Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch. 26 Be My Luna

Nathan’s POV

Night, my wolf, had been on edge all day knowing Mallory was with at least two of the Black Moon Alpha triplets. It didn’t matter to him that she wasn’t our fated mate. He’d considered her his since the first day we laid eyes on her.

We were exact opposites, my wolf and I. That was something I’d always prided myself on, the way we complimented each other perfectly. Night took no prisoners, held nothing back, whereas I tended towards the more reserved end of the spectrum. Admittedly, I was a much better Alpha with him than without him.

When it came to Mallory though, we rarely saw eye to eye. We wanted her with the same passionate abandon, revered her with the same awestruck wonder. But I understood what he didn’t, that just because we wanted her didn’t mean we could have her.

Our differing attitudes meant I spent a great deal of time and energy holding him back when all he wanted in the world was to claim her, to make her his in every sense of the word. A difficult task when I wanted the same damn thing. But today had been especially difficult.

“I’ll fucking kill them if they touched her! She’s ours!” Night snarled in my head for the umpteenth time today.

I was way past reasoning with him about how we had to respect Mallory’s choice even if we didn’t like it. How could I when I wanted to taste their blood just for daring to want her for themselves. They broke her to pieces and I put her back together. They didn’t deserve her! I just hoped she could see that.

I was pulling out all the stops for Mal and I’s date tonight and I was dressed for the occasion. I hoped my choice of black tailored slacks and metallic gray fitted button down shirt with a black tailored suit jacket met with Mallory’s approval.

I spent the entire drive to Black Moon giving my wolf a pep talk. The jealous bastard wanted to know every detail of every minute we’d spent apart, especially where a certain set of triplets were concerned.

“You will stay in the background tonight.” I ordered. “You will not behave like a jealous lover and interrogate Mallory about her day. That will only send her running from us. We have to prove she can trust us. I promised to fight for a place by her side, even knowing she’d be spending time with them as well. If we give her the third degree about it every time they’re together, she will just shut us out!”

“Fine!” He grumbled. “I’ll back off if you do!”

And that was the crux of the issue. His jealousy had been fueling my own all day until it was simmering just below the surface, ready to boil over at the slightest provocation. I gritted my teeth as I worked to rein it in.

“Wow! You look amazing!” I extolled when Mal answered the door looking like a runway model.

“Thank you,” She smiled at the compliment, blushing prettily. “You look pretty incredible yourself.”

I heard her speak but the words didn’t register. I was too busy staring at the beautiful woman in front of me. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a fancy fishtail plait and the long- sleeved black dress she wore hugged her curves all the way down to her mid- thighs. Coupled with the silver pumps she wore, the entire look only emphasized her long, sleek legs. Fuck. Me.

“Nathan? Are you ready?” She questioned, clearly noticing my distraction.

“Of course! I can’t wait to spend the evening with you!” I said, coming back to myself.

“You never told me where we were going.” She reminded, fishing for a clue.

“You’re right. I didn’t.” I winked at her, earning a little exasperated huff that made me chuckle.

The drive to our first stop of the night was spent in silence, our interaction limited to the tiny circles I traced on the back of her hand with my thumb. Conversation had always come easy to Mal and me. I hated that our dynamic had shifted, erasing that sense of ease between us. Even asking her about her day seemed off limits, too invasive given the circumstances.

“Ballroom dancing!” Mal exclaimed when we pulled up to the studio I’d booked for the evening. I puffed up my chest at the approving smile that spread across her face.

“We’ve never had an opportunity to dance together. And I’m all for anything that lets me hold you in my arms.” I answered with a grin of my own.

“I don’t know. Sparring is kind of like dancing.” She countered cheekily. “But I get your point. I’m excited to learn but I have to warn you, outside the training field I have two left feet!”

“That makes two of us. Hopefully, we’ll make it through the experience in one piece and make it to dinner with no crutches required.” I teased. “I mean, how hard can it be?”

Famous last words. We spent the next two hours learning the Waltz, Cha Cha, and even Tango. Toes were crushed, egos were bruised (mainly mine), but mostly laughter was shared. All with the added bonus of feeling Mal’s soft, sensual curves against the hard lines of my body all evening long.

“That was so much fun! I love how your mind works, Nathan Richardson!” She gushed, offering me a dazzling smile that made my sore feet totally worth it.

“I have lots of interesting ideas when it comes to you, love.” I fixed her with a smoldering stare, letting the double entendre of my words take effect.

I was rewarded by the tiniest shiver rippling through her. My wolf preened at seeing the effect we had on her but I couldn’t help but wonder if she responded the same way to them. Still, I flashed her a smirk and turned away before she read the truth in my eyes.

“Dolce! Really? This night just keeps getting better!” Mal explained when we pulled into the restaurant.

I knew she loved Italian food and we’d talked a few times about trying this place but hadn’t made the time for it. But tonight, I wanted to show her I would always make time to do the things that made her happy. And food had always been high on her list of life’s little pleasures.

“I hope it lives up to the hype! We’re about to find out!” I said, taking her hand to help her out of the car.

My hand went to her lower back as I guided her to the door. It hadn’t taken long to notice the fucking confection she called a dress was backless, dipping just below her venus dimples. Her soft, warm skin heated my palm as we danced and now again as we walked together. Goddess only knew how I’d make it through the night without fucking her.

The hostess led us to a secluded table, a bottle of wine already waiting at my request. The gold threads in Mallory’s eyes caught the dim light over our table, giving the illusion of fire dancing in them. It was either that or another kind of heat in her gaze that lit a different kind of fire in me. The kind that had me shifting in my seat to ease the strain on my cock.

Önce the waitress had come to pour our wine, I lifted my glass for a toast.

“To the best dance partner I could ever ask for. And the only one I ever want stepping on my feet for the rest of my life.” I ribbed light-heartedly.

“Careful what you wish for, Alpha.”

She snorted.

“Trust me, love. I know exactly what I wish for and I’ve thought it over long and hard.” I curled my lips into a devilish smirk and enjoyed the way her skin flushed under the intense look I was giving her.

Mallory looked away, focusing all her attention on the glass of wine in her hand, sipping at it repeatedly to avoid my gaze. I loved knowing I could still make her blush, even after all the time we’d spent together. But suddenly, I had an all-consuming need to know if I was still the only one that could turn her into that shy, doe-eyed girl who batted her eyelashes so innocently when faced with such salacious insinuations.

“How was your day, Mallory?” The question slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Nathan, please don’t-” She stopped short when her eyes met mine, my wolf making his presence known as his own possessiveness melded with mine.

“It’s a simple question, Mallory. Is it really that hard for you to share the details of your day with the man who’s devoted himself unconditionally to your happiness for the last year? Surely that’s not too much to ask. Unless you have something to hide.” The deep, gravelly quality of my voice made it clear I wasn’t speaking alone.

“You promised you wouldn’t do this, Nathan. I don’t want to hurt you. That’s why I suggested we take a break. I knew it would be too hard for you to know I was spending time with them and have to wonder what went on between us every time you saw me. I don’t want to cause you pain.” She said softly, as if it would lighten the blow of her words.

“Then don’t hurt me, Mal. Choose me!” I urged. “Let them go and be my Luna.”

“I want that, Nathan! But it won’t be fair to either one of us if I don’t ask myself why. Why do I feel drawn to them when we’re together? Why do I let things happen that a woman in a committed relationship with another man should never entertain? I can’t answer those questions without spending time with them and if I continue to spend time with them, I can’t guarantee you nothing will happen. That’s not fair to you, Nathan.”

Her words cut deep, each one like a stake through my heart. But I couldn’t deny the truth of them. If she didn’t get the answers she was looking for, they would always stand between us, taking up space where only our love for each other should be. Still, I needed to know.

“In my heart, you belong to me, Mal. My wolf sees you as his, ours. I just need to know if they’ve had what’s mine.” I ground out through clenched teeth, the thought alone shredding my insides.

“Nathan,” Mallory sighed deeply, tossing her cloth napkin on the table, Nothing happened today. We cooked a meal for the Alpha and Luna and I left. Now, that’s the last time I will spend any of our precious time together discussing what did or did not happen between the triplets and me. Please consider carefully whether or not you can accept that before you ask me out again. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve lost my appetite.

Mallory shoved her chair back roughly and stood up to leave. I blew out the breath I’d been holding when I heard her admit they hadn’t touched her today. But the thought of her walking away from me had me sucking in another sharp gulp of air.

“Please don’t go.” I pleaded.

“Stay and enjoy your dinner, Nathan. I’ll find my own way home.” Mallory insisted, her tone unyielding.

I watched her go, every step away from me more agonizing than the last. I fucked up. I let my jealousy ruin a perfect evening together, one with the potential for so much more. But I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

The ironic part was, it had all been for nothing, I knew she hadn’t lied when she said nothing happened. I could feel the sincerity in her words. And now, nothing would happen between us either.