Chapter Fifty-Three
Humans fall in love…
The words bounced around in my head. There was no fucking way. I turned to look at my wolves, who were sitting comfortably. There is no Gods damn way.
Nix snorted as she looked at Megan. She’s really trying to convince us…when we share her fucking soul and already know the truth.
Megan shrugged. I wasn’t going to point it out to her. She ran to her computer every night for months, talking to the man. If she wanted to be stupid, that was her prerogative.
They both looked at me and I staggered back. YOU KNEW!
Both shrugged. Look. Nix stepped closer and ran her side down the barrier. After Brandon. I wasn’t going to agree to any mate. But then you met Rowan.
And while we both liked him. Megan pressed against the barrier, sending love. There were too many things holding you both back. Including us.
What are you guys even talking about?
Nix sighed. She pulled back and looked at her paws. I knew you loved Rowan. We both did. And before we realized Erubus was Rowan, I refused to agree to him. I was so hung up on Erubus that you and Rowan both ended up hurting each other.
It wasn’t because of you. I cut in, but she just looked at me.
Megan shook her head. Erubus randomly comes and visits. She looked away. We all discussed everything.
I felt like I was hit with a sledgehammer. What do you mean Erubus visits?
Nix looked away. After everything happened at the cabin…he started to show up, pressing against the outside and calling to talk to me. But it was Megan that answered. I was still too pissed to look at him.
So Rowan knows about you? I turned to Megan, but she nodded her head.
He promised to keep everything a secret. Megan looked at her paws. But we all eventually sat down and talked. He explained that, much like Nix, he was too focused on her to realize the pain he was causing Rowan.
Rowan was in pain? The thought hurt more than I wanted to admit. What does this have to do with Thoth? I didn’t want to hurt because of Rowan again.
Just listen. Megan sighed. Rowan was head over heels in love with you. But he refused to select a mate when Erubus didn’t agree. Sound familiar.
Nix finally met my eyes. And you had two of us to make agree. I was too hung up on a wolf, and Megan was still trying to get over Brandon. We ruined that relationship for you.
It was never going to go anywhere. I felt the pain in my heart and ignored it. Rowan is the king…and I just want to help him stay king.
Nix and Megan nodded, thankfully ignoring the pain I was still feeling about Rowan. I think he was always going to be a sore spot for me. Megan jumped in. We know, but Erubus made us realize how badly we hurt you. He feels the same about Rowan. So we made an agreement. Nix nodded.
Which was? I sat there in disbelief.
That we wouldn’t interfere with any of your relationships. You love who you love. While we hope you would ask for our opinions if or when you ever met Thoth in real life. We didn’t point out how your relationship was changing. Nix looked between Megan and me.
Erubus said that after Verity is dealt with, he will do the same, but right now, he’s not allowing her to even speak to him.
I snorted. She must be pissed.
Megan nodded. She’s been using a lot of magic on Rowan. Erubus spends most of the day feeding him the truth to clear the confusion. Thankfully, Rowan is a smart man.
What do you mean?
He had your dad separate Erubus from him. Megan looked about to the forest.
What the hell does that mean?
We are all connected. What effects one, effects both of us. That’s why we had to carve the rune into all of us. If we had left Megan to drain, she would drain the two of us. Right? Nix offered, and I nodded.
Right.
Well, Rowan had your dad separate him and Erubus, temporarily. So if something happens to him, like someone using magic on him. It doesn’t affect his wolf. So that if he gets confused or swayed, his wolf can tell him the truth.
We’re getting off topic. Megan sighed. What matters is that we all agreed to allow you both to make your own decisions regarding your love life. If you find your mates, then we will support it. But if you decide to choose someone… Megan looked off to the side.
Then we will do our best to support the relationship. Nix finished. Even if it’s just online. She chuckled as she turned away and headed back to the forest. Think about what we said. And answer him back before he kills himself trying to save you.
I sat back, watching the grey curser flashing on the screen.
I needed to answer him, but I was still a little lost on how to approach him.
It’s still weird knowing that Thoth is a man.
When my dad introduced us, it was just vague information.
Thoth will help you. No gender. No name other than user name.
I asked over and over, but he stayed quiet.
We talked about computers at first. But then our conversations grew deeper.
He asked about my day, complained about his own.
It wasn’t until I joked with him about telling Brandon that he was a human female that he finally cracked and told me he was a man.
Another Alpha my father was friends with.
One he had grown close to from overseas.
I shook my head to clear it. Whatever feelings I did or didn’t have for Thoth would have to wait. I wouldn’t approach any relationship until everything had been handled.
NixtheGoddess: Hey. I’m alive. Vince had captured me for a few days, but I got out. I’m at work. I have a full day, but I will do a full debrief tonight with you and my father. We have to plan.
I hit send and almost immediately, there was a response.
Thoth: Tonight at nine. Not a minute later.
NixtheGoddess: Okay. I’ll make sure I am home and ready. Did you want to do a group chat or just us?
Thoth: While I would love to monopolize your time, we don’t have time for that. Your father has heard some rumblings. And I think you have a lot more for us. Mainly, how did Vince capture you and not recognize you?
NixtheGoddess: Some things are harder to explain…but if my dad vouches for you…I have to explain everything to him, too.
Thoth: Deal.
I logged out of our chat and sent my dad an email.
Hey Dad!
I’m not dead. Video call nine tonight with Thoth. I think we have to lay everything out and make our final plans.
Love you,
Amy
I had just hit send when my office door opened. I looked up to see Brandon panting at the door. I closed my laptop and sat back. I let my face settle into cold lines.
Brandon almost recoiled. “You’re back.”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms and looked at my computer screen.
“Where have you been? I called, I texted, you never answered.” He walked in and tried to come around the desk to hug me, but I stood. I pushed the chair between us. He furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong?”
“You know where I was. I was getting my mom settled in her new pack.” I leaned against the wall and put my foot on the chair, keeping it between us.
“I told you I needed space to think about everything. Including us. I think I made myself pretty clear…it’s obvious you still want Shannon.
She certainly wants to be with you. She even said she was pregnant by you, which at the time I missed, but I spent a lot of time thinking when I was away and I realized what she was insinuating. ”
He stared at me for a minute and I could scent the panic coming from him, but I pretended not to notice. “What are you even talking about Amy?” He tried to reach for me but I held up my hands.
“I’m talking about you fucking Shannon again.” He froze after I said it. Panic lit his face, and his hands trembled.
He opened his mouth and still couldn’t speak, then he found his footing. “Why would you even think that? I love you. We are about to have our mating ceremony. We only have two weeks.” He grimaced. “Are you seriously accusing me?”
I glared at him. “Are you saying Shannon was lying?”
“Of course I am.” He finally pulled the chair out of the way and grabbed me.
“I would never cheat on you. I chose you. I fought for you. I love you. It’s always been you.
” He kissed me, and I stayed stiff for a minute and then allowed myself to soften.
To pretend that his words, his kiss, was changing my mind.
I needed him to think he won. I pulled back and let the tears come.
“You believe me, right?” He ducked down to look me in my eye. “Right baby.”
I looked away, almost as if I was ashamed of myself. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. Shannon said-”
Brandon growled. “I don’t care what that whore said. I’m telling you I would never to do that to you. Do you believe I could do that to you? To us?” He stared at me.
“I-” I covered my face. “I don’t know what to say.
I want to believe you. Goddess I do. But Shannon has already told everyone that she is taking my spot.
I’m not stupid. Once the pack hears the rumor, they are sold on it.
She has to be your mate…” I looked up at him.
“I want to be with you…but she’s made it impossible. ”
I watched his face go through a barrage of emotions and settled on anger.
“Neither the pack nor Shannon can tell me who I can or can’t mate with.
” He grabbed my face. “I want you, Amy.” He kissed me again and I had to hold myself back from puking.
I couldn’t hold in the shudder, which made Brandon smile.
He thought it was from need and not utter disgust. “You will be my mate. Promise me you will give me time to fix it.”
I looked off to the side. “You have less than two weeks.” I turned back.
“If Shannon hasn’t retracted everything…
if she hasn’t stepped back, then she can take my place.
I won’t be second place in my bond.” I slid out from in front of him and walked to the door.
“Until then, I don’t want to be put in a situation where I would be considered the other woman. ”