Her Mates

27

I tried to shake off Lena's words, but they clung to me like a stain I couldn't scrub away.

You didn't really think they were only with you, did you?

I knew she was trying to get under my skin. I knew it was all a game to her. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing faster than I wanted to admit.

By the time I went upstairs, the house had settled into a quiet hum. Emilia had gone to bed, and I could hear the faint sound of laughter from one of the bedrooms—Zac, probably, joking around with Hunter or Dorian.

For a second, I hesitated outside the door.

They'd reassured me earlier, hadn't they? Told me Lena was lying, that she was only stirring trouble.

But that wasn't the same as denying it.

I swallowed hard, pushing open the door.

Dorian and Zac were sprawled out on the bed, Hunter leaning against the dresser with his arms crossed. They looked up when I walked in, but I caught the flicker of something in their eyes.

A split second of hesitation.

And suddenly, I felt out of place.

"Hey, sweetheart," Hunter greeted, his tone warm, easy. But my heart clenched.

Was it always like this? Had I just been too caught up in the pull between us to notice?

Zac patted the space next to him. "Come here."

I hesitated.

They noticed.

Dorian sat up, his brows drawing together. "Maeve?"

I bit my lip, crossing my arms over my chest. "Is there anything you guys want to tell me?"

Silence.

It stretched too long. Too thin.

Hunter's expression tightened just slightly, like he already knew where this was going.

Zac, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. "This is about Lena, isn't it?"

I huffed a sharp laugh. "Wouldn't it be easier if you just told me instead of me hearing it from someone else?"

Dorian exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "She's twisting things, Maeve."

"So there is something." My voice was quiet.

Another pause.

And that pause? It told me everything.

I turned away before they could see the way my chest ached. "Right."

Zac was up in an instant, catching my wrist. "No. Maeve, come on, don't do that."

Hunter cursed under his breath. "It's not like that. Not the way Lena made it sound."

"Then tell me what it is like."

No one spoke.

My throat burned. I pulled away from Zac, shaking my head. "I just— I need a second."

And then I walked out, leaving them behind.

I barely spoke to them.

Not because I was angry.

No, anger would have been easier.

But I felt stupid. Stupid for letting myself fall so fast, so deep. For thinking I could trust them completely without question.

Claire noticed immediately.

"Okay, spill." She grabbed my arm between classes, tugging me into an empty hallway.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It's nothing."

She snorted. "Yeah, sure. And I'm the Queen of England. What happened?"

I hesitated.

She didn't rush me, just crossed her arms and waited.

Finally, I exhaled. "Lena said some things yesterday. About my mates. About how they weren't only with me before I showed up."

Emilia frowned. "You already knew they were close before. You didn't think they were all celibate, did you?"

I shook my head. "No. But when I asked them if there was something I should know, they hesitated." I swallowed hard. "Like there was something."

Her lips pressed together. "Okay. So maybe there is. Maybe they did things before you came along. But Maeve, the bond changes things. You changed things."

I looked away. "Then why didn't they just tell me?"

Emilia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Probably because they knew you'd react like this."

I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up a hand.

"Look. I love you, Maeve. But you have a bad habit of shutting people out when you get hurt."

I bristled at that. "I do not."

She raised a brow. "Oh, really? So storming out of their room last night wasn't shutting them out?"

I clenched my jaw. "That's different."

"Is it?"

I had no response to that.

Emilia exhaled. "Talk to them. Really talk to them. And if they still hesitate? Then maybe there's something to worry about."

I hated that she was right.

But before I could say anything else, a voice cut through the hallway.

"Well, if it isn't our favorite little homewrecker."

I turned just as Lena appeared, flanked by a few of her usual followers.

Claire immediately tensed beside me. "Oh, fuck off, Lena."

Lena smirked, ignoring her. "Maeve, sweetheart, how's it feel knowing you're just a plaything? That your so-called mates are keeping secrets from you?"

I clenched my fists, but I refused to let her see that she was getting to me. "Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Lena."

She let out a low laugh. "Oh, I'm not jealous. I'm just entertained. Everyone warned you, you know. That they weren't the type to settle down. But you thought you were different." She tilted her head. "It must suck, knowing you're not."

Claire moved before I could, stepping between us. "You need to back the hell off."

Lena scoffed. "Or what?"

And then, just as she said it, the air shifted.

A presence behind me.

Heat.

Power.

I turned just as Dorian and Hunter appeared at my side, their gazes locked onto Lena with something dangerous.

Dorian's voice was quiet. "Say one more word, Lena."

Lena's confidence wavered. Just for a second. But I caught it.

She rolled her eyes. "Relax, boys. I was just having a little chat."

Hunter's jaw ticked. "Try it again, and see what happens."

Lena lifted her hands in mock surrender, but I saw the flicker of unease in her expression. Then she turned and sauntered off like she hadn't just been seconds from being ripped apart.

Once she was gone, I exhaled slowly.

Dorian turned to me. "You okay?"

I should have nodded. Should have let them take me in their arms, let them reassure me.

But instead, I took a step back.

His brows pulled together. "Maeve—"

I shook my head. "I need some time."

And before either of them could stop me, I walked away.