Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 262

Chapter 262
Lanie
Once again, I was reminded of how much I needed to trust my mates. They knew what was best for me, just what I needed. My heart leaped at the sight of Quinn waving me over to the tiki bar set up in her backyard.
“Goddess, I missed you,” I said as she hugged me so hard she squeezed the breath right out of me.
“Same, girl, same! Are you feeling better?” Quinn’s eyes shadowed as she looked me over.
I saw her curious glance at my belly and laughed a little self-consciously. “I am. And I’m not…you know.”
“With three mates,” she murmured, looking past me, I wouldn’t be surprised if you
ou were.”
I turned. Xander and Zane had come down the steps of the deck into the yard, with Mason right behind them. Pride filled me at the sight of them. They were so much bigger, taller, stronger, more handsome…
“Girl,” Quinn breathed at my side. “You, like, glow around those guys. Literally”
My Luna light wouldn’t show up as much in the bright sunshine, but it was obvious to anyone standing close to me. I looked down at my hands, curling my fingers and watching the faint shimmer. I looked at Quinn with a grin.
“Aren’t they all just so..”
“Yummy,” she agreed with an answering smile, that she turned into a fake pout. “I should hate you. Some of us can’t even find one mate, much less three. You’re lucky I could never hate you.”
THE
“It’s certainly not something I ever imagined would happen,” I told her.
“Well, c’mon, let’s get you a drink!” Quinn tucked her arm through mine and led me to the tiki bar. When she saw me looking for my mates, she added, “They’ll be fine. We need some girl time.”
“Lanie! Goddess, it’s so good to see you!” Quinn’s mom, Sable, enfolded me into a hug that I gladly returned. She held onto me and then pushed me away gently to look me up and down. She shook her head. “It’s been so long!”
I moved from foot to foot, a little embarrassed. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Where’s our little Stella? She looked beyond me expectantly.
Quinn handed me a fruity drink from the bar. “Oh, yes, where is she? I can’t wait to see her!”
“She had a little fever. You know how it is when they’re in their growth period,” I said as nonchalantly as ! could
I
Sable frowned. “Oh, that’s too bad. I’m sure she’ll feel better soon, but I am disappointed she couldn’t be here. You’ll just have to bring her by as soon as she’s okay”
“Who’s with her?” Quinn asked, sipping from her own drink.
1/2
Sable smiled. “That must be nice for her. I’ve been waiting for the chance to take care of my own grandpups, but so far…”
Quinn rolled her eyes, but I felt more embarrassment wash over me. Sable had to know that her son had been interested in me. Was she thinking that Asher and I could’ve been mated by now? Maybe with a pup of our own on the way?
Thinking of Asher, my body stiffened, and my eyes scanned the back yard for any signs of him. I didn’t see him, but I also didn’t want to ask about him. That felt weird. Quinn saw me looking around.
“He’s not here yet,” she said under her breath as her mother left to greet some other guests. “If that’s what you’re worried about.”
I took a long, grateful drink of the fruity liquor. “Tm not worried. Not exactly, anyway
“I did warn him you were going to be here. Well, not warn.” Quinn corrected herself quickly, probably at the sight of my face. “I told him. He said he was fine with seeing you. And Mason.”
My stomach twisted a little. “You know I never wanted to come between them.”
“Look, I might not have men fighting over me the way you do, but I can tell you something I do know. You can’t hold yourself responsible for your feelings. Or theirs.” Quinn shook her head and took another drink. “If a friendship like theirs can be ruined by someone else, even a woman, then it was already flawed. You know what I’m saying? You can’t stop someone from wanting who they want, but you can’t force them to want you, either. My brother had to learn that lesson.”
“Did he? Learn it, I mean.” I scanned the backyard for him again.
Quinn shrugged. “I don’t know. But don’t you worry about it. If my brother and your mate are going to g it, there’s nothing you can do about it. But you didn’t cause it.”
I nodded and let her gesture for another frosty drink for both of us. I knew what she said was true, but
that didn’t change the guilt I felt about what had happened…or rather what had not happened with Asher.
All I could do was hope that when he and Mason finally saw each other again, they weren’t going to go to
battle.