Chapter 40
Xander POV
We managed to catch up to Regan outside the dungeon. Our father unobtrusively left no doubt to go and wallow in self–pity and Xavier, and I paused, my hand reaching out to lightly touch Regan who looked on the verge of collapsing, her expression one of devastation. This had broken her and affected her in ways we couldn’t have imagined. It was a miracle that she was still managing to Mand on her owIL.
“Regan,” I said softly, trying to get her to look at us,
“You must hate me” she choked out, looking away from both of us and breathing shallowly. “I just condemned your mother and…” she trailed off as I did something completely unexpected taking the both of us by surprise, unable to resist the urge any longer.
1 cupped her check and forced her to look at me, before I gently kissed her lips, causing her eyes to widen in shock. I felt electricity coursing through my body as I plundered her mouth, taking what I could and what she gave me, as she gave a low moan of desire. Xavier moved to stand behind her, nibbling on her earlobe and causing her to inhale sharply. My eyes met Xavier’s and with a subtle nod, we swapped places, Xavier pressing his lips against Regan’s as she melted against the both of
My hands lightly stroked up and down her arms. Regan reluctantly pulled back, blinking up at my brother and me. All of us were hurting at that moment. We all needed the comfort of each other, the type of comfort that only our mate could provide. I pressed against her, while her arms wrapped around Xavier’s neck, all of us embracing as one. I could feel Regan’s body trembling as I rubbed circles on her back
“Regan” Xavier’s hand wrapped gently around her waist while avoiding mine. “It’s okay” he whispered into her ear, while I stroked her hair, feeling the softness of its strands, and playing lightly with them.
“I’m the worst kind of person” she mumbled, sounding disgusted with herself.
We shot each other glances. I smirked at Xavier and stepped back, watching as he picked up Regan by the waist and cradled her against his chest, holding her tight, causing her to gasp in surprise as she stiffened against him.
“Xavier” she shouted in surprise, “put me down” she ordered.
But he ignored her. Instead, we headed upstairs and into her bedroom, the one that she had been delegated in the pack house, Xavier placing her tenderly onto the bed. She swallowed hard, her eyes widening in fear as she looked at the two of us, one on each side of her, What did she think we wanted from her?
“I don’t know what you guys are expecting but…” she trailed off I leaned down and kissed the nape of her neck, closing my
and inhaling her sweet, delicious scent all over again.
eyes
She was so irresistible, so pretty, so delicate. The perfect combination for my mate. Our mate, I corrected myself, with a quick glance at Xavier.
“Xander” her voice was muffled as she closed her eyes, her back arching slightly like a kitten’s, “now’s not really appropriate. I just…” she trailed off, unable to complete the sentence, letting out a subdued sigh.
“We know what you just did” Xavier’s voice was low as he played with the buttons on her shorts, his eyes darkening slightly in arousal. “But we don’t want to talk about that just now he growled, causing her to fall silent once inore.
His hand dipped below the waistband of her shorts, causing her to jerk slightly in shock. I begin to fiddle with the bottom of ber shirt, lifting it slightly, my hands keen to touch the soft skin that’s hiding underneath. She grabs both of us by the wrists preventing us from going any further, before scrabbling to sit upright and glaring at the two of us as though we are naughty schoolchildren that need admonishing. We smirk at her
I thought I told you that I wanted to take this slow” she growled biting her lip and looking exasperated.
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10:19 Sat, Jan 11
Chapter 40
She wasn’t refusing us so much as asking us to slow down and revaluate what we were doing.
It also looked as though she wasn’t on the verge of breaking into tears anymore. Xavier and I had distracted Regan from her current misery and ourselves in the process. I looked into her eyes, pinning her with my gaze
“But you can’t deny you were enjoying that, can you?” I purred, causing her to look at me suspiciously.
“You taste sweet” Xavier murmured in agreement, nodding his lead in satisfaction.
Both of us could easily have gotten out of her hold, seeing as she still did not have a wolf and was barely stronger than a human, but we allowed her to think she had the strength to keeps contained. She growled in frustration. “Yes, I liked it” she admitted as my brother, and I shot eacli other triumphant looks, “but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to forgive you just yet either” she scowled “and I have a lot on my mind right now.”
We all did. That was the problem. Xavier and I didn’t want to think too much about what had just happened and we felt as though it was better if Regan didn’t either. This was for all of our benefits. Besides, we were enjoying ourselves too much to want to stop just now. It was fun teasing her.
I slowly moved my finger, stroking the small area of her stomach between her waistband and her bare flesh, causing her to gasp as she yanked my hand out, glaring at me. I smirked and then gave a wink, making her look irritable.
“Regan, we just want to spend time with you as mates, like we should be doing” Xavier pouts for added effect, causing her to peer at him uncertainly.
Oh, he’s good. Regan looks as though she doesn’t want to upset him. I try not to laugh as she peers at Xavier closely, nibbling away at her lower lip.
“But this thing with your mother and my father” she stammered, still holding onto a very willing Xavier’s wrist.
I feel slightly jealous that she’s no longer holding mine. Xavier smirks at me. Bastard.
My brother then has the nerve to wink at me. “Shouldn’t affect our relationship” he murmured into Regan’s ear as she shivered, “and you did promise to give us a chance” he reminded her as she swallowed hard.
“That was before I found out…” she trailed off at the look of woe on both our faces, an over–exaggeration designed to make her feel guilty.
“You aren’t really going to hold that against us are you, Regan? We didn’t have anything to do with it and we care about you” I told her honestly.
We more than cared. She was our mate and we wanted to claim her, but not until she permitted us. Something that was taking far longer than we liked, thanks to all these annoying complications and tragic circumstances.
She didn’t look convinced. “Up until you found out we were mates, Xander, I could have sworn you were more into Isabelle” she quipped with a heavy tinge of sarcasm as my brother grinned at me and chuckled, enjoying my discomfort.
I did not need the reminder. “I know and I’m sorry, but we’re trying to make this up to you. What do we have to do?” I asked. genuinely wanting to make her change her mind about us.
She looks surprised by the question. Xavier is biting his lip and looking thoughtful. “Don’t you have a birthday coming up soon sweet Regan” he moved closer and peered intently into her eyes.
She gave a scornful laugh “In a week, The night after Isabelle’s. Not that anyone bothered to remember that” she muttered “Isabelle’s was always more important.”
“Not this year,” I told her firmly, glancing at Xavier who was nodding. “This year, we’re going to hold a party for you so that the pack can get to know you better.”
19
Chapter 10
“I’m more worried about shifting in the early hours of the morning she admitted in a low voter
Understandable considering the amount of pain one went through on the first shift. I didn’t blame her for being trepidations.
“We’ll help with that too” I promised, as Xavier put his arm around her, leaning in close and putting his head on her shoulder, while 1 felt another pang of jealousy sweep through me “It will be less painful if we are there as your mates”
It was one thing we could do for her, even if it was simply being present during it.
“Is your father going to be okay with this? Considering your mother will be gone and…” she didn’t complete the sentence, a look of doubt on her face.
“I think he could use the distraction,” I said bluntly, deciding to be honest.
“We all could” Xavier muttered, and I saw Regan flinch, as though blaming herself for what we were saying.
“The pack could use a party too” I added hastily in an attempt to reassure her. “So what do you say, Regan? Do you want to celebrate your birthday properly this year? With the two most handsome men in the pack?” I boasted.
“Where? I don’t see them?” Regan deadpanned and I pretended to fall over, feigning hurt, rewarded by the sound of my mate’s laughter.
It was like music to my ears. To both of our cars. Neither of us could recall the last time we had heard Regan laugh like that.
SEN
