The moment he did, Lucas turned around and begged, “Please don’t jump out of that window, Teagan.” He held out a hand toward the doorway. “If you still want to leave, no one will stop you.”
“We’d rather you didn’t though, but we won’t get in your way,” Declan added with his hands raised. “Jasper’s got a hell of a temper, but whatever that was, I don’t think the anger was directed at you.”
“I don’t know, Declan,” I muttered as I sidestepped toward the door. “It sure seemed like Jasper was talking directly to me,”
“Yeah, I can see how it might have looked that way.” Declan winced. “What I mean to say is, Jasper would never be that angry at you—I think I know what that was about, and it’s related to what a fuck-stick Kane was. You can of course leave, but if you choose to stay, I’ve got cake, and Chad made it, meaning it tastes like fucking sunshine. And, this guy is going to beg your forgiveness for being such a damn train wreck…” He threw his thumb over his shoulder, pointing at Chad who was thankfully wearing pants now and had what I was pretty sure was a strap on under one arm.
“Please don’t take off into the night on account of my fuck up. I’ll clean up and get out of here.” His dark blue eyes came up to meet mine and I could see so much remorse swirling in their depths, I felt a little guilty. Chad wasn’t my favorite person in the world, but this was his house.
“You guys, please stop making yourself so uncomfortable. I’m not going to leap out your window. I’m jumpy and I overreacted. Please, don’t leave your own living room because of me, Chad.” I spun on my heel to face Declan. “Cake would be great, especially if by sunshine, you mean that it’s made of raw meat. Also, did you say there was a room I could crash out in? If you have a room that locks from the inside and not the outside, I’d appreciate it.”
I needed to eat, sleep, get my shit together, and figure out how to leave this town.
“There aren’t any rooms with locks on either side of the door, but we can install one for you,” Lucas said, and then he calmly but firmly suggested that I let him clean and dress my wound yet again while Declan whipped us up something to eat. Lucas led me into a large, communal-style locker room. The sink was shaped like a trough with three spigots, and the shower stall had a long line of showers, all out in the open. There wasn’t a door between the shower area and the rest of the house. The toilet was the only thing that had privacy with a single door that closed it in.
Lucas kept sneaking glances at me as he cleaned the dirt from my hand. “You okay?”
“Yeah…” I shook my head. “You guys don’t do privacy in here, do you?”
“There’s a private bathroom off Jasper’s room, which I’m guessing will be your room soon. I just brought you here because I think you both need a moment apart,” Lucas said, as if Jasper and I had some sort of squabble, when really, the guy pried into my own private business and erupted at me.
“Lucas, I feel like you would be honest with me.” I swallowed. “Am I safe here?”
His gray eyes came up to meet mine. “Teagan, yes. I can honestly say that you will be protected here, fiercely, and no one will hurt you. What can I do to help you feel safer here?”
“You can explain what just happened with Jasper,” I said as I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand.
Lucas cleared his throat, and though his eyes were still fixed on mine, I got the impression that he was suddenly uncomfortable. “Well, how much do you know about omega-lore?”
“I live it,” I said. “So, I’d guess expert-level on myself.”
“Fair enough,” he said, “And how much do you know about omegas and their true-mates?”
I shook my head. “True mates are rare. Werewolves only get one, and they’re usually drawn together. Fate draws them together but sometimes not before one or the other marries. If a spouse refuses to relinquish their claim, a true mate can challenge them.”
“Yes, except one part of that mythology might not be true in all cases. Some werewolves…” Lucas leaned back against the sink, and the motion was just a little bit too casual, “Supposedly, have more than one true mate.”
“I’ve never heard that. Are you saying that omegas are supposed to have more than one true mate?” It seemed like that was the path our conversation had to be heading, but Lucas appeared to be cautious to just say it.
Even now, he worked his chin back and forth, seeming hesitant to answer the simple question.
“I’m making you so uncomfortable, aren’t I, Lucas?”
Lucas’ dimple peeked out. “Can you feel my emotions again?”
“No. I can just tell, but I don’t understand why. Jasper was upset because he thought I had multiple mates and I didn’t? This still doesn’t make a bit of sense to me.”
“Yes and no.” Lucas pulled open a large bandage and pressed it over my healing wound. “All right, Teagan, I’ll tell you what I know, but please know in advance that this isn’t what we expect from you. I hope divulging this to you is the right choice, especially after witnessing Chad’s…” Lucas chuckled, “I don’t know what to call it.”
“Sex-fest?”
