Lennox whistled low.“Hell, that makes sense.We’re built to slam through obstacles, not run marathons.”
The others chuckled.Hunter leaned forward again.“What about fights between species?Wolves against bears?”
Isaac smirked.“Depends on the wolves.But I wouldn’t want to take on a bear head-on.”
Willow added, “Every animal brings something different to the table.It’s what makes covens and packs stronger.”
Lennox grinned, his chest buzzing with the excitement of finally belonging to something bigger.He and Hunter asked question after question, their voices tumbling over one another in eagerness.
“Excuse me!”Brielle cut in, raising her hand like a schoolteacher trying to wrangle a rowdy class.“Still here.Remember me?”
They barely paused, Liam launching into a detailed explanation of scent markers and how they layered.
“Seriously?”Brielle tried again, louder this time.“I said I’m still here!”
But the conversation steamrolled on, the brothers were too fascinated to stop.
Finally, she threw both hands up and snapped, “Well, if being ignored is what it’s like to be a mate, you can forget it!”She spun on her heel to storm off.
Lennox moved before he thought, scooping her up and tossing her easily over his shoulder.“Not happening, sweetheart,” he growled, carrying her back to the outdoor furniture like she weighed no more than a feather.
Hunter lifted both hands toward the others, his tone steady.“Let her yell at us if she needs to.We’ll calm her down.Just give us some time with her, please.”
Luckily Brielle’s family believed him, and they gave them the space they would need for this conversation.
Setting her down gently on the couch again, Lennox sat beside her while Hunter pulled up an outdoor ottoman to sit in front of her.“Talk with us, Brielle.We’ve spent a lifetime not knowing what we are.Now we do.And now we know who you are to us.We’re not letting you walk away.”
Brielle glared at him, breathing hard, but the bond thrummed between them, undeniable.“So, now you’ve both remembered that I am here.”
Hunter flinched.“We didn’t forget you were here, love, I promise.We couldn’t forget you if we tried.”
“You could have fooled me.”Brielle crossed her arms and pooched her lips into the cutest damn pout Lennox had ever seen.He wanted nothing more than to lean in and suck that plump bottom lip into his mouth but figured that would not be appreciated.Yet.
“If I am your mate—”
“Youareour mate!”Both he and Hunter said at the same time, with the same growl in their tone.From the way their mate shivered at the sound, they knew she liked the sound of it.
“Make no mistake, sweetheart,” Lennox said, voice low as he reached to take her right hand in both of his, while Hunter took her left.The jolt of lightning that went through them when the three of them connected in truth told a very important story.“See, you are very most definitely our mate.”
A look of anxiety and concern crossed her beautiful face, causing him and Hunter to freeze.“I can’t be your mate.The girls told me what it felt like when the bond slammed into place for them, I have not felt that with you.”
Lennox felt like his heart had been wrenched from his chest, and when he looked at Hunter he could tell he was equally destroyed.