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Mercy didn’t wait a nanosecond before hugging her sister. “Aw, babe, what happened?”
“It’s just that I’m an idiot,” Ree said.
“What about? Where’s Duke? Why are you home so early?” Mercy leaned away from Ree.
Ree slipped from her sister’s grasp and walked into the apartment. Mercy looked at Barron with raised brows and he shrugged. They followed, and he closed the door behind them, leaning against it and giving the two time to talk. Even if he could hear everything they said, at least they had the illusion of privacy.
He scented the air, wondering why Duke wasn’t with the female even though she smelled as if they were fully mated.
Then Ree shared the tale of her night, when Duke promised he wanted to be her mate but had left her alone in his apartment, apparently with no intent on coming back.
Mercy called for Barron and he walked into the kitchen, sliding his arms around her and tucking her against him. “Yes, love?”
“I thought you said that Duke had picked Ree as his heart-match?”
“He did. She’s wearing his mating mark.” The puncture wound on the side of her throat was mostly healed and very visible.
“Then why did a lioness from another pride show up and claim to be his mate?” Ree asked, lifting her bloodshot gaze to Barron.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Is he really next in line for alpha?” Ree asked.
“His father is the current alpha.”
“He probably can’t be alpha with a human for a mate, right?”
“It’s against our pride laws. But if he mated you last night, then he’s stepped down from taking over the pride for you. Why the females showed up this morning, and where Duke is... I couldn’t say. Would you like me to call him?” He debated telling her he’d already given Duke her location, deciding the male could tell him herself if and when he showed up.
“No.” Ree shook her head emphatically. “If he really meant everything, he wouldn’t have left me like he did.”
“Maybe he had to,” Mercy said.
“Why didn’t he leave a note? Or send me a text or call? I just want to forget everything. I made a mistake, but I won’t make it again.”
Ree’s gaze drifted to Mercy’s neck. Mercy shared what had happened between them. His cat purred when his heart-match called him ‘irresistible,’ and he pulled her close, nuzzling her neck.
“Ree!” Duke’s bellowing voice was loud enough to make Barron wince. Duke pounded on the door. “Open the door.”
Ree shook her head. “I don’t want to see him.”
“What if he came to apologize?” Mercy asked.
“I don’t have that kind of luck. Make him go away, please.” Ree left, heading down the hall and shutting and locking a door.
“There isn’t anything for you here,” Mercy called to Duke through the closed door.
“I need to explain.”
“Those women in your apartment explained things really well to my sister. You broke her heart. Go away or I’ll call the cops.”
Barron was impressed with her brave words. Her shoulders were square, her jaw set, and when he turned her to face him, he could see the fierce protectiveness in her blue eyes. “Love, we shouldn’t interfere.”
“I’m not. I’m telling him to go to hell the fastest possible route and disappear forever.”
He snorted. “He came for her, Mercy. We can’t stand in the way of them making amends. It’s not our business.”
“She’s my sister.”
