68

After the intensity of dealing with the vampire princess, I found myself alone with Kallen and Stuart in our cozy quarters. The first rays of sunlight broke through the window, casting a warm golden glow across the room. I leaned against the door, letting the moment sink in.
“Well, that was more intense than I expected,” I murmured, teasing as I glanced between them. A slow smile curled on my lips. “I did promise to make it up to you for working during the trip, didn’t I?”
Kallen stepped forward with his usual swagger, mischief gleaming in his bright blue eyes. “And how do you propose we do that, Princess?” He circled me slowly, his gaze lingering. “Because I have a feeling you’re about to earn the title of my Sex Queen.”
His words sent a thrill through me, my pulse quickening. “Then let’s make it memorable,” I whispered.
Before I could say more, Stuart’s warmth enveloped me from behind, his strong arms pulling me close. “We’ll take care of you, Kai,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “Just let go and enjoy.”
Kallen’s lips claimed mine with fierce passion, his hands cupping my face. I melted into him, lost in the heat of the moment. Stuart’s touch grounded me, heightening the sensation of being between them.
The room filled with our laughter, whispers, and soft groans. Sunlight danced across their features as they focused entirely on me. In their arms, I felt almost complete — and definitely loved, cherished, and utterly theirs. No matter what lay ahead, I knew we would face it together. Stronger. Unshakable.

POV – Reggie
After we dealt with the vampire princess, about a month into our trip, I casually mentioned that my mate would be in the area since his Alpha was searching for his own mate. Kai-Lea, Kallen, and Stuart insisted that we arrange to meet him. They seemed convinced that this meeting would somehow ease the tension that had been building between us. But as I stood there, my stomach churned with nerves. I hadn’t told Sherlock that I wanted to meet up with everyone else, and the thought of facing him made my heart race for all the wrong reasons.
Kallen and Stuart took care of the arrangements, and I was grateful for their support. But the weight of our titles as Delta’s sons pressed heavily on my shoulders. We had to go through our Alphas to formally announce our mate-ship; this wasn’t some casual encounter. I knew I had caused Sherlock pain, especially after I had told him I needed to reject him to stay where I belonged.
When I finally spotted Sherlock and his Alpha, William, I waved them over, calling out, “Sherlock, over here!” My voice wavered slightly, betraying my uncertainty.
“Reggie, what the hell is all this about?” Sherlock’s tone was icy, and the hurt in his eyes felt like a dagger to my heart. I knew I had put him through so much frustration and confusion, and now it was all coming to a head.
“I told them I’m gay,” I admitted, forcing the words out. “They’re unphased by it.”
“Seriously?” he shot back, disbelief mixing with the hurt.
“Yes, seriously. I’m Kai-Lea, future Luna Queen of Royal Green Mountain, mated to Kallen and Stuart.” I could see the gears turning in his mind as the information sank in.
Kallen chimed in with his usual bravado, “I’m Kallen. A relative moron at times. Because of this I thought Reggie here was a traitor about killed him for it. So, nice to meet you and remember I can be a relative moron more often than not in these matters.” His comment broke the tension for a moment, causing Franki, Sherlock's Beta, to spit his drink across the table, but the laughter faded quickly.
I focused on Sherlock, my heart heavy. “I know my unwillingness to come clean about being gay made you feel betrayed. I thought I was protecting you—protecting myself. But all I did was push you away.”
Sherlock’s expression hardened, and I felt a sickening knot form in my stomach. “You made me think I was unworthy of being your mate. Do you know how much that hurt?”
“I realize now that I should have just come out and admitted my feelings from the start,” I said, my voice low. “If I had, we could have been together at home since discovering each other as mates almost a year ago. I thought staying quiet was the right thing to do, but it was the worst decision I could have made.”
“Reggie,” Sherlock said, pain lacing his voice, “you have a long way to go to earn my forgiveness.”
I nodded, fully aware of how much I had to make up for. “I know I have work to do. I’m willing to fight for us, for our pack.” My heart raced as I took a step closer, hoping he could see the sincerity in my eyes.
“Do you really think it’ll be that easy?” Sherlock’s tone was cold, and I could see the hurt still lingering there. I knew I had to work for his forgiveness, and I was prepared to crawl on my hands and knees if that’s what it took.
The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and raw emotions. Kallen and Stuart watched us, their presence a reminder of everything we stood to lose if I didn’t find a way to fix this.
Finally, Sherlock crossed his arms, his expression softening just a fraction. “You have a lot to prove, Reggie. It’s not just about saying you’re sorry.”
“I get it,” I replied, determination swelling within me. “I’ll show you. I’ll show you that I’m serious about us and about making things right. If you’ll still have me as your mate, I promise I’ll fight for you every step of the way.”
Sherlock glanced at Kallen and Stuart, his eyes narrowing slightly as if gauging their intentions. Then he turned back to me, his expression more resolute. “Let’s talk. Just us.”
He began to walk away, and my heart raced, caught between relief and trepidation. This was my chance to truly express my feelings without distractions. I nodded and followed him, stealing a glance back at Kallen and Stuart. Their supportive smiles bolstered my confidence, and I pushed my anxieties aside.
We stepped away from the group, finding a quieter spot under the shade of a sprawling oak tree. The air was cooler here, the rustling leaves providing a soothing backdrop to our conversation. I could feel the weight of Sherlock’s scrutiny as he leaned against the tree, his arms still crossed over his chest.
“Okay, Reggie. Let’s hear it,” he said, his tone steady yet cautious.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “I know I messed up. I thought keeping things from you would protect you, but it only made everything worse. You deserved the truth from the start.”
Sherlock’s gaze didn’t waver. “And what if I don’t want to hear it anymore? What if I’m done with all the uncertainty?”
His words hit hard, and I felt my stomach churn. “Please, don’t say that. I need you to understand how serious I am about this. I want to rebuild what we lost. I’m not going anywhere, Sherlock. I’ll fight for you and for us—what I know I was trying to throw away like an idiot.”
For a moment, silence hung between us again, but this time it felt different. It was charged with possibility, as if we were both standing on the brink of something new.
Sherlock finally uncrossed his arms, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. “It won’t be easy. Trust takes time to rebuild.”
“I know,” I replied, my voice steady. “But I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
As we spoke, the distant sounds of laughter and chatter drifted over from the others. I glanced back, catching a glimpse of Kai-Lea, Kallen, and Stuart gathered with William, Franki, and Jon. Their playful banter was a stark contrast to the heaviness of our conversation.
“Okay, here’s a lighter topic,” Kallen announced, grinning. “Since we’ve got a Luna Queen and her knights in training, how about we discuss our top three favorite food combos? I’m telling you, nothing beats a good burger and fries.”
“Or how about breakfast for dinner?” Jon chimed in, his enthusiasm infectious. “Eggs, bacon, pancakes—now that’s a combination worth celebrating!”
“I can get on board with breakfast any time of day,” Kai-Lea agreed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “But don’t forget about dessert. Ice cream sundaes? Count me in!”
Stuart laughed, his expression one of pure delight. “I think you just combined the best of both worlds. Breakfast and dessert. Now that’s a combo I can support.”
“Okay, but what about a good slice of pizza?” Franki added, leaning forward with a grin. “You can have anything on it. Pineapple, pepperoni, veggies—it’s all good!”
“Pineapple on pizza?” William scoffed playfully. “You might as well throw in some jelly while you’re at it.”
Their laughter echoed in the air, a stark contrast to the tension between Sherlock and me. As I listened, I felt a flicker of warmth in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, things could work out after all.
Sherlock turned to me, a hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. “They seem to be having fun. I could use some of that lightheartedness right now.”
“Me too,” I admitted, a sense of relief washing over me. “Let’s join them. We can tackle this together.”
“Alright, but remember, this isn’t over,” Sherlock warned, his eyes locking onto mine with a fierce intensity. “I’m watching you, Reggie.”
“Good. I’ll give you a reason to watch,” I said, determination firm in my voice.
With that, we stepped back into the lively atmosphere, ready to tackle whatever came next—together.