“Lay flipped out! She didn’t want to be mated to anyone, much less an artist. Sid’s a painter, by the way, he’s quite good. Anyway, so she tried to walk out on it. Even growing up in a Pack and knowing about the necessity of the tri-bond. He tracked her down with his cousin and she raged all over him about it.

“But it didn’t change the facts and after three days she had to admit it. She was starting to slip control of her emotions and she was generally losing it. Sid was just about to involve my parents,” Tracy rolled her eyes, “when Lay finally allowed the tri-bond to go forward.”

Tracy leaned forward and took Nina’s hand. “I know you love Lex. What will happen with Cade can be fun, or not, but it has to happen. I won’t say it’ll be meaningless because you’ll be connected to him in a deep way, but it won’t be the same as what you and Lex have and it will save your life. It’ll save Lex’s life too.”

“What do you mean it’ll save Lex’s life?”

“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Tracy snorted. “When you lose it mentally, you’ll drag him down with you.”

“He didn’t say,” Nina said faintly.

“And what does that tell you?”

“He didn’t want to use that to force me into a choice.”

“That would be my guess. He’s pretty sensitive for such a tough guy.”

“He’s a tool.”

Tracy looked surprised for a moment and then laughed so hard tears ran from her eyes. “Yeah. But he’s your tool. What are you going to do?”

Nina sighed. “Why didn’t Layla come?”

“She’s carpool mom today. And we thought that I’d be the best person to talk to you about it. Plus, I like you.”

“I like you, too. Did that hurt?” Nina asked, pointing to the ring in Tracy’s eyebrow.

“Nah, not as much as the nipple ring.”

Nina laughed. “Let me finish this sandwich and then I’ll get around to having sex with Cade. I can’t believe I’m actually complaining about that. If it weren’t for Lex I’d be all over him. And oh, I suppose that’s pretty icky for you to hear.”

Tracy smiled. “Yeah, well, no need to go on about it. They’re both handsome wolves. ‘Nuff said.”

Half an hour later Tracy came down, tossed the trash in the can under the sink, looked at her brothers and sighed. “Go on, I fixed it for you. And a tip for the future? Just tell her up front or she’s never going to be able to trust you.”

With that she gave a wave and headed out the door.

“Well, let me go up first. Then follow in a few minutes,” Lex said to Cade as he started out of the room toward the stairs.

Cade nodded and went back into the kitchen.

* * * * *

Lex tapped on the door and called her name softly. She opened it and motioned him inside.

Nina saw the pain on his face.

“I’m sorry, baby. I really am. I didn’t want to spring this on you, hell, I didn’t want it to be at all but it can’t be avoided and I know it’s unfair and you must hate me but I love you and it’s necessary and we’ll get through it…”

“Babbling again,” she said and put her finger over his lips. “It’s just once, right?”

He nodded.

“Okay. Can we just get it over with then?”

He nodded again and moved her finger away. “Do you want me in the room?”

“If you’re not in the room will you imagine all sorts of things?”

He thought about it for a moment and nodded.

“Are you sure you can handle being in the room? Because I want to remind you that I didn’t bring this up. This isn’t sex with someone else for recreation. I don’t want to be punished for it later.”

He took a deep breath. “I’d rather be in the room than not. And I know. But I don’t want this to be like a medical exam for you either. I’ve been thinking and I want you to enjoy it. As it’ll be the only time you’ll be with anyone but me, let’s just make the most of it. You’ll be bonded with Cade, not in the same way as we’re bonded but still, I think it’s best if an emotional bond can form, too. Since we’ll all live in the same house, even after he mates, we should make the best of this thing.”

She raised a brow dubiously but nodded. They both jumped when there was a tap on the door.

Cade came in and the tension rose in the room. “Ready?” Lex and Nina nodded and Cade held out his hand. “What shall we do?”

Lex explained quickly that he’d be staying in the room. He and Nina hade decided to let the experience play itself out naturally instead of being something clinical.

After a bit of negotiation that had Nina giggling in parts, the two brothers turned to her. She sucked in a breath at the sexual intent in their gaze.

Suddenly her giggles were gone and she wanted to fall back on the bed and spread her arms wide while she called out, “Take me now!” No way could she be nonchalant about this.

Lex stalked over to her and pulled her body against his own. She could feel the heat of his skin, the pounding of his heart under the palm she had flat against his chest. She looked up into his eyes and felt their connection soul deep. He was her heart, the coursing of blood through her veins, the muscles, the bones. He was part of her in a way that was beyond her ability to even articulate to herself.

He bent down and captured her lips with his own, pulling her into a kiss that devastated her. His lips were firm and strong, warm and full of life. He poured everything he felt about her into that kiss and she took it. Soaked it in, received every bit of emotion, let it fill her up. In turn she fed it back with her own kiss, her hands nearly reverent on his chest.