Mallory’s POV “Whoa!” I yelped when Clay swept me into his arms bridal-style. I looped my arms around his neck and leaned in for a sweet kiss. He was carrying me through the crowded room but I was too drunk on his scent to give much thought to where we were going. When Colton and Cary came up on either side of us, adding their spicy essence to the mix, I was done for. We had spent the whole evening being passed from one well-wisher to the next, smiling and feigning interest in whatever personal or political issue our allies wished to discuss. But my brain couldn’t seem to process much beyond the way my mates looked in their tailored suits that clung to their powerful frames, showcasing their rippling muscles. I’d spent most of the evening clenching my thighs together and praying our guests couldn’t smell my arousal. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Clay turned to face the crowd just before the exit, “On behalf of my brothers and our Luna, thank you all for celebrating with us tonight! It’

2 years later Clay’s POV “Daddy, up!” Carson reached for me, making grabby hands with his pudgy little fingers. I lifted him up, tossing him in the air twice before settling him on my hip. His tiny little giggles were addictive and of our three pups, he was the quickest to laugh. Not that the other two weren’t happy kids. They definitely were. Carson just seemed a little more demonstrative when it came to his emotions. “Cookie, pease!” He demanded, pulling on my shirt. At two years old, he still had a hard time with his Ls. Mom said my brothers and I were the same way at his age so we weren’t worried about it. It was just another reminder that he was still a baby and we wanted to enjoy that stage as long as possible. “And what did your mother say about that?” His cobalt blue eyes twinkled as he stared up at me and it was like looking at a tiny version of myself. “She busy.” He pouted, sticking out his bottom lip. “Oh yeah? Too busy to get you a cookie?” That didn’t see

Charlie’s POV I was hiding again and I hated it. I hated being a scared little mouse all the time. I hated my life. Period. When my parents sent me here to Hazelwood pack to live with my brother, I thought it would be a new beginning for me, a chance to reinvent myself. But the only thing that changed was geography, because where Alpha Quade went terror and torment inevitably followed. I’d spent my life hiding in Blood Claw pack from men empowered by Alpha Quade to take what they wanted, with or without consent. Mostly without. When he named my brother his Beta in Hazelwood, my parents thought he’d be able to protect me here and he tried, he really did. But here I was, hiding again. “Let’s go. There's no one in here.” I heard one of the men searching the room say. My heart raced in fear but at hearing his words, hope rose that I might go undetected. I had no idea who these men were but they weren’t Quade’s men. I hadn't seen him or my brother for weeks. But in my experience,

Nathan’s POV “No one is rejecting anyone!” I growled at Charlie the moment the words left her lips. Fuck! This was all so confusing. Mallory was never going to be mine. A fool could see the strength of her bond with the triplets even if she hadn’t told me herself that she was choosing them. I was really trying to get over her. Why couldn’t the Goddess have given me just a little more time before she put my mate in my path? “Alpha Nathan-," Charlie sighed at me but I cut her off with a snarl. “Just Nathan, Charlie. You’re my mate! You don’t call me by my title.” I scolded. “But that’s just a technicality isn’t it? You don’t want me and I may not be perfect, but my wolf is. She doesn’t deserve to be strung along by a mate who doesn’t want her. So let’s just get the rejection over with.” She argued. “I never said I didn’t want you!” My response was nearly loud enough to constitute a bark and I immediately felt guilty for it. “You said you loved someone else. It’s the same

Charlie’s POV I woke up in the early hours of the morning to a full bladder and a very hard cock poking me in the ass. I managed to slip out of bed to relieve myself and guzzle down the glass of cool water Nathan had so thoughtfully brought for me when he came to bed last night. When I crawled back beside Nathan, I left a little bit of space between us, not wanting to disturb his sleep by snuggling back into him. Though every fiber of my being craved to feel him against me. So I was more than pleasantly surprised when he reached out and tugged me over until my back was flush against his chest and his morning wood was nestled between my thighs. I would have been sure he was awake if it weren’t for the fact his breathing never changed. With the comfort of his warmth surrounding me, it was no time at all before I drifted back to sleep. When I woke again, it was to the sunlight streaming in my bedroom window. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes but when I blinked them open, i