I looked at both of them, “I respect both of you. I know your positions here in this pack and as a whole, but I cannot be either of your mate, for far too many reasons.” I started to pace, “I am human for one, I have-” Cain cut me off, “Your uncle is human and that didn’t have anything effect on his bond with Lynelle.” My pacing stopped and I looked at him at a loss. He wasn’t wrong. It was the whole reason I was even in this place. I chose not to acknowledge his very accurate observation, “I have a job and college I need to get back to. I have a future planned for myself that does not include living in seclusion among Lycans and Werewolves.” They were both tense. I could see Tobias’ jaw flexing under his facial hair. He looked to Cain. They were both quiet as they looked at each other. I was certain they had mind linked each other.

Tobias took a deep breath and nodded, “Okay…let’s give this a couple of days…for all three of us to consider things. I’d also like to bring this to the council to see what they might know about how this-” He gestured to all three of us, “-could even be possible.” Then looked directly at me, “You go ahead and head back to your quarters, take some time for yourself, think, decompress. We will seek you out once a meeting with the council has been set. I would think it only fair that you be part of the meeting since it involves you.” I nodded, “Okay….I think I can at least do that much.” With all things settled and agreed upon for now they escorted me back to my room.

I slipped into my room without looking back at either of them. It was incredibly rude but I couldn’t help it. I was far too overwhelmed, stressed out, and confused to care. I closed the door quickly behind me and pressed my back against it as I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I’m not sure if I was being paranoid or what but I could swear I could feel the two of them still standing in the hall outside my room. I was really wishing these rooms had locks now. I’d never cared since the pack had always felt so safe. I went over and grabbed one of the chairs and propped it under the door handle so at the very least it would pose at least a small challenge if they changed their minds and decided to follow me into my room. 

I went and sat on the side of the bed, taking in a deep breath and letting it slowly out. If this was real, what exactly did it mean? What did it mean for me? What did it mean for each of them? Oh god! What did it mean for the pack? Because its Alpha King Tobias did that mean I might have to fill the role of Queen? No! That’s too much responsibility. I couldn’t handle that, whatever it entailed…I didn’t want to know. If I am really their mate…God what even is this!?! It felt like I had just been told by no one and everyone that I had an arranged marriage I needed to answer to. 

I thought back to how Tobias and Cain both reacted to me after they touched me. They were ready to accept me, no questions asked. But they knew close to nothing about me. Not to mention Tobias had said he had wanted to use me as an anchor for Uncle Anthony. What if all of this was just a ploy? Could they have had something on their hands to make me react? To convince me that I was feeling a mate bond to them? But why both of them? Was that their attempt to give me choices? So many questions and growing skepticism. 

A knock on my door made my heart leap out of my throat and I was on my feet staring at the door. My heart, hammering frantically in my chest, “Lily?” It was Abby. I went to the door and moved the chair and cracked the door open. Abby was at the door and beyond her on the far wall, Tobias and Cain stood, staring. My bicolored eyes moved back to Abby’s worried face, “They said you might need me?” So they disturbed her on my account. I didn’t want to leave her in the hall, uncomfortable with them so I grabbed her wrist and pulled her in before closing the door behind us and then I shoved the chair back in place.

A look of panic danced across her face as she eyed my makeshift security system, “What’s going on?” I took another deep breath and started to pace in front of her, raking my hand through my hair, “Lily?” Her tone had an edge to it now and I stopped and looked at her, “Um…” I fidgeted with my hands. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. Instead I stood there, frozen, like a fish gulping for air. I closed my mouth. I didn’t want to tell her. That meant acknowledging what I didn’t want to believe. I shook my head, “Abby, I know we planned…” I stopped, are Tobias and Cain still in the hall? I turned and moved the chair from in front of the door and peeked out into the hall. They were gone, as far as I could see at least. I closed the door and turned back to Abby, “I know we planned on going back home in two days, but…do you think we could go home tomorrow?”  

Abby looked at me confused, “Why?” Her question was very valid. We both loved coming to visit here so much. Again, I didn’t want to tell her…at least not yet…maybe when we’re two or three hours into the four hour drive back home? I shook my head, “I don’t want to talk about it right now. Can we just plan to leave tomorrow afternoon?” She thought for a moment as she eyed me with worry, “Okay, fine but you have to tell me what happened on the drive home.” I let out a sigh of relief, “I can do that. Thank you so much.” I gave her a hug, “Alright, now let’s go to the pool before Uncle Anthony messages us about lunch.” I gave her a pout, “What? It will help take your mind off of whatever is bothering you. AND I’ll even help you with your sunblock this time.” I giggled. My sunburn from our camping trip was still a bit tender but would heal.

The pool was huge and even had one of those big water slides you’d see at a water park. I had pulled my hair up into a big fluffy mess of a bun atop my head, my swimsuit was a pink and blue basic two piece. As promised Abby helped ensure my pale skin was well protected from the sun. Actually, she’d covered me in so much sunblock that I’d blend into a snow storm. I took some time rubbing in the sunblock so it was less obvious that I was covered in five coats of the stuff. Then we set off for the water slide. After about an hour we spotted Uncle Anthony and Aunt Lynelle sitting on the side of the pool with their feet in the water waving at us. We swam over to them, “After you girls didn’t show up at the house or reply to my texts I figured it was time to come looking for you.” He smiled at us, “Deacon said you guys hadn’t come to the stables so this was our next best guess.” I frowned, “Sorry, we should have told you guys where we were.” Lynelle smiled, “It's okay. We don’t get around to coming to the pool very often so it was a good excuse to get our feet wet.” She gestured over her shoulder to an ice chest, “We packed up lunch, I guess now it's a late lunch,” She chuckled, “And some drinks.” Abby and I got out of the pool and dried ourselves off and set to rummaging through the ice chest, “Thank you for lunch!” I sat down on one of the beach chairs with a sandwich and a soda.

Uncle Anthony and Lynelle joined us and we ate together. When we were done Uncle Anthony popped up, “I’ll race you guys down the slides!” We laughed and got up, “If I win you guys are making dinner again.” Abby and I looked at each other then back at Uncle Anthony, “You’re on!” The three of us headed off to the water slides, leaving Lynelle to dip her feet back into the water. We climbed the stairs to the slides. There were four in total and the chutes were all lined up together, so we at least all had the same starting point. We each picked a chute and sat down holding on to the handles. Abby counted off, “Alright! 1-2-3!!!” We launched ourselves down the chute and we were off into the tubes of the slides.