Because of Them

Chapter 7

Wilder joined Christian and Lex in the office.

"How is she?" Christian asked.

"She seems to be feeling better," Wilder answered. "She fell asleep almost immediately after her bath."

"That's good," Christian nodded. "It's her wolf trying to heal her. She'll probably sleep a lot the next few days. We just need to make sure she eats and drinks properly."

"What can I do?" Wilder asked, moving to Christian's side.

"What? Lex is already helping me. I don't need-"

"Shut up, Christian," Wilder huffed. "You work too damn hard. We all want to share Winnie right?"

Lex nodded, "Unless she chooses otherwise. I hope she doesn't. You guys are my best friends."

Christian smiled. He hadn't ever been called a best friend. That felt really special.

Lex continued, "Wild is right, though. You need to let us help you. You are the most calm and collected when it comes to Winnie, just like you are as our leader. She needs you, and you can't be there if you are in this office."

"Wilder, you are a warrior. You have your own job to do. You need to spend time with Winnie, too," Christian argued.

"I mean it works for me. I'll just be her favorite," Lex teased.

Wilder gave Lex an annoyed look, one that Lex grinned at.

"Can we schedule it out?" Wilder asked. "I do better with a plan anyway."

It was a good idea. Wilder had morning duties to attend to. Christian and Lex could get up early while he did so and do their own work, and then have a bit of morning and afternoon time with their mate. If the three of them worked together for an hour or two after that, they would be done for the day.

"I can't believe I can get done in four or five hours with your guy's help," Christian whispered. That left him nearly the whole day to do whatever with his two friends and Winnie.

All of his worries about having a mate almost immediately washed away. He was excited.

"We don't need your sleezy assistant anymore either," Lex said.

Christian gave him a blank look. "What?"

"Come on, Christian. She's been all over you, and she also doesn't do a good job. This place was a mess when I started helping."

"Oh," Christian mumbled. Had she been all over him? He just appreciated the help any way he could get it. "Are you jealous?" He decided to tease.

Lex rolled his eyes, "She's going to scare Winnie, too."

"Sure," Wilder added. "That was really smooth, Lex. Good job."

Lex pouted, turning back to his task. They worked for awhile. There was a lot of catching up to do from the day they spent with Winnie.

"She's awake," Christian said, hearing the movement from her room.

"I'll go check," Lex volunteered.

"Take her some water," Wilder said.

"Aye, aye," Lex saluted, leaving the room.

---

Lex knocked softly on the door. Winnie was sitting up, glancing out the window.

"Hi," he said, stepping into the room. "Everything okay?"

She nodded, "I didn't sleep as much as I thought I would. I feel better."

"That's awesome," he said sincerely, offering her the glass of water. She drank the whole thing, setting it on her nightstand.

"Where are the others?" she asked softly, her pretty brown eyes were wide with curiosity. Lex could sense that she was feeling a bit rejuvenated.

"Working. Do you want to go see?"

"Please," she mumbled. Such a polite little thing. She stood, wobbling a bit. He offered her his arm and she looped hers through, leaning on him for support.

He walked slowly, allowing her to soak in her surroundings. He noticed she liked the backyard, her gaze kept going to it.

He pushed open the door to the office.

"Look at you," Christian cooed to her. "You're doing so good. How are you feeling?"

"Much better," she said with a smile, glancing around curiously. This was an Alpha's office...she was mates with an Alpha?

Alpha's were cruel and harsh, right?

It didn't matter either way. She wasn't fit to be a mate to any ranking wolf. She wasn't fit to be a mate, period.

Wilder came around, cupping her cheeks and forcing her focus onto him. She settled slightly, not realizing how much she had been working herself up.

"What's going on?" he asked her.

"Who's Alpha?" she whispered.

"Me," Christian said, rounding the front of his desk and leaning against it.

"It's okay," Lex soothed, feeling her tense. "It doesn't change anything."

"I can't-" she whimpered. "I can't be..I just-"

A tear fell onto her cheek and Wilder used his thumb to brush it away.

"I know how you feel," Christian said, crossing his arms. Winnie realized her fear had negatively impacted him. She could feel his hurt.

It didn't have any to do with him. It had everything to do with her. She didn't mean to hurt him. It was going to be a lot of work to keep up with three guys.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Christian continued. "I know my rank is intimidating, and I understand if-"

She sniffled. "I won't choose between you if that's what you are getting at. I want this to work. I'm just scared."

"We're scared to," Lex whispered.

Wilder nodded, having stepped out of her personal space and closer to Christian. "This is new for all of us. We are each going to have to work at it."