Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch. 18 An Apology

Mallory’s POV

As I drove back to Black Moon territory, I kept my mind firmly fixed on the amazing day Nathan and I had shared. I refused to think about the triplets and what their declaration to me might mean for our future encounters. What I shared with Nathan was too perfect to let some inexplicable shift in attitude from my former tormentors ruin it. Today was a perfect reminder of that fact.

Nathan had always been the ideal boyfriend. Kind and considerate, attentive and sweet. But something shifted between us today. I had dreaded telling him the truth of what I let happen between my future Alphas and me but he had taken it in stride. Not only that, but he actually displayed a possessiveness I’d never seen in him before.

I never felt unsure of his feelings for me, but he was always so laid back, never overreacting when other men would flirt with me. I had to wonder why that had changed so suddenly. But then again, I’d never kissed any of those other men before.

But more than any of that, I couldn’t get over the way he’d bent me over his bed, dominated me and made me come so hard for him. He’d never touched me that way before, always so careful not to cross a line we couldn’t uncross despite my constant cajoling him to take things further.

I was especially surprised, because the last time we talked about it, he had actually gotten angry with me.

“What if you were dating someone else right now? Would you give him what should only be given to your fated mate?” He’d been furious at the thought. And before I could formulate a response, he continued. “What if I were your fated mate? Would you come to me already having given yourself to someone else?”

“I-, I honestly don’t know, Nathan.”

I’d answered him the best I could at the time. “It may not be what you want to hear but I guess I just don’t buy into that double standard. You aren’t a virgin. Most male wolves don’t wait for their mates. Why should she-wolves have to? Why should we be the ones who have to bear the pain and jealousy of knowing others have been with our mate while he’ll never have to deal with that baggage? Why should she-wolves worry about their future mates’ peace of mind or possessiveness when most don’t worry about ours?”

He didn’t have an answer for me and I think that pissed him off more than my words. He’d stormed out on me that day though he did apologize later.

“I’m sorry Mal. I know it seems unfair to you but I can’t live with myself if I took something from your future mate that I would not want anyone to take from me.” He explained.

It wasn’t what I wanted to hear but I let it go, knowing I wouldn’t change his mind. But today, he may not have totally crossed the line, but he definitely put a toe over it and it only made me want more. Maybe it made me a whore that I didn’t care about waiting for my mate, or maybe it was just because I hoped Nathan was mine. Either way, he hadn’t heard the end of it from me.

I wouldn’t dare admit to myself that the strange pull between me and the triplets might mean one or all of them could be my mates. That was a reality I couldn’t accept. Even if they weren’t just playing with me now by saying they wanted me, there was no way they would accept an omega as a mate. They’d made that more than clear over the years. Any or all of us being fated mates would only end in disaster.

So, as I pulled onto my street, I renewed my resolve to avoid the triplets as much as possible and focus solely on my future with Nathan. I felt lighter than I had since the day I left the academy, but as soon as my house came into view, my heart dropped to my stomach. Cary’s car sat in my driveway, meaning at least one of the triplets was in my house. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone?

“Fuck!” I screamed just to vent my frustration, then turned my attention to how to handle the train-wreck I was headed for.

“I’m just not going to engage.” I told myself. “Just walk right past them like they aren’t even there.”

It was a naive idea on my part, doomed to fail from the start. Because I forgot one tiny detail. They were Alphas, and Alphas don’t like to lose. So despite the fact that this was all a game to them, they wouldn’t stop trying to make me submit to their whims. Anything less would be admitting defeat. Coming home covered in Nathan’s scent did not equate to submission. It was an act of defiance.

Three angry growls resonated around me as soon as I walked through the door. But I refused to acknowledge them, not even slowing down as I made a beeline for the stairs.

“Mallory, stop!” Colton demanded, but for some reason his Alpha tone didn’t work on me so I kept going.

“Nope! Not happening!” I tossed over my shoulder. “I’m in too good of a mood to let the three of you ruin it.”

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say because they just growled even louder and one of them, the leather and tobacco scent told me it was Clay, caught me around the waist and dragged me back.

“I suggest you not imply that another man touching you is the reason for your good mood, little wolf. Now, you can go to your room when your Alphas say you can. And when you do, it will be so you can wash that disgusting smell off of you.” Clay snarled the last part.

“Why the fuck do you smell like him, anyway?” Cary and his wolf rumbled together. “I thought we made it clear you were ours!”

“What part of me walking out and slamming the door in your face made you think I was even a little bit interested in being yours?” I snapped back at him. “Besides, the three of you really should learn to communicate better before you start running this pack together. Head brother over there made it abundantly clear that Darcy would be the next Luna and I should steer clear of you.”

I pointed my thumb in Colton’s direction, taking the attention off of myself for a moment. All three of their scents surrounding me was making it hard to breathe and I needed a moment to catch my breath. I couldn’t think straight when they encircled me like they were currently doing.

“He is not the decision maker for the three of us and Colton already knows that will never happen. He should never have said that to you.” Clay objected.

“Colt!” Cary bellowed his name and though he didn’t say more it was obviously meant as a command and Colton seemed to understand him.

Taking a deep breath and scrubbing his hand over his face a few times, Colton eventually locked eyes with me. There were a myriad of emotions reflected in his bright blue eyes and for a moment I was lost in them. Then he started to speak.

“Mallory, I’m sorry for what I said to you.” He apologized, and it sounded sincere.

“It’s fine Colton. We both made mistakes. Can we just leave it in the past and move on like it never happened?” I asked wearily. It was so exhausting fighting with them.

“No we cannot!” Clay interjected. “My brother may be a stubborn ass but he wants you just as much as Cary and I do. The sooner he admits that to himself and to Darcy, the better off we’ll all be.”

“Clay, shut up!” Colton growled at him, then addressed me in a softer tone.

“Look, Mal. I’m not sure how everything got so fucked up or what provoked me to kiss you like that, but regardless of what my brother’s think, I’m committed to Darcy. I was angry at myself for betraying her by kissing you and I took it out on you. Again, I apologize. It won’t happen again.”

Cary snorted skeptically, but whatever ideas he was forming in his head about us, I wanted to shut them down before he had a chance to voice them.

“Listen, I know the two of you enjoy your little games,” I pointed between Cary and Clay, “but I’ve told you before, I’m not the same naive little girl you used to enjoy tormenting because you always got away with it. Those days are gone so let’s all just move on. I have Nathan, Colton has Darcy, and the two of you have the rest of the female population and a reputation to uphold. So let’s all go back to our lives and pretend none of this ever happened between us.”

I was so tired. All I wanted to do was crawl in my bed and forget they were ever here. I turned to walk away from them, intent on escaping their suffocating scents and the unwelcome response my body always seemed to have when they were around. But before I could make it up the first stair, Clay called me back.

“Mallory, wait!”