Page 108 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

Dylan nodded amicably.

“I understand.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, his gaze never leaving mine. “And I will spend the rest of our lives together trying to atone for that mistake.”

The rest of our lives together?

Panic bubbled over within me, and I tugged my hand free of his grasp.

“I don’t think you’re listening to me,” I snapped. “Isaid, we’re both mated. We can’t?—”

Dylan didn’t let me finish. He put his hands on my shoulders as if trying to relax a skittish animal.

“We can and we will. My annulment will happen in three days, and I know there’s no love lost between you and Alexander.” His hazel eyes searched mine. “I just need you to say yes, and I’ll take care of everything else.”

A fragile, uncertain smile settled on his lips.

“Please give us a chance, Eleanor.”

For a moment, I let myself consider it.

He’d cheated on me with Micah while he was under the influence. It didn’t negate the fact that he’d done it, but he’d apologized and shown his remorse over and over.

And I’d gotten back at him by sleeping with his brother.

We’d hurt each other, but could I forgive him and put the past aside?

Honestly? Yes.

But Dylan wasn’t just asking me to forgive him. He wanted to be my mate.

To do that, I’d need to break my bond with Alexander.

I thought of the past few months with Alexander, from the moment he’d marked me to the last time I’d seen him. I thought of all the hurtful words Alexander had said to me, and all the times he’d shown he would never truly accept me as his mate.

I took a step away from Dylan, and his hands fell from my shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” I said, unable to believe my own words. “I can’t.”

Dylan’s face fell, but he reached for me again, misunderstanding what I meant.

“Eleanor, I’m truly sorry for what I did. I really a?—”

“I forgive you,” I interjected, meeting his gaze for the first time as I came to a realization that rocked the foundation of my world.

“I think I have for a while now, but I can’t be your mate.”

Dylan paused.

“Why?” he asked, his tone casual. Too casual.

But I was too lost in my thoughts to notice the danger.

I couldn’t leave Alexander.

“I already have a mate, and I…” My throat closed up as I tried to get the words out. “I have feelings for him that I can’t explain, and they aren’t going anywhere.”

“You have feelings for Alexander?” Dylan echoed in obvious disbelief.

It was the first time I’d admitted it to myself.

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