this. If we flirt, we have to accept that it could go all the way. I just want to make sure you're ok with that."
"Yeah, I’m down with it. Hell, everyone wants to find the right woman. If they don't, they're lying about it because they don't think she exists or some shit." Seth shrugged that off. "Clearly, Lane found her, and this sounds like a win for all of us. I'm ok with happily ever after. Just a little shocked you even asked."
"I told you that old school shit isn't my style," I reminded him. "I'm not about to tell you who I'm chasing and expect you to suddenly jump on board. Not part of our deal. When I said we'd do this together, I meant together."
He patted my arm. "I know, and that wasn't the version I mean. More that she's hot, she's fucking nice as hell, and the kid's pretty cool. Look, I don't give a shit about her age, and her being human doesn't bother me at all. I just didn't expect you to pick a mate because someone else was fated for her."
That earned him a groan. "This does solve all our problems, you realize?"
He actually laughed in my face. "And the last I heard, that's not how most alphas pick their mate. Look, it's cool. I agree that it's a good answer, I'm just not so convinced that it's all going to work out. You're basically planning this before you know a single thing about her."
"Yeah, well what else can I do? Lane didn't get to choose, and I'm not losing my brother. He already had to leave Ashley. Believe it or not, he wouldn't do well alone again, and I don't think he'd stick around if he wasn't my beta."
"I can see that," Seth agreed. "So what do you need from us?"
"If we're doing this, we need to cut out the girls, and I need you all on board for that," I said.
He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Done. And?"
I sighed. "I've watched countless alphas - my father included - jump into something with a bitch only to have it fall apart when his betas weren't actually interested. I'm not saying this is going to work. All I'm asking is that we're all honestly ok with trying, and that we keep the communication going. That if this lasts more than one date, then we take it seriously."
Seth nodded once. "Sure, but if you want us to be serious, we're all going to need to get to know her. On our own. Without you."
I nodded.
"No jealousy," he added.
Again, I nodded. "I'm fine with that. It's Lane who's going to be the jealous one."
"So you say. Ian, you're an overbearing, over-controlling, overthinking ass. You realized Lane was fated for her and decided she was going to be your mate. Decided, man. Hate to break it to you, but that woman may not be into what you're offering." He lowered his voice. "But I'm on board. We all are, if for no other reason than because it's what we signed up for, but I have one condition."
The bastard made me ask. "Which is?"
"We do this the right way. None of that, 'oops you're a wolf,' shit. No taking away her choices. You want to make this official, then I'm on board if, and only if, we do it in a way that lets me look her in the eye afterwards without shame."
My initial reaction was to assure him that was the point, but I knew what he meant. This was a very fine line we'd be walking. For him, it also brought up a lot of triggers. If I agreed to his condition, then I was giving him a little more say than most betas were allowed.
Lucky for him, that was my idea of good leadership. "I can handle that," I promised. "Because we need to get this right. Lane doesn't have any other option now."
"No," Seth agreed, "he doesn't. Sounds like it's Elena or a life of living hell for him. At least he has good taste?"
I chuckled. "No shit. Bastard had to go and get himself fated to a human."
CHAPTER 9
Monday morning came before I was really ready for it. Clearly, the same was true for my daughter, because while I'd heard her alarm, I had yet to see her smiling face. I knew she was nervous about starting her new school, which meant she wouldn't have gone to bed