Page 10 of Cursed Wolfsbane

My heart breaks for all three brothers. Bastian isn’t the only one who suffered because of his abuser. They all hurt from it, just in different ways. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

After exhaling raggedly, Malachi looks back at me. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I spar with Bastian now whenever he needs pain. He knows he can come to me any time, day or night, and I’ll spar with him. The same goes for you. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. I’ll drop it in a heartbeat if you need me.”

My cheeks flush at his words, and my heart does an excited flip in my chest at him being willing to help me if I need it. I’m not alone anymore. I’ve got Vale and Abbie. But, for some reason, it’s the Wyldhart brothers I want to be there when I need it—even Xander, who’d be as likely to push me down as help me up.

Shaking my head to clear it of thoughts of Xander and the guilt for him getting shot, I try to change the topic. “Where’d you learn spanking then?”

Malachi closes his eyes in resignation for a moment before opening them and telling me, “From fucking.” A growl works its way out of my throat as jealousy burns hot and caustic through me. “There was never an emotional component to it, baby girl. Never anything like what we just did.” His navy eyes are locked with mine, and I see sincerity shining in their depths.

“Then what was it for?”

He sighs deeply before answering. “It was for pleasure. Hers and mine. But I haven’t fucked anyone since I met you, Briar.”

I clench my fists where they rest on Malachi’s shoulders as I try to wrangle the jealousy taking a joy ride through me. While his words help some, I still hate the idea of him touching anotherwoman like he touched me. It’s even worse when I think about how this woman was likely someone who meant something to him.

I’m turning into a psycho, apparently. I know he had a life before me, but a part of me wants to murder anyone he’s ever been with. “Was this with a girlfriend?” I grind out.

Malachi barks out a laugh. “No. I’ve never had a girlfriend or even repeat partners. It was all one-time things like you had. I’ve just had more. I am almost nine years older than you.”

My mouth pops open in surprise. He grins slightly at my shock. “How old are you?” I ask, not having given much thought to our age difference.

“I’m twenty-nine. Xander and Bastian are twenty-five.”

“Oh,” I say as eloquently as I always am around the Wyldharts. Maybe it’s a mate thing that being around the three of them fries my brain. Who knows.

“Does that bother you?” Malachi tilts his head as he assesses me, trying to figure out what I’m feeling.

“No,” I answer automatically. “Should it?”

Malachi’s shaking his head before I even finish. “No. There’s no ‘should’ in our relationship. We do what’s right for us, not what anyone else thinks we should do. All that matters is how you feel about it.”

“Is that what we are? In a relationship?” I ask hesitantly. I’m not sure what exactly being mates means. A larger part of me than I want to admit wants his answer to be yes.

“If by relationship you mean you’re irrevocably mine for the rest of time, then yes.” Malachi stares at me, all humor from earlier wiped off his handsome face.

My eyes bounce between his dark ocean ones. “Are you mine?”

“We all are, Briar. You’re it for the three of us, even if you decided you didn’t want us. I’d like to say I’m the type of manthat’ll let you go if that makes you happy, but I’m not. So I’ll just have to do whatever it takes to keep you happy with us.”

I should probably be alarmed by him saying he won’t let me leave, but all I feel is warmth bubbling in my chest at his declaration.

At the thought of being with the Wyldharts long term, my brain screams at me not to get too comfortable. People leave. Always. Yet, my heart is shouting just as loudly that I belong with the Wyldharts. Nowhere has ever felt as right as when I’m in any of their arms.

Not that I’m going to tell Malachi any of that. Searching for something to say, I open and close my mouth a few times. Before I can settle on something, his bedroom door crashes open.

CHAPTER 5

BASTIAN

With one last glance over my shoulder, I quietly leave Xander’s hospital room. I close the door behind me with a soft snick, not wanting to wake him up. The numbskull needs all the rest he can get because he jumped in front of a fucking bullet for me.

Who even does that?

My idiot twin, I guess.

There are only a few moments throughout my life where time seemed to stand still. When I woke up and discovered that my family found out about Father Simon. When Briar went missing. And when my twin was shot in what I thought was his heart. All the moments tilted my world on its axis. Nothing has been the same since any of them.

When I thought Xander died, all I wished was that it was me instead of him. He’s the twin that has his shit together. He’s responsible, reliable, and holds our family together. Xander’s never caused my mom to stay up all night worrying, embarrassed my dad in front of his allies, or added to Kai’s never-ending list of problems to deal with.

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