Page 26

Mateo

Vince stayed with him, though his thoughts seemed far away. The moment Mateo moved to go to bed, Vince stopped him. “She loves us.”

He crooked his eyebrow at his friend and found himself rather surprised to see him nearly pale with disbelief. “That is what fated mates do.”

“Why doesn’t she hate us? We took everything from her, yet here she is, wanting our bond.”

“She grew up trusting her goddess. As you said, she believes Isis knows her better than anyone.”

“How do we deserve her? How do I deserve her?”

Mateo wanted to have the answer so badly, but he could only watch as Vince crumbled before his eyes.

Vince was always the quietest, most guarded, of them all.

But he was also often the most level-headed, yet even he was at a loss as to how to handle falling for a woman after swearing off relationships entirely.

Before he could find words to help his friend, Vince stood and walked away. Not to his room but back to the workshop. Physical work was always soothing to his soul.

Though Mateo was dead on his feet, he couldn’t move.

He desperately wanted to go to bed, but he felt paralysed by what had occurred over the past few hours.

It felt as if they’d taken steps in the right direction but at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel defeated.

With so many emotions and situations bundled under one roof, it seemed impossible to make everyone happy, especially his sweet, gorgeous Scarlett.

As if she’d sensed him thinking about her, she descended the stairs, clutching her heating pad to her chest.

“If you’re cold I can turn off the air.”

She shook her head and turned on the microwave.

“Just for comfort?”

Scarlett nodded, watching the microwave. “Mmhmm.”

Mateo didn’t care to force a conversation; it was late and she had so much to digest herself—perhaps more than the three of them combined. Halfway back up the stairs she paused and called out for him. “Mateo?”

Mateo swooned on the spot, the simple sound easing his inner turmoil. He loved hearing his name fall from her lips. By waiting so long to learn it, she’d made it special. “Yes, love?”

“Why aren’t you upset about the bond? You seem to be the only one who isn’t.”

“Will you let me hold you while I explain it to you?”

Without hesitation, she crossed the room and waited. Mateo sat against the backrest and made room between his legs for her. Once she sat before him, her back leaning against his chest, he covered her in the blanket, letting his arms close around her.

“You feel good in my arms,” he whispered, nuzzling into her hair.

“I’ve thought about you holding me every day,” she confessed.

Mateo’s heart was fit to bursting. “Oh, love, you are drugging me with your sweet compliments.”

“Will you tell me now?”

“The moment my father told me about the mate bonds, I was intrigued. Although, rather than seeing it as something weak, I found it wonderful. It was something to look forward to. I couldn’t imagine growing up knowing that my goddess had created someone just for me.

Humans spend so much time seeking their life partner that it seems like a waste.

The more I learned about it, the more jealous I became of the trust that your kind had in meeting their one and only and knowing it at first sight. I grew envious.”

He inhaled her scent, taking in how her chest heaved beneath his hold and how she relaxed into him with every word he spoke.

“Then I saw you. Perfect, gorgeous you. I could’ve fallen to my knees and thanked your goddess for listening to me. Instead of punishing me for my hate towards her, she showed me mercy and gave me what I’ve always craved. She gifted you to me. My mate. My one and only.”

“Mateo,” she breathed.

“I only felt betrayed once I realised that I had to share you. As if she wanted to show me what I could’ve had just long enough to know what it meant to lose it—to lose you . I wanted you all to myself but just like Vince said, Isis knows us better than we know ourselves.”

He let his lips caress her neck, brushing the spot where a wolf would have marked her. His arms uncrossed over her chest, his hands running from her shoulders down her arms. He took his time feeling her shiver, even under the thickness of the hoodie’s sleeves.

“When I saw them falling for you, I knew why she’d chosen all three of us to be yours. We all need you, little love. Probably more than you need us.”

His fingers had reached her wrists, then threaded through hers while he continued to pepper kisses over her neck and to her ear. Only when she turned her head to face him did he see the tears crawling down her cheeks.

“Oh, Scarlett.” He kissed one away, only to have her melt deeper into his chest. “I know we aren’t what you expected when you pictured a future with your mate, but I promise we will give you anything you ever wish for. We are yours. Forever.”

“I know.” Her voice was soft, barely a hum. “Don’t stop holding me. Please.”

“You couldn’t pay me enough to do so. Does it feel good to be in my arms again?”

“Yes,” she panted.

His right hand released hers and teased at the hem of the hoodie. “I can make you feel so much more if you let me.”

Scarlett’s breathing grew shallow as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist. At first, he thought she’d stop him, but she only guided his hand farther south. Easing her into his touch, he let his fingers stroke over her thigh, gradually moving inward and towards the apex of her legs.

“Vince told us what you did,” he hummed. “You were so brave. I wish I could’ve seen it.”

He teased the fabric covering her pussy, eliciting a shiver.

“You were so strong to stand up to your father. Telling him that we’ll always come for you. That we’ll always protect you.”

He wasn’t sure if she knew, but her nails dug into his arm as he added pressure with his hand.

“You did outstanding, love. Perfect even.”

“He got hurt,” Scarlett whimpered.

“You saved him. You made sure he got out and you protected him like none of us could have.” With more pressure to her clit, her thighs quivered with the effort of staying open. “You did so well, love.”

And then the most sweetest sound rolled from her lips. The softest of moans he’d ever heard.

“Oh, Scarlett,” he groaned. “My sweet, gorgeous Scarlett.”

He pressed a kiss behind her ear and then ran his lips along her shell, rolling her lobe between his teeth.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ezra appear in the shadows of the stairs, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.

The erection straining the fabric was evident.

He didn’t move any farther, and Mateo couldn’t tell if he would’ve been upset if Ezra had.

Mateo felt possessive over this moment with her.

After all he was the one who had made her feel the most welcomed.

This was his reward for not being a jerk towards her and part of him didn’t want to share her yet.

With his attention back on her, he moved his hand to push into her leggings.

He was slow, giving her time to process—time to tell him to stop.

He would accept it, would take anything and all she was willing to share with him.

Though when she arched her hips into his palm, he took that as his permission.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as he ran his fingers through her curls to spread her apart and find her clit.

“Why are you apologising?” he groaned in return, trying not to let her feel his hard cock in her back. Making her feel good was his priority, anything else could and would have to wait.

“I didn’t know this would happen. I didn’t prepare for it.”

“Oh, sweet love, do you think I care about this?” He twirled his fingers through dense curls before letting his fingers graze over her clit once more. She jolted and gasped, tightening her fingers on his wrist in a silent demand for more. “I told you: you are perfect .”

He groaned into her ear as he gently circled that sensitive bundle. Her body pleaded for more, the tension and stress over recent events melting from her body. Now more than ever, he knew this was right: this was where she was supposed to be. In his arms, with him taking care of her needs.

“I’ve got you, Scarlett. There is no need to hide. No need to pretend. You can be yourself with us.”

“Mateo…” His name was a moan, a beg for more.

“You’ve done so well, playing a role that everyone needed and wanted you to portray. Not here, love, here you can do as you please.”

Her body trembled as Mateo pressed firmer, building her climax. Tears spilled down her cheeks and soaked her hoodie.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here to make you feel better.

” His free hand reached up and took her jaw, tilting her head towards his.

He kissed her cheek, licking her tears dry before his lips found hers.

Scarlett arched into him, her free hand wrapping around his neck and stealing their first kiss.

He groaned into the soft embrace, flicking her clit and drowning in her moans.

His cheeks dampened with her tears, her emotions seeming to consume her entirely.

She had so much to process, such a big loss to grieve that he just wanted her to know and feel how much she was loved.

He wanted to show her that it was okay to fall apart, and he would always be there to put her back together.

Then her body tensed, nails cutting into his skin. He gave her a few more strokes, making her squirm in his grip before he released her and let her come down from her orgasm. He spoiled her with kisses along the jawline, her chest heaving fast and heavy as she rolled her head onto his shoulder.

Scarlett curled up in his lap, turning to lean against his chest and pushing her fingers under his shirt.

Her palm was hot against his stomach. He made sure she was covered with the blanket, and held her tightly in his arms. He let his head roll back and closed his eyes.

As she drifted off to sleep and he didn’t dare to move.

After a while, Ezra came to join. He laid on the couch and closed his eyes. Vince followed suit shortly after, falling into the second loveseat and taking his position for the night. They were all truly in it together.