Page 44 of Claimed by the Pack

We took him into her room and I felt another surge of jealousy when we lay him down and I thought about him being so comfortable there in her house...in her bedroom. He curled up like he owned the bed and I rolled my eyes. Chase picked up an afghan from the bottom of the bed and threw it over him and Cheyenne yelled from the other room, “There is a rack in my closet with a couple of robes. Put them on!”

We looked at each other and Chase was the one that went over and got the robes out. He had a fuzzy gray one in one hand and was holding out a soft, satin pink one in my direction. I growled at him and he handed over the gray one.

By the timeCheyenne came in, we were covered up. She had a little plastic box in her hands and ignoring Chase and I, she sat on the bed next to Grayson and began taking things out of the box. First she took out a bottle of water and I watched in jealous fascination as she slipped her hand underneath his blonde head and pulled it up slightly before pressing the bottle to his lips and saying, “Drink.”

Grayson did as he was told.

After she was satisfied he had enough water she wet one of the bandages out of the box and began to delicately dab at his wounds.

I was oddly aroused watching her. Her touch was so soft and the look on her face, well, that was even softer. I felt her feelings for Gray pouring out as she tended to each one of his wounds, even pulling the afghan down to the top of his pelvis to tend to a bit just at the top of his right thigh.

Grayson had his eyes closed, but the little shit was almost smiling. I looked at Chase again and this time he rolled his eyes.

It seemed to me that Cheyenne spent way too much time on Gray's wounds than she needed to, while meanwhile Chase and I had wounds of our own that she seemed to be ignoring. When she finished at last, she stood up and finally looked at the two of us. I was shocked when her pretty lips turned up into a smile and she said, “You two look ridiculous.”

Chase and I looked at each other again. He was the one in pink satin, I didn't think I looked too bad. “Cheyenne,” Chase said, being the first one of us to speak. “I'm sorry, for everything.” The smile fell from her lips and she frowned. She looked at me and then back at Chase and said,

“I just don't understand why you picked me. There are plenty of women on this island to mess with, why me?”

“Because,” I said, “It's never been about “messing” with you. We have real feelings for you, Cheyenne. I love you.”

“Me too,” Chase muttered, and then from the bed came Grayson's sleepy,

“And me.” I growled at them both and went on,

“The three of us have been strays most of our lives, Cheyenne. Before that, we were raised in the wild, under the old rules. Things were so different, and some of it is not just learned, but in our blood. We're all trying hard to be “normal” humans, but I can't even explain how difficult that is. But we are, Cheyenne, human...for the most part. And I...” I stopped and looked at my stupid friends. “We, care so much about you.”

Cheyenne looked from one to the next of us and sighed. “Sit,” she told me and Chase as she sat on the bed. Chase and I jockeyed for the spot next to her and just as I was about to growl at him, she threw me a look that stopped me. We finally sat and she said, “If this is not a trick...if you're not just playing with me, then what are my options here...my choices, to keep the three of you from killing each other?” she looked at Gray and said, “And pretending to be my dog.” Gray smiled. He still had his eyes closed. “It's not funny!” she scolded, but I could see real affection in her eyes when she looked at him.

“We could...” Chase started, and then stopped.

“We could, what?” Cheyenne said.

“I was just thinking, you know about Chelsea and our other alpha's relationship, right?” Cheyenne cocked an eyebrow and nervously Chase went on, “I mean, you might not want all of us, but if you did, they've set a precedent. Maybe there's more than one mate out there for some people. I know how strongly I feel about you. I felt it way back when Ridge first introduced us in the bar. We're not like humans in that we don't have to really get to know someone before we develop our feelings. We feel first...and I've felt for you since day one. I'd be okay with you loving my two best friends too...I mean of course, if you were so inclined.”

She raised her other eyebrow. I could feel chaos coming from her, and I couldn't get a read on what she was thinking.

She looked at Gray then and said, “Open your eyes, pet.”

Grayson had another little smile on his face as he pulled his eyes open.

She rolled her eyes at him, but again, I saw the affection there.

“What's your take on this?”

“I feel the same way as Chase. I knew Ridge wasn't going to like it, but the second you found me downstairs, I knew you were more than just my friend's mate. I would gladly live as your dog forever, just to be close to you.” I'm not sure, but I think her eyes filled with tears when he said that. Little shit. She turned those watery, beautiful eyes on me then and said,

“And you?”

“I am head over heels in love with you, Cheyenne. I have known from the second I saw you that we belonged together. I want you more than I've ever wanted anything, or anyone. I'm not good at sharing,” Chase and Gray both snorted and I said, “Shut up, it's my turn.”

Cheyenne bit her bottom lip, like she was hiding another smile and I went on, “I hate to share. I'm selfish and arrogant. I know I am stronger and better looking...” the guys snorted again, but this time Cheyenne let out a little laugh too.

Slightly hurt, I went on. “Women want me. I expected you to just want me. I was surprised and confused and hurt when I realized that you also feel something for my mates. But like the dog there, I'd be more than willing to change my life and my beliefs for the chance to be with you. I'll share with these idiots if it means having you.”

She was quiet for a long time. The sound of the clock ticking in the living room and our breathing was the only sounds in the apartment for too long. My imagination was running wild with all the possibilities, and I was so nervous that none of them were good. At last she said, “I have a lot of questions.”

“Ask, we'll answer them,” I said.

She shook her head and said, “No. I want to talk to Chelsea.” Chase, Grayson and I looked at each other. I was sure they were all thinking the same thing as I was.

Chelsea wasn't happy with any of us right now. It was possible, and highly likely, that she'd tell Cheyenne to run for the hills.

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