They shook their heads. “No. Our species is kept a secret from anyone human, except mates. Like you, now. Your father believes he’s killing animals, nothing more,” Holt added.
"That's why there's so much animosity between the ranchers and the rest of the town,” I guessed. “Wait—is all of West Springs your kind?"
"No. About half," Holt said. “Everyone who lives here in the forest on the West land. Everyone who works at the distillery. There are others who work with humans, like me and the town doctor.”
I processed that, trying to comprehend the new reality for me. It was as if leprechauns really were real, and I could finally see where they’d been hiding all this time.
“And…” I was still digesting everything they’d told me. “You mate in pairs? Not just sex?”
Theo smiled encouragingly, even though I’d repeated what they’d already said. “That’s right. It’s a quirk of our genes. Many males in the pack have what we call a scent-match. Another male who smells exactly the same as him. So they know they’re destined to share a mate. Holt and I learned as teens, and we’ve been hoping to find you ever since.”
I blinked. “Find me.” I set my hand on my chest and remembered I was naked. A slow thrum started up between my legs. These two big, burly men—these wolf-men—thought I was their mate. I felt a little bit like Cinderella. Extremely special. A little bit magical. “And… and now that you have?”
Both men gave me what could only be construed as feral smiles. Like they’d captured their prey, and now they were going to devour me.
“Now you see why we demanded exclusivity on the first date,” Holt said.
“Because I’m… it for you?” They were giving me so much to process, I was trying to keep up. Trina was engaged. To one man. Sure, she and Melissa had wanted me to have a wild fling with Theo and Holt, but I was sure my friends never imagined the hot guys to be shifters or scent-matches. And I was their mate. The One.
They nodded in unison, and eyed at me with a mix of adoration and need.
The early stages of dating definitely meant getting to know each other. Over time, secrets were revealed and bonds formed. I hadn’t gotten too far in the process with guys I’d gone out with. Some definitely longer than the two days I’d known Holt and Theo, but shit…
I’d approached them only for a one-night stand! There wasn’t anything more secretive than what they’d just shared. More unusual. If I hadn’t seen Theo’s teeth or the way his eyes changed color, I wouldn’t have believed it.
I did, though.
They hadn’t been anything but direct and honest with me.
“Would you… would you have eventually told me about this—” I swirled my finger in the air, “—at some point, or only because it kinda slipped out?”
Theo appeared a little ashamed that he’d given it away. They’d made it this long in life without telling a soul, and now he’d revealed himself in the most intimate and close of moments. It meant he’d been out of control, so past his ability to shield himself, and that was because of me.
I felt instantly powerful instead of vulnerable and confused.
“Hell, yes. But maybe not in such a shocking way,” Theo said.
“I have to think on this,” I murmured.
The hope dimmed in their eyes at my words, but as I shifted in Theo’s hold and moved to kneel before them on the carpet, I smiled.
“In the meantime, I want to make you both lose control like that.”
Holt’s eyes widened, and Theo stared. “What are you saying?”
I set my hands on each of their chests. “I’m saying, your wolf revealed himself… is that how you say it?”
They nodded, listening intently. Theo sat his hand on top of mine to hold it in place. His skin was warm, and I remembered exactly what those fingers could do.
“Well.” I bit my lip. “You lost control because you were having sex with me. I love that I can make you do that. You do it to me.” I whispered the last, admitting how strongly they affected me. I glanced up at both of them through my lashes, suddenly feeling a touch vulnerable.
“You’re not freaked out?” Theo asked, clearly concerned.
I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s probably not what I expected to discover about you two, but in comparison to past guys I’ve dated, this isn’t that bad.”
They growled and glared.
“No more guys,” Holt said.
“No more dates,” Theo added.
I laughed at their possessiveness and what they took from my sentence. “I want you so far out of control, I see your wolves.”
Theo growled some more.
“Sweetheart,” Holt said, practically groaning. Then he pounced, more like a cat than a wolf. I fell onto my back with him over me.
“It’s impossible not to go wild with you. And now that you know… ” He loomed, a dark and heated gleam in his gaze as he took in my features, perhaps memorizing.