The Rejected Wolf and Her Three WereMates

Chapter 14: Fighting

HARPER

~~~

My hands trembled so violently that it took me three attempts to fit the brass key into the lock. When the door finally creaked open, the reality of the destruction made my knees weak.

A massive, gaping hole was right in the center of the ceiling. Jagged splinters of oak, shattered roof tiles, and insulation were scattered across the common room floor.

A splintered branch from the pine tree had fallen through the roof. Rainwater from last night's storm had pooled in the hollows of the floorboards, soaking into the rug and filling the air with the damp smell of wet earth and ruined timber.

I took two steps inside, my knees threatening to buckle beneath me.

This was my escape plan. This lodge was the only tangible asset I had left, the last legacy of my mother. Now, it was a pile of condemned debris. Who in their right mind would buy a structural nightmare like this?

A wave of helplessness suddenly washed over me. The room spun. Despair clawed at my throat, and before I could stop myself, I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and dialed the one number I never thought I would bring myself to call.

It didn't even ring twice before he answered.

"Harper?" Mason's deep baritone vibrated through the speaker, sultry and sharp with concern.

The sound of his voice hit me like a spark to gasoline, and a sudden, traitorous coil of heat flared deep in my stomach. In an instant, my mind flashed back to last night–his hands pinning my thighs, his low groans echoing against my skin, the sheer, ruthless pleasure he had poured into me.

My heart hammered against my ribs, my breath hitching in my throat. I silently cursed myself for reacting this way and forced myself to concentrate.

"Mason, I..." I began, my voice sounding fragile. But I couldn't bring myself to force the words past the lump in my throat.

Mason must have detected the tremble in my voice because his tone suddenly grew dead serious.

"Harper, what's wrong? Where are you?"

"The lodge," I choked out, angrily swiping at a tear that escaped down my cheek. God, I hated feeling weak. I hated that I was calling him to rescue me. "The storm last night... a massive tree collapsed. The roof is gone, and part of the lodge is destroyed. I don't know what to do."

"Don't move," Mason ordered, and from the background, I heard the scrape of a chair as it was pushed backward. "Don't touch anything. We're on our way, okay? Five minutes."

The line went dead.

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a shaky breath. To keep my mind from spiraling, I grabbed a broom from the storage and began furiously sweeping the larger chunks of broken wood into a pile.

True to Mason's word, exactly five minutes later, the sharp crunch of gravel signaled the arrival of a sleek black SUV.

The doors slammed in unison. I stepped toward the doorway just as the three of them rounded the porch.

They looked unreal, dressed in tailored trousers and crisp button-down shirts; billionaires who had clearly abandoned a high-stakes council meeting the second I called.

Mason had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his thick, vein-mapped forearms..Ryder's top three buttons were undone, revealing the edge of the tattoo inked into his skin.

Dallas was the only one with his shirt still pristine, but his dark hair was tousled by the wind. His eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin flush hot.

They stepped over the threshold, their broad frames immediately shrinking the room.. They flooded the space, their intoxicating Alpha scent wiping out the smell of damp wood.

"Thank you for coming," I murmured. "I didn't know who else to call, and I had no idea what to do."

Mason's eyes swept over the gaping ceiling, then dropped to my face. The moment he noticed my teary eyes, a dark shadow crossed his features.

He closed the distance between us, his hands coming around my waist to pull me firmly against his broad chest.

"Hey," he said softly, his thumb gently stroking my jawline. "Look at me. It's just wood and stone, Harper. We've got you."

"You don't understand," I shook my head, my hands pressing against his chest, feeling the steady thud of his heart. "No one is going to buy it in this state. I'll have to renovate, and I really can't do that right now. I'm ruined."

"You're not ruined, Harper," Ryder cut in smoothly. He walked further into the room, stepping over the fallen trunk to inspect the beams above. "The land value in this sector is astronomical. You'll get a decent price for it. Trust me."

Dallas, who had stepped back out onto the porch to make a quick call on his phone, stepped back inside.

He slid his phone into his pocket, his lips curving into a rare, devastatingly handsome smile that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

"It's already been taken care of," he said calmly. "I just spoke with an investment group under Black Pine's alliance. They will purchase the lodge as it is for double your original asking price. The funds will be wired to your account by noon."

My jaw dropped. I stared at him in utter shock. "What? Double? How... why would anyone pay double for a destroyed lodge?"

Dallas took two slow steps toward me, his golden eyes burning with possessive warmth.."Because I told them to. Don't worry your pretty head about it, Harper. It is our duty to take care of you."

"Especially now that you're moving back into the pack house with us," Ryder added, his voice dropping into a low, sultry purr. "You look beautiful in that dress by the way."

The air in the room suddenly grew thick. My inner wolf, Lia, preened at the declaration, practically purring at the thought of being surrounded by our mates.

I took a deep breath, trying desperately not to show how much their presence affected me.

"No," I said. "Thank you for the buyer, and for the compliment. Truly. But I'm not moving into the pack house with you three."

Mason's grip on my waist tightened just a fraction, pulling me flush against his hard body.

"Harper," he scolded softly. "Why are you still fighting this? Why are you fighting us? Last night proved we can't resist each other."

My cheeks flared into a brilliant, fiery crimson. "Last night was a mistake."

"Liar," Ryder interrupted softly, stepping closer until his chest brushed my arm. His voice was calm, but the heat flashing in his eyes was scorching. "Last night was you giving yourself to us willingly. You called our names, little wolf. You felt how good it was when all three of us were inside your mind, touching you. Are you really going to stand here and pretend that didn't happen?"

"I... I was tired!" I stuttered wildly, my heart hammering like a trapped bird as the three of them cornered me. "Besides, I have my old cottage. I can just go back there and..."

"You're selling the cottage too," Mason whispered darkly. He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of my neck. His warm lips brushed against my skin, sending a shockwave of pure electricity straight down to my core.

I gasped, my head tilting back involuntarily as his tongue lapped against my skin.

"Sell it all," Dallas murmured, stepping up behind me, his large hands resting on my hips, trapping me in a fortress of scorching muscle and unbreakable strength. "Stay where you belong. With your mates."

They were everywhere. They were all I could smell, all I could feel, all I could breathe. My defenses, built over five agonizing years, were crumbling into dust beneath the relentless, intoxicating assault of their touch.

My eyes fluttered shut, my hands clutching tightly at the front of Mason's shirt as my resolve completely melted.

The surrender was right on the tip of my tongue. I was opening my mouth to say yes when someone suddenly cleared their throat from the doorway, shattering the intense moment.