy of Gabby and I having Marks while she didn’t, and then she got that stupid letter.She can’t mate a single wolf because they mate with other wolves, but she’s not Marked for an Alpha pair either.And yet, she’s here.Andif those witches are somehow going to pair her with a pair, those men better be God’s gift to wolves or I’ll shoot them myself.”She frowned to make sure they knew she was serious.
“Are you certain she doesn’t have a Mark?”Keller’s voice was low, soothing yet disbelieving.
“She’s been my sister for thirty years and has spent all of them wishing she had a Mark like me and Gabby.She never gave up looking, hoping she’d be a late bloomer, even though they are on our skin from birth.We do everything together.Except this.”She shuddered.“And I’ve seen more of Whitney’s parts every year than I care to mention while she double checks to see if she has one.”
Keller and Madden shared a look, and she sensed they were engaged in a mental conversation.She couldn’t wait to share that with them, complete their mating and be able to have those intimate, private talks.
Madden turned back to her.“We don’t use witches, we use Wardens.They’re wolves, but…not.We’ll talk with them when they arrive tomorrow.She’ll need to be, uh, examined—”
“By a female wolf.”That was non-negotiable.She wasn’t about to let her sister be manhandled by some stranger.
Keller nodded.“Okay, a female wolf.”
She relaxed, letting go of the tension she’d been carrying.“Good.”
Madden reached across the table and covered her hand with his, giving it a gentle squeeze.“We’re mates, Scarlet.Probably not very good ones so far, but we want to do everything we can to make you happy.That includes taking care of your family.They belong to us, just as you do.”
Some of the tension she’d been carrying dissipated.She recognized the truth in his words and relaxed.They could do this.Would do this.
Keller mirrored his partner’s position, tugging her fork free and twining their fingers together.“And we’ll work on merging our lives.Merging,not taking over.Your happiness is more important than anything.Ever.”
Oh.Oh, wow.It was more than she’d hoped for when she thought of mating and this…
“Okay.”
“Okay?”Hope sparkled in Madden’s eyes.
She took a deep breath.“Yeah, okay.”
“Good.”
“What about my cat?”
Madden rolled his eyes.“We promise not to eat the spawn of Satan.”
She snorted but nodded.“Good.”
Keller gave her a wicked, wicked smile.“Now, I vote we finish our conversation in bed.”
Butterflies took up residence in her stomach, but she allowed the men to lead her from the table, dismissing their half-finished meals.In a handful of steps, they were before the massive bed, and her mates urged her onto the soft mattress.
They settled on each side of her, both wolves staring down at her as if she were the tastiest treat.Heat unfurled in her belly, slinking along her nerves and warming her.She squirmed, working to alleviate the sudden ache between her thighs.
Madden, the more aggressive of her mates, leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss across her lips.When he pulled away, she followed him, raising and chasing that mouth.
