Wren POV
An Adonis of a man is standing in front of me. He is giving me a toothy smile, and I am doing my best not to look drunk. I try not to sway on my feet while Sophie explains the logistics of a body shot to me.
"Lick, drink, lime," I repeat, and Sophie smiles evilly. The bartender hands me my shot and the lime, but Mr. Adonis takes the lime and puts it between his lips. I giggle before wrapping my hand around his head. I pull him down to me and drag my tongue along the skin of his neck. He groans behind the lime in his mouth. Tipping back the shot, I swallow the contents and turn to take the lime from his mouth, but it is gone. In fact, he is gone.
Destin has him slammed against the bar, but Mr. Adonis doesn't look phased. There is a grin on his perfectly shaped lips.
"Maybe if she was marked this wouldn't be a problem," he laughs. "These days, an unmarked woman is fair game."
"She's a fucking Princess," Destin hisses through his teeth. "Treat her with respect."
Mr. Adonis turns his head to look at me and winks. "Is that so? I thought she looked familiar. I also heard she has a reputation."
Destin rears back his hand and punches Mr. Adonis in the jaw. He hits harder than I expected, and Mr. Adonis crumples to the ground. Destin turns to me, and his eyes are ablaze with anger. He looks past me at Scarlett. She doesn't back down from him. "Body shots weren't on the list."
He is shaking with anger. "I will deal with you three later."
"Okay, Grandpa," Scarlett rolls her eyes.
"Grandpa," I snort. Then tiny giggles take over my body, and I can't stop laughing.
"We are leaving," he snaps at me.
I shake my head. "I'm not done drinking with my friends."
He presses his fingers to his temples. "Kitten, we have to discuss things."
"Like what?" I hiccup.
"We can't talk about it here. Please, this is important," he begs.
He grabs my arm, and I yank back. Losing my balance, I fall into Scarlett. She catches me but cries out in pain. I steady myself the best I can and turn, but Destin moves me aside. Scarlett is clutching her chest, and tears are running down her cheeks.
"Let's get you out of here," Destin whispers to her, and jealousy floods me.
I try to pull him away, but he has already lifted her into his arms. He is striding out of Jesse's with Sadie and Sophia on his heels. What just happened?
"Let me take you home," Mr. Adonis says from the floor. "He doesn't deserve you."
"I keep hearing that," I reply, but my eyes are still on the exit. For a quick moment, I consider leaving with him. That would teach Destin a lesson.
'Don't even think about it,' Jasmine snarls in my mind.
Sadie runs back into the bar and drags me out. "Don't be mad. Something is wrong with Scarlett."
Suddenly, I am sober, and I feel like a jerk. Scarlett is screaming in pain in the front seat of the triplets car. Destin is trying to ease her pain, but nothing is working.
I am frozen to the ground, watching it unfold in front of me. I have seen this once before. I was six years old, and my nanny doubled over in pain. She screamed and cried, clutching her chest. Later, my mom explained it was because her mate had done the unthinkable. It wasn't until I was much older that I understood what that meant.
I break out of my trance and walk over. I take Scarlett's hand. "It will pass."
"What is happening?" She sobs.
I lock eyes with Destin, and something tells me he already knows. Hot tears of betrayal flood my eyes. "Your mate is with another woman."
"I don't have a mate," she sobs. "I don't understand."
"I don't either," I admit. "But I promise we will figure it out."
I hold Scarlett's hand until the pain subsides. She is shaken from the experience and refuses to talk to anyone on the way home.
I am squished in the backseat with Sophia and Sadie. They are speaking through the mind link, and Destin keeps looking at me in the rearview mirror.
'Have you put it together yet?' Jasmine asks.
I swallow hard. I have, but I don't want to admit Destin is keeping secrets from me. 'Did you know?'
'I didn't,' she whispers. 'There is an undeniable pull to Alpha Charlie, but it wasn't as strong as my pull to Destin.'
'What about now that we know?' I ask her.
'Alpha Charlie is our mate, too,' she replies.
We are finally back at the pack house. Destin tries to help Scarlett from the car, but she shrugs him off. Her sisters help her inside, leaving us alone. He offers me his hand, but I slap it away.
"You knew," I snap at him.
He can't look me in the eyes. It is all the confirmation I need.
"How long have you known?" My voice is hoarse.
"Since we were all together," he whispers.
I am so unbelievably hurt. "Were you going to tell us?"
"Eventually," he admits. "I needed to see if you could figure it out on your own."
I am doing my best to control my anger, but I am failing. "Does Charlie know?"
Destin kicks the gravel at his feet.
"Are you kidding me?" I scream.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispers. "I was coming to tell you tonight. I swear."
"Why tonight?" I demand to know. "Why not keep this secret forever?"
"Macy," he begins.
"Fuck you, Destin," I snap.
I push past him, and I can feel him right behind me. "Wren," he begs. "Please stop."
"Why Destin?" I spin around. "So you can withhold information from me? Or so you can ignore me for a year? I have another mate. Why would I want you anymore?"
"Kitten," he reaches for me. "This is bigger than us. I had to tell Macy."
"Why are you yelling?" Charlie rushes into the hallway.
"We are mates," I shout at him. "Destin knew, and he didn't tell us."
Instantly, I regret my words. Charlie looks between us, and he looks hurt. I am his second chance mate, and he has found out in the worst way possible. It almost kills me when he turns and walks away.
"Charlie," I call after him, but he doesn't turn around. He slams his office door, and I flinch.
"Fuck!" I scream. "Now I am the asshole, again."
"He needs a minute," Destin whispers. "He loved Shelly very much."
My anger dissolves away, and I collapse into his arms. "Why is this so hard?"
"Nothing worth fighting for is easy," he kisses the top of my head.
"I'm tired," I sigh.
"Where is your room?" He asks scooping me into his arms.
"In a cabin in the woods," I yawn.