My Alpha's Mark

105 Think

Kacie

“The Breakfast Club will never get old,” I said with a sigh. I sat sandwiched between two large warm bodies. Jake had pulled my leg up and over his and Viktor held my hand. Jake’s fingers trailed circles into my thigh and I rested my head on Viktor’s shoulder.

“It’s a classic,” Viktor said. I stared down at our entwined fingers as I tried to work out how to start the ‘us’ conversation.

“So what’s next on the schedule?” Jake asked.

“I’ve had fun just hanging out with you guys. No pack to run, no responsibilities, no fire burning problems… I needed this. I needed this badly. Thank you for planning this out,” I said. Viktor squeezed my hand and our eyes met when I raised my chin. For a long second, I took in his charcoal eyes, the way they darkened as he returned my gaze, his pink lips that demanded I kiss them.

“I know what you mean,” Viktor said. “When was the last time we took a break from work?” He asked Jake.

“Goddess, I don’t even remember what a break is,” Jake said. “My boss has been a pain in the ass,” he joked. Viktor shot him a side look and I couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that spread across my face.

“I’ll show you something in your ass,” Viktor mumbled and I choked on my saliva. My mate just told a joke. I’m used to jokes coming from Jake, I’m not used to jokes from him.

“Who are you and what have you done with my mate?” I asked incredulously. He winked at me and I sighed happily. I look over at Jake and his brow is furrowed and I need to know what’s going on in that head of his. “What’s wrong, Jake?” I asked.

Jake leans his head back and stares at the ceiling. I turn my head to look at Viktor but he’s staring at Jake with such tenderness my heart skips a beat.

“Why don’t we stop avoiding the elephant in the room?” Jake asked. His tone was bitter and I glanced at his face but didn’t see it reflected in his features. I know what I heard and I wouldn’t let him be anything less than honest with us.

“And what’s that?” I asked.

“What happens when we go back home?” Jake asked.

“We never talked about boundaries or what we’re going to be when we get back. We have to figure this out and I think we should do that before we go home,” I said. I knew this was something we didn’t want to talk about but we definitely needed to. I don’t miss the way Jake tenses beneath my leg. “We aren’t like other couples and I think we know this,” I said.

“I do fucking know it, Kacie,” Viktor growled. Jake slung his arm around me protectively but I didn’t want to cower beneath Viktor’s anger. Instead, I turned my body and pressed into his.

“I wanted us to talk about this today,” I said. “I think we should all be on the same page.”

“It is something we need to talk about,” Viktor said. “I’m sorry about my anger, My Queen.”

“It’s okay,” I said. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

“And what’s the same page?” Jake asked. “Does this stop or am I going to be your dirty little secret?”

Ouch.

“I don’t know why you think you and dirty belong in the same sentence,” I said. “I don’t see what we have as dirty. Is that how you see us?”

Jake didn’t say anything and his silence hurt more than I think he knew.“Why don’t you tell us what’s going on.” Although this topic was stirring up things that were painful for us, it needed to be done. We needed to air everything out. I needed him to let it out. If he kept quiet for too long he’d blow up one day. I looked to Viktor for help but he just stared at Jake.

“What do you think is going to happen when we get back?” Viktor asked.

“As Beta, I don’t think the pack would acknowledge this,” Jake said pointing at the three of us.

“I didn’t as what you think as a Beta,” Viktor said. “I asked what you think is going to happen. What do you see happening between the three of us?” I bit the inside of my cheek while I waited for Jake to answer.

“I am a Beta, I’m your Beta. I don’t see us going anywhere,” Jake said. This was Jake, this was his fear, his pain but damn did it hurt.

“Goddess,” I said. “You can’t mean that, Jake.”

Jake sighed.

“Bullshit,” Viktor cursed.

“What?” Jake asked.

“Are you serious, Jake?” I asked. “You can’t mean that.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. You already know what you mean to me, what you mean to Kacie, so… is this what you think of us? Are we just a good time for you?” Viktor asked.

Jake shook his head. “No, you guys are more than that,” Jake murmured. “I’m trying to protect myself,” he whispered. Jake closed his eyes but Viktor’s eyes never left Jake’s.

“From what?” I asked. “From us? We told you you belong with us.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake said and closed his eyes. “I’m just… I’m scared.”

“I’m scared too, Jake,” I said. I reached up and gripped his chin before forcing him to face me. “But I’m not scared of you. What are you scared of? Of us?” I asked. “We wouldn’t hurt you, Jake.”

Jake opened his eyes and tears prickled the back of my eyes as the pain in his eyes hit me. The Jake that tells jokes and always has something to say is gone. In his place, is a hurt man who’s holding his bleeding heart in his hands. All I want to do is hug him, kiss him, show him how I feel.