Page 50 of Claimed By My Exiled Alphas

My fingers drifted to my lips, still feeling the pressure of his mouth against mine. Gentle at first, then deeper. The taste of wine and lemon and something uniquely him. His hands in my hair, cradling my face like I was something precious.

I’d kissed Jace less than a week ago. Saturday, in the meadow, surrounded by autumn leaves and possibility. That kiss had felt right. Natural. Like coming home to something I’d forgotten I wanted.

And now I’d kissed Hollis. And that had felt right too. Different from Jace but equally real. Equally honest.

There’s nothing wrong with you.

His words settled in my chest like truth. Not reassurance I needed to beg for, but a simple statement of fact. I wasn’t broken for wanting multiple people. I was just honest.

I finally got out of the car and went inside. Dropped my purse on the entry table and headed straight for the kitchen. No point sitting in the dark spiraling. I knew what I wanted now. The question was how to make it work.

My phone buzzed. Text from Hollis:Made it home okay?

Yes. Thank you for tonight. For everything.

His response came immediately:Thank you for being honest. Sleep well.

I smiled and set the phone down. Finished my tea while planning exactly what I’d say to Jace tomorrow. No hedging. No apologizing. Just truth.

Sleep came easier than I expected now that I was done fighting myself about this. There was still some questions running through my head, still those same doubts at the back of my mind, but it was time to stop letting those doubts rule my life and actually live it.

I woke to gray dawn light and immediate clarity. Today I’d tell Jace. Tonight we’d cook together and I’d be honest about Hollis. Then I’d figure out Cassian.

My phone showed a text from Jace sent at 6 AM:Found amazing chanterelles yesterday. Want to cook together tonight? Been thinking about you.

Perfect timing.

Yes. 6 o’clock? I need to talk to you about something too.

His response came quickly:Everything okay?

Better than okay. Just honest.

Good. See you at 6.

I showered and dressed with purpose. Jeans and a cream sweater. Hair down because I liked it that way. Minimal makeup because I didn’t need armor today.

The bistro needed attention. Contractor reports to review, designs to confirm. I spent the morning making calls and organizing paperwork. Productive. Focused.

Around two, I heard footsteps on the stairs, and looked up to see Cassian in the doorway, holding a stack of documents.

“Afternoon.” He crossed to where I sat at the makeshift desk. “Final timeline from the crew. They can start Monday if you sign off.”

“Thanks.” I took the papers and scanned them. Professional. Reasonable. “This looks good.”

He didn’t leave. Just stood there studying me with those sharp gray eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re different today.”

“Different how?”

“Lighter. Like you made some decision.” He pulled out the folding chair across from me and sat. “Want to tell me about it?”

This was exactly what we needed to do but for some now that we were face to face the nerves hit me hard. But then I looked at Cassian’s concerned eyes and I realised that I had no need to be nervous. Cassian was a good man. He’d gone completely out of his way to help me and admitting that I was developing feelings for him wasn’t like telling him something awful. It was an unusual situation we found ourselves in but discussing it openly like adults was better than sitting here worrying about how everyone was going to feel and never actually resolving anything.

So I guess, I was doing this now.