Cary’s POV “What the fuck was that about?” Colton demanded as soon as I returned to the lounge. I was not in the mood to deal with his imperious attitude at the moment. My lips were still tingling with the memory of Mallory’s mouth on mine and all I wanted was to be alone to savor the sensation. Without waiting for an answer, Colt launched into a lecture. “She has a boyfriend! How did you think that was going to end? Did you actually think she was going to throw away their relationship, just roll over and spread her legs for you? Forget about all the shit we put her through growing up?” “Ease up, Colt!” Clay barked at him. “Neither of us are looking for an easy lay here. There is something between us and we know she feels it too. Keep lying to yourself if it makes you feel better but you know it’s true. You want her too and it scares the shit out of you!” “Why the fuck would that scare me?” Colt balked at the idea. “If I wanted her, I would just say so. But I don’t.” “Bull

Clay’s POV “Wh-, what?” Mallory stuttered, her eyes flitting nervously between the three of us. “He said we want you, Mal.” Cary repeated my words, sounding more vulnerable than I’ve ever heard him. “I don’t-” Mallory seemed taken aback at first, but then her back stiffened and her eyes hardened. “I’m not the same girl I was two years ago, the one who let you intimidate her. I’m not falling for the same old games where you try to get me to admit I like you so you can laugh at me and tell me what a naive, stupid little girl I am to think you’d ever be interested in me. Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed you haven’t come up with something more original by now.” “That’s not what we’re doing, Mal!” I implored her to believe me. “Fuck! We were immature idiots back then. We never should have treated you that way. We should have realized how special you were even then.” Mal just stared at me for a minute, processing my words. I held my breath, hoping she would see my sincerity. It s

Mallory’s POV My mind was completely blank. All I could do was taste and feel the man holding me in his arms and kissing me passionately. It felt like his hands were everywhere at once, roaming my curves, and he tasted like dark chocolate and cherries. I never wanted it to end. An echo of a memory broke through, of this same man touching me intimately. But that had been a fantasy, and this was . . . so much more. It was full of fire and lust and passion and need. I’d never been kissed like this before and it terrified me that I might never be again. When Colt finally pulled his lips from mine, I whimpered quietly at the loss. He chuckled softly before moving on to kiss the sensitive spot behind my ear, then nipped and sucked his way down my neck to my shoulder. I knew he was leaving marks but I would worry about that later. It never even crossed my mind to refuse when he returned his lips to mine and slid his hands under my thighs to lift me up and wrap my legs around his wais

Nathan’s POV I was pacing back and forth in my office while I waited for Mallory to arrive in my territory. I knew the guards would mind-link me as soon as she crossed the border but I couldn’t stop myself from checking with them to ask if they’d seen her yet. She’d seemed upset when she called earlier to ask if she could visit and it was making me nervous. The last time I’d seen her, when I visited Black Moon, I could tell something was bothering her. But rather than talk to me about it, she sent me away. She’d never done that before and I didn’t know what to make of it. Things had been so simple when we met at the academy and I’d visited her there. It seemed like since she’d gone home, everything had started to change. Mallory never talked to me much about what life was like for her in Black Moon. She would tell me stories about her mom and I could tell they were very close. She even talked about her Alpha and Luna like they were part of the family, but she never mentioned their

Mallory’s POV As I drove back to Black Moon territory, I kept my mind firmly fixed on the amazing day Nathan and I had shared. I refused to think about the triplets and what their declaration to me might mean for our future encounters. What I shared with Nathan was too perfect to let some inexplicable shift in attitude from my former tormentors ruin it. Today was a perfect reminder of that fact. Nathan had always been the ideal boyfriend. Kind and considerate, attentive and sweet. But something shifted between us today. I had dreaded telling him the truth of what I let happen between my future Alphas and me but he had taken it in stride. Not only that, but he actually displayed a possessiveness I’d never seen in him before. I never felt unsure of his feelings for me, but he was always so laid back, never overreacting when other men would flirt with me. I had to wonder why that had changed so suddenly. But then again, I’d never kissed any of those other men before. But more tha