I stared at my bondmate, and he resolutely looked at the floor, refusing to meet my gaze. I couldn’t fault Rachel for loving both of them, but it certainly explained why Caden had always been so wary about having Seth around me. My tongue felt thick in my mouth. “Did you want me because of me or because I was his?”

“Fuck, Lo. I loved you before you were his. The moment you picked me up out of those bushes, it was over for me. I fucked up so hard with Rachel. I thought she loved me, and I never wanted to hurt Caden. I couldn’t fight it when she asked me to take her away from there, no matter how much I knew it would hurt him.”

Tears slipped over Seth’s cheeks and I absorbed his words. While some of the fault definitely lay with him, Rachel was the one with the bondmate she’d chosen to abandon. I tried really hard not to judge the situation. I didn’t know any of them backthen, didn’t know the circumstances they had found themselves in. I had always felt a pull toward Seth no matter how much I tried to push it down. I loved Caden so much, but I could also understand being too weak to ignore a pull like that.

Yelena cleared her throat. “I recognize that this is probably going to be difficult for all of you, but I also hope that you know you’re not alone in facing it.”

“Sure fucking feels like I’m alone in it,” Caden scoffed.

“Mighty panther,” Yelena teased. “You need to spend more time among lions and wolves to learn what it means to have a pack to rely on in all things. You are only as alone as you make yourself.”

I reached for both of my men, lacing my fingers with theirs. “I don’t know what Rachel being alive means for any of us in the long run, but I love both of you and that’s not going to change.”

“You don’t hate me?” Seth asked.

“I could never. I don’t know what went through Rachel’s head when she left Caden to go with you, but I feel like I’m in a unique position to understand the compulsion, even if I was never willing to leave Caden to have you too. Things are a million times more complicated now but I know my heart will always belong with the two of you.”

“Omegas are uniquely suited for polyamory,” said Yelena. “There is never a shortage of love or desire with them when they feel safe. I know everything might be terrifying, but at the very least, you won’t have to deal with this woman while we’re in lockdown. She doesn’t want to speak to us, and she certainly can’t come here. We made that clear when we reached out to everyone.”

Caden reached for Seth, taking another slow breath. “Rachel has been a wedge between us for so long. It seems a cruel trick of fate for us to have mended things only for her to appear again.”

“Fate is certainly welcome to kiss my ass,” Seth snapped. “What the fuck does it think it’s doing?”

Forcing you all to be honest, Haru suggested.If Logan didn’t know until now, then maybe she needed to for things to move forward.

“That’s certainly a possibility, darling.” Yelena patted Haru’s head before looking at me. “What do you suggest for handling their stress, precious?”

“Oh, usually I would just have them go into their house cat forms so I can pet them.”

“You heard her, panthers.”

The brothers shared a look but complied. Yelena scooped up Caden and I gathered Seth onto my lap, settling next to her while Haru lay down between us, his wolf head on my thigh.

I kept expecting Caden to protest, but Yelena found a spot beneath his chin that had his eyes closing and his purr erupting. They were so fucking cute together.

Seth cuddled against me.You’re really, really sure you don’t hate me?

I’ve never hated you for a single moment, and I’m not about to start now.

He relaxed fully, letting his purr out and shoving his little head against the underside of my chin.

Every so often Caden tensed again until Yelena swatted his ass. “You’re supposed to be relaxing. If you’re going to stew, it’s going to be very difficult to help you.”

Sorry. Caden’s voice echoed in my head.

“You’re missing a very rare opportunity, panther. Do you think I let just anyone sit on me like this?”

Forgive me if I’m more focused on my mate being alive than the fact that you’re petting me.

Yelena laughed. “You get sassy when you’re a cat. If it would make you feel better, assuming we all survive this, I can put a few resources into finding out what became of your mate.”

You would do that?

“If it will make you stop your brooding, then yes.” Yelena reached out to me as well, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Precious, I know things are quite complicated, but I do hope you know that we’re here to help.”

I leaned into her, breathing in her spicy cinnamon scent, letting my fingers trail down to stroke Haru while still cradling Seth. “I know.”

Velda pushed her way into the library, trotting over to us and kneeling before our group. “Is everyone all right?”