Chapter 319

After Steven and I have cleaned ourselves up with a quick shower, we fall back into bed together, giggling and laughing all the way. My now, Steven has discovered a few of my tickle zones, which he is exploiting. As revenge, I touch the places I now know make him shiver.

For a while, nothing seems like it can hurt us here, and everything is perfect. Yet, as exhaustion starts to set in, our movements become more sluggish and our thoughts more clear.

Steven loves me. He wants to stay with me. He’s implied that his brothers want me to stay as well, though they haven’t actually said so. I am set on doubting those words until I actually hear them from Neil, Archer, or Beau.

But Steven has also admitted that Chloe might not be his mate, or the mate of any of his brothers. It’s possible that when my birthday comes around, if my wolf does indeed manifest, I might start to feel the pull for some outside, unknown person. And they might feel the pull for me.

“I can’t tell you for certain what will happen,” Steven says. He has his arm around me, with me curled up securely beside his chest. “There are too many variables, many of them unknown.”

I nod sadly. I’ve gathered as much already.

“But I will say this,” Steven adds, reclaiming my attention. “If you do mate with someone else, and it is not someone that you want, my brothers and I will protect you. You will never belong to anyone that you do not wish to belong to. Do you understand?”

“I do,” I say with a sigh and snuggle closer to him. Softly, I add, “Thank you.”

Steven loves me, and I’m fairly certain that I love him too. But I don’t know what to do. Would Steven claim me if I ask him to? But then what would happen between me and his brothers?

If I love any of them, I love all of them, because my feelings run deep for all four.

It’s certainly not an ideal situation. It’s not conventional.

But when I think of my future, and the one I want beside me to see it, the truth is I want Neil, Archer, Beau, and Steven.

I can’t favor one over the other, not when they each hold my heart.

This makes me foolish, I know. What I want is simply impossible.

The next morning, Beau takes Mia with him to the store and Steven barricades himself in his laboratory, after kissing me good morning. I haven’t seen Archer yet. Gods know where he hides some days. But oddly, I haven’t seen Neil either.

At least, until I turn on the screen.

Neil sits on an uncomfortable-looking chair opposite a severe-looking journalist with her hair up in a tight bun. Along the bottom of the screen, some text is written: Neil Hayes Speaks On His Political Future.

“I want to make it clear that I absolutely thank everyone for their support and interest in my potential political campaign. It’s been an absolute honor to even be considered for a role among the Alpha King’s advisors, let alone to be looked at for the lead position itself. I’m absolutely blown away by all of the kind messages and well wishes of so many people from across the nation.”

He looks so dignified in his suit, clean shaved, with his hair tied back neatly. His words are so well-delivered, measured and perfectly timed. He truly is a man born for politics, if ever there was one.

Even his smile seems genuine, though I notice, likely because I know him so well, that it’s a bit tight around the edges.

I hold my breath. He’s going to give bad news, but whether it is bad news for the nation or for him personally remains to be seen.

Gods, I wish he talked to me about this beforehand. The tension makes me want to scream. I can’t even stay sitting. I bounce off of the couch and walk to the television.

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ coming, Mr. Hayes,” the journalist says. She senses something off about him too, then. Or she’s just experienced enough to know when someone is building up to something.

Neil’s smile grows slightly, a touch of relief finds his eyes. “I want to be clear that I’ve given this decision careful consideration. I’ve sought advice from my closest friends and my brothers. I do not come to this conclusion lightly, to say the least.”

“So your decision then is…?” the journalist prompts.

Neil laughs at her impatience, but it’s patient and gentle and comes off well-meaning. “After consideration, I’ve decided that unfortunately, I’m not ready to pursue a career in politics just yet.”

My heart hammers in my ears. I still haven’t taken a breath.

The journalist nods critical. “I’m sure many of your supporters will be disappointed by this decision. If I may say so, for your age, you are charismatic and intelligent. Your supporters seem determined to follow you to the end of the road, whatever that road may be. Are you certain you will not reconsider?”

“Again, I’m exceedingly grateful.” Neil bows at the camera slightly for good measure. “And I hope that someday those who support me now will return to support me again when I am ready to dedicate myself to my career. I will return, I swear it.”

“Interesting, and good news for some,” the journalist says. “May I ask, because I’m sure the world wants to know, what will you do in the meantime? What could be more important to focus on than the good of your nation?”

It’s a trick question and I want to jump through the television and shake the woman for trying it on Neil.

Neil handles it with grace, of course. He smiles softly and shakes his head.

“What else?” he says. “I’m in love.”

The air punches from my lungs. What?

Neil’s in love? Since when? With who?

“Oh!” The journalist’s eyes light up like Christmas morning. “You must tell us who the lucky lady is.”

“Nothing’s been decided yet,” Neil says. “I can’t risk sharing her name until I make my feelings clear.”

“How romantic. So the love is still in bloom.”

“Yes,” Neil says. “Very much so.”

He has such a lovesick puppy-eyed look on his face that my heart melts and breaks at the exact same time. He’s so handsome, and I’m so happy that he’s in love.

But who is that expression for?

Beau has been so busy with my drama and dealing with his father, when would he have time to fall in love?

His secret paramour couldn’t be Angela, could it? No, she would have told me. They’ve only ever been good friends.

Hurt spikes through me, all sharp and jagged edges. Everything hurts.

Who could it be? Who could it be?

It would never be me, that much I know. Despite our fun times together, Neil seemed the most adamant at pushing me off toward the mystery man that might be my mate.

He wouldn’t say that and then turn around and claim to love me?

It didn’t make sense. It had to be someone else.

But who?