Chapter 13

The cool breeze through the open window stirred me from sleep, my consciousness rising reluctantly to the surface. Fragments of last night's events flickered through my mind like a broken film reel. I hadn't planned on falling asleep with the window open, but then again, I could barely remember half of what had happened.

I sat up slowly, wincing as pain shot through my skull. "Damn... I really overdid it with the drinks."

"You certainly did." Ara's voice froze me in place. I looked toward the doorway where he stood wearing nothing but loose gray sweatpants, his muscular chest bare and inviting in the morning light.

Good lord above.

Memories of the night with Ara flooded back, sending a wave of heat through my body. He looked absolutely delicious in the morning light, and I couldn't help wondering if he might be interested in a different kind of breakfast.

'That sounds like an excellent suggestion to me,' his voice echoed in my mind, causing my eyes to widen in shock. What the hell was that?

"I could explain, but I'm pretty sure you'd freak out," he said with a knowing smile.

My eyes locked onto his, uncertain if he was referring to my drinking or the fact that he'd somehow answered my unspoken thought. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he watched my confusion.

"Here, take these," he said, handing me some Tylenol and a bottle of water. "I've got coffee and breakfast waiting for you in the main house."

I hesitated as I accepted the medicine. "We had sex," I stated bluntly.

His eyebrow quirked upward, and a smile played across his lips. "Yes, we did."

"But Carl said—" I stopped abruptly. Carl is going to murder me!

"Don't worry about him. He's out of town until next week, and honestly, I never listen to him anyway. You shouldn't either."

As comforting as that was, I did feel relieved knowing Carl was away. It meant I could do whatever I wanted without immediate consequences.

At least for now.

"Get dressed," Ara suggested, his eyes lingering appreciatively on my barely covered form. "The others are waiting for us."

"Others?" I questioned, suddenly anxious. "Who else knows about... this?"

Ara's smile turned mysterious. "You'll see. Nothing to worry about."

I quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a light sweater, brushed my teeth, and tried to make myself somewhat presentable. The walk from my cottage to the main house took only a few minutes, but with each step, my anxiety grew.

The Kennedy estate was imposing in the morning light—a sprawling testament to my father's wealth and influence. Ara guided me through the side entrance that led directly to the kitchen and dining area, his hand resting comfortably at the small of my back.

When we entered the dining room, I froze. Barry and Devin sat at the large oak table, both looking up from their plates as we entered. Devin offered a charming smile, while Barry's gaze was more intense, almost predatory.

"Good morning, Lina," Devin said pleasantly. "Sleep well?"

There was something in his tone that made me flush, and I wondered just how much they knew about last night.

"Have a seat," Ara guided me to an empty chair, then took the one beside me. "Jean's made quite the spread."

From the adjoining kitchen came the sounds of clattering pans and running water. My stepmother Jean was evidently busy preparing more food, though she made no acknowledgment of our arrival. The tension in the air was palpable as I reached for the coffee pot.

"So," I began awkwardly, "is this some kind of... intervention?"

The three brothers exchanged meaningful glances, an unspoken conversation passing between them. Finally, Ara cleared his throat.

"Actually, we wanted to talk to you about something important," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "Something that concerns all of us."

In the kitchen, the sound of running water stopped abruptly. Though I couldn't see Jean, I sensed she was listening.

"I'm listening," I said cautiously, buttering a piece of toast to give my nervous hands something to do.

Devin leaned forward, his normally cheerful demeanor replaced by seriousness. "What happened between you and Ara last night wasn't just... casual."

"I figured as much," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "Given how everyone's acting this morning."

"It's more complicated than you think," Barry interjected, his voice gruff. "We've been watching you since you arrived in California."

A chill ran down my spine despite the warm kitchen. "Watching me? That's not creepy at all," I said, attempting sarcasm to mask my unease.

"What Barry means," Ara clarified, shooting his brother a warning look, "is that we've all felt... drawn to you. In ways we can't fully explain."

From the kitchen came the unmistakable sound of a plate being set down too firmly. Jean was definitely listening.

"Drawn to me," I repeated flatly. "All three of you."

The brothers exchanged another meaningful look before Devin spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes. All of us. Including Carl, though he's fighting it harder than anyone."

My coffee cup froze halfway to my lips. "Carl? The same Carl who treats me like I'm some kind of disease he might catch?"

"Exactly because of that," Ara said softly, reaching for my hand under the table. "He's resisting the strongest."

Barry leaned forward, his intense eyes fixed on mine. "What we're trying to say, Lina, is that all four of us want you. Not just individually—we want to share you."

"Everything okay in there?" Devin called out, concern lacing his voice.

"Fine!" Jean's voice was tight with what sounded like poorly concealed anger. "Just slipped."

I lowered my voice to a whisper. "You can't be serious. All of you? Together?"

Ara's thumb traced circles on my palm as he nodded. "We've always shared everything important. We're... different from other families."

"Different how?" I asked, though part of me sensed the answer went beyond normal human experiences.

"That's a longer conversation," Devin interjected. "The important thing now is whether you're open to the possibility."

Barry's impatience was evident as he tapped his fingers against the table. "And we need to decide what to tell Carl when he returns."

"Tell him nothing," Ara suggested firmly. "What happens between us doesn't concern him if he's chosen to remove himself from the equation."

"He's still our brother," Devin argued. "Our Alpha."

The term 'Alpha' caught my attention, but before I could question it, Barry cut in.

"An Alpha who's denying his own nature. If he won't claim her, we will. All of us."

I raised my hands, overwhelmed. "Hold on. I haven't agreed to anything yet. This is... a lot to process."

The sound of the kitchen door swinging open silenced us all. Jean appeared, carrying a platter of fresh fruit, her face a carefully composed mask of indifference.

"More breakfast," she announced coldly, setting the platter down with unnecessary force. Her eyes met mine briefly, filled with disgust and something else—was that fear?

"Thank you, Mom," Devin said politely, attempting to diffuse the tension.

Jean didn't respond, merely turning on her heel to return to the kitchen. But at the doorway, she paused, looking back over her shoulder.

"Your father will be very interested to hear about this... arrangement when he returns with Carl," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "Very interested indeed."

The door swung shut behind her with a decisive click, leaving the four of us in stunned silence.

"Well," I finally managed, my voice barely steady, "that complicates things."

"She was listening the entire time," Barry growled, his anger palpable.

"We'll deal with Jean later," Ara said dismissively. "Right now, we need to know where you stand, Lina. Are you open to exploring this... connection between us?"

Three pairs of eyes fixed on me expectantly—Ara's gentle and encouraging, Devin's hopeful and warm, Barry's intense and demanding.

I took a deep breath, suddenly aware that my answer would change everything. Behind the kitchen door, I could practically feel Jean straining to hear my response.