He pulls back, eyes sloped at the edges. “Let me go, give me peace of mind. Cap will love you, he will protect you.”

“And you?”

He looks to the ground. “I’ll never replace you, but if you don’t accept him, I’ll hate you.”

“I’m okay with that.”

“I’ll wreck your world.”

“It’s already wrecked!”

He glares, jerking away from me, tearing my heart a little more in the process. “I will leave them.”

I freeze, my eyes bouncing between his.

Abandon his family?

“I’ll leave this place, right fucking now and everyone in it, never looking back.”

“Maddoc—”

“Don’t test me, Raven.” His eyes turn to stone, freezing me out in a moment’s notice.

My eyes start to water without permission, so I look to the sky, denying their escape.

Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

“You’re backing me into a corner, Big Man.”

“Where I can protect you.”

I look back to him, giving a slow shake of my head. “I won’t be yours to protect.”

I swear his eyes haze over, but he blinks the pain away. “You will always be mine where it matters.”

“Don’t make me do this.”

“Don’t make him wait.”

With that, he turns and walks back inside, and I’m left standing there, a dozen men waiting only feet away for me to seal my fate.

I squeeze my eyes shut, wipe my face with my sleeves, and take a deep breath.

I know I look busted and weak, everything a girl in their world is likely known to be, but I go back in with my head held high.

I step forward, into the room full of men I don’t know, men I do, and the only people in the world I trust.

The ones I trust, who are asking me to deny one, give up the other, and take another.

Everyone knew I’d give myself for them, it’s why the boys were fearful, and how the Gravens were so sure. Dangle Zoey and I’d save her, for them. It’s what Perkins meant when he said I would make the decision once I learned the alternative. It’s why Collins helped hide Zoey from his dear leader as long as he could – holding out for me.

He wanted my trust, but they earned it first, a fact Rolland didn’t fully think through.

He wanted me to grow to tolerate, if not care for, his boys. He knew if I did, I’d do right by them as time went on and I was in my new role as a Graven trophy, but he underestimated the bond he hoped to create. He wasn’t aware the boys were missing something they desperately craved – free, untainted love, something they stole from me without my permission, that I’d willingly give them now.

We all had broken tethers before each other, lost pieces we couldn’t place and refused to acknowledge.

Nobody could predict or prepare for the strength behind four fused souls.

Captain let the world in on a secret nobody ever had to learn tonight, all in hopes it would give him the power to claim me over Collins, the girl no one cared to defend before this place.

Cap’s hand isn’t being forced. He’s the reasonable one of the three, the deep thinker and over processor, the calm. He’s the packman, protecting his own as he can, and here I am turning him down for someone he hates when he just stood in front of his dad and brothers, looked in the eyes of a man he hates and gave up his future for mine.

For ours?

I slide my clammy hand into Captain’s.

I wait for Rolland to look me dead in the eye, drop my guard and show him all he’s done.

One night, one choice.

Four broken Brayshaws.

“You win.”

The slope of his eyes conveys what it should, a self-directed question that I hope crushes him from the inside out.

Did he?

Two words changed everything in in the blink of an eye.

The boys were asked to leave as were the other families while Cap and I had to sit at a round table with Rolland and Donley, where they laid it all out.

Our wedding is planned, honeymoon scheduled and paid for before we’re even allowed to leave. Donley adjusted the contract to reflect my “situation.” Since I wouldn’t produce bloody sheets the morning after, a video will be required. A fucking porno, for lack of better words, of me and my husband consummating our marriage. Only after that, will Donley let go of the idea of Zoey – he wants me, not her, but he won’t dare say the words aloud. He needs the threat to hang over our heads.

I’ll be eighteen in two months.

My wedding is scheduled for the first Saturday that follows, and on neutral ground – the cabins. I assume Donley has no idea I’m technically already a legal adult.

I bet this was all part of Rolland’s plan, having me ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Asshole.

Donley tried to demand Maddoc be forced from his home until after the marriage, when we’d be expected to live on the Graven Estate, but I refused to allow that and agreed we’d stay away. Donley was pleased, so now we’re on our way to a hotel suite, where we’re to live until the party pad is gutted and prepared for us, unless the wedding comes first.

I’m almost relieved. I can’t imagine facing Maddoc right now and having to pretend we were able to wash away all we are with a simple signature.

A bitter laugh leaves me.

Relieved.

I must be sick to be feeling anything of the sort right now.

I should be flipping the fuck out, breaking windows and shattering the chilled champagne in here against the doors. I should be plotting Donley’s slow and painful death or maybe taking it out on Captain for making this happen.

I roll my eyes at myself.

Again, I’m pathetic. I can’t even find it in me to hate him right now, like a normal person in my shoes would.

He stole my choice, defending me when I didn’t want him to.

Didn’t I do the same?

I went off, offered me for his daughter like he offered himself for me?

But those are his brothers. His loyalty should have been with them over me, no matter fucking what.

A sad chuckle leaves him, and my eyes reluctantly slide his way.

“Come on, Raven. You know them better than that.” His eyes slowly meet mine. “If they knew I had a way to protect you and didn’t, regardless of where it left them, they’d hate me for it.”

“Who says I won’t hate you for this?”

His brows pull in and he lets out a deep exhale.

“You might,” he whispers, pausing a minute before he says, “But you’ll forgive me with time. They wouldn’t.”

“Is that why you did it, Cap? So they wouldn’t hate you?” It’s a good enough reason.

“No, Raven,” he murmurs. “I did it because you deserve more than this place has given you.”

I shake my head against the seat, looking away.

He’s wrong. This place gave me everything I never had, a family, people to care for. A purpose.

Am I pissed right now? Fuck, yeah, but at the world, not him. How could I be? He only did what his brothers would, what he felt was right, but that doesn’t mean this will be easy in any way, and I can’t promise I won’t ruin everything.

“I could never love you more than him,” I say, watching the trees fly by outside my window. “And I’ll never stop wanting him.”