Page 62 of Queen Of Clubs

“Everything inside me changed the moment I smelled you. You became my whole world, and every time I had to leave you behind, it felt like I was ripping out a piece of my soul. So, yeah, I’d say I’m sure,” he chuckles, but there’s no humor in it.

Tears fill my eyes. Not from anger or sadness. I’m just so overwhelmed and confused.

“Shhh,” he soothes, pulling me into his arms. I go willingly because I really need an alpha’s touch right now, his touch. “It’s okay. Shh, baby, don’t cry. I know this is a lot. And I know your life was complicated before. It’s why I didn’t say anything. I was hoping you would let me into your heart over time, and I’d tell you when you were ready. But, Darling, you are one hard shell to crack.” He kisses the side of my head as the silent tears fall. I bury my face into his chest, gripping his shirt.

“I’m sorry,” I whimper.

“Don’t be. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“Everything is so messed up in my life right now. I’m so confused. Having the guys come back... it changed everything.”

“I know.” He runs his hands down my back. “I’m surprised they got you to come here, honestly.”

I huff out a laugh. “Didn’t really have a choice. Your brother kind of kidnapped me.”

“What?” he growls.

“It’s fine.” Maybe? I mean, what can I do? It’s already done, and I haven’t killed him... yet. So I guess it’s fine. For now. “They asked me to come on tour, and I agreed. Seeing the world... it’s a lifelong dream I didn’t think I’d ever get to experience. I didn’t know how to say no to that.”

“I understand,” he murmurs.

“And we have history. A lot of it. I’m sure you know enough about it from the guys’ perspectives.”

“I do, and I hope to hear more about it from you when you're ready.”

Scent match. Wow. Like I said, life keeps throwing shit at me. And when I come to terms with one thing, three new ones get tossed at me.

“Keep taking the alpha-blockers,” he tells me.

“What? Why?”

He lets me go enough so that I can look at him. He cups my face again, brushing the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. “Because I don’t want to take the choice from you. I don’t want to pressure you into something you're not ready for. I’m coming on tour with you and the guys. I want you to be able to choose this for yourself. If you never smell me, it won’t kick in for you. If you decide that I’m not the person you want to be with and they are, then I’ll step back and walk away.”

“Why would you do that?” My heart twists as tears begin to flow again. “What about you? Wouldn’t that hurt you?”

“Because in this case, I don’t matter. I know how much you’ve suffered, Jade. I don’t want to be one of those people who causes you pain, in any kind of way. You have history with the others; you love them, and they sure as hell love you. I don’t want to get in the way of that. The choice is yours and only yours. Just don’t knock me out of the running completely... at least, not yet. ”

“Calvin.” A sob slips free as he pulls me back into his arms.

He picks me up, and I wrap my arms and legs around him, clinging to him as he carries me to the couch. We sit there in each other's embrace, saying nothing for a long time. My heart hurts, my head is a mess, and I don’t know what's up or down anymore.

All I know is that I have some sort of feelings for each of these alphas, but I don’t want to have to choose. I’m not ready to accept something so life changing. So, I’ll do as he says, take everything day by day and go from there.

Because I don’t think I could handle anything else on my plate right now. I’m barely hanging on. They might be the reason I’m teetering on the edge, but they’re also the thing that’s keeping me from falling over.

Chapter 18

Jade

Iwake up in Calvin’s arms. He’s sound asleep and must sleep like the dead because he doesn’t stir as I carefully climb off of him.

My heart clenches, and my belly flips as I stare down at him. My scent match alpha. God, could my life get any more complicated?

What I’m most surprised about is that I’m not freaking out. I might not know Calvin all that well, but I can’t deny the fact that I’ve always had this pull towards him, that I’ve always felt safe when I was with him. And the sex, God, it really is amazing.

Scent matches aren't something we can choose, it’s whoever the universe chooses specifically for you. I could have been destined for someone much worse.

But this doesn’t come without complications. The fact is that Calvin is Zane’s brother, and I’m in love with three other alphas.