Page 23 of The Pact

Staring up at Sutton, I tell him what’s on my mind. “It feels like no time has passed since I last saw you. This…,” I point to the closeness between us. “It’s what we do. But—”

“You’re worried Cole will get jealous.” He finishes my sentence.

“Maybe not jealous, possibly feel overshadowed?” I question, hoping he can tell me if that's a better word. That’s what I felt last night. Jealousy often comes with anger. It felt like Cole was more disappointed than anything.

Sutton kisses the top of my head and steps away out of respect.

“I’m happy to have you around again, even if it’s at a distance,” he jokes, extending his arm, his fingers just out of reach. “Want to help me make breakfast for the pack?”

“The pack?” I laugh out.

He shrugs. “We kind of leaned into it a long time ago.” He flashes his ring. “This is our den,” he says, looking around the living room. “We’re a pack. We even changed our last names a few years back. Wolfe. It makes things run a lot smoother.”

“So…no longer Sutton Alstead?” That’s who I knew him as in college.

He shakes his head. “Sutton Wolfe.”

I cock my head. “I don’t know, sounds a little culty,” I joke.

He waggles his fingers at me. “It’s very culty,” he chuckles out. “C’mon.” I follow him to the kitchen.

Wesley is already pulling food from the fridge.

“We’ve got this, man.” Sutton’s hand rests on his brother’s shoulder. Wesley doesn’t fight him. He heads back into the living room. “Alright, I need you to crack these eggs.” He pushes two cartons towards me.

“There’s no way you guys eat this much.” Two dozen eggs are a heinous amount for five people.

He grins at me. “Oh, that’s only the start.”

I crack the eggs and watch Sutton pull out a pack of bacon, a carton of yogurt, and berries. This is way too much food. “You guys eat like this every day?”

Sutton laughs, “No, not every day. But a few times a week, yes. To be fair, Wesley eats enough for three people.”

A humph comes from the other room in response.

There’s something I want to ask him, however, I’m nervous. After stalling for a moment, I force it out. “Sutton…” His amber eyes meet mine. “You know Cole and I both separately. Do you think we’d be good for each other?”

Under any other circumstances, I’d never ask this. Although, after eavesdropping on the conversation last night and Cole’s confession that he sees this becoming serious, I’m curious. I know I can trust Sutton’s opinion.

He sets down the knife he’s using to chop onions. My stomach drops. “Cole is a good guy… he’s my brother… and you, well, you know I think the world of you.” The words should be comforting, yet there’s a hesitation that has me waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Most of the women that we bring around don’t stay very long. I don’t want either of you getting hurt.”

“Why don’t they stay?” I wonder if there’s a consistent pattern, like a fear of commitment or, worse, cheating.

Sutton bites his lip and I know there’s something he’s holding back. He’s worried. “Most of the time it starts off great. They see we’re close and they love it, although they eventually want more. More alone time away from the rest of us. They try to come between us. It’s hard for most people to accept that our bond is our top priority. Nothing is going to change that.”

I understand what he’s saying and I can’t promise that I won’t want a life apart from his brothers someday. I can’t promise that I won’t want marriage or privacy.

“So, if I want things to work with Cole… I’d have to be okay with living separate from him or what… living here with everyone? I mean, if all of you get into relationships, you’d all want your girlfriends or wives to move in here?” The concept seems chaotic. Is this why Damian built them the house of their dreams? To create a commune of sorts?

Sutton returns to chopping onions. “We’d figure out a way for it to work. I don’t want to scare you off, but you deserve to know. Our bond is forever.”

We finish making five massive omelets, a plate of bacon, and individual bowls of yogurt topped with berries.

Sutton calls out, “Breakfast!” And the horde comes running. The previously quiet house is now a bustle of doors opening and closing, footsteps, and morning greetings.

My thoughts are churning while I eat. Cole keeps trying to talk to me, however, he has to repeat everything he says since I can’t seem to pay attention.

“Can you give me a ride to work?” He asks for a second time. I smile and nod.

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