“You knew he was in here, didn’t you?” Tyson looked away guiltily. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed.
“Yes, Lucy. I said he could come in, I won’t lie to you,” he said, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“He is my brother and your mate,” Tyson said, looking at his brother. I felt bad because I knew I was coming between them. They were always inseparable, we all were growing up. It saddened me that it would never be like that again.
“You don’t seem mad?” Ace said, drawing my attention back to him.
“Give me a chance to wake up. I am working up to it,” I told him, and he chuckled.
“You know you can’t stay mad at us long,” he said cockily, and I raised an eyebrow at him.
“You have slept with Melana for five years, Ace. Knowing I was your mate,” I told him. Just the thought of him being near her was enough to make the anger and hate return. He sighed before nodding.
“I will go then,” he said, and I swallowed, feeling bad.Fuck him! He should feel bad. He accused me of lying and screwing around. I didn’t know what I wanted. I wanted them, yet my brain was telling me I was being stupid by accepting him, that he would only hurt me again. Yet the bond pulled me the other way, needing him close like they were both my safety blanket.
“Stay. Just a little longer,” I told him, wanting to soak up his scent before I had to turn into the heartless bitch I knew I could be again. He laid back down before pulling me closer.
“I have loved you since before I knew you were our mate, Lucy. Melana was just a distraction. She means nothing to me. Never has, never will.”
“But you picked her side over mine.”
“I was angry. I thought you lied about being a virgin. Then Melana said all that, and it pissed me off. I should never have doubted you,” he said.
“Even if I wasn’t a virgin, you have no say in that anyway, after what you did!” I told him angrily. I couldn’t believe that he expected me to wait, but he couldn’t, knowing full well I was his mate.
“I am sorry. I should have waited like Tyson. But I can’t go back and change what I did, Lucy. I can try to make up for it if you let me.”
“Tyson waited,” I told him, and he nodded, looking at his brother.
“And I won’t ask for anything except you not to reject me. Tyson deserves you more than I do. I get that, and I understand if you want to be with him. I won’t rush you, and neither will Tyson. But please don’t reject me, Lucy.”
I knew it was hard for him to apologize, he wasn’t one to apologize. Neither of them was, but I felt like an apology just wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough for what he had done and to accuse me of being a slut when I was the one hurt. I’d never expected that from him.
“I will leave you two alone. I need to get to work anyway,” Ace said, hopping up. I didn’t stop him this time. I just needed time to think. Yet that was impossible with both of them around.
“What do you want to do since Ace will handle pack business?” Tyson asked.
“I think I want to go home,” I told him, unsure. I needed to face my mother, but I also wanted to see Rayan. I missed my room. I missed my old life. I missed myself.
Chapter twenty-four
WewaitedforRayanto finish school, and Tyson told Ryker he would pick him up. I was too chicken to face my mother, but I knew I could do anything with Rayan by my side. Rayan was my go to when shit hit the fan. He never judged me despite what my parents thought. Rayan was quiet, an observer, and my parents didn’t realize how much he truly knew, he was smart.
Rayan knew information was the key, and by always playing in the shadows, he saw a lot of things my parents didn’t know. But most of all, he saw me, saw me for who I was. He didn’t see me as a problem child, didn’t see me the way they did. He only saw me as his sister.
“Hey, sis,” Rayan said, climbing in the back of Tyson’s car. He leaned over from the back seat, wrapping his little arms around my neck, nearly strangling me against my chair, or at least that was what it would look like for anyone looking in the windshield.
I patted his hand before he kissed my cheek. “Are you coming home for a while or just dealing with mom?” he asked, sitting back and clipping his seatbelt in.
“Not sure yet. It depends on mom. Did you get in much trouble covering for me?”
“Eh, don’t worry about it. Mom should be fine. Feels terrible for not listening to you.” He laughed humorlessly. “Like anyone could get a word in even if she was listening,” he said with air quotes.
“What about Dad?”
“Mom and dad have been fighting like cats and dogs. Mom even asked for a divorce. Like that would happen,” he said, and he was right. They were mates. Dad would lock her in the house under guard if she tried to leave him, not that she would. Mom had a tendency to speak before thinking.
“How was school?” I asked him as Tyson pulled onto the highway, heading toward the packhouse.