Page 27 of Can't Be Love

“I’m not even sure my wolf would have submitted to my father in that incident. Just, try to keep your clothes on around other guys this week.”

I snorted. “You make it sound like it’s a common occurrence.”

“Is it?” he asked, and I didn’t think he was entirely joking.

We were still bantering back and forth when we walked into the house. Maddie was in the living room sitting on the floor playing a game with Oscar while holding a sleeping baby.

“Is it what?” she asked without looking up.

“Am I in the habit of running around naked in front of guys?” I asked her as casually as if I’d never left at all.

Surprised at my voice, she looked up. Considered it for a moment. “Depends. Is alcohol involved? How about Cole Anderson? You’d definitely get naked for that.”

She was laughing when an aggressive growl rumbled through Thomas, who was standing next to me. His hand tightened around mine until pain shot up my arm.

“Ow,” I cried out, causing him to let go so fast you’d think he’d just touched fire.

“Question mark?” Maddie asked. “You’re back, and holding hands with my brother?”

“Fine. Thomas is my one true mate. I freaked out a little. It’s Thomas!” I said, feeling a weight lifting from my chest confessing it to my bestie. I needed some time with MC to help me sort it all out.

“I am right here, you know,” he pointed out, but I ignored him.

Madelyn laughed so hard, she woke the baby. Liam came running in to find out what all the commotion was about, and Oscar scolded us all for disturbing Sara’s nap. He gently took the baby from his mother and went to sit in the rocking chair and soothe her back to sleep.

“What’s wrong?” Liam asked, though his total focus was on his mate.

She pointed up at me, still laughing so hard she couldn’t speak. Annoyed, I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for it all to pass.

“Lil? When did you get back?” my brother finally asked.

“A couple hours ago,” I sighed.

“She . . . mated . . . Thomas,” Maddie managed through tears and laughter. “She mated Thomas!”

Liam looked at us both in shock.

“You took my sister as a mate?” Liam demanded.

I stepped in front of Thomas without even realizing I was doing it.

“Not yet, not that it’s any of your business. Plus, technically you took his sister as your mate first. Just pointing that out,” I said as he snarled at me, causing Thomas to tense behind me. I wasn’t sure how I knew that exactly, but I did. “Would you relax, both of you? He’s my true mate, Liam,” I told him.

“Thomas Collier? The biggest do—” Liam stopped himself before finishing the statement.

“Biggest douchebag on the planet,” Thomas finished for him. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that one a few times already.”

I cringed, suddenly hating the nickname I’d long ago reserved just for him.

Our voices must have summoned the others, because the next thing I knew the entire Collier family was standing around gawking at me and Thomas.

“Hi,” I squeaked, wanting to crawl into a hole and die. It was not how I’d imagined his family finding out when I agreed we should probably tell them. It didn’t help that MC was grinning like a fool.

“What’s all this about?” Zach Collier asked.

My mouth dropped open to speak, but nothing came out.

“Mom, Dad, sisters, meet my mate,” Thomas said, sounding proud and looking much too smug.

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