Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch. 22 Divisive

Cary’s POV

Waking up with Mallory in my arms felt fucking perfect! The few times I’d allowed myself to fall asleep with a woman had always ended in me feeling dirty and disgusted, but with Mal it felt like I could lie there with her forever. I’d had the best sleep of my life and I was in no hurry to let her go.

I knew I’d promised her I wouldn’t try anything but I couldn’t help myself. Her alluring scent surrounding me and the feel of her soft skin under my fingertips was too much to resist. I was so hard for her it was fucking painful and I couldn’t stop myself from shoving my cock against her soft ass to ease the ache a little.

She was letting me touch her and everything was perfect until the asshole Alpha came banging on her door. I wanted to go with her to confront him, to stake my claim, but I had to respect Mal’s wishes and let her go alone. It was a decision my wolf did not agree with.

“Let’s shift. I want to go for a run.” Roan coaxed me as I mulled around in the woods behind Mallory’s house, biding my time until I could go check on her.

“Nice try, buddy. I’m your other half, remember? I can sense your intentions. You’d go running straight for Mallory and then she’d be mad at both of us.” I called him out because he’d been snarling in my head at the thought of her being alone with Nathan since the minute I crawled out her window.

“She’s ours!” He growled at me. “That other Alpha wants what’s ours and you shouldn’t let him be alone with her!”

“Trust me, I didn’t want to. But Mallory isn’t exactly our biggest fan right now. We have to show her we will respect her or she will keep pushing us away.” I argued.

“And whose fault is that?” He barked at me. “I was drawn to her from the first day you shifted. I wanted to be near her and be nice to her, but you and our brothers had to be little assholes!”

I just rolled my eyes at him. I was already beating myself up for the way I’d treated her. I didn’t need my own wolf to say “I told you so!” Having had enough of his rhetoric and feeling worried for Mal, I decided her time alone with Nathan was up and headed for her front door.

“Time’s up Mallory!” I hollered, not even waiting for her to open the door before letting myself in.

But as soon as I walked in the room and saw the way he was holding her, his claws digging into her flesh, I saw red! My wolf wanted to rip him to pieces but I just wanted him away from her so I could make sure she was okay. I tossed him across the room and heard his bones crunch when he hit the wall but it was no more than he deserved.

“Then explain the bruises on your arms and the blood where his claws cut you!” Roan and I snarled when she tried to claim she wasn’t hurt.

Mallory didn’t have her wolf yet. Not only would it take her longer to heal, but the cuts could get infected or leave scars. I knew she wouldn’t want me to kill him but if he scarred her perfect, smooth skin I wouldn’t hesitate to tear him apart. But for the time being, I settled for warning him to stay the fuck away from her.

As broken as he was, I expected Nathan to tuck his tail between his legs and leave, to go lick his wounds in private. But instead, he had the nerve to challenge me, saying he would fight for her. Hearing that, my wolf pushed forward and roared at him.

“Then we’re going to have a fucking problem!”

“Nathan, please just go. We’ll talk later when everyone has calmed down.”

Mallory put her hands on his chest in a calming manner and I hated the sight of her touching him but I held my tongue.

“Why do I have to go? If you’re worried about us fighting, make him leave!”

The fucker sneered at me as he spoke. “I was here first.” I reminded him, enjoying the way his face crumbled at the fact I’d spent the night in her bed.

“I mean it, I’m not giving up on you Mallory!” Nathan countered, putting his hands over hers to hold her in place.

Roan let out a snarl causing Mallory to look back at me. My eyes were flashing between the black of my wolf and my own cobalt blue, telling her my patience was hanging by a thread.

“Nathan, I promise we’ll talk soon. But you need to go now before someone gets hurt.” She urged him.

“I’ll go, on one condition. Go on a date with me tonight.” He bartered.

I held my breath, waiting to hear what she would say, while Mallory blew out a deep breath.

“Okay. I’ll go out with you.” She agreed.

“Great! I’ll pick you up at seven.” He said, then looked at me while he kissed her on the cheek.

My fists were clenched so hard, my claws were cutting into my palms.

Nathan flashed me a smug smirk then left. I wanted to go after him but Mallory was staring at me, watching my every move.

“Let’s go.” I finally grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stairs.

“Go where?” She demanded, digging in her heels.

“Upstairs so you can take a shower. You reek of him so you need to wash off his smell. Then, we are going to spend the day together. You agreed to go out with him tonight. It’s only fair we get you for the day.” I explained.

“We?” Mallory tilted her head questioningly and it was so fucking adorable I wanted to kiss the life out of her, but not with another man’s smell on her.

“I’ll link Clay. I’m sure he’ll want to join us.” I told her.

She looked at me for a moment and I was almost sure there was a hint of pain in her gaze, but she quickly covered it and went to take a shower. I could only guess that she was hurt knowing Colton wouldn’t want to join us and it made me want to murder my own brother. But I also knew that being left out while Clay and I spent time with her would get to him eventually.

“Hey bro, are you free today?” I linked Clay.

“Where the fuck have you been?” He growled instead of answering me.

“I spent the night with Mallory.” I answered honestly, letting the smile on my face show in my tone just to taunt him. “Woke up with her in my arms. It was fucking amazing!”

“Did you fuck her without me?” He snarled along with his wolf and I could feel their anger through the link.

“Now, now, Clay. I’m a gentleman. I would never talk about my woman that way.” I teased him. “Are you free or not? She’s in the shower but I’m taking her out for the day. I won’t keep her waiting while you interrogate me.”

“I’m on my way!” He grunted, cutting the link.

I was chuckling to myself about getting under Clay’s skin when Mallory walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a fucking towel, little rivulets of water rolling down her chest and into her cleavage. I licked my lips as my mouth suddenly went dry. I felt like I was dying of thirst and all I wanted to do was drink her in.

“What’s so funny?” Mal asked, breaking the spell I was under.

“Oh, um, I was just thinking of something funny Clay said.” I hedged.

“Hmm,” was all she said, looking at me suspiciously.

I watched with rapt attention as Mallory flitted around her room pulling out clothes to change into. I nearly choked on my spit when she selected a red lace bra and matching v-string from her drawer. How the fuck was I supposed to keep my hands to myself knowing that was under her clothes all day.

“Maybe we won’t have to keep our hands to ourselves.” My wolf snickered in my head, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth in a goofy grin.

Mallory went back into the bathroom to change and just as the door closed, my brother came bolting up the stairs and into her room.

“Where is she?” Clay asked and I just pointed to the bathroom door in answer.”

I filled him in on the whole scene with Nathan earlier and his intention to fight for Mallory. His chest rumbled as I related the events, his wolf angry that she’d been harmed and that Nathan wouldn’t back off.

“It’s only two weeks until her birthday.” He said worriedly. “Two weeks until she gets her wolf and can find her mate. That means we only have two weeks to earn her forgiveness and make her choose us. Otherwise, she might take him as a chosen mate and then where will we be?”

“I won’t fucking let that happen!” I growled quietly, not wanting Mallory to hear.

“We might not have a choice. Especially if we can’t get Colton to man up and admit his feelings.”

Clay’s voice sounded broken at the thought of losing her and I didn’t blame him. I felt exactly the same way. And I knew he had a strong point about Colton. Mallory knew that we could only have one Luna. Even if Clay and I were successful in earning her love, I doubted she would ever accept us if Colton stayed with Darcy. She knew we had to rule the pack together. She would never come between us that way. It just wasn’t in her to be divisive.

“We’ll just have to make sure our dear brother sees the light, one way or another.” I said.