Aleki let out a deep breath. “Shit. And that’s what we all want? To share her? To have her as our wife, our Little? If she’s a Little, that is.”
“She is,” Caleb said confidently. “And it’s what I want.”
Aleki ran his hand over his face. “I’m not agreeing to the bride stealing. And I’m not convinced she’s a Little or will want to be with the three of us. But I also can’t leave her.”
They both looked to Wolfe. “I can’t trust her. I may never trust her. But the three of us will be able to keep closer watch on her. I don’t believe in love. But I don’t want her harmed. I want to possess her. That’s enough for me. I can’t do this halfway. She’s either ours or she’s not.”
“And if she’s not? You’d leave her like this?” Aleki asked.
Wolfe shot him a disgusted look. “Of course not, I’m not a monster.” He grimaced. “Well, I can be. If we’re not all in, I think we should give her some money and a plane ticket to somewhere she won’t be found.”
“And if we’re all in?” Caleb asked.
“Then she comes with us, whether she wants to or not,” Wolfe said. “And we make our intentions clear. She’s going to be ours. All three of ours. Our woman. Our lover. Our Little.”
The more Caleb thought about this, the more it felt right. “We don’t want to push too hard. If anyone needs some coddling, it’s Vivi. She needs tender care. Some gentleness and understanding. Some fun. A caretaker.” Aleki could give that.
“She also needs to know that there is someone who will listen to her. Lift her up when she needs it, support her, cheer her on. Who will be the bad guy when she can’t. Make the tough decisions when it’s too much for her. Lay down some boundaries that will be enforced with a firm but fair hand.” That was him.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t do all the things Aleki could and vice versa, it’s just they could play on their strengths.
Then he looked to Wolfe.
“And she needs to feel safe. To know, without a doubt that someone has her back. No matter what. Someone who will be her vengeance and her redemption. Who will fight her enemies when she can’t. A warrior.”
Wolfe eyed him calmly then gave a nod.
Twenty-one days to convince her that she could be theirs.
This could work.
* * *
By the time Ethan left, Vivi knew her face was bright red.
Caleb walked in, took one look at her face, and raised his eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“Sure. Where are the others?”
“Wolfe’s preparing your dinner. Be warned, he was talking about the best way of preparing kale.”
“Kale? Eww. Why?” This was his way of punishing her. It had to be.
“Apparently it’s healthy for you.”
“Not if you vomit trying to eat it.”
His lips twitched. “Don’t think it will be that bad.”
“Easy for you to say, you’re not having to eat it.”
“I’ll eat it if you will,” he said easily.
“What? Really?”
“Yep. Not fair to make you eat something I’m not willing to. I could stand to eat healthier.”
Why? He looked perfect.