I took a breath while they discussed what they’d tell the pack.
I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a chair, dragging it into the living room so that I could sit across from them.
But as soon as I’d sat down, they swivelled back around to look at me.
Aaron shifted on the couch seat.
“Nevaeh, you seem to have brought some of your… stuff. Why’d you do that? And how much did you bring?”
Now it sounded like he was interviewing me. Which, in a way, I suppose they were. A house-mate interview.
“I… brought everything I need. And why…” I took a deep breath, “God, this is harder than I thought it would be.”
“Nothing good is easy.” Grayson said, his tone that of a man who could lead the masses. Strong and stable.
“True… okay.” I pulled myself up to sit up straight. “I brought everything here, because I was hoping that your feelings about me hadn’t changed. That you still wanted me to live with you. So… I brought everything I need to move in.”
“If we still want you? Nothing’s changed here. Why would it?” Grayson asked.
I threw up my hands.
“I don’t know! Because you’re mad at me? Because I ran away and you didn’t follow. You didn’t call, or anything. But then, when Trevor came to attack me, you knew… So, I don’t really know what to think now.”
Grayson continued to stare at me with those eyes that pierced my soul. “Well, we haven’t changed our minds about how much we want you. If anything, after yesterday, a part of me wants to lock you in the bedroom so no one ever hurts you again.”
I hiccupped out a laugh.
“I sort of understand that.”
Because I felt the same way, especially about Brad. Maybe we could come to an arrangement where none of us would put anyone into a dangerous situation ever again.
Brad was grinning like a loon. “So, you’re moving in. You’re here to stay? You want to be our mate?”
I nodded. “I do. I can’t promise I’ll always totally get all this…” I gestured to the house and them, “But I’ll try my best because I don’t want to live without you.”
They’d sacrificed themselves for me. They wanted me above all others. What more could I possibly want?
Grayson stood up and I swallowed hard.
Decision time.
I looked up at him, not daring to blink in case I missed something.
“Nevaeh, we love you. Our bond demands us to give you all that we are, and more. But you left us, rejected our lovemaking and all our gifts.”
I nodded and hot tears slid down my cheek, clogging my throat.
I wanted to deny it, but it was time to grow up and be accountable for my outbursts and actions.
“Yes, I did. I was scared. And I am soooo sorry for hurting you all.”
Grayson nodded, seemingly waiting for more.
My gaze dropped down his body.
Worshipping at the altar of Grayson was the best way forward. I knew that.
But to put myself out there, only to be rejected, was my worst nightmare come true.