Page 17 of Owned By Four Alphas

“That’s fine, sweetness, whatever you want,” Ronan said. “Now where were you running off to in such a hurry? This isn’t the way to our chambers.”

She sniffled, curling as close into him as she could. “The library. I wanted some peace. And some answers.”

Even without seeing them, she knew Ronan and Malek were exchanging silent words. It annoyed her to be left out, so she pushed against Ronan’s chest.

“It’s fine, I’m fine, I can walk.”

“Sweetness, you’re still crying.”

“No, I’m not,” she said, somewhat petulantly, hastily rubbing her tears away. “See? Not crying.”

“You are very much still crying.”

“I can cry and walk at the same time!”

“Selena,” Ronan’s voice was pained, “please just let me carry you?”

She paused, ready to argue again, but when she peered into his bright yellow eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to.

“Alright. But only until we get to the library.”

Ronan carried her, with Malek shielding them all in his shadows, and the gentle gait of his walk calmed her enough that her heart rate slowed and the tension in her shoulders began to ease.

And with the receding shock came the sharp realization of what she had just done.

“Is everyone alright?” she asked suddenly, remembering the dancers and those closest to the statue.

“Nobody was hurt,” replied Ronan, “it was just a shock. That is all.”

“Kaelen is handling the fallout,” supplied Malek before she could ask.

“Of course he is,” she muttered, familiar frustration coiling in her gut.

“Don’t worry about any of them,” said Ronan as Malek pushed open the huge carved doors to the library. “We can deal with it all later.”

The library was blessedly empty, the towering shelves of books illuminated by the soft glow of a crackling fire. Selena breathed in the familiar scent of parchment and ink, straining her feet towards the plush furs.

“You can put me down now, Ronan. You promised.”

“Aye, sweetness, no need to remind me.” His tone was teasing, but the muscles of his arms were tense as he carefully set her down, his eyes narrow and watchful.

She sucked in a breath. “Are you…I mean…are both of you okay?”

Ronan and Malek exchanged another glance, their expressions growing somber.

“I do not like to see you in distress,” said Malek after a while. “It…agitates me.”

She instinctively moved to hug him, burying her face into the black fabric over his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured as he dipped lower to wrap his arms around her, his lips pressing into the top of her head.

“It’s not your fault, sweetness,” Ronan grunted. “It’s those idiots, Kaelen and Elian. Things can get complicated when themales causing your mate distress also happen to be your pack brothers, and her mates as well. There’s the alpha instinct to rip apart any who threatenher, but also the pack instinct to mend and bond. It’s…confusing.”

Malek rumbled in agreement, his arms tightening and his head dropping to her shoulder. She turned her face, capturing his lips in a kiss, heat coiling low in her belly as he keened and pressed himself closer.

“That helps,” he said, pulling back slightly, his wholly black eyes twinkling. She ran her fingers through the short black hair at the back of his head, tracing where his antlers sprung from his skull, brushing over his forehead where the moon-white skin cracked and grayed into black around his edges.

He looked near ready to devour her as she stepped out of the circle of his arms, his claws tightening ever so slightly on her hips.

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