Page 58 of Tainted Hearts

Their eyes go wide as they look at their sons. “Really?” Noah’s dad asks.

He clears his throat. “Yes. Abby is our mate, and we’re happy about it. She means everything to us.”

“Just fucking amazing.” Michael lets out a cruel laugh. I’m sure we are all surprised right now because I don’t know that this man has ever swore before. At least, not in front of other people. “So, the three of you share a mate?” He shakes his head. “How could you, Son? I’m so disappointed. Why couldn’t you do the right thing and just marry Heather? Her parents called me furious that you broke things off with her, and then they told me they heard the demon trash was your mate,” he spits.

Abby’s mom’s eyes widen, and Abby grumblesfucking assholeunder her breath, making me smirk. I’m about to tell him not to talk about my mate like that, but my little brother beats me to it.

“Don’t fucking talk about her like that!” Isaac shouts, taking a step forward. “I don’t care anymore.” I look over and see the dark circles under his eyes. “I don’t care what you want for me. You never once thought about what might make me happy. Heather is a gold-digging bitch.”

“She loves you! You will call her back and apologize. And you will move the wedding up to next month. They might be okay with their sons’ disloyalty, but I will not allow it!”

“She doesn’t love me.” Isaac shakes his head. “She loves my money and the power that marrying into our family comes with. She’s a heartless bitch. You teach about God's kindness, and how we should be good people. She, as well as the other Heathers, have been bullying and tormenting Abby for months. We weren’t any better. But while we’ve realized how messed up it was, they are still out for blood. So no, I won't marry the cruel woman whose only goal in life is to have everything handed to her.”

Michael is fuming, his body trembling with anger as he takes another step forward. “Do it, I dare you,” I snarl.

He pauses for a moment before storming upstairs.

“I’m so sorry,” Abby’s mom says, her voice trembling as she looks at her daughter with pain in her eyes before turning around like the coward she is and taking off toward the backyard.

“Boys,” Luke’s dad says. “I’m sorry about all of this. We just want you to be happy. We love you, we are proud of you. And if Abby is your mate, and you're happy, that’s all we care about.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Luke and Noah hug their dads. I look down at Abby who’s watching. She has a watery smile on her face. My eyes find Isaac, and I can see the longing there. I know how he feels, having a father who doesn’t love you. He doesn’t have an amazing mom like mine to be on his side. I think I’m going to have to share her, I know she would accept him with open arms. It’s the type of person she is.

“We’re going to go,” Raphael states. “Just, stay out of his way. He will be like this for a while.”

“Dad, what’s going on?” Noah asks.

The dads just give them a sad look before turning around and leaving.

“What a fucking shitshow.” Luke lets out a breath.

“Tell me about it.” I look at them. “Wanna go for a swim? Then we can head over to my place?”

“Are you sure it’s okay for us to come?” Isaac asks.

“Yeah, man. Christmas is for family.” I wink.

He smiles at me. And damn it, I’m starting to like my little brother. Who would have thought?

We all hang out in the backyard for a while, Abby’s mom nowhere in sight. She must have gone back into the house at some point.

“I’m going to go get some more bottles of water,” I tell everyone, leaning over to kiss Abby on the lips as she sun-tans. “I love you, Little Bird.”

“Love you too.” She smiles.

When I get inside, I hear the doorbell ring. I make it to the fridge and hear it again. “Guess I’ll get it,” I mutter to myself and head to the door.

“What are you doing here?” a snarky voice greets me.

“Heather, what a horrendous surprise. To what do I owe this very unwanted visitation?” I smirk, leaning against the door frame.

“I’m here to see Isaac, where is he?” she asks, looking behind me.

“He doesn’t want to see you.”

She glares at me. “How do you know?! He doesn’t even know I’m here.”

“Because, Heather, no one wants to see you. You're like an unwanted growth that everyone wants gone.”

---