Wren POV
I tap my shot glass on the bar. The bartender is actively ignoring me. I have lost count of how many drinks I've had, and it is only 5:00pm. It has been a month. The portal is still closed, and the runes of the mate bond are fading from my arms. Both bonds are fading; soon, there will be no evidence that I had mates at all.
I have no doubt this was Selene's plan all along. She separated me from them because I wouldn't choose. Now, I won't get to keep either.
"Another," I shout at the bartender.
He stands in front of me, frowning. "Princess. I think you have had enough."
"Don't call me that," I snap.
"Let me call someone to come get you," he says softly. "Maybe one of the triplets."
I scoff loudly. "I came here to get drunk."
"I can see that," he replies. "And I think you have succeeded. Faster than most."
"She is coming for me tonight," I whisper. "She is going to make me choose, and if I don't, I won't get to keep either."
He shakes his head and places a glass of water down in front of me. "Drink this, and maybe I will give you another drink."
I wrinkle my nose at his suggestion, but I drink the water anyway. It sloshes uncomfortably in my stomach and rises back up my throat. "Shit." I place my hand over my mouth and head for the bathroom. As soon as my feet hit the ground, the room starts spinning. I stumble across the bar, my hips hitting every table on the way.
Forcing the bathroom door open, I heave into the trash can. When there is nothing left, I slide down the wall and force myself not to cry.
"Well," a voice laughs. "This is awkward."
I have to squint as I look up to put him in focus. A man is standing over me, holding out a wet paper towel. I glance around the bathroom and see urinals lined up on the wall.
"Shit," I groan again, as I try to get back to my feet.
"Sit," the man says. "I locked the door."
"You what?" I shriek.
"Relax," he laughs. "It is so no one else comes in. I prefer my women sober and coherent."
I narrow my eyes in his direction. "I am mated."
He hands me the paper towel and sits beside me. "And he left you alone to get drunk in a dive bar?"
"They," I emphasize the word. "Are gone. It is complicated."
I press the paper towel to my forehead and moan. His head is cocked to the side and he is staring at me. "You look familiar."
"I get that a lot," I groan. Another wave of nausea is washing over me. I put my head between my legs and try to focus on my breathing.
"Shit," he hisses. "You are the Princess."
A weak growl rumbles in my chest. "I wish people would stop calling me that."
He quickly backs away and holds up his hands. "Don't tell Alpha Leo, I mean, your dad, that I locked you in a bathroom."
"Whatever," I groan. "Just help me to my feet."
My hand outstretches, and reluctantly, he takes it. But he pulls me to my feet too quickly, and the room starts to spin again. I shove him away and make for one of the stalls. I miss the toilet, and vomit spews all over the floor and my outfit.
"I will go get help," the man whispers through the door.
"Please don't," I groan. "I will be fine in a few minutes. Puke and rally, am I right?"
He doesn't laugh. "Maybe I should take you home."
"Fuck you," I manage to say before more vomit rises in my throat.
Someone is banging on the bathroom door. My head is still in the toilet. "You should answer that," I try to joke. "It might be important."
The man grumbles under his breath about not understanding women. I hear the door swing open and the undeniable sound of someone's nose breaking.
"What the fuck," he shouts.
"Why was the door locked, asshole?" Sophie shouts.
I rock back on my heels and peer out of the stall door. "He's okay. I think."
The man is holding his nose, and blood is streaming down his face. Sophie glares at him, and then turns her anger on me.
"Where the fuck have you been?" She snaps.
I hold my finger up to silence her and disappear back into the stall. More vomit forces its way out. It is never-ending. "How much did I drink?"
"Come on," Sophie groans. "Let's get you home."
"Don't move her," the man begins, but he is cut short.
Sophie helps me out of the stall. "You smell awful," she wrinkles her nose. "It is like a mixture of puke and tequila."
"I was drinking tequila," I respond proudly.
She rolls her eyes and throws my arm over her shoulder, but the man is blocking the door. His back is to us, and he stares at his arm stupidly.
"Move," Sophie snaps at him.
He steps to the side, and Scarlett is there. She is also looking at her arm. My eyes are going in and out of focus, but I can see the runes appearing on her arm. Clumsily, I look back at the man. His eyes are locked on Scarlett.
"He's your mate," I drunkenly ruin the moment.
"That's not possible," he whispers. "Only you..."
"Yeah, well, Selene's a bitch," I snort.
Sadie shoves Scarlett forward, and her chest crashes into the man's. "I have a girlfriend," he blurts out.
"Fuck," I hiss.
Scarlett glowers at me, and I dramatically close my mouth. She puts distance between them and looks to the ground. "I thought you might," she whimpers. "I can feel..."
She is unable to finish her sentence. The man looks mortified. "I am so sorry."
Scarlett holds her head high. "It's fine. We should reject each other. I don't want to cause problems."
Sophie gasps loudly, and I clap my hand over her mouth.
"We should leave," I whisper too loudly.
"Fuck that," Sophie shouts. "I'm not leaving my sister."
The man finally looks away from Scarlett. He rubs his eyes and looks back up. "There are three of you."
"I'm a triplet," Scarlett rolls her eyes. "Let's get this over with."
"Wait," he stops her. "I want to see something."
He holds his hand out to Scarlett. I wait on bated breath for her to take it. When she slips her hand into his, the runes glow bright. A smile spreads over both their faces.
"What do we do now?" Scarlett whimpers. Her tough girl facade is gone. I can see the fear behind her eyes. It is a fear I know all too well.
The man doesn't respond. Instead, he tugs Scarlett into his chest. Their lips collide, and it becomes primal fast.
"We should go," I tug on Sophie.
But Sophie is glaring at him. "If you reject her, I will kill you. No one will find your body. I have like five people in my phone willing to do whatever I ask."