Page 54 of Brutal Reign
“What the fuck just happened?” I growl, blinking at the spot in the treeline River just slipped through. My body tenses as I prepare to call my wolf forward and go after her, but then Ace speaks.
“She’s my mate,” he declares.
I jerk around to gape at him, sure that he’s lost his goddamn mind. “She’smymate,” I snarl.
His brows knit together in confusion as he slowly turns to face me. “What? No, bro, I felt the bond, it…”
“Yeah, I did too,” I say, suddenly wondering ifI’mthe one losing it.
No, I definitely felt the bond snap into place between us. Even now, I feel it burning in my chest, our connection tugging me in the direction River just fled. She’s my fated mate; I’m certain of it.
“So… she’s…bothof ours?” Ace mumbles, looking more bewildered by the second.
I flinch back, narrowing my eyes on him. “How the hell is that possible?”
“It’s not.”
“So then what the fuck?”
Ace turns his gaze back toward the treeline, his brow furrowing. “Are you sure it was the mate bond you felt?” he asks dubiously.
I make a scoffing sound in my throat. “Yeah, I’m fucking sure. There’s no mistaking what I just felt, bro.” I cock my head to the side, narrowing my eyes. “Areyousure?”
He nods adamantly. “I’m positive. I can feel it…” he trails off, pressing a palm against the center of his chest, right where I feel my own bond humming beneath my skin.
And that’s the moment I know. My bond recognizes his, some aspect of it linking the two of us together, too.
“Fate must be punishing us, making her choose,” Ace murmurs.
I swallow thickly as the reality of our situation dawns. “She’ll have to reject one of us,” I rasp, thinking out loud.
“But how, if she’s bonded to us both?” He swipes a hand over his chin, gaze still fixed on the trees. “If fate hasn’t chosen, then why doesshehave to?”
I stare at his profile blankly, my brain short-circuiting. None of this makes any fucking sense. “What are you saying?” I grind out, hoping Ace will somehow have all the answers. He usually does, but this situation is a whole lot more daunting than anything we’ve had to face before.
He slowly turns his head to meet my eyes. “I’m saying, this solves our problem, doesn’t it? If she’s equally bonded to both of us, then we can both finally have what we’ve always wanted, and it’s not at the expense of each other.”
I blink at him dumbfoundedly, still struggling to comprehend this insane turn of events.
“We made that pact because we knew we couldn’t both be mated to her right?” he continues. “But what if we can? What if we could both have her?”
“Like you said, it’s not possible,” I grumble, shaking my head.
“Why not?” he presses.
“That’s not how things are supposed to be.”
Ace snorts a laugh. “Well, we weren’t supposed to fall for the same fucking girl either, but here we are.” He throws out a hand, gesturing to River’s escape route. “What if fate just gave us a gift? Think about it, Seb. If our friendship wasn’t at stake, would you wanna be with her?”
I jerk a nod, not even having to consider my answer. It’s always been yes. It’s always beenher.
“Me too,” he breathes, pivoting to face me fully. “So, maybe this is the answer we’ve always been looking for. Maybe…”
“You want to share a mate?” I scoff disbelievingly.
“If it were anyone else, no,” Ace replies with a frown. “But for her, I’d do damn near anything, and I know you would too.”
I nod slowly as the harsh bite of reality sinks its teeth in.He’s right. This could work.