My shaking started as soon as I left the house. It was hard to walk because it felt like I was falling apart. I got to the car, kicked the driver out, got to the driver’s seat, and brought out my phone.


    When my hands wouldn’t stop shaking, it took forever to dial her number, but I did it eventually. My frustration grew when the call didn’t connect.


    I dropped the phone, resting my head on my steering wheel, my grip tight. I took deep breaths, my eyes closed, imagining her hands on me, her scent wrapped around me, her beautiful eyes fixed on me and looking so tender and so filled with love.


    “She’s in love with me,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “She’s… in love… with… me.”


    My shaking slowed, my heartbeat going back to normal.


    She loves me. I had her love. What my father or Vera says doesn’t matter. She was all that mattered to me. All I cared about. I could lose the world but as long as I had her, I wouldn’t fret.


    I started the car, driving away.


    When I got home, my brothers were already there.


    I paused when the elevator opened, looking at both of them. They were sitting, but as soon as they saw me, they stood up.


    “No work today?” I asked as I stepped in, dropping my keys.


    “We took the day off,” Kross answered.


    I walked to them, but they didn’t wait for me to get to them before they drew me into a tight embrace. Even though I was taller than both of them, I stayed in the middle while they held me tight.


    My eyes burned and my chest was bearably tight. I had my brothers and I had Rosette. I really didn’t need anything more.


    “It must have been hard,” Kross whispered, patting my back. “Facing Father alone.”


    “It was,” I muttered.


    “We wanted toe,” Kade said. “But we felt like you wanted to handle it yourself.”


    I nodded, unable to say anything else.


    I really had everything I could ever ask for. And I held my mother’s love in my heart, so she was still with me.


    We broke away from the hug and sat, me facing them.


    “You look good,” Kross remarked, a small smile on his face, his legs crossed.


    “I’m a married man feeding off the love of my wife,” I teased, leaning back on the couch.


    Both their eyes went wide and they exchanged looks.


    “You guys married already?” Kade asked, whispering like we were sharing a secret.


    I nodded, smiling.


    Kross watched me with his eyes narrowed. “He’s lying.”


    Kade looked at him before he looked back at me. “He must be. It has barely been a week since I called and he said there was hope.”


    I raised my hands. “Fine, you caught me. But…” My words trailed off, my expression turning serious.


    “But you really want to get married to her?” Kross pressed, an eyebrow raised.


    I nodded very slowly, the thought only just urring to me. “I mean, why not? We love each other. Isn’t it just natural for people who love each other to get married?”


    They just smiled, saying nothing.


    “That’s for you to figure out, little brother,” Kade said gently.


    “Are you going to mark her?” Kross asked.


    I rubbed my jaw. “If she wants to, then yes.” I looked between them. “Are you guys really okay with this?<b>” </b>


    “Yeah,” Kade answered while Kross said, “Anything for your happiness.”


    “What of your own happiness?”


    He shrugged. “We’ll find it somewhere else.”


    I didn’t look away from him. “How are you, though?”


    He just smiled softly. “I’m getting there. I have no right to be this way when she was the one who got hurt. I just wish I could ask for her forgiveness.”


    “She’s already forgiven you. I can assure you.”


    He nodded, looking away, his jaw clenched.


    “You ready for tonight?” Kade asked and just like that, my good mood was gone.


    I sighed, rubbing my face. “I can never be ready for this. Never. Will it ever get easier?”


    They said nothing, because nobody had the answer. To them, this night was going to be easy, but for me, it’s going to be twelve hours of pain and agony.


    I stood up, heading towards the stairs. “I’m going to freshen up.”


    I could already feel the night bearing down on me. The pain of the night and then the aftermath. It’ll take at least a day or two for me to feel like me again.


    I really wish Rosette could be here.


    **


    ROSETTE


    HOURS AGO


    The ping of my phone was what woke me up. I sighed as I blinked my eyes open. I looked down to <i>see </i>I was dressed in one of Axel’s shirts. I turned, searching for the owner, but he was nowhere to be found.


    But a note was found.


    I picked it up from the pillow, reading it over and over again as if it would make me feel closer to him.


    “I wanted to wait for you to wake,” it reads, “but unfortunately, I couldn’t. I had to leave as soon as I could. But I’lle back to you as soon as I can. I hope you think of me every second of the day. I’ll be doing the same.”


    I pressed the note to my nose, inhaling his scent that still clung to it. I ced it down gently, getting off the bed. I winced as I moved to the kitchen, sore, but in a good way. I really hope I could feel him for days.


    I remembered how intensest night was and my face grew hot. That was the first time I had passed out during sex, and honestly? I wanted to again.


    I fixed something simple for myself and moved back to the room, sitting on the bed, and finally picked up my phone.


    I had only one text, and it was from an unknown number.


    My blood went cold as I read the text over and over.


    “Want to know what your lover is? The kind of monster he is? Then take the next flight to the States.”


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