"s.h.i.t, and I thought my brothers and I were dense where women were concerned."

Sin glared at Barrett but knew they had f.u.c.ked up with Mari. They needed to fix this, but he had no idea how.

"You three need to sit down and decide what youre going to do to win your mate back and youd better do it fast," Barrett said. "Prim told me everything she said through our link. Your mate has every intention of leaving once the wedding is over. That gives you two days grace. Decide something quickly before shes gone forever."

Sin immediately contacted Taylor and Michael telepathically, telling them everything that happened. Taylor wouldnt be back home for a couple of hours since he was on duty, but Michael was already on his way home.

Mari had no idea what time it was, but she knew it was late. Shed heard Prim and her men head to their room hours ago. She was still too distraught to even think of sleeping, yet she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. When she finally pushed up from the floor her muscles protested after staying in one position for so long She opened the door and crept out to the front verandah before sinking into one of the comfortable padded seats, breathing in the cool fresh night air. In a way, she wished shed never been invited to Prims wedding. Maybe then she wouldnt be in so much pain. Although, she would never disappoint her friend. Mari would leave right after Prim was married. It would be too hard to hang around for the reception. She didnt want to have to face Taylor, Sin, and Michael knowing they didnt want her. Nor did she want to make a fool out of herself by crying in front of them or begging them to claim her.

Shed never begged anyone for anything, and she wasnt about to start now. She had no idea when she had accepted Prim's invitation that they were her mates and she wanted them more than anything. After thinking about it, she decided that their mating musk had been an allure she couldnt ignore, but that wasnt all. There was the fact that they were all smoking hot with buff bodies and a manliness shed never encountered before. She wasnt a feminist, but she wasnt someone who was used to being told what to do, and the three men had such a power, an authority about them that she was drawn to them and didnt want to leave.

Another shaft of pain ripped into her chest, and this time she didnt try and stop herself from doubling over. How was she supposed to leave them behind and get on with her life when she was already well and truly on her way to falling for them?

Mari gritted her teeth and blinked as more tears burned her eyes. She refused to give in to her emotions again. Shed cried buckets over them already and didnt want to waste any more energy over men who didnt want her.

Forcing herself to take deep breaths, she felt the sharp pain in her chest ease and she was able to sit up straight again. When she caught movement from her periphery, she turned her head and clenched her teeth as she saw them walking toward her.

Con mentally cursed as he watched that a.s.shole and his new friends head over to the human b.i.t.c.h. Hed been waiting for a chance to take Henderson down, but when hed realized the f.u.c.ker had met his mate hed changed his plans. Going after the woman would tear that b.a.s.t.a.r.ds heart out, condemning him and the other wolves to a long, slow, painful death. Just as hed been about to make his move and s.n.a.t.c.h the c.u.n.t from the porch, hed caught the scent of his worthless pack mate and hed had to skulk away, making sure to stay downwind so he couldnt be scented.

He hated Henderson from the first, but the emotion had slowly started eating away at him after the f.u.c.ker had killed his lover and it was eating him up inside. Spicer Owens had been everything to him, and he wasnt about to let Henderson live a long and happy life.

The anger and hate was consuming him, and hed almost given himself away a few times, but hed managed to control his emotions when the a.s.shole had been trying to sniff him out.

Con couldnt understand how the wolves of this pack could even contemplate mating with humans. They were tainting the blood of their pack, and the thought was so abhorrent to him that he felt sick to his stomach.

When hed heard that Spicer had gone after one of the human women, Con hadnt believed it. They had made a promise to each other and vowed to never stray. Bitterness twisted his insides, and acid rose from his stomach. No, Henderson had to have lied so he could challenge their Alpha. Con should have known that the p.r.i.c.k had coveted the leaders position. Hed failed to keep his lover safe, but when the challenge had been issued and accepted there hadnt been a thing he could do.

Hed dreamt of ripping that b.a.s.t.a.r.ds throat out before hed even had the chance to touch Spicer, but pack protocol had to be adhered to, and if hed stepped in he would have died with Spicer. Waiting was a much better option. Hed watch and wait and make his move when Henderson least expected it.

He was going to take Taylor Henderson down, and losing wasnt an option. His friend and lover would be avenged, and then he would be Alpha. He would rule over the Nomad and Sugar Creek Packs. A werewolfs blood was supposed to be pure, and tainting it was an abomination All the men mated to human women would die.

Chapter Seven.

Taylor, Sin, and Michael stepped up onto the porch, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw their glowing golden eyes. Even though she hadnt seen them in wolf form, she knew that anomaly had to be from their animal side.

Mari lowered her head and hoped the stoic expression she was aiming for was enough to hide how she was really feeling, but she knew she wouldnt be able to maintain her "didnt give a s.h.i.t" att.i.tude for long. How could she when her heart, body, and soul were crying out for them? She just hoped that she could until she was on her own again.

Taylor stopped in front of her, and she stared at his jean-clad knees and remained impa.s.sive while inside she was roiling with hurt so intense she felt physically ill.

She squeaked when he scooped her up into his arms, turned around, and started walking back the way they had come, and the pain turned to anger.

"Put me down," she demanded harshly.

"No," Taylor replied in a quiet, calm voice.

That only made her angrier. How could he be so calm, cool, and collected when she was feeling so much? Mari started wiggling in earnest while she pushed against his chest.

"Settle down, baby."

"I dont want-"

"Dont bulls.h.i.t me," Taylor bit out, and she realized that he wasnt as calm as shed first thought.

Sin and Michael moved up beside Taylor. When she glanced at each of them, she saw how tense they were and she wondered what they all wanted with her.

Taylor carried her into the house, but instead of taking her to the living room or the kitchen like shed expected, he headed toward the bedrooms. Maris heart sped up, as did her breathing. Had they decided to claim her without her consent? No, she didnt think they would do that.

Mari shrieked when she went sailing through the air, but sighed when she landed on the bed. All three of the men stood at the end of the bed watching her, and she glanced away before licking her lips nervously.

When she tensed in preparation of getting off the bed, Sin and Michael moved until they were on each side of it. She was effectively blocked in on three sides with nowhere to go.

She shuffled back on the bed when they all got onto the mattress, Sin and Michael at her sides and Taylor on the end. She was trapped, and although she hated feeling that way, she also liked it.

G.o.d, Mari, now youre contradicting yourself. Get a grip!

"Why did you leave?" Taylor barked out the question.

"There was no reason to stay," Mari answered just as angrily.

"Explain," Sin snapped.

"I dont need to explain anything to any of you." She crossed her arms over her chest and drew in a deep breath. She nearly moaned when their musky-piney scents invaded her olfactory senses. Her areolae contracted and puckered, her nipples hardened, and her p.u.s.s.y was so wet she was dripping. The ache deep inside her womb intensified, causing her c.u.n.t to clench with need, and she barely contained the whimper trying to escape.

Michael leaned over until he was scant inches from the side of her head, but she picked a spot on the wall and focused on it, refusing to look at any of them. "I can smell your need, s.e.xy. You want us as much as we want you."

Mari didnt respond to his verbal taunt and hoped her cheeks werent turning pink. Her face was hot. In fact, her whole body was on fire and she didnt know how long she could sit here without doing something stupid. Like jumping on them.

Taylor reached out, clasped her chin between his finger and thumb, making her meet his gaze. "You arent leaving until we clear this up, so I suggest you start talking."

"I dont-"

"Now!" Taylor yelled making her jump. It wasnt that she was scared of him, but hed never used that tone with her before and she didnt like it. Not one little bit, and that made her feel hurt and angry. She latched onto the anger and glared at him.

"Why would I want to stay somewhere Im not wanted."

"Who said we didnt want you here?" Sin asked.

"Did any of us ever say we wanted you to leave?" Michael questioned in a harsh voice.

Mari turned her head, dislodging Taylors hold on her chin. Now that he wasnt touching her, she could think a little better. Although, it was d.a.m.n hard to concentrate when all she wanted was for them to touch her, make love with her, claim her.

"If you were uncertain about what we wanted with you, why didnt you come and talk to us?" Taylor asked.

That was the million-dollar question she wasnt sure she wanted to answer or even knew how, but she decided that asking her own questions might give her some reprieve from their interrogation.

"Did you ever talk to me? Tell me that I was welcome in your home? What you expected or wanted from me?" Mari took a deep breath when she noticed her voice had become strident. She released it and felt some of the tension drain away. She was so d.a.m.n tired, but she knew she wouldnt be able to sleep until things had been sorted out.

Mari decided it was time to pull her panties up and face things head-on. If they didnt want her, at least she would know where she stood, even if she had her heart ripped out. Uncertainty wasnt what she was used to. Shed always dealt with problems head-on even if she ended up getting hurt, but this time she knew the word "hurt" was an understatement.

But knowing where she stood was a lot better than not knowing.

Taylor could smell the emotions rolling off of Mari in waves. There was anger, trepidation, and fear, but most of all there was pain. He and his wolf hated that she was hurting, but they needed her to talk so they could clear any misconceptions she had up. But she was also right. Not once had he, Sin, and Michael sat down with her and told her what they wanted. Theyd been cowards and let Primrose explain about them, but that was all about to change, and if he had his way they would be mated before the night was over.

"Shes right," Sin said through their link.

Taylor had never been more glad that he, Sin, and Michael had established a connection to each other on a private link. Their connection as friends and fellow pack members had been immediate, and they had decided that biting each other to form that private link was essential to their camaraderie.

"Yeah she is," Michael agreed. "We need to change that and now."

Taylor inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly. Her decision to accept them as mates hinged on everything they said and he didnt want to f.u.c.k it up, but hed never been diplomatic, was blunt to the bone, and he couldnt change who he was. Not even for his mate.

"You are our mate, Mari. We want to spend the rest of our life with you in it."

"We want to live with you, love with you, and make babies with you," Sin said.

"Then why did you treat me like a piece of the furniture over the last three days?" Mari asked quietly.

Taylor saw the tears in her eyes, and his heart ached for her. None of them had meant for her to get that impression. They'd just been worried over hurting her when she was already injured.

"Im sorry you felt like that." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "We never wanted you to feel that way." He needed to touch her, to feel her in his arms and against his body. He reached out and lifted her up before placing her in his lap. His wolf, which had been pacing impatiently, settled somewhat, and he was able to think a little more clearly.

"Mari, you were injured," Sin said as he shifted until he was sitting next to him and their mate. Michael got off the bed and walked around before he sat on their other side.

"What has that got to do with anything?"

"We didnt want to hurt you," Michael explained as he clasped her hand and threaded their fingers together.

"That didnt seem to stop you the first night," Mari said belligerently and glared at Michael.

"You have to try and understand that our wolves were riding us hard to claim you," Taylor said. "We have been having trouble controlling our wolves for months. Theyre becoming more aggressive and were worried about hurting someone if they gain control. We want you so much, baby, and even though we should have waited until you were healed to touch you, the desire was too strong."

"You havent seemed to have any trouble since then," Mari snapped, but Taylor could hear the pain in her voice. Theyd really screwed up by not talking to her.

"Honey, you were in a lot of pain after we loved you that night. We decided it would be better if we waited for you to heal before touching you again. Do you think we didnt notice you cringe afterward or how pale you were?"

"II..."

"We want to be able to claim you, s.e.xy," Michael said. "But the last thing we want to do is hurt you."

"You still want me? To claim me?"

"Of course we do, baby. You are everything to us. We have waited so long to meet our mate." Taylor hugged her and kissed her on the temple.

Mari looked relieved, but then she frowned and asked, "How long?"

"Ive waited seventy years for this miracle," Taylor replied.

"Wait! What?" Maris mouth gaped open before she snapped it closed. "Are you serious?"

Taylor nodded and swallowed around the constriction in his throat. He often forgot that humans didnt age the same way a werewolf did. He was so used to everything regarding their physiology and genetic makeup, he forgot to explain. Not that hed needed to in the past, but now that theyd found Mari they were going to have to try and remember she was new to all of it.

"Yes, mate. Im seventy years old."

"You dont look any more than your early thirties." Mari turned to look at Sin. "How old are you?"

"Fifty-five."

Taylor heard her gulp as she looked at Michael expectantly.

"Fifty-three."

"How long do you guys live for?"

"A mated wolf can live as long as two hundred and fifty to three hundred years old," Michael answered.

"Aand unmated wolves?"

"They live to approximately one hundred and fifty to two hundred years. Some can live another fifty years or so, give or take, but it depends on how close they are to their siblings or other pack members," Sin explained.

"Wow...just, wow. Wait! How is that possible?"

"We dont really understand, but it has to do with our DNA and metabolism," Taylor answered.

"Whats your metabolism got to do with it?"

Taylor shrugged but smiled down at her. For the first time since theyd met he had real hope that she was going to accept them for who and what they were. Animal and all.

"No clue, beautiful," Michael said. "But it can be d.a.m.n frustrating when you get the urge to get rip-roaring drunk."

Mari frowned again. "Why would you want to do that?"

"You dont drink?" Sin asked.

"Well, sure, but only a gla.s.s or two. Ive never wanted to feel like I was out of control or wake up with a ma.s.sive headache only to end up puking my guts out."