Lanie


    Less than two hours until midnight.


    Funny how | didn’t think about what them not mating with me tonight would mean for my future.


    I''d been so caught up in the moment, that | didn’t think about the alternative.


    And now that I’ve thought about it?


    Well, f uck.


    | have two options right now, and both of them are awful.


    Mate these two as sholes who are hot as hell and | know I''ll enjoy, even thought they’re in love with someone


    else...


    Or don’t mate them and the elders will punish all of us and I''ll likely get stuck with whatever two li mp-di cked


    ol d-a ss guys they can dig up from their graves.


    “Life. Is. Grand,” | murmur to my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my quarters.


    After I''d stormed off from Xander’s office, I''d realized I''d made a mistake.


    | had no idea where to go, how to hide.


    Because thest thing | wanted to do was run into Alice in the hallways.


    Thankfully, a lovely woman named Erin had found me wandering and showed me to my suite of rooms. I''d


    been hiding in here ever since.


    When Xander and Zane wanted me, they’d know where to find me.


    | stared at my auburn curls pulled up in a messy bun, my well-loved Docs, and my ripped jeans. Biker chick sheek probably


    wasn''t the look they went for, based on Alice.


    Contemting the possibility of mating, | yanked the hair tie from my hair and shook it out, letting it fall into a curtain down my


    back. It reached my waist, and | refused to cut it.


    | loved it long, but it tended to garner a lot of attention when | wore it down, so most people didn’t realize just


    how long it was.


    Would Xander and Zane like it?


    My stomach knotted at the image of them running their fingers through it, or it draped around them as | rode


    one of them...


    me.


    Grimacing, | hurriedly pulled it back up into a messy bun.


    Asoft knock echoed through my suite and back to the bedroom.


    | made my way out of the bedroom, through the front sitting area, and peered out the peephole


    Erin again. Whew.


    “Hi” | opened the door wide and smiled.


    “Hi again. | thought you might be hungry.” Erin returned my smile and lifted the tray she was carrying a bit.


    “| hadn’t thought about it before, but now that you mention it, I’m starving.”


    Erin walked over to the coffee table in front of the couch and set the tray down, then stood there, peering at


    “Have a seat with me. | could use thepany, if you have a minute.” | sat down on the light gray suede couch


    and lifted the silver-domed lid off the te of food.


    Steak, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Perfect.


    If | had to be here, at least they would feed me well.


    And my rooms were pretty great.


    Everything was newly updated, with sleek, modern appliances all in stainless steel, and the decor was simple


    and elegant, mostly ck, cream, and grays. Which | loved. And whoever had decorated the room had added


    sshes of emerald green, deep blue, and rich purple.


    | couldn''t have done better if I''d designed it myself.


    And, holy s hit, it was big. It was basically my own fully furnished luxury apartment.


    | had no idea who''d really be visiting me here, but | was d to have a separate living space from the bedroom instead of just


    having a bedroom and bathroom.


    And the bathroom? Yeah, I’d be indulging in that big soaking pool,plete v


    with jets.


    “How are you holding up?” Erin pushed a stand of straight ck hair behind her ear. The chic cropped cut looked amazing on


    her and had me thinking for a millisecond that something along those lines might be fun to try.


    “I''m...” | paused, not entirely sure how to answer. “I’m here. That''s about all | know right now.”


    Erin nodded. “I canpletely understand that. When | was first mated to Gavin and Stephen, it was terrifying. | had no idea


    what to expect in general. And then having to live in this ce on top of it? Yeah.”


    “To be honest, | have no freaking idea what I’m doing.” | sighed, picked up a fork, and pushed my mashed potatoes around on


    my te. “How is this all supposed to work? Like, everyone saw what happened today. I’m simultaneously terrified they are


    going to walk in here toplete the mating, and desperately want it to happen.”


    Girl you and everyone else who''s ever been mated.” Erinughed, then reached over and ced afortingText content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ziyou


    hand on my knee. “I know you''re in a different situation than most, given the whole Alice situation, but it could be worse. You


    could be the one mated to Gregory and Lucas.”


    Erin and | shuddered at the same time.


    “| know. Trust me.” | set my fork down, my appetite gone. “I do feel for Alice. Really. | just wish | didn’t have to be stuck in the


    middle of this. | think what Xander and Zane are doing ismendable. Those two shouldn’t ever be mated to anyone else,


    ever. And | can’t imagine being in her shoes, but...”


    Erin looked at me sympathetically when | trailed off. “But now you’re the meat in a s hit sandwich.”


    An unexpected giggle burst forth. “Yes! Exactly.”


    “| know it might not seem like it, but I’ve gotten to know Xander and Zane. They’re not as scary as they’reing off today. | can


    promise you, they''ll make a decision that will protect you both. You can count on that. Trust them.”


    | was about ask her for more information when a heavy fist pounded on the door.


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