Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Around noon, Quinn finally takes a skirt of mine that fits over his hips and leaves with no shirt on, carrying his massive frying pan with him. I fall back on the couch, squinting when my sore lady parts make themselves known.

Totally worth it.

I check my phone and find a text message from Leon that’s been there for the last two hours.

Are you holding my brother captive?

I don’t even know what to tell him. That I just fucked yet another of his younger brothers? From the way Quinn made it sound, Leon will be much angrier to find out he revealed their secret to me by accident.

Shame settles like a stone in my belly. I can’t believe I did that. Not only did I hook up with Quinn, but I did it while he was, well, a monster. A beast. A huge creature with an equally huge cock that he had to stuff inside me for it to fit.

My body shudders just thinking about it. I swallow hard when I finally respond.

Um, no. He’s on his way home now

Leon texts back quickly.

Was he any good? Quinn’s the baby of the family. Not much practice

So Leon has guessed and doesn’t seem upset. That’s a good start. But should I be honest with him?

It was wonderful

That’s the truth, and I can’t deny it. My hips in the air, Quinn’s furry haunches driving into me, his drool leaking down my face… I feel like a bit of a harlot, but I fucking loved it. That thick, pointed cock of his is forever burned into my memory.

Good

Leon even includes a smiley face, but it’s the default one, which looks a little bit creepy. Why does he text like he’s fifty?

I massage the bridge of my nose, because I have to tell him the truth. I hope I don’t get Quinn into terrible trouble, but I also can’t pretend I’m not aware of what the guys have been trying to hide from me.

Biting my lip, I type out my next message, hoping I don’t ruin everything by asking for some answers.

I know now. About your secret. When were you going to tell me?

There’s no response for a long time—not even the three dots to tell me Leon’s typing. After waiting and waiting, my heart falls into my stomach.

Fuck. I screwed up by not letting Quinn handle this himself. I shouldn’t have butted in. What if the landscapers never talk to me again?

My anxiety spikes just thinking about what a fuckup I am, so I decide to do some chores to distract myself. I drag my laundry basket downstairs and load some dirty clothes into the machine. Maybe Leon’s just busy—though hopefully not busy chewing out Quinn.

I sit and stare through the little round window as the machine fills with suds and tosses my clothes around. Did I cross a line by sleeping with Quinn in his werewolf form? What if that’s taboo in werewolf culture? Or perhaps they think I’m an awful person for corrupting him.

Once the machine finishes, I switch my wet clothes over to the dryer, and check my phone again. Still no answer.

Just great. We had a good thing going on. I almost felt like I fit with Leon and Jace and Quinn, like they understood me in a way I’ve never been understood. But it was foolish to hope. Of course I don’t belong with three beautiful, kind, attentive men.

When my load of laundry is done, I trudge back up the basement stairwell to my apartment. I’m surprised to find Leon sitting outside my door, and my heart leaps up into my throat. Why is he here?

He stands up when he sees me and gives me a sheepish wave.

“Sorry to surprise you,” he says as I approach, the laundry basket on my hip. “I just thought I should try to explain myself in person.”

A little flame of hope sparks inside me when Leon doesn’t sound upset. I open the door to my apartment and step inside, wondering why he’s come here to talk to me directly.

Will he try to threaten me to keep quiet? That doesn’t seem like something he would do, but he also has a family, and a secret, to protect.

Leon hovers in the entryway to my apartment, wringing his hands together.

“Is this one of those vampire things where I have to invite you inside?” I ask in a joking tone, hoping to ease the tension.

He responds with a grateful smile. “No. Just being polite, in case you’re angry.”

I set down the laundry basket on the coffee table. “You can come in.”

I’ve been so busy feeling anxious that I don’t know if I’m angry or not. They hid something rather important from me. I vaguely remember the night I fell asleep in Jace’s arms, and I heard them discussing a secret they wanted to share with me.

They probably thought I’d run for the hills the moment I found out. Still, I wish I’d known before embarking on this journey, whatever it is. Now I’m knee-deep with three werewolves.

Leon steps over the threshold into my apartment and closes the door softly behind him. If he weren’t six feet tall and pure muscle, he would look like a little boy the way he’s shamefully standing by my coat closet.

“Tiff,” he begins, staring down at his feet, “I’m really sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner?—”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I usher him into the living room. “You did it for a good reason.”

“I didn’t want to scare you away too soon.” Leon scratches the back of his head. “You’re taking it a lot better than I thought you would.”

I took it in more ways than one . My whole body shivers just remembering Quinn’s enormous werewolf cock inside me. Leon’s nostrils flare, and his pupils dilate, taking up his whole iris.

“How did it feel?” he asks, taking a step closer to me. “Riding a werewolf?”

My face is so hot that I wonder if my ears are about to light on fire.

“Amazing,” I finally whisper. I can’t deny it. I loved how Quinn was an animal, ferociously licking me and kissing me—if that’s what it can be called—while he filled me fuller than I’ve ever been. His fur was so soft under my hands, and perfect for grabbing onto. And his huge body over mine, claiming me…

Leon smiles a big, toothy smile, as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“You smell so good,” he says with a heavy inhale, like the scent calms him. When I glance down, I find a little tent in his jeans. “Especially when you’re turned on.” He takes a step closer to me, then shakes his head like he’s clearing away fog. “I really am sorry for not coming clean, Tiff. If I’d known you were so, uh, open to it… I wouldn’t have waited until Quinn spilled the beans.”

“Now I understand the whole howling thing, at least,” I joke.

Leon’s eyebrows lower, and his lips purse. “Yeah. I knew the moment I smelled you that you’re our—” He balls his hands into fists.

I quirk my brow. What was it he was going to say?

“I’m your what?” I ask, pressing.

Leon swallows hard. “I just knew you were right for us.”

I blink. “By how I smelled?”

“Yes.” He nods rapidly. “And our bodies responded to it right away.”

A chill seeps into my skin. “What do you mean, ‘responded’?” My eyes travel down again to the clear boner Leon’s sporting. “You knew you wanted to have sex with me? Just by smelling me?”

I can’t help but wonder if that’s all this is between us. That I smell good , and it makes their inner werewolf want me.

“Well, yes,” Leon says hastily, “but it’s not just about sex, Tiff.”

“It’s not?” My tone is getting defensive. I won’t forget Leon’s ravenous expression the first time we stumbled into my bed together, like he’d just walked into a sushi buffet. “That’s all this is, isn’t it?” My voice is getting higher and higher in pitch as my heart beats faster. “How all three of you just want to, you know.” I mime sticking a finger in a hole. Once again, they just want me for big tits, big ass, and apparently, a tight pussy.

Leon groans and drags a hand down his face. “That’s not what I’m after,” he says with a helpless look. “I promise. I like you, Tiff. I like you a lot.”

“But that’s a big part of it, isn’t it?” My chest feels tight, and my breathing is getting shallower by the moment. I fold the laundry, needing to keep myself occupied so I don’t get emotional.

It’s not really about me or who I am as a person. It’s just about instinct, and need, and whatever else drives werewolves to fuck. A tale as old as time.

Leon frowns and sits down on the couch next to me. “Tiff, please.”

He takes the shirt I’m folding and drops it into the laundry basket, then he places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him. When I don’t look up, he stoops low and peers into my eyes.

“You’re smart, funny, and beautiful.” I like the way his dimples deepen when he says this. “You work hard and you’re always kind. I really admire you. I would never have gone home with you that night if I didn’t actually like you. Smelling wonderful isn’t enough to make me want intimacy with someone.” He shrugs. “All it did was show me where to look to find my…”

He pauses, his expression tightening like he’s not sure how much to say.

“What?” I ask. “That’s the second time now. Your what?”

“My person,” he says finally, lowering his eyes. “My mate.”

I freeze, catching on this last word. “ Mate ? Like an animal?”

Leon’s sigh is deep as he rubs his temples. “There’s a reason that you’re so attractive to us. Our noses know things our minds don’t yet.” Those blue eyes of his lock with mine, begging me to understand. “I’m meant for you. So is Jace, and Quinn, and…” He trails off. “You smell incredible to us because our bodies know you’re perfect—mind, body, and soul.”

I’m meant for you . That’s a pretty big statement, and I’m afraid of how much weight it holds. We’ve only slept together twice. It’s a little premature to be thinking about more than casual dating.

My shoulders tense up. “And what does me being your ‘mate’ mean, exactly?”

Leon is clearly unsure of how he should answer. “It means someone you would give your life for,” he says eventually. “Someone who’s your whole world. Someone you want to care for, and make pups with, and—” He abruptly stops like he’s just realized he let his mouth take over.

All I can do is stare at him. “ Pups ? You mean babies? You want to have kids with me?”

This is insane. Having children has always been a far-off idea for me, something I didn’t really consider because I’d never come close to finding someone I wanted to have them with.

Leon drops his head into his hands. “I know. Sounds crazy, but I can’t help it. None of us can. It’s just what our bodies are begging us for.” Now he won’t look at me as he continues. “I understand if you want nothing to do with that. And all of us, too?” He chuckles darkly as he raises his eyes. “We picked up the smell at the same time and knew who you were then.”

“Is it as rare in the werewolf world as it is in the human world for three guys to all want the same woman?” I ask, half-sarcastic.

He just taps his chin. “No, I guess it’s not that surprising. We’ve always shared everything. And we’re a pack—it’s not out of the ordinary for packs to all imprint on one person.” He keeps saying this word, all .

“But it’s not ‘all’ of you,” I point out.

Confusion settles on Leon’s face. “Huh?”

Eli, the most polite and most reserved of the brothers, seems to be the only one with any rational sense. He must not be affected by whatever weird madness has come over the others.

“Eli’s not interested like you are. So only the three of you ‘imprinted’ on me.”

Leon frowns. “I didn’t realize you liked him.”

“I don’t!” I kick the basket of laundry away. “I don’t know him at all. Just like I don’t really know you at all. It’s a lot.” He’s basically telling me all three of them want to marry me. Have kids with me. That’s too much weight to put on a girl.

“I’m sorry, Tiff.” Leon’s brows pinch together. “I didn’t mean to dump so much on you at once.”

“Yeah, it’s a lot of pressure,” I admit. “I’m dating three guys, and I just found out they’re all werewolves hiding in broad daylight. I don’t know if I’m ready for all that other stuff yet. We’ve been on a total of what, one date?”

I hardly know them at all, and they expect all this from me? I shake my head as I fold a shirt, placing it on the ottoman.

Leon nods solemnly, but I can tell he’s hurt. “I understand. It’s probably a little overwhelming.”

That’s one word for it. It’s an unexpected avalanche of expectations. I haven’t had a real boyfriend in years, and now I have three—who apparently all think I’m their... mate .

“It is,” I agree. “And I’m not sure I’m ready for it.”

Leon can’t hide how my words take him down a few notches.

“We’re happy to give you time,” he says slowly. “We don’t expect anything from you, and we’re all here for the long haul. Whatever space you need.”

Space. It’s probably a good idea. I don’t want to lead them on, when I don’t know at all what I want.

“That would be good, I think.” My voice comes out small.

“All right,” Leon says, rising to his feet. Clearly he doesn’t like it, but he’s not going to argue his case anymore.

I look down at my hands. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to think right now.” My chest is tight and my heart is racing as I try to process it all. “This is a lot for one day.”

“I understand, Tiff.” With a sad smile, Leon heads for the door. “Let me know when you’re ready. If you’re ever ready.”

The way he says it makes my throat close, but before I can answer, he shuts the front door behind him.