Page 66 of Confusing Hearts

Tears threatened to fall once again as I smiled in thanks and left, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

I headed for the front porch, finding the rest of the cabin still empty. As I walked out, I saw Jack standing there talking to Chase and a few other men. He pulled away from the group and headed right for me. In my peripheral vision I could see Chase start to move in defense, but he backed up in shock as Jack threw his arms around me.

“What the hell are you doing here, babe? I thought I told you to leave and not come back,” Jack said.

He was worried about me. No, he was worried about Tessa. I knew in that moment that Jack truly did care for my sister.

A loud growl from behind him caused goosebumps to break out across my skin.

“Get away from my mate,” Chase said through gritted teeth. There were a few nearby gasps and people started whispering all around us.

I gave Jack an apologetic smile.

“Tessa, what the hell is going on here?” Jack asked.

“I’m, uh, I’m not Tessa, Jack. I’m Jenna. Tessa’s my twin sister. My identical twin sister,” I clarified.

“What?” he asked, taking a step back to look at me like I had just sprouted horns.

Chase was quickly by my side. When I reached out for him, I felt his body start to relax at my touch. It was a heady feeling, knowing I had that much power over him.

“Chase, I know you’ve been acting weird all semester, but you really took a mate? She’s not even a wolf. Hell, she’s not even canine,” Brett pointed out.

“So?” Chase responded, like he had just been asked the dumbest thing in the world.

“Okay, so Chase took a mate. It’s not like we all didn’t suspect it. You can pay up when we’re back at the house,” Damon said.

“Pay up?” I asked.

“There’s been a pool going for three weeks on the topic. We all saw the signs, though no one could figure out whom. It really does make sense now,” Neal added.

“What makes sense about a wolf and a panther?” Brett asked, and then covered himself when arms started flying over to smack him.

“Jenna’s cool, it’s all good. I can see it,” Damon said.

“You can?” I asked in wonder.

“Yeah. He’s been sniffing around you for the last few months. You’re a great gaming partner, and a nerd, like Westin needs that in his life. I just can’t believe you’ve kept it quiet. Why?” Damon asked, and others seemed to acknowledge their interest in that answer, too.

“Look, we have to keep it quiet for now. Her family isn’t going to deal well with having a wolf join the family,” Chase said trying to keep things light.

“My father will disown me and forbid me from seeing or talking to my sisters. I knew the consequences and still chose Chase despite it all. He’s worth it,” I said grinning at my mate to a chorus of obnoxious “awws” from his fraternity brothers. “But if you guys could please just keep this to yourselves a little longer, I’d really like to get through this semester with my sisters.”

It was the sad truth of the situation. They all nodded.

“I’m invoking D.O.G. code on this,” Damon said. “Chase Westin taking a mate or even seeing Jenna Lockhardt is Delta Omega Gamma classified effective immediately. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they all said in unison, followed by a chanting of “Delta Omega Gamma” over and over as they jumped around, hooting and hollering. Chase grabbed me by my waist and jerked me to him. My eyes were wide when his mouth captured mine to the roar of cheers around us. He pulled back and grinned before looking to the sky and howling. His brothers echoed him.

“Okay, okay, now that that’s settled, we need to decide what to do about Jack,” Kyle said seriously.

“Take him inside and I’ll be there in a minute,” Chase told Kyle before turning back to his fraternity brothers.

A group of men passed by, as they escorted Jack inside. The man Chase had said was Jacob Winthrop followed, and I shivered. I wondered where the other tiger shifters were, but I didn’t dare ask.

Chase walked down off the porch and I followed him. He wrapped one arm around me and pulled me close to his side.

“I really don’t know what to say. Thank you. You guys have gone above and beyond our brotherhood today and I appreciate it more than words can say.” He looked down at me and smiled warmly. “We both do.”

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