“We told ourselves we were being practical,” Egret continues, staring into his tumbler. “That we weren’t compatible, that she was too independent, too career-focused. But the truth is, we were intimidated by her need for independence. Threatened by the idea of an omega who didn’t need us to take care of her.”
“And now you’re marrying her sister,” Cash observes, his tone carefully neutral.
“Josie is different,” Brendin says quickly. “She’s more traditional, but also this amazing source of light and joy. She’s our sunshine. The fact that she wants the things we thought all omegas wanted is just a bonus. We want to give her protection, stability, someone to take the lead.”
“Things Trinity never needed or wanted from us,” Saren adds. “She was always going to be fine on her own. Better than fine—she was going to be extraordinary. That scared the shit out of us back then, because we were idiots.”
Egret looks directly at me. “We love Josie. She’s everything we wanted in a mate, along with some things we never knew we needed. But when we saw Trinity again, saw how successful she’s become, how confident and beautiful...we realized we’d made the biggest mistake of our lives. Not because we still want her,” he adds quickly. “But because we hurt someone incredible just because we were too insecure to appreciate what we had.”
“So why the interrogation?” Kyren asks, his tone disbelieving. “The background checks, the suspicious questions?”
“Because we want to make sure Trinity is as happy as she deserves to be,” Brendin explains. “We love her like a sister, because that’s exactly what she’s about to be. We want what’s best for her, and we will happily fuck up anyone who gets in the way of her happiness, even if she hates us for it.”
The pieces finally click into place. All the probing questions, their intense scrutiny—it wasn’t possessiveness or jealousy. It was guilt-driven overprotectiveness.
“You’re trying to make sure we won’t hurt her the way you did,” I realize.
“Exactly.” Egret nods. “Trinity deserves a pack that celebrates her independence, not one that tries to diminish it. She deserves alphas who are secure enough to let her shine.”
I think about Trinity’s reaction when I stopped her from kissing me while drunk. The gratitude in her voice, thesurprise that someone would prioritize her well-being over their own desires.
How many people in her life have let her down? How many times has she been made to feel like her strength was a flaw instead of a gift?
“We won’t hurt her,” I say with quiet conviction. “Not any of us.”
Lucas nods emphatically. “Trinity is amazing. Strong and smart and beautiful. Why would anyone want to change that?”
“Because they’re idiots,” Cash states matter-of-factly, earning a surprised laugh from Saren.
Kyren remains quiet, but something in his expression has shifted. A resolve I haven’t seen from him since we arrived.
Lucas raises his glass. “To learning from mistakes and not repeating them.”
We all lift our drinks, and for the first time since arriving at this resort, I feel like Trinity’s past and present might actually coexist peacefully.
My phone buzzes against my leg. I pull it out to see a text from Trinity.
Trinity: Can you guys come pick us up? We might need a ride back to the resort.
Matheo: Something wrong?
Her response comes immediately—a photo that makes me choke on my scotch.
“Oh shit.”
The image shows Amelia Mahoney on a stage, arms raised in triumph, her shirt completely gone except for a lacy black bra. Behind her, disco lights flash across what’sclearly a strip club, and I can make out several scantily clad men in the background cheering her on.
Egret immediately leans forward. “What’s going on?”
I clear my throat, trying to keep my voice casual. “The girls might have gone a bit wilder than they planned.”
Brendin’s eyes widen with alarm. “Has Josie been drinking?”
Matheo: Is Josie okay? Brendin wants to make sure she’s not drinking.
Trinity: Josie and I stuck to mocktails all night. Everyone else is completely hammered. Amelia is currently doing body shots off a male stripper named Thunder.
Relief floods through me, followed immediately by concern for the logistics of this situation.
