Page 43 of Claimed By My Exiled Alphas
“Then we deal with it,” Jace said simply. “We talk about it, we adjust expectations, we figure out what works and what doesn’t. That’s what people do in relationships. They communicate and adapt and try to meet each other where they are.”
“But what if where I am is too complicated? Too messy?”
“Then it’s too complicated and messy. That doesn’t make it wrong. You don’t have to be perfect Talia. You don’t have to have all the answers straight away.”
I studied his face, looking for signs of doubt or frustration or the kind of carefully controlled patience that meant someone was reaching the end of their tolerance. But all I saw was genuine acceptance. Like he really meant what he was saying.
“I don’t understand you,” I said finally. “I don’t understand how you can be so calm about all of this. About me having feelings for other people while I’m sitting here telling you I also have feelings for you.”
“Because your feelings for them don’t diminish your feelings for me. They’re not in competition. They’re just different things that exist simultaneously.”
Maybe that was what scared me most about this situation. Not that I was broken or greedy or fundamentally flawed, but that I was being honest about what I wanted for the first time in years. And honesty felt dangerous after so long spent trying to be whatever Vincent needed me to be.
“I’m terrified,” I admitted. “Of wanting this. Of admitting that I might want all three of you in different ways. Of hoping that maybe, possibly, it could actually work.”
“I know.”
“But I’m also tired of being afraid. Tired of second-guessing every feeling I have because Vincent convinced me my instincts were wrong. Tired of hiding and running and pretending I don’t want things that I clearly do want.”
“So what do you want to do?”
The question was simple, but the answer felt enormous. Life-changing. Like standing at a trailhead with multiple paths leading into unknown territory, and choosing one meant committing to wherever it led.
“I want to try,” I said, the words barely above a whisper. “I want to see if I can do this. To see if Hollis and Cassian feel the same as I do. Have relationships with all three of you, and trust that if it becomes too much or too complicated, we can figure it out together instead of me making all the decisions alone.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” He smiled gently. “Although I should probably mention that I haven’t actually talked to Hollis or Cassian about any of this. So I can’t promise they’ll be on the same page.”
Reality crashed back in, and I felt my stomach drop. “Oh god. What if they’re not okay with it? What if Hollis wants me tohimself, or Cassian thinks the whole situation is inappropriate, or they both decide I’m too much trouble? Or neither of them think of me as anything but an acquaintance or friend.”
“Then we’ll deal with that too,” Jace said calmly. “But I know Hollis pretty well, and based on what I’ve observed, I think he’d be supportive. And Cassian’s reputation suggests he’s mature enough to handle complicated situations with grace.”
“You really think so?”
“I really think so. And even if I’m wrong, even if one or both of them decide this isn’t what they want, that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It just means the situation wasn’t right for everyone involved.”
I nodded slowly, trying to let that sink in. Trying to believe that my worth wasn’t determined by whether three specific alphas wanted to be in a pack with me.
“So what happens now?” I asked.
“Now you go home and take care of yourself. Maybe make some of that incredible soup you’ve been talking about. I finish my day, including helping coordinate a search for a lost hiker.” He paused, studying my face. “And tomorrow, or the next day, when you’re ready, we keep moving forward. Keep spending time together, keep building trust, keep figuring out what this looks like.”
“And Thursday? The foraging hike?”
“Still on, if you want it to be. Although I should warn you that I’m going to spend the entire time showing off my ranger knowledge and probably boring you with facts about fungal networks.”
That surprised a laugh out of me, short but genuine. “I like when you show off your ranger knowledge.”
“Good. Because I have a lot of it, and I’ve been waiting twenty years to have someone to share it with who actually cares.”
The sweetness of that admission made my chest tight. Here was someone who’d carried memories of me through two decades of life, who’d chosen to come back to the place we’d shared, who was offering me patience and acceptance and the kind of steady support I’d convinced myself I didn’t deserve.
And he was telling me it was okay to also want what Hollis and Cassian offered.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For finding me today. For not being angry or territorial or making me feel guilty about wanting more than just you.”
