Three marks, one mate

Ten

Desiree.

I needed some fresh air, and I understood that there was only one person who could give me what I wanted. It wasn't because I couldn't push for it but because I needed to be skeptical about the ways that I attended to things so that I did not lose my mind in the process.

It would have been easier to forget about everything, I'm just pretending like you did not exist, but in the meantime, it was also going to be too much for me to handle afterward.

"Why are you bothered?" Brandon asked me as we fell into step with each other.

I didn't know how to broach the subject without sounding ungrateful. For reasons best known to me, I wanted to see the entire world without being saddled with the responsibility of taking care of everyone.

"I don't have the necessary skill set to be able to fight whoever I'm going to be paired with." I evaded.

Brandon came to a halt, tipping my chin upwards to look at me properly. "You are my woman now. I need to know everything that's going on in your life. I don't want to be taken by surprise."

To some people, it might have sounded cute, but to me, it was a threat. "Well, I don't want to just be somebody that you have ownership over." I refused.

Brandon squinted, trying to understand my perspective but I was not going to let up that easily.

"Really? I'm trying to protect you from those wolves. They are the most vindictive people that I know. If they want this to go on then we have to beat them at their game and not allow any mistakes to happen. Do you understand me?" He inquired softly

I kind of understood where he was coming from but I didn't want to be subjected to hiding or pretending like these people did not exist.

"Fine, so what do you suppose that we do, apart from fighting them, of course?"

"Absolutely nothing. I don't want to do anything to them. I am going to look for ways to circumvent the fight so that you don't get exhausted. I can train you but not to be a bloody lamb." He spoke, his eyes conveying deep secrecy he didn't want to share with anybody.

News flash if he was going to be with me, we needed to at least come to a compromise that helped matters.

"I do not belong to you. I have two other men who love me like their lives are dependent on it." I quickly slotted in the correction.

He was fond of staking claim on me which I intended to change in the split second.

"Hmm."

"I need some info on what to expect as the battle progresses on. I think it would not be wise to think that it's going to become more complicated than necessary and just think that everything would take a new shape." I pushed further.

"I want to spend the day with you, I don't want to talk about irrelevant people." He brushed my words off casually, telling me that I had to work even twice as hard so that I didn't lose my mind in the process.

I understood what Brandon was feeling but I didn't like it. "No, if you are in the mood to discuss something even more serious, I'll be here for you. But for now, I'm a bit worried about stuff."

His fingers lifted my chin to face his. "I don't know... I don't think that you should stress yourself out over them. I want to pamper you. Allow me to that without guilt brimming in my heart." He smiled.

Now, when he flashed a smile at me that way, I found no resistance inside of me, I just wanted to melt into his arms but kept reminding myself that I was doing more harm than good.

I lose the battle against myself and collapsed into his arms watching him with hooded eyes.

I felt something summer inside of me, completely different from what I was used to. Anger, deep-seated one.

It wasn't my emotion, then whose was it?"

"I don't know what's happening to me." I mumbled.

Brandon snapped his eyes shut for a minute, muttering a curse under his breath which I could very well hear.

"Grayson. He's the only one who can act strange because I'm with you. Jealous bastard." He muttered.

It took a lot of effort for me to be able to breathe properly. A pat on my back and soft-spoken reassuring words all at once.

"Let's get back to him."

"No." Zachary's commanding voice called from behind.

"Grayson needs to get over his jealousy. You don't have to be stressed this much all the time especially when you're only just trying to see what can be done to pelas these guys." He continued.

I beamed softly at his words. It was r assuring enough. Grayson's anger could be felt by everyone but I was the most affected.

"Talking about me behind my back?" Grayson's voice interrupted again.

"Stop projecting your stupid feelings through the bond when she's out trying to see what's..."

"I want to bond with my mate. If she feels a certain way, I don't think that any of your Business." Grayson's voice dripped with loathe.

"Concern is the order of the day when my mate is concerned!" Brandon flared up.

Okay,... The s**t was about t hit the fan.

The men and I were yet to bond deeper than the courtesy of the mate bond and I was a bit worried that if they kept up this act, it was never going to happen.

"Grayson..." I started patronizingly, "I don't want any more fights. You have me all to yourself."

The bond thrummed with various energies according to their personalities and I laughed a bit. It was strange to see them battling for my attention.

"You're invited to walk with me if you want." I invited

"My work is done here." Brandon finalized, "I'll be waiting for you tonight." He winked.

"Why don't you tell her about the rogue situation instead?" Grayson supplied.