a difference in their business, and I hated it. I never wanted to be the source of conflict.
“Do you know when the other two are coming home?” I asked as I gathered all my hair up on the top of my head. I was just trying to get it out of the way but he smiled at me.
“That looks cute,” he said. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” I blushed. “I’m glad you like it. Matthew always said that it looked like crap.”
“Hey, I think we need to implement a policy,” he said. “If Matthew hated it, you can assume that I like it. You can assume that all three of us like it.”
“When are they coming home?” I asked again, and he shrugged.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Is there something else you need? Or are you interested in round two?”
“Maybe not right away,” I said with a chuckle. “But give me a bit to shower. Maybe I’ll go outside for a walk.”
He froze at that.
“Have you been going for walks?” he asked, and I shrugged.
“Yeah, from time to time,” I said. “But I haven't been going far.”
“Jenny, you can’t go for a walk,” he said, and I looked at him like he was crazy.
“Why?” I asked. “I mean, I know the wolves are around, but I thought that you said there was a ton of security and it wasn’t a problem.”
“That is partially true,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean it’s safe. You can’t go outside. How have you ever been getting outside?”
“The back door?” I asked, confused.
“The back door has been locked,” he said, and I looked at him.
“No,” I said. “The lock is a bit fiddly, but it hasn’t been locked. I didn’t realize that I wasn’t allowed to go outside.”
“It’s just to keep you safe,” he said, but I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I had a feeling it was something bigger than that.
“Sure,” I said. “I’m just going ahead upstairs. I’ll see you soon.”
I waited until I was upstairs and the door was closed before I took out my phone.
I didn’t know if Anna would tell me the truth, but I had to find out. I hoped that she would pick up, and when she did, I took a deep breath.
“Anna,” I said. “I need you to be honest with me.”
“I’m always honest,” she said. We had become really close, and I could tell when she was lying. Right now, she was telling the truth, but it would be the next sentence that was the real test.
“Did the boys kidnap me or rescue me?” I asked.
Her silence on the other end told me everything.
“Why?” I asked. “Why did they kidnap me?”
Anna still didn’t stay anything, and I felt like throwing my phone against the wall.
“Anna,” I said. “You can’t keep this from me. What happened? I don’t remember anything, but I trust you.”
“Hey, I thought you said that you were falling in love with them,” she said.
“I am,” I said. “I did...I was. But not if I am a hostage.”
“You aren’t a hostage,” she assured me, but I wasn’t so sure.
“Anna, please tell me the truth,” I begged her.
“Do you know what you are asking me to do?” she asked. “If I tell you, I’ll betray the family.”
“What about me?” I asked. “I thought I was your friend. I thought I mattered.”
She took a deep breath and then she let out it
“Fine,” she said. “But if you tell anyone that it was me…”
“I won't,” I said. “I swear, I won't tell anyone. I just need to know what happened that day.”
“Well, what do you remember?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“Nothing,” I said. “I remember leaving the apartment, and that was it.”
“You don’t remember them meeting you on the road?" she asked, and I shook my head.
“No,” I said. “They told me that the wolves drugged me…”
“The wolves did not drug you,” she said.
I felt like I was going to faint. The words were ricocheting around my soul, and I didn't know what else to say.
“Come again?” was all I managed
“The wolves did not drug you,” she said. “The boys did.”
I realized that was the only logical conclusion.
“Why?” I asked. “Why did they do it?”
“Because you are their mate,” she said.
“I’m not!” I cried, even though I knew that it wouldn't change the situation.
I didn’t really understand the concept of mates. I thought that maybe they were like soulmates for humans, but I was told that it was something completely beyond that.