Page 85 of Tainted Hearts

“How do you know?” I murmur into his chest.

He lets out a little chuckle. “Abby, Angel, it’s kind of hard not to notice with the way the two of you look at one another when the other isn’t paying attention.”

“Doesn’t that upset you?” I lean back to look at him, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

“No.” He raises a brow, a small smirk quirks on his lips. “Why should it?”

“Because I have five mates, I shouldn’t be feeling something for someone else.”

He shakes his head. “Doesn’t work like that, babe. Sometimes you can’t help who you like.”

“But she’s not my mate. It’s different.”

“It really isn’t.” He runs his thumb over my lower lip, making me shiver.

“She’s Zed’s best friend. What if he gets mad?”

“He won’t.” Isaac laughs. “That man loves you more than anything in this world. All he wants is to see you happy. If he’s willing to let us explore things, then Angel, Frankie will have his support. And Leo’s too.”

“What about you and the others? I don’t want any of you to think you’re not enough, because all of you are, but I can’t ignore the way Frankie makes me feel.”

“You support our love, and we will do the same for you, and whoever you choose to be with. We just want some of that love, you know.” He kisses me on the nose, and fuck, he’s right; he is a lot like his brother, but his own person too. Both sure do know how to make me swoon and get me all hot and bothered too.

“Thank you.” I hate that I’m getting so choked up right now, but between my freak out with Frankie and Isaac’s change in... well, everything, it’s a lot to take in.

“For what?”

“For not hating me anymore. For wanting to change and be a better man for me.” I let out a little sob, my emotions opening like a dam. “I wanted you when I shouldn’t have. It hurt so fucking much. I thought I’d have to live with the pain for rejecting you for the rest of my life. I regretted it, then hated myself for feeling that way.”

“Shhh.” Isaac grabs the back of my head, pulling me against his chest and holding me tight. “Hating you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but Abby, loving you is the easiest.”

I don’t say anything, just break down in his arms. I feel his words ringing true as he holds me. I stay there, letting everything out.

“It’s okay to not be okay,” he murmurs against the top of my head.

“That goes for you too,” my voice cracks as I look up at him with bleary eyes.

“Even when I’m not okay, I know I will be because I have you, Luke, and Noah.”

“You do,” I promise him. Something inside me is healing. I don’t want to hold onto the pain of the past. I want to move on. I have no control in who my mates are, but I can choose how to deal with it. People change and grow from the mistakes in their past. I see that in Isaac.

“So, about Frankie?” he smirks. I groan. “She doesn’t like me, but I can’t blame her. I don’t like me very much right now, either. But I think she’s good for you.”

“Really?”

“You need someone to help you escape all this testosterone, and I think she was meant to be the person to keep you from going crazy with the lot of us.”

I laugh, wiping my nose. “I’m gross.”

“A little.” He grins.

I slap him on the chest with a laugh. “I think I should get back. I missed most of class, but it’s lunch soon so I’m going to find Frankie and apologize.”

“Talk to her. See where she stands with everything. I can’t speak for her, but anyone with eyes can see she wants you. And if she doesn’t, then she sucks and would be missing out on something amazing.”

“Walk me back?”

“Yeah.” He laces his fingers through mine and a giddy feeling takes over me. He’s willing to be seen with me, in public, holding hands. My eyes flick up to the feather on his neck, and I smile, a warm feeling washing over me.

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