Tasting

384–Extremely Single

Nora:

Ryker didn’t stick around and left me alone to settle into the room. After locking the door, I wandered around, wondering why*.

“Why are they back now? Why do they want me back now?” I asked. Akira because I couldn’t find the answer on my own anymore.

“You should be asking, why the new furniture? And what is that smell?” she shocked me with her response. I frowned, sniffing the air to figure out what she meant.

“The room freshener?” I asked, closing my eyes to enjoy the pleasant scent. The brothers always smelled good and made sure their home were filled with wonderful fragrances.

“I’m talking about the *pungent* smell,” she corrected me, surprising me

even more.

“I don’t smell anything bad,” I pouted, confused by her questions. I looked around to make sure there wasn’t anything rotting or off in the room.

But there was nothing. So, what was she talking about? I just couldn’t understand her words sometimes.

“Nora, there’s a weird smell, like something bad happened in the mansion. I’m not feeling it in this room, but the rest of the place smells strange,” she continued, sounding uneasy.

“Maybe the furniture smell isn’t your favorite? They’ve replaced pretty

much everything.” I recalled how cluttered it had been the last time I was

here. Even the wall they had been building around the mansion was gone. Had they changed their minds, or just decided to tear it down because it didn’t look good?

“I’m not sure. But tell me, what are we going to do now?” she finally snapped out of her thoughts and focused on our plans.

“I’ll get the file from them and study the fog people. If they try to delay this task, I’ll do it myself.” I was determined to finish the job and go back home.

“Or we could confide in them about our babies and what Brody has been doing, and maybe-” I had to cut her off immediately.

“You’re not serious, are you?” I clenched my jaw, anger rising at her suggestion.

“Weren’t you with me when they hurt us? You heard them, loud and clear, when they said-*multiple times*-that they didn’t want me as their mate, and that it would be a nightmare if I ever got pregnant with their children. Do you want to put us in danger? To endanger our children’s lives by telling them *anything* about them?” I hissed, my frustration boiling over in one breath, appalled she would even suggest it.

“I’m just worried,” she yelled back, her voice filled with concern.

“Then be properly worried. They’re not any better than Brody. For all we know, if they had known about the babies, they might’ve even killed them just to avoid the responsibility,” I hissed, my frustration leaking through every word. After she went silent, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

“Sometimes I feel like you enjoy watching me in pain. It’s as if you’re always reminding me of the time when I was weak and dependent on these mates of mine,” I muttered, turning my face to the side and gazing

384 Extremely Single

out the window.

After a brief moment of silence, she responded in a guilty tone. “Because I don’t want to lose you again. I like the way you are now–so full of emotions and empathy. But you’re becoming what you were meant to be.”

I didn’t fully understand what she meant, but I was too upset to ask her to explain.

After taking a shower and getting dressed for dinner in a black dress, I left my room to find the table set in the garden outside. The wind was blowing gently, the air fresh and soothing–but my arms felt empty. would’ve loved for my babies to be here.

“Here, come sit with me,” Lord Atwood patted the empty seat beside him. Instead of refusing, I sat down. Clara emerged from her room, surprisingly without her rabbit, and honestly, she seemed far too content in this pack.

“So, I heard you all were dating someone,” Clara began, her tone light as she filled her plate with food.

The brothers exchanged glances before Cain spoke up to answer her.

“We’re not dating anyone anymore.” My heart flipped inside my chest, but I kept my face neutral.

Is that why they were back to thinking about their mate? Because they were single again and wanted to have some fun before finding someone else?

“Oh? You’re not dating April anymore?” Clara turned to Ryker, asking him directly.

His response was sharper than I expected. “Nope. I never wanted to date. her. But I had to.”

384–Extremely Single

The intensity in his stare and his choice of words were intriguing. *He had to?*

Was it so he could punish me? Put me back in my place?