Page 15 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

Well, that’s one way to see it. She’s right, though. Another reason I love this woman, she always has a rational view on things, while I tend to act without thinking when I’m emotional. She will balance me out well.

Henry,she says.I don’t want you to get this the wrong way.

I look at her nervously.Get what the wrong way?

I want us to decide on everything, on our ranks, and how we proceed in the future before we mark each other. This doesn’t mean I don’t accept you as my mate. I just can’t let myself fall just like that.

I sigh inwardly, feeling Arlo stir, too. He isn’t happy. If it were up to just us, I’d take her home with me and claim her as my mate instantly, but there is no helping it. She wants security first. She wants to know what she is heading into. I swallow down the urge to be stubborn about this.I’ll go at your pace,I promise.But I don’t want to hide that we’re mates. I don’t want to lie to my pack and my family.

She smiles shortly.I wouldn’t expect you to.She pauses.Thank you, Henry. I know this promise was hard for you to give, but I appreciate it.

I pull her closer to me again, wrapping my arm around her. She is such a grounded and rational person. I’m not a therapist, but deep down, it has to be a trust issue. I wonder why she turned out that way. Maybe Arlo and I can help her allow herself to fall a bit and just jump into the unknown.

*ANTHONY*

I step outside onto the balcony, needing some fresh air. I sit on one of the empty benches, allowing my thoughts to run free. Henry and Elodie are mates, and he deserves it. He had a crush on her, and she reciprocated, and it just so happens that they are mates. How high are the chances for this to happen? It’s amazing.

“Hey.” I feel someone approach and sit down next to me.

“Hey,” I say, looking up to see a cute brunette woman. I faintly recognize her as one of Elise’s friends.

The girl smiles slightly. “You look sad.” I can feel her fingers on my arm, and instead of wanting to lean into her touch, I feel annoyed. I pull my hand back in an automatic gesture, noticing the hurt in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I say, trying to sound gentle. “It’s just… I’ve had a bad day.” I pause. “It’s not because of you. You are hot.”

“You think I’m hot?” she mutters.

“You don’t?”

She shrugs. “I’m normal.”

I turn to look at her, noticing her blue eyes and her freckles. Also, she has curves to die for. “You are a natural beauty,” I tell her. “Your eyes are making you look almost mysterious, and you have a gentle smile. Plus, your body is slammin’.”

She looks flustered but also happy. “Thank you,” she says. “I’m Mallorie. Mal for short.”

“Anthony,” I answer.

“I know,” she admits. “Elise talked a lot about you and your brother. Fact is, I don’t even know what I’m doing here. I never try to seduce a guy just like that.”

“What happened to make you do it today?” I ask curiously.

“Earlier today, my boyfriend found his mate,” she explains. “And it wasn’t me.”

“Oh fuck,” I curse.

“What!?” a voice behind us exclaims. Elise peeks out of the door, her eyes wide. “Did I just hear that right, Mal!?”

Mallorie shrugs, and soon, the both of them start to talk in French. I have no idea what they say, but it sounds alluring. French makes everything sound beautiful. Maybe I was stupid for not accepting Mal’s attempt to seduce me, but I didn’t feel like it.

I’m about to get up and leave these two alone when Elise grabs my sleeve.

“Stay,” she urges. “We can have a drink together. I think we all need a timeout here.”

I smirk. “I never had a threesome before, but I’m willing to try.”

Elise grimaces and groans while Mal chuckles. “He called me hot,” she says.

“And I meant it.”

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