Page 23 of Pack Deception: Part Two

I pout at both of them and then ask my question. “Umm. I guess I don’t really know what you’re apologizing for.”

“Yeah, I think I’m a little lost on that one, too. Care to elaborate?” Mason grins at Maverick like he really does know what he’s apologizing for but doesn’t want to let him off so easily. Our alpha takes it in stride.

He kneels down on the bed and crawls until he’s right next to us. He looks at me first and says, “Since we found out that you were our mate, I’ve made a lot of dumb decisions. Starting with not telling you that you were our mate.”

“To be fair, we all messed up there. Not just you,” Mason interjects, dropping the dominant facade to look at me with a touch of regret. I just nod, not wanting to interrupt, and also because I don’t blame them. What if’s aren’t really helpful or productive if any of us want to move forward.

“Regardless,” he says to Mason, and then looks back at me. “When we found out you were our mate–both of ours–we decided to put the physical part of our relationship on hold until you knew. Or until you felt the bond yourself.”

My jaw drops. Iknewthis was my fault. “Why?” I whisper.

“Omegas can be territorial. I’ve met several who refused to be a part of packs where there were other relationships outside of hers and her alphas.” It’s Mason who answers me.

“We wanted to make sure you knew you had a say. As our fated mate. Neither of us wanted to lose you over it.” Maverick says it, but Mason is nodding along to his words. Both look like they have swallowed something sour.

“And if I didn’t want you to be together?” I ask incredulously. They exchange a sad look, and it’s Mason who answers.

“Then we wouldn’t be. I was still your fated mate, too. So neither of us was going to be alone. We’d have you.” Simple as that, right?

“But you guys love each other! In what world would you have actually been happy with that scenario?” I practically yell at them, completely incensed now.

“It would have been hard, but we could have done it.” Maverick isn’t looking at either of us anymore. Instead, all his attention is on the blanket in his hands as he pulls at the strings at the end.

Yeah, freaking right, they would have been happy.

“You guys are probably the most–” Every part of me wants to yell at them. Call them idiots and scold them for making this so much more difficult than it should have been. But I stop and take a deep, steadying breath.

That won’t be productive,I tell myself internally.

“Okay. Whatever. What’s done is done. So, is that why you guys have this rift between you? It sounds like that was a mutual decision.”

“Well, I guess that is alittlemy fault. Though Maverick was definitely a jackass.” One pointed stare at Maverick before he continues. “You know I had a pack before this one. One that kicked me to the curb when they met their omega. I guess when we decided to take a break, it brought up a lot of those insecurities, and I started feeling like I wasn’t good enough again.”

Tears well in my eyes at his admission. That’s something we have in common, and it breaks my heart that he ever felt that way with me. Or even Maverick. Mason’s smile is sad as he looks at me, acknowledging a shared insecurity.

“You are and always will be good enough. For us, for this pack, for every happiness. I’ve never met someone more deserving of love than you,” I choke out as a tear falls down my cheek. The sad smile he was wearing turns into a beaming, joyful one as he leans down to kiss me.

“She’s right,” Maverick says, his own voice hoarse. “I’m sorry I ever made you question that. I’m sorry for not calling you when she went into heat. Or after. I knew how you were feeling and was more interested in avoiding any real conversation than making sure you were alright. I was a bastard. It won’t happen again. I promise. Forgive me?”

I smile at Maverick. So proud of him for owning up to his mistakes and sounding truly genuine and remorseful.

“No,” Mason says, and my head shoots around to him as my eyes pop wide open.

Eleven

Summer

“I understand,”Maverick frowns. “I’ll earn your trust back. Whatever it takes.”

Mason hums, looking at me with an eyebrow raised. That dominant look is back in his eyes, and I start to think that he’s teasing Maverick.

“It’s going to behardwork. I’m not sure you’reupfor it.” All nonchalance in his voice. “You might even call me apain in your assby the time you’ve atoned.” The bass in his voice drops an octave, and a shiver runs through me. Holy hell. A flutter already starts up in my core in anticipation. Maverick isn’t unaffected, either. His eyes have darkened, but there’s also something else…

He lookssubmissivelyat Mason. His eyes are slightly downcast, and his neck is bared. My eyes dart between my alpha and beta. The same beta who was just spilling his insecurities is now looking more alpha than anything. Those beautiful hazel eyes I love so much are looking darkly at me. “What do you think, omega? Are you ready to play?”

I nod so fast he chuckles at me. “Lay back then.” I comply immediately, shuffling down so my back is on the mattress.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Take your mate’s clothes off,” Mason growls at Maverick.

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