~AUTUMN~
There he is. The love of my life kissing my best friend. He doesn't know that he is the love of my life; of course, no one knows it, not even my best friend. She's been leading him on, unable to decide if she's in love with him or Damon; I can't forget Dante either. The sad part was that all three of these men were brothers. I've watched their crazy love go on and on for years, if that is even considered love. I've pined for Atticus, felt his pain, and went through it all with him without knowing a single thing. Every time she broke his heart and ran toward Damon, I felt the pain that he felt. Every time she left them both and ran to Dante, I also felt it. I couldn't understand how three men could be that in love with a woman that couldn't choose one.
It shouldn't be that hard. She should have chosen one; she shouldn't have them all wondering who she would run to next. Atticus didn't deserve this; none of his brothers did either.
They all believed that she was their mate. I didn't think that they could all have such bad luck to end up having the same girl as their mate. I felt like something had to be wrong. But I was the only one that seemed to think that way.
It didn't help that Anya was my best friend. I loved her since she was the closest friend that I had. I'm supposed to support her in this even though I had been in love with Atticus since the first day I met him. I remember it like it was yesterday. I'd dropped my book onto the ground by mistake, and he'd gotten down on the floor to pick it up for me. Our hands touched for the first time that day while he was returning it to me and the sparks I felt were enough to make me wet between my legs. I thought he felt the same way until I realized he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Anya. It was then that I realized he was in love with her.
At that time, I thought it would be okay; I thought that what I felt was just a simple crush. I was wrong. So wrong. I was fourteen then; I barely knew what it meant to love someone. Now I knew that it could rip your heart into a million pieces seeing the person you love be in love with someone else. And it hurt more knowing that the person he loved kept hurting him by being indecisive.
That day I thought it would stop with Atticus; I thought she would want to be with him alone. But when Anya met his brothers, she experienced the same feelings she did with him. And she didn't try to hide it from any of them. They all knew that she couldn't choose. They all knew she wanted the three of them, not just one. But they were not okay with that. They weren't happy. The brothers didn't like to share. I couldn't blame them. But why wouldn't they try to let another girl into their lives?
I've been waiting for Atticus to notice me, just once. I've wanted to tell Anya that I have loved him since I first met him. I wanted her to know he was the one I wanted to be with. But like I said, at that time, I didn't know what love was. I didn't know what to expect or how to handle my feelings. And when I did finally bring up Atticus to her that day, she cut me off; she didn't let me speak; she was the first to say that she liked him, that she wanted to be with him.
I didn't want to be the girl that couldn't step aside for her best friend. It's not like Atticus would have chosen me either. If I were the one that had made the first move instead of her, he would have turned me down in the blink of an eye. Maybe that was another reason I never told Anya the truth about my feelings for him. And I didn't think that now was the time for me to spill that truth to her or anyone else. It was too late for that now. It was too late for us. There would never be anything between Atticus and me. It was something I would have to learn to accept.
"Autumn!" My mother calls my name as she barges into my room. "Why are you still not dressed? I told you that the Fawns have invited us to their home for an important meeting."
The Fawns. The same family I couldn't stop thinking about.
Atticus Fawn. Dante Fawn. Damon Fawn.
There were other siblings. But those three are the ones I knew the most about.
The Fawn family were business partners with my parents.
They are the reason why we're all attending the Angelites Academy For Supernaturals. Everyone knows that only the richest attend that school. Our families were billionaires. Anya did not fall into that category. She was the only girl in our year that wasn't rich. There was always one girl or boy that the principal would allow to join our school. It was a rule that they stuck by even though not many of the wealthy families agreed with that decision. While the school usually did as the wealthy parents asked, this was one rule that was allowed despite the backlashes it received. It's because the principal wasn't a complete dickhead. He wanted to give at least one average child the opportunity to have a good education at our school. But I was sure that this rule would change when a new principal was appointed. Not many had the guts like Sir Alex Smith.
I put the phone away. I didn't need to see another post of Anya and Atticus together.
"Mom," I say while looking down at my t-shirt and jeans. "I am dressed."
She folds her arms across her chest and wrinkles her nose like she always does when she's displeased with me, "I've grown you up better than that, young lady. Just because your father and I were nice enough to let you wear this at home, it doesn't mean that you can dress this way in public. Especially not around the Fawns. You will be in a dress when you meet them tonight."
"I don't understand," I pout. "You always go to these things alone. You and dad. Then why are you dragging me along with you this time? I don't see you asking Alaina or Hayes to join us as well."
"This meeting happens to involve you." She snaps. "When it's Alaina's turn, she will join us as well. As for Hayes, your brother is out entertaining yet another girl. I would pray for him if I were you. He's bound to cause trouble one day."
What did she mean by when it's Alaina's turn? Usually, I would jump at any opportunity to see Atticus, but I already knew he was meeting Anya today. She told me that they had a date. It was their night. Tomorrow she will see Dante, and on Sunday, she will see Damon.
It's crazy that they even agreed on this weird schedule. Their relationship freaked me out a bit.
My mother walks out of the room only to return a few minutes later with a royal blue dress. "Put this on. We are leaving in ten minutes; I expect you to be in the car by then."
I sigh; just my luck. The one day I'm visiting the Fawns happens to be the one day Atticus wouldn't be present.
Chapter 2
~ATTICUS~
I should have been with Anya at this time. Instead, I'm stuck with Damon and Dante. I'm beginning to think that they did this on purpose. Bringing me along with them so I would miss my date with her. I knew that those asses wanted her to themselves just like I wanted her for myself. I've never felt this way for another woman. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one that felt this way; my brothers did as well. They were just as crazy about her as I was. That was expected since she was our mate. There was no breaking that bond unless two out of the three of us decided to make that sacrifice. So far, none of us were willing to let go of her.
"Where exactly are we heading?" I ask Damon. "This route looks familiar."
"To meet an old friend," he answers. "There is something important he wants to ask us."
"An old friend?" I question. "Who can that be?"
"Arthur Blackner." He informs me.
"Are we in some kind of trouble?" I ask. "Why are we going to see a Blackner? What could be so urgent? Couldn't our parents meet with them instead?"
"This meeting doesn't concern our parents, Atticus," Dante explains. "It concerns us three and our relationship with a certain someone."
"Anya?" I question.
"Bingo." He says.
What could be so important that we must travel far to see him?
"I didn't have to be here." I point out. "You're sabotaging my date with Anya, and you know it."
"Are we?" Dante asks. "Why would we do something like that on purpose?"
I don't get to answer that question when the jeep stops on the side of the road.
I spot Arthur almost immediately. The man looks troubled.
He isn't alone. He's with two other women.
"Is it possible he has two mates like Anya has the three of us?" I ask, looking at them.
That would explain why they brought me all the way here with them. Maybe they found a way to make it work. And they could probably teach their ways to us. We got out of the vehicle, and Arthur introduced us to the women that came with him.
"Nice to meet you, ladies," Damon said as he shook their hands.
"It's a pleasure." I nod my head slightly.
"What did you call us here for?" Dante asks. "I think I have an idea, but I want a proper explanation."
"At first, we thought it was your father hoping to do another business deal. There are a few things at home we wanted him to install." Damon notes. "But that's not why we're here, is it? The last I heard, you and your father are no longer allies."
Arthur sighs, "I've heard something that I wasn't sure was true. But if it is, I hope you can help shed some light on a similar situation."
A similar situation?
I look at my brothers. So our assumption was correct?
"What did you hear?" I ask.
"I've heard that the three of you have the same mate," Arthur explains.
I wipe a finger over my bottom lip and quirk a brow, "it's true. But how can that information help you?"
His mention of Anya intensifies the tension between us. We still haven't gotten used to having to share her amongst the three of us. Talking about it didn't help.
"Are these two women your mates?" Damon asks, searching for an answer.
Both women look disgusted by his question, "of course not." One of them snaps. "Only Gabriella is his mate. No one else."
"And it will stay that way for the rest of our lives," Gabriella adds; there is no mistaking the threat in her voice.
"It's concerning her." Arthur nods in the girl's direction. "I'm sure you've heard of Kane, Alpha Eric's son. I believe that she could be his mate, but the problem is that he's already bonded with another woman. I wanted to know if this could happen."
"While we all have the same mate. None of us have marked her. We're not sure what will happen if one out of the three of us marks her. It's why we haven't done it. I'm not sure if this means that after marking your mate, it's possible to find another. All I can confirm is that you can have more than one mate. It's possible. It's not fucking easy; sharing never is. But it's possible." I try to explain.
"Atticus," Dante says my name in an alarmed grumble. "I think you should look at this."
He hands the phone to me, and I freeze. It's an article; the headline is written in bold letters, 'Atticus Fawn to wed Autumn Rivera.'
"What is this fucking article about?" I demand from Dante. "Mother and father did not mention anything to me about marrying a woman. And Autumn Rivera? Have they lost their minds?"
Autumn was my mate's best friend. They were always spending time together, and there was something about the girl that made me feel—something. I can't put my finger on it. Whatever it was, I didn't like it. Not even a little.
"Didn't mother tell you that there would be an important business deal with the Riveras tonight? She asked that you come home early for the announcement. I'm guessing this is what she was referring to." Damon explains as he takes another look at the article. He looks like he's reading the entire thing trying to figure out what was happening.
"This can't be fucking true." I snap. My hands are shaking with rage. "I won't marry another woman other than my mate. Mother should know this! How could she do this without informing me first?"
"Let's just stay calm," Damon says. "Maybe this article is false. They're always posting false information about our lives. Let's all take a deep breath and get home to hear what our parents say about this."
I don't waste any time. I was already jumping into the jeep and waiting for my brothers as they said goodbye to Arthur.
I'm driving this time. I'm letting the jeep go as fast as it possibly could. I had to find out if anything in that article was accurate.
And if it were, I would find a way to stop it.