Page 64 of Their Promise

“I can understand your feelings. You were with them most of your life and to suddenly lose them when you were also so far from home made it harder. However, you know the past can’t be changed. You need to stop looking behind you and look at here and now and the future. Do you want to spend the next four years apart from them again? Could you handle seeing them mated to someone else?”

I hissed without thinking and quickly ducked my head.

Dad laughed and patted my head. “Pretty sure you’ve answered the question.”

“So, accept them and move on? Just like that?” I asked and looked back up at him.

He shook his head. “No, make them grovel and show you how they really feel. Everyone who hurts their mate needs to grovel a bit. However, be honest with yourself about your feelings for them. Once they’ve groveled enough to please you, then accept their apology. Those boys could be knocked down a peg or two with little repercussions to their egos. But it might be enough for them to grow and become the type of mates you need. Don’t tell them, but I’ve been secretly rooting for them since you were teens.”

“It’s really hard to stay mad at them when they’re telling me sweet things like ‘I’m the only one for them’ and ‘I’m what getsthem through demon battles,’” I muttered and spun to face the computer again.

He laughed. “Well, they did grow up watching and listening to me and your other fathers apologizing and flirting with Ember a lot. Plus, Ezio made quite a few mistakes after Kayden was born.”

“Ezio did?” I didn’t remember them having issues.

“Mostly him not taking her feelings into consideration before doing things like taking on dangerous missions. He was so used to doing things on his own. Kayden, Mason, and Trey were surrounded by smooth-talking alphas who adore their mates. If they didn’t pick up a few things, I’d be disappointed. I tried to beat a decent amount of respect for the women in our lives into them.”

“So, you don’t think it’s an issue if they were basically groomed to wanting me as a mate?”

He rolled his eyes. “You are so like your mom. So self-deprecating. Those three have spent the last four years traveling around the world. They have met thousands of women. Had hundreds throw themselves at them and been forced on blind dates. They had ample time and other women at their call to decide you weren’t the one for them. You know what happened instead? They realized you are their sun and no matter how hard those women tried to steer them off course, they came back to you because they love you. Because you are beautiful, kind, strong, sassy, and exactly what they want. Now, it’s up to you to determine if the same is true for you. If you don’t want them, end the courting now.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He growled and ruffled my hair. “You’re welcome.”

I had just finished meditatingwhen I sensed Kayden enter the store. He greeted the staff as he headed to the office where I waited.

His footsteps halted at the door and after a moment of hesitation, he opened it.

He wore black sweatpants and a black tank top, showing off his muscular arms. My eyes moved to his upper bicep where a snake tattoo wrapped around, red eyes bright on the otherwise white snake.

He had gotten my snake form tattooed on him, too?

Noticing my stare he said, “I got it just after you left for college.”

“So, right before the incident?”

He lowered himself into the chair across the desk from me. “Yes.”

“Regret it?” I asked.

“Yes, I regret not thinking how my words would be taken by you.”

“I meant the tattoo.”

He smirked, telling me he knew what I’d meant. “So, why are we staking out the store?”

I explained the reason and his brow furrowed.

“That is worrying. So, we’re going to see who they are and report back to Caleb?”

I nodded. “They’ve been paying cash, so there’s no name recorded.”

“How do you want to do this? I can hide in fox form under a table. You’re too large for that, no offense.”

“I’m going to hide on top of the shelves.”

The top of the shelves were over twelve feet high so I could lie on top of them in snake form without being spotted.

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