My Secret, My Bully, My Mates

"Yes, Happy Birthday Mateo. I hope your mate is strong enough to put up with you and smart enough to team up with your sister against you." Mina laughs and Mateo smiles, then she looks back at me. "So what is this I hear about Robbie dropping off random people?"

I groan a little at her. "That is it, literally. He got our attention, by carrying Gentry in like a dead body and then he told me to keep her and the dozen extra people he brought. He told us to figure out how to free them from the binding spell, then just left."

"That is not all he did." Dakota growls. "He was way too comfortable with you, and if he ever gets in your face like that again, I will rip his head off."

"Stop, he wasn't in my face. He just got close enough to tell me something he didn't want anyone else to hear."

"What did he say to you?" Mina asks suspiciously. "He wasn't overly talkative."

"Nothing relevant to this situation." I know this conversation is not over by a long shot.

"What I want to know is why did he bring those captives to you? How did he know you wouldtake them in?" Mateo asks.

"Once they had me with Jena, they spent a lot of time figuring out who and how powerful we were. They found out I was a Beta's kid, so Robbie probably thought I had some pull in the pack to bring in outsiders. He helped get us out and as a former captive, he probably assumed I would help others." I shrug.

"So it's safe to assume he'll be coming back then?" Oliver sounds irritated now. I need these boys to find their mates and give me a break already.

"Nope, we are not doing the pissing match thing again. There is no interest there and yes if he asks for my help and we know the request is legit, I will help. I'm not dumb enough to think this is one hundred percent innocent, but like so many times before, you guys weren't there, so you don't get to be angry on my behalf for the situation now."

eyes and takes a breath. "This is not about you being weak and not being able to handle hard situations. Clearly you can, you've apparently been designed specifically for them." He opens his eyes. "This is about you putting yourself

save catching his misogynistic comment. I am tired and just want to hang

next to me, "I'm going to grab one more, do you

says as I shake my head. I

of our bottles and starts to head between Mateo and Oliver's chairs. Somehow she manages to trip, toss the bottles onto the grass behind them

through the backyard.

grabs her arm.

like Mina! Do you remember what your mom did? Wyatt, go get Elena, we need help. Her brand is burning off." I run for Jena and kind of throw her in Mateo's lap. As far as I'm concerned that's the best place for her. He should be calm-ish and his presence

around her waist and the other is tilting her head back to his shoulder,

is what happened to Mina when she felt her bond to

That garnered another growl

double the sensation. Jena, breathe for me okay. I'm right here, Mateo is here. At least Mina was right," I try to joke, "Mateo got a mate who would side with me in

small smile and then her whole face falls and she tries to get up, but her body breaks out into shivers and she's sweating as she

looking at me, pleading, like we are the only two people here. I know what she's talking about, we have had this conversation so many times. It's her biggest fear

deep breath in and I know my brother's scent is helping her