KEEGAN

It had been a long time since I had spent time with my brothers. Tonight, they had invited me to the Midnight Hiss for a drink. I had been weirded out by drinking on a weekday, but for my brothers Owen and Maverick, it seemed to be normal. Even Conner decided to join us for the night. Alpha night. They had said to me and dragged me to town, while my omega brothers and my brother’s mates stayed back at the ranch. Not even Bunny was allowed to come with us. Something was odd about the situation, but I shook those thoughts away and looked around the bar. 

The Midnight Hiss was Bramville’s only bar. It also worked as a club, but on weekdays, it was just a chill night at the bar. The vampire alpha who owned it had been around Bramville for a long time, but even when I was a teen, I never saw the man walking around town. I wondered if he was a hermit, but then he owned a bar that gets full of people, and he was the one who tended the bar with his special bartending skills, so it was probably not that.

“So, Conner, how did you meet Jeremy?” I asked with curiosity, trying to make conversation.

“Well, funny story. I came to the Ranch as a guest years ago. My sister always loved horses, so I invited my family to celebrate her birthday here, and in the hotel lobby, there he was. I sensed him as my mate right away, and I couldn’t look away from him. My family left when our reservation ended, but I never did. I ended up staying with Jeremy.” Conner explained with a smile.

“Oh, wow.” Was all I could respond. It was interesting to learn how random the moment can be when meeting one's fated mate.

“And soon after, Jeremy was pregnant with Tomas. Dad almost wanted Conner’s head when they told us.” Owen mentioned with a chuckle.

“He was so pissed because they were still so young, and he wanted Jeremy to keep competing like Emil.” Maverick added to the context, and I was not surprised. Aside from Emil, Jeremy was the only other one who used to compete.

“Yes. But Jeremy didn’t want to. He never really liked the competition part, but he still did it because he wanted to make your parents happy.” Conner explained, making the rest of us frown a bit. It was something that was shocking to know.

“I never knew that.” Maverick said with a frown.

“Yeah. Don’t tell Jeremy I told you. It’s a secret.” Conner said with a sigh and then took a sip of his beer.

“At least you are both happy and waiting for another cub.” I said, trying to change the topic to lighten the mood.

“And the due date is coming soon. You might be here for it, Keegan.” Conner said with a smile.

“I didn’t even realize that. Wow.” I said. When I had made plans for the vacation, I didn’t have an exact date, but it coincidentally matched my brother's due date.

“Of course you didn’t. I know your attention is on a certain someone.” Owen mentioned with a smirk.

“What do you mean?” I asked my twin brother, confused.

“You don’t fool us, Keegan. We know your mind is full of Bunny now.” He answered with a wink. 

“No, it’s not. I’m not thinking about Bunny now.” I said, trying to defend myself. Yes, I had been thinking about Bunny since the day I saw him, but I didn’t have to admit that to my brothers. Just to myself and Keith. 

“Not now, but earlier and later maybe.” Maverick mentioned with a chuckle.

“Oh, shut up. I don’t know what you are all up to, but it's none of your business.” I said with an offended huff and a frown. 

“Chill, bro. We just want you to be happy. That’s all.” Owen said. I let out another huff and then took a sip of my beer.

“I am happy.” I admitted. I was not lying. I had a great life, and I was happy.

“Are you sure about that? Your job is not everything, Keegan.” Maverick was the one to speak this time. I knew a big brother lecture was coming. “You deserve to love and be loved. You need a mate, and your fated one is back at the ranch as we speak.”

“And fated mates are a blessing, Keegan. If I had never come here for my sister’s birthday, I wouldn’t have met my Jeremy.” Conner added with a nod. I understood their worries, but it was a complicated situation.

“Listen. I know. I get it. Finding a fated mate is not easy, but I came here for a vacation. My time here is temporary, and I am married to my job, which also happens to be back in New York. I can’t stay here with Bunny.” I tried to explain my situation to make them understand why I didn’t claim Meadow as my mate yet.

“I’m sure you can find a way to keep your job and be with Bunny.” Owen mentioned with a comforting smile.

“I don’t know if there is.” I said with a sigh.

“Well, still. How about you give it a chance while you are on your vacation?” Maverick suggested. 

“Yes, what Maverick said. Don’t tell us you didn’t enjoy the visit to town the other day.” Owen mentioned. Thinking back to that day, it had been fun. Bunny was a great guide and easy to get along with.

“I won’t lie, spending time with Bunny is nice. He is fun, and so beautiful too.” I admitted. 

“Then you should try to court him. I was also unsure of courting Jeremy back then, but I did, and look at us now. Mated with a kid and another one on the way.” Conner was the one to speak next, encouraging me to try. “You got this, Keegan. Don’t throw away your shot.”

“Hamilton? Really, Conner?” Owen said with an arched brow to our brother-in-law. As someone who lived in New York, I understood the reference right away.

“What? Jeremy loves it, okay? And it’s catchy.” Conner said with a shrug to Owen and then looked back at me. “Anyway, are you going to do it or not?”

“I might.” I said and took another sip of my drink. Was I sure I was going to try? Not really, but I still could see what comes from hanging out with the omega.

“You better. Bunny is really beautiful and sexy.” Owen mentioned with a nod.

“That’s a fact.” Maverick added.

“Uh-huh.” Conner agreed.

“Excuse me? You are all married.” I said incredulously with a frown. How dare they talk about Meadow like that? And in front of me.

“A man can appreciate a beautiful person when they see one.” Owen said with a smirk.

“Shut it.” I growled at him.

“Oh, he is getting protective already.” Maverick pointed out with a chuckle.

“No. I’m not. I’m just saying you are all married and have no right to think of my Bunbun that way.” I said with a serious tone, trying to hold back my anger.

“Oh…” Owen and Conner answered in unison. 

“My Bunbun, huh?” Maverick said with a chuckle, and I blushed after realizing what I had said. I had opened the door to my brothers picking on me and trying to convince me to absolutely try and court Meadow. It was something I had to consider, but I would lie if I said I didn’t want to do it. 

BUNNY

“Finally. They are all sleeping.” Elise said with a deep sigh, sitting on the sofa in the living room. 

After Maverick, Owen, and Conner left for a ‘bros welcome hangout’ with Keegan. Meanwhile, Gary and Jeremiah had gone out on a date night. The night could have been calm but it seemed like the Beackman kids had gotten the zoomies; their energy was so crazy that I even had to help burn them out so they could go to bed early. Especially since Jeremy was pregnant, he needed a lot of help with his 4-year-old cub, Tomas. Not only was he the youngest of the Beackman kids, but he was also a little energetic demon. And now, after three hours, all the kids were in their beds. I thought it was bedtime for all, but the ladies, Jeremy, and Emil had other plans, including wine and juice for Jeremy.

“How are you feeling lately, Jer? You are close now.” Elise asked once we were all settled in the living room.

“I know. I can’t wait to finally have this cub outside of me.” Jeremy said with a frustrated sigh. “I need to replace it with something else. Something long and girthy.”

“Pregnancy horniness. A pain in the ass.” Cecil mentioned with a sigh. 

“Awful symptom, but you will be free of that soon.” Elise said, trying to be positive.

“I’m dying to get intimate with Conner again. I mean, we do things, but it's not enough.” Jeremy said with a huff of frustration this time.

“Can we talk about something else? You are making us singles uncomfortable.” Emil said irritated because he couldn’t relate with the topic and I honestly didn’t either. 

“What do you want to talk about then?” Cecil asked with an arched brow.

“We can talk about the obvious gossip in the room.” My friend said with a mischievous smile.

“And what is that?” I asked with curiosity.

“You and Keegan.” Emil said with a smirk.

“What about it?” I asked, confused. I tried to act normal, but I knew what Emil wanted to happen next. And he had succeeded.

“How is that going for you?” Cecil asked with curiosity.

“Do you like him?” Elise asked next.

“Have you hooked up already?” Jeremy followed with a wicked smile. All eyes were on me.

“Wow. Wow. Calm down. That’s too many questions.” I said with an awkward grin.

“Just answer them, Bunny. We want to know.” Emil said with an arched brow. My best friend always insisting on getting the sweet gos.

“I won’t answer all, but…I do like him. I mean, I feel attracted to him, and he is easy to get along with.” I admitted, defeated.  “We have not hooked up, and I don’t think we are going to become mates.”

“Why not? He probably likes you, too.” Elise mentioned.

“Because Keegan doesn’t live here, and all of you had said he is married to his job. He most likely won’t move here.” I explained.

“But that’s a problem for the future. You can still try something with him.” My best friend said. 

“He is going to be here for a while. Might as well sleep with him at least once.” Cecil suggested, and I blushed.

“What? No, I don’t want that.” I said. All of them looked at me with arched brows, and I let out a sigh and admitted. “Okay, yeah. I do, but I don’t think it will happen.”

“When was the last time you were with someone?” Elise asked and I blushed harder. I tried to think about the last time I had been intimate with someone, but nothing came up.

“I don’t remember.” I confessed. There was no point in lying to them.

“Well, might as well do it with your fated mate.” Jeremy mentioned and then continued. “I kid you not, it’s on a whole other level.”

“It truly is. You should try.” Cecil said with a wink.

“Okay, can we talk about something else now? Not all of us have fated mates.” Emil said, frustrated again, now that he couldn’t relate to the topic once again.

“Sorry, Em. You will find yours one day.” I said to my friend with a reassuring smile.

“Yeah…” My friend said with a sigh. Something was weird about his tone, but I was not going to force him to tell me what bothered him. The conversation changed fast, and after another hour, everyone went to their rooms to rest. As I laid in bed, all I could think about was the omega’s words. If having sex with your fated mate was that good, maybe trying it once wouldn’t be so bad.

‘Once? Many times please.’ Mir said in my mind as the horny rabbit he was, but I wouldn’t lie. Once would probably not be enough.