That night after we cleaned up, I sat at the dinner table while Jake and Viktor cooked. Sitting here while they cut up vegetables and chicken felt like I was watching someone else’s life. Jake opened up the oven and leaned down to put the pan holding the chicken onto one of the racks.
“Have you guys made dinner together before?” I asked. Viktor looked at Jake and he looked at Viktor before looking at me.
“Yes, we have,” Jake said.
“It was a long time ago, though,” Viktor said.
“Hmm…”
“Does that make you jealous?” Jake asked. I blinked twice before the words formed in my head. He closed the oven and put his hands on the counter as he watched me.
“No, I’m not jealous but I do wish I could have been there,” I said.
“Jake and Jamie were the only family I had,” Viktor said. Jake’s eyes filled with an emotion that threatened to water and run down his cheeks. “But now, I have you.” I look to Jake and he doesn’t seem hurt by his words.
“Did Jamie know about you guys?” I asked. It didn’t matter who answered but I was curious. How could you not know if your brother and his friend shared something like this?
“She never asked us but I’m sure she suspected,” Viktor said. So she had to have known. I wonder if she wanted something to happen between me and Jake. If she knew about them, did she think it would bring the three of us together?
“Do you want to tell us what you found out from the elders?” I asked.
Viktor chuckled.
“Yes, I will but not right now. Let’s talk about it over dinner. Right now, I just want to be in the present. I like having your eyes on me,” Viktor said.
“Of course you do. Viktor loves the attention,” Jake joked. Viktor just laughs and it warms my heart. This day could have gone a lot worse than it had and I thanked the Goddess that it turned out this way.
They made their way to me but stopped at the island. Jake sat on one of the bar stools and Viktor came and sat at one of the chairs at the table. The animosity from earlier today was nowhere in sight and I watched them as they laughed about the way Viktor had cut the carrots.
I was curious about a lot of things and I had a lot of questions. Was this the best time to ask? I wanted to know more about them before. I wanted to know what happened. If not now then when?
“You guys stopped because Viktor became the Alpha?” I asked. I couldn’t help it, word vomit. It was an ailment I suffered from but I’ve come to accept it. The joking atmosphere disappeared and they went silent for a few moments.
Jake clears his throat. “It was my idea,” Jake said. “It didn’t make sense for us to be together. We’re both men, I didn’t think the Moon Goddess would pair two men together. I’ve only heard of men and women being mated pairs.”
He shrugged.
“I could have stayed with him longer. I was selfish, I wanted to have him by my side for as long as I could. I would have continued being selfish but the topic of an heir came up before he became Alpha.”
He sighed.
“I could continue being selfish but if I did, I would get in the way when he found his mate. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind when I thought of him not having an heir. I was bad for him. I would only hold him back from being who he was meant to be. I would get in the way of him having children.”
Viktor didn’t move but his eyes were glued on Jake. The way he looked at Jake said this was news to him. My heart hurt for him, it hurt for them. I don’t know how I would have reacted when he first found me. If I had found out he had a man in his bed? I can’t possibly know how I would have reacted or what I would have thought.
“So what happens now?” I asked.
Viktor looks at me and Jake looks between the two of us. Viktor takes a deep breath, “I don’t know but I do know we have something.”
I nod. “We do. We have something special.”
“Where do I fit in this?” Jake asked.
“Where do you think you fit in this?” I asked. He didn’t look happy that I answered his question with a question with one of my own.
“Honestly? I don’t think I fit in this. I don’t see how I can. You are mated to Viktor and he is mated to you. Aren’t I in the way here?” He asked.
My heart hurt for him. Our situation wasn’t a normal one and I was officially the Luna. Would we go public with Jake? Or would we have to keep him secret? I shake my head. “What we have is special. It’s right, we’re right for each other. Do you regret what we did?” I asked.
Jake looked at me and Viktor. He smiled and shook his head. “No, I didn’t and I never will.” He sighed. “I’m just… I’m scared. What happens when you guys get bored of me? What happens when you’re done? What happens if Viktor decides he doesn’t like seeing us together? What about me? Where does that leave me?” He asked.
This is the time for us to talk about the three of us and what happened. I know what others would think but I don’t care right now. Something has changed between us. This morning I was scared they would fight and I feared Viktor would leave me but now… Now it’s the three of us.
I get to my feet and walk over to Jake. I slide in between his legs and touch his cheek. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, Jake but I know you belong with us. You belong here and I…,” I stop and look at Viktor, “We want you here.”