Page 12 of The Alpha's Autumn Baby Mama (Triple L Ranch Shifters 4)

What would they say? We spent the night together naked, and I was a good sport about it? Then I had another thought. Did they want something from me to get that good word?

“No. I’ll stand on my own two feet. I think that’s important.”

“Up to you.” Owen rubbed his cheek against his mate’s chest, his eyes inches from mine. “But we’re glad to help. You get to know someone quickly when you’re stranded together, I think.”

The surreal nature of the situation was something I could contemplate later, but if I were to climb out of our makeshift bed to get dressed, I’d be scrambling around under the low tent ceiling, trying to pull on all my clothes without touching the sides and letting moisture seep in. When Levi had knocked the snow off earlier, he’d done it with a folding walking stick, minimizing contact. “I guess you’re right.” And they’d promised not to take advantage of me, even if they felt the slightest inclination. Now…how to keep me from making a move so ill-thought-out, I’d probably ruin any chances of joining the Triple L. They’d tell their alphas that I was the kind of female who poached other people’s mates.

No pack wanted anyone like that among its members if they could avoid it.

Our breath puffed in the tent’s interior. We were comfortable enough between the sleeping bags and our body heat—a good reason not to get dressed—or at least I was. The two of them actually seemed perfectly happy to talk about ordinary things. Why I’d decided to move and what kind of life I thought I’d find at Triple L. They told me about their families moving away during the last bad times and how they’d ended up here, on their way to the pack they’d left when just young boys.

“Your…your house? It was torn down just like that?” The thought made my heart ache. My old home wasn’t much. It had been old and battered, but if I could have packed it on my back and brought it along, I would have.

And it gave me a measure of comfort to know that it still stood, even if it no longer belonged to me.

“And your garden?” I’d never been a great grower of fruits and vegetables, but I’d had a small patch. Everyone did in our pack. One of the berry bushes had been planted by my grandfather.

Their silence told the rest of that story.

I was filled with rage at what had been done to them. My wolf growled low. She wanted to go find that rancher who’d cheated them and the developer as well. Nobody deserved the kind of treatment they’d suffered.

“How dare they!” The words were out before I could stop them. “I mean, it’s not my business or anything, but someone should make them pay.”

“We did try, but we’d been well and truly swindled.” Owen grimaced. “And we finally decided to start a new life. A new house and a new garden.”

“I’m sure you’ll make a real success of it.” And I was, but that didn’t make me any happier about what had happened. I stopped trying to move away and decided just to stay where I was for the moment. The snow would stop. There hadn’t been much of it in a long time and no reason to think this would be any better. And then we’d hike down to Triple L, I’d go off to see the alphas and their alpha female…and these two guys would move into their honeymoon cottage.

And live happily ever after.

I should be happier about that.

Chapter Twelve

Owen

You know what I’m thinking?My mate’s mental voice grew clearer each time he spoke to me. The afternoon light was waning, and the snow showed no signs of abating. We’d snacked on jerky and crackers, drunk water from our water bottles, in general had quite a lean feast, but the talking had been the best. If anyone had told me I’d be glad that my mate and I had had our first full day in our new roles crashed by a stranger, I’d have thought they were deluded.

’Fraid I do. My wolf is all over it. You know Sawyer and Tadeo share a mate. And so do some of the other Triple Ls. We shouldn’t be so surprised.

Think she knows?He stroked a lock of hair from her forehead, looking at her with a tenderness different from the way he looked at me.If she is our fated, she should know, too, right?

I don’t know. We were together for more than twenty years and had no idea we were fateds.

Agreed.He kissed my forehead.But we did know we loved each other.

And never said a word about it until we got up here. Do you think she heard us? She was nearby?

Yes.

Nova was the catalyst. The reason all the things happened. We’d suddenly done that night shift then woke up not only to make love for hours on end but to mark one another. I trailed a finger over Nova’s throat, wondering where exactly I’d bite her. At the very thought, my canines lowered, saliva filling my mouth. My wolf was getting very cheeky. Ready to take over at any moment.

How do we find out if she’s in on the idea?Levi cuddled us both closer, and our female sighed and settled in.She doesn’t seem uncomfortable.

No.I couldn’t argue that point.I want her, Levi.

I’d say it’s up to her. Maybe she doesn’t want two mates.

Does she have a choice? I’ve loved you since I could talk but never even noticed we were mates.

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