Chapter 64 by Cara Anderson

Ch. 64 Choices

Cary’s POV

“What do you mean Colton’s no longer my mate?” Mallory demanded. “We haven’t rejected each other so how is that possible?”

She was close to hyperventilating, her panic rising, and Clay was looking at her with a befuddled expression. I doubted he meant it in the literal sense. It was much easier to close the door on a familial bond, no formal rejection or magic required, though it didn’t have to be permanent. The door could always be reopened.

But the fact Mal hadn’t felt any further betrayal did have me curious. I couldn’t think of a single instance of mated triplets where one was shut out so I had absolutely no reference for how his decision would affect Mallory or their mate bond. I could only hope her reprieve from the agony he put her through earlier was the result of Colton’s own choices and Not Clay’s.

“Our triplet bond is broken. I pushed him out.” He confessed to her. “I was trying to protect you. I thought you’d be happy to be rid of him after what he did.”

“You did what? How could you, Clay?” she responded accusingly.

“For being the triplet with the even- tempered and rational personality, your behavior has ‘stupid’ written all over it.” I linked him. “If you thought she was going to thank him for taking her choice away, you’re a fucking idiot.”

He chose to ignore me and address her instead.

“You can’t possibly want to go through what he put you through last night again, Mal! That’s exactly what would have happened if I hadn’t done something about it. You should be thanking me!”

“I can’t fucking believe you!” Her irate attitude in the face of his bewilderment would have been comical if it wasn’t two people I loved involved.

She shoved him back, loosening his grip so she could escape his hold and storm out of the room.

“Mallory!” He called after her but she didn’t even slow down.

“Let her go.” I gripped his arm firmly when he started to go after her. “Give her some time alone to cool off.”

“I’m going to go.” Nathan finally spoke up as he headed for the door. But before he got there, he stopped to face us again. “She may not be my mate or even my girlfriend, but Mallory will always be my business. So I feel no remorse whatsoever when I say, she’s not the kind of girl to sit back and let others make decisions for her.

“She doesn’t need you to ‘handle’ her problems. She just needs you to support her while she handles them herself. You better learn how to do that real fast or you’re going to lose her. And I’ll be right here waiting when that day comes.” 1

“Well, that went off the rails fast.” I snarked when Nathan closed the door behind him.

“Is that how you feel too?” Clay rounded on me as soon as we were alone. “Was I wrong for never wanting her to suffer like that again?”

“Clay.” I sighed, “I get it. Your heart was in the right place. And I know you were scared what might happen if they rejected each other, how it might affect our bond with her. But Nathan was right, we can’t make decisions for her, no matter how much we want to protect her.”

“Fuck!” He cursed, slumping onto the couch. “That wasn’t my intention. I didn’t plan to break the bond. Or maybe I did, I don’t know. All I know is, I found him with her and I saw red.

When I’d found Clay earlier, he was hunkered down in our old tree house in the woods with a fifth of vodka laying empty beside him. I’d taken him to a diner for some food and some really strong coffee before bringing him home so I hadn’t been able to talk to him about what happened with Colt yet. I wasn’t so sure he was in any better shape to tell me about it now but it was a necessary conversation.

“Tell me what happened, Clay.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face, looking more exhausted and care-worn than I’d ever seen him. He blew out a deep breath and launched into his tale, recounting his confrontation with our brother. By the time he was done, my hackles were up and my mind was in a rage so I could see how he’d gone off the deep end.

“I could smell Darcy’s arousal in the air, Cary! And when he answered the door, his lips were swollen and he had a hickey on his goddess damned neck. Even if he didn’t want Mallory, how could he hurt her like that? How could he be so heartless?”

He sniffed back tears and I knew Colton’s loss was breaking him inside too. But he was right, it wasn’t like Colton to be so ruthless, not caring who he hurt to get what he wanted. It just didn’t make any sense.

“I took your choice too. Do you hate me?” He asked, wrenching me out of my thoughts.

“He’s our brother, Clay. I hate what he did but I could never hate him just like I could never hate you. I love you both. Maybe someday, if he pulls his head out of his ass, we can repair our bond. But for now, let’s just focus on our mate.”

“I don’t know what I feel for him to be honest.” Clay admitted. “Hate is a strong word but every time I think of him I see Mallory trying to claw out her own heart, hear her gut-wrenching sobs, begging for it to stop, and suddenly, hate seems not quite strong enough.”

“I know. But Nathan had a point. She’s stronger than we give her credit for.” I pointed out. “Goddess knows we won’t always agree with how she chooses to handle things. The woman is too big- hearted for her own good most of the time. But that’s also why we love her. We have to trust her enough to let her choose.”

“Look at you, baby brother, all grown up.” Clay snorted a laugh. “Who knew you’d turn out to be so wise.”

“Not wise. Just in love. Now let’s go talk to our girl.”

We found Mallory in the guest room we’d given her, sitting on the bed with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, curled in on herself. Her cheek rested on her knees and she didn’t look up when we entered. It gutted me to see her looking so hollowed-out and listless.

I scooped her off the bed and resituated her in my lap, tucking her under my chin with her back to my front. She melted into me and my wolf chuffed in approval. The bed dipped under Clay’s weight as he sat next to us and Mallory turned to look at him.

“I’m sorry, little wolf.” He offered timidly.

“I’m sorry, too.” She slid her hand across the mattress and linked her pinky with his, earning a boyish smile.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I lost it when I saw you in so much pain. I just wanted to take it away. But I should have stayed and comforted you. Then we could have decided what to do next

together.” He replied. “You were just trying to protect me. I was just caught off guard. But when I calmed down and thought about it, I realized it was for the best. He was

never going to want me anyway.”

She was crying when she finished and turned her head to my chest to stifle her sobs. It broke my heart to feel what she felt through our bond. The sense of rejection and desperation to know where she’d failed.

“Shh, darling.” I hushed, holding her tighter. “Clay and I aren’t going anywhere. This is Colton’s failing, not yours.”

Clay scooted in closer and laced his fingers with her, squeezing her hand to remind her he was there for her.

“Is there something wrong with me?”

She asked between sniffles. ”

Something so detestable that he’s willing to defy the will of a deity to avoid being mated to me?”

“No, little wolf! Nothing’s wrong with you!” Clay insisted, pulling her into his lap and tucking her head into his chest as he whispered to her. “You are fucking perfect! You are everything we could want in a mate and so much more. If the moon Goddess hadn’t given you to us, we would have wanted you anyway, It just doesn’t get any better than you, love.”

“He’s right, darling. Something is wrong with Colton and I have no idea what he’s thinking. But don’t ever think you’re not good enough. If anything, you’re too good for us.” It was nothing but the truth.

“Now how about you go wash those tears off your beautiful face and let’s get you some dinner?” Clay suggested.

“I’m not really hungry.” Mal argued, but her stomach betrayed her, rumbling loudly.

“Lie to us again, darling. See what happens.” I threatened suggestively.

“I’m going!” She scrambled off the bed but I managed to smack her ass as she went, an adorable yelp squeaking out.

“You love a good spanking and you know it!” I called after her, making her giggle.

Her lighthearted mood had returned and it felt good knowing I was able to give her that. To make her feel safe and secure enough to let her troubles go, at least for a little while. Clay was staring at the bathroom door like his whole world lay beyond it and I knew he was relieved as well.

But as happy as I was to see Mal’s smile return, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had irrevocably changed. Colton was gone and Clay was leaning toward unstable at best. That just left me to hold the remains of our bond together. And if that was the Goddess’ plan, I couldn’t help but think it was a bad one.