Chapter 112

**AMELIA**

"So it's him?" I hear Mom ask Sophia as I descend the last few steps to join them in the lobby.

"Yeah that's definitely him." She replies.

"What's he doing here?" Dad asks, carrying Grayson on his shoulders.

"No idea." Replies my dear sister.

"Who are you talking about?" I ask and they are surprised by my voice.

Eric, who is in my mother's arms reaches out to me so I take him in my arms and kiss him on the temple.

"Xander. He's here." Sophia replies, nodding outwards.

I shift slightly and see Xander talking to Noah and Alec. "What the hell is he doing here?" I ask aloud despite myself.

"We thought you knew." Dad says to me. I shake my head.

Still with Eric in my arms, I walk in their direction. Noah is the first to notice me and he looks up briefly.

Alec and Xander then turn around, the former greeting me as usual with a quick hug and offering to take Eric with him. He takes him and walks off towards my parents, leaving the three of us alone.

"Hello, Amelia. It's a pleasure to see you again." Xander says to me.

"'Good morning." I reply, frowning.

Noah sighs. "Xander spoke to Randall, who gave him his plan and a list of people who have 'apparently' joined his ranks." He runs his hand over his face. "We 've agreed that we're going to work together on this."

Noah and Xander and work together in the same sentence. Wow, I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

"Okay." I say uncertainly.

"We'll set things up to make it work." Noah says to me and Xander looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "You two are going to have a talk to clear the air between you. Then Xander stays here for two days to work out a plan of action and then he goes home." He clears his throat. "Well, I'll go inside and let you two talk." He gives me a long kiss before heading back inside the pack house.

"After you." Xander says, gesturing for me to pass.

We take a few steps in silence and after a while I decide to jump in. "I love Noah, I love our children and the life we live. I know it can't be easy for you...I don't know why the moon goddess decided to make us mates. It's a mystery to me."

"Not to me." He pauses, looking at me while continuing to walk. "You're the perfect mate for me. You're strong, caring, hardworking, smart and beautiful. You're the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever rested on. It's hard to find anything about you that can't be loved."

"We can't be together." I tell him simply.

"Why can't we? Because you're already with Noah and you already have kids? I'm not against the fact of..."

"Please don't say anything." I mumble.

"Sharing. There, I've said it. If the only way I can be with you is to share you then I'm willing to do it."

"That can't be true." I mumble, running my hand through my hair. "I can't do this." I tell her as I stop walking.

"Because you thought about it?" He asks and in the face of my lack of response he continues. "Think about it... please. Talk to Noah about it."

I pinch the bridge of my nose and he shakes his head. "You just don't get it. Not that I blame you but. Imagine the situation if you'd met Noah and he was with someone."

"I can't imagine that but I understand it's hard for you, believe me. It's just..."

"You don't feel about me the way you feel about Noah." He tells me sadly and I nod. "Can you show me your house? I'd like to see where your assault took place." He adds a few seconds later seriously.

I guide him back to our house, taking care to warn Noah over the mindlink. I take him out onto the terrace behind and he takes me by surprise by grabbing my hand. I feel little sparks where our skins touch and raise my eyes to his. He releases my hand and slides it down my arm, to my neck and finally places it on my cheek, leaving goosebumps in its wake. His eyes draw me to him and his face gets closer and closer, until my wolf brings me back to reality.

I take a step back and clear my throat. "I was sitting here when I heard a noise in this direction."

"Amelia." He cuts me off but I continue.

"So I walked over and there it was..."

"Amelia. Look at me." He tells me softly and I turn to look him in the eye. Mistake. "I know you feel the same way I do when we touch or look into each other's eyes. The only reason you and Noah's bond is stronger than ours is because you've marked each other and spend your days next to each other. If we'd met before, I'd be the father of your children."

I clench my jaw and look away. It pisses me off because I know he's right. I'm torn between the two but the bond with Noah completely overwhelms the other except when it touches me. When he talked about sharing, he told me to talk to Noah as if he was the only one in charge of this decision. He didn't care if I wanted to. Does he think I want to? Do I want to?

"Don't overthink it." He says softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I know werewolves aren't meant to share. We're overprotective, possessive and the only being in the world that matters is our mate." He sighs and I finally look at him. "Still, you can't blame me for thinking of my own interests and you can't blame yourself for feeling something for me."

I just stared at him wordlessly for a moment, then continued to explain what had happened that day, until I went upstairs to the twins' room.