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“How does that work? You guys—you guys don’t mind sharing?”

“We don’t think of it as sharing, but as being complete. You complete us. Between the two of us, we can love and protect you.”

With a shake of her head, she expressed her skepticism. The wisps of her hair danced around his nose, and he couldn’t resist rubbing it against the back of her head. The primal urge of the wolf inside him was to cover her with its scent through rubbing. The thought of possessing her stirred a primal desire within him. He hesitated, unwilling to mark her without Van by his side to do the same.

“I don’t understand any of this. Why do I feel so strongly about you both? I fought it. I don’t want to feel this way,” she confessed.

A deep sense of hurt washed through him. “Why? What’s wrong with us? Van and I are the good guys. Yeah, we have our faults, but it isn’t anything bad. I tend to be messier than Van, but at least I can cook a decent meal. Van’s idea of cooking is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not super messy. I just file things differently than Van.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

She released a long sigh. “You guys are… Others.”

“Others? What the hell is that?”

She rolled onto her back and scowled at him. “You’re an Other, a shifter. The natural enemy of humans. We aren’t supposed to, you know, be together. We aren’t even supposed to like each other.”

He leaned up on his elbow and frowned down at her. “Says who? Hell, until a couple of months ago, Van and I didn’t even know a human existed! How the hell are we not supposed to like humans if we didn’t even know you existed? I’ll tell you this one time and one time only, Van and I… we don’t just like you, darling, our hearts, happiness, and lives are in your delicate little hands. Our wolves have imprinted on you. That means for better or for worse, you have the power to take us to the stars, or?—”

He pursed his lips together, feeling the tension in his face, and then fell back onto his back, seeking solace from the world by covering his eyes with his arm. He wasn’t going to manipulate her into feeling something she didn’t genuinely experience. The choice had to be hers. She had two choices: either to accept them or not.

The heavy weight in his chest seemed to increase, pressing down on him with each heartbeat. The only sounds that filled the air were the raspy, heavy breaths escaping his lips, the crackling of the fire, and the rhythmic pitter-patter of the rain. With each passing moment of silence, his feeling of desolation increased and became more pronounced. The visions of a never-ending longing for his mate, unable to experience the sensation of her lips or the warmth of her embrace, filled him with an indescribable sadness.

“Or—?”

The question was so soft that he almost didn’t hear it. With a gradual movement, he brought his arm down, his gaze fixated on her with an unwavering intensity. He had been so lost in his misery that he hadn’t felt her move. Uncertainty filled her eyes, reflecting her inner turmoil.

“Or tear our hearts out until we are nothing but a shell of who we once were.” He lifted his hand to trace her cheek with his fingers. “I know this must seem strange to you. Humans are different from shifters. We must contend with our primal self. When we wolves discover our mates, we imprint on them. It is a connection, an invisible thread, that connects our soul to our other half. Without it, we are destined to live a half-life. The emptiness grows stronger as we age. When I look at you, I see your colors. I see the vivid aura that reaches for me. It pulls at me, creating a warmth and light that is utterly amazing. My wolf is calm, happy, and content for the first time. You are the light to my darkness, Jayden. You are—life.”

She lifted her hand and pressed his against her cheek. “And Van? He… feels the same way?”

He nodded. “Yes. Probably stronger in some ways. He’s slightly older and the son of an alpha. Plus, he’s just more intense.”

“But… two? How does that even work?” she mused. “I’ve seen plenty of couples. I can’t imagine having to deal with two guys. There were times I thought my mom would strangle my dad when he was being ornery. It would be crazy dealing with two of you guys when you were in a mood.”

“We’d work it out,” he promised.

Her eyes darkened with emotion. “I never wanted—” She shook her head and averted her eyes.

He tenderly tilted her chin until their eyes met again. “What did you never want?”

Her face contorted with a mix of trouble and uncertainty before she finally spoke in a hushed tone, confessing, “I never wanted to experience love.”

With a gentle motion, he enveloped her in his embrace, bringing her close until her cheek rested against his chest. With a tender touch, he smoothed her hair and let his hand glide down her back, offering comfort. As he continued to caress her, she melted into his embrace, feeling completely relaxed.

“It will be alright. All we ask is that you give us a chance,” he murmured against her hair.

“I’ll… try.”

Her voice quivered with emotion, and he couldn’t help but feel his heart melt at the sound. His eyes moved to the entrance of the small structure. In the dim light, the silhouette of Van’s black wolf cast a dark shadow. His eyes gleamed with the reflection of the dancing firelight. Van had listened intently to their conversation, aware of the high stakes involved.

With each gentle stroke on Jayden’s back, he could sense her drifting into a much-needed, rejuvenating sleep. Van entered, turned in a circle, and laid down across from them on the other side of the fire facing the entrance. As they settled down for the night, he felt a deep gratitude, knowing that his friend would be their protector while they slept.

He gently repositioned Jayden, ensuring she was lying beside him once more, and tucked her in snugly with the blanket. As he wrapped his arm around her waist, he softly kissed the back of her head, relishing the intimate gesture before closing his eyes. With each passing moment, a sense of contentment washed over him, gradually causing his body to release tension.

She accept us. You see. She accept us.