Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Lanie

“For now.” | repeated Charlotte’s words in a slightly dull voice. “But not forever?”

“Even Brightsky cannot keep you in its embrace forever, granddaughter. Malachi sounded a little sad.

“No sanctuary is eternal.”

“Is that a threat? Mason said sharply.

“It is simply the truth of things. You cannot hide forever. Even behind the sanctity of these walls, we acknowledge that there is a great, grand world beyond them. It’s no life for you and your children to be locked

away for your whole lives, is it?” Malachi tutted, shaking his head.

“Others do it,” Melina said gently. It was the first time I'd heard her speak since we got into the room. She

lifted her mug and took a delicate sip.

Malachi narrowed his eyes at her. “Others who are not my granddaughter.”

“Eventually, the truth is always discovered,” said Jacques, Melina’s husband. “It’s not feasible to think that nobody would ever figure out you’re here. You'd be putting Brightsky, and everyone here, at risk.”

“It is also not feasible,” Malachi said sharply, “to think that none of you would ever desire to go out somewhere and get found out. That is not the life | want for you, any of you. But for now, yes. Enjoy your time here in Brightsky. Rest. Rejuvenate. Replenish.”

“Get ready,” Xander muttered.

“That too,” Malachi agreed.

Braden made a noise low in his throat. “There’s nothing you all really can do until we get more information, anyway. The High Council is acting fast and striking hard, but they’re still scrambling. They might

screw up.”

“We have no ‘High Council’ here, but those of us with more years here do our best to make sure we keep everything running as smoothly as we can.”

Melina took another delicate sip and gave me a smile that would’ve been more reassuring if | wasn’t so

worked up.

“We will keep our ears to the ground, so to speak. This is not only your burden to bear, Lanie. We are all here for you, and not simply because you are Malachi’s bloodline, but because you are our guests. Some of us -“she shot a cool look at my grandfather, then at Xander, “-do understand what it means to provide appropriate hospitality.”

“Fair enough,” Malachi returned, looking totally unconcerned about any condemnation from Melina.

“We need to learn more about Stella. About her...” | paused. What was it? Not a condition. Not a disease.

live

The others at the table all nodded.

“And you, Lanie, need to learn how to become more connected with your vampire self. How you choose toContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

your

life will be for you to decide, but you cannot make a choice without being informed. We have many here to help guide you!” “Like an Intro to Your Vamp Side class?” | joked.

‘Yeah, you should see the textbook,” Braden retorted.

| wanted to laugh along with him, but there’d been the way he and my grandfather were sharing those looks. When Braden and I first met, my life had been turning over and over. Xander and Zane had been my mates, but Alice had been the one they wanted. Whatever possible romance that might've been between me and Braden had been created out of all the confusion, and I’d always been grateful that we’d ended with a strong friendship.

Now | wondered if I'd been wrong about him this whole time.

“There are...mentorships,” Melina explained. “Not classes, exactly. But we can pair you with someone who will teach you how to access your hidden skills.

Walk you through them. You'll be surprised how much you already can control, | suspect. Things you never knew were actually vampire strengths.”

“Anything that will make Lanie stronger and better, Zane said. “I’m all for it.”

“Nothing too dangerous, Mason disagreed.

I sensed a flare between them. Not being at odds, not exactly. More like Mason was exerting some of his Alpha-ness over his Beta.

| sighed. More d ickswinging. | loved my mates, all three of them, with everything | had inside me. But there was no denying that there was a lot of male to deal with.

Fortunately, Zane was an amazing Beta and did not rise to Mason’s poke. He only inclined his head and shot me a secret smile. Mason seemed appeased.

“Shall we adjourn?” Malachi stood.

“| need a run,” Mason said. “I’m itching for it.”

Xander nodded. “I wouldn’t mind, either. Malachi, would there be a place for us to run freely but Brightsky?”

“Of course. Walk with me, and I'll tell you where to find it.”

stay inside

The three of them left with Zane close behind. Melina and Jacques took their leave, and so did Charlotte.

That left me and Braden alone in the meeting room.

“So,” | said. “How long have you been f ucking my grandfather?”

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