Page 30 of Talk Howly to Me

The concepts swirled in her mind like puzzle pieces that didn't quite fit together, no matter how she tried to arrange them. But beneath the confusion and overwhelm, one truth kept surfacing with stubborn persistence.

These two men had given her more stability, protection, and genuine care in two days than she'd experienced in years. Maybe decades. They'd offered her shelter without question, work without judgment, and protection without expecting anything in return.

And now she was supposed to believe that the universe had somehow destined all three of them to be together.

What am I supposed to do with that?

TWELVE

KOZUE

Kozue stood in the kitchen of Hale Lodge, his hands working mechanically through the familiar motions of measuring flour and sugar for his signature banana bread. The kitchen had always been his sanctuary—second only to his personal suite—a place where the methodical precision of cooking could quiet the chaos in his mind. But today, even the comforting routine of baking couldn't silence the storm of self-recrimination that had been building since yesterday morning.

The rich scent of chocolate and vanilla should have soothed him, but instead it reminded him of all the times he'd prepared his special recipes for Sloane over the past few days. The way her eyes had lit up when she'd tasted his pancakes. How she'd smiled while helping him prepare the communal spaghetti dinner. The soft sound of contentment she'd made when he'd brought her that peace offering tray after their first night together.

Their first night together.

His wolf stirred restlessly at the memory, sending heat coursing through his body despite his current emotional turmoil. Every detail remained crystal clear—the way Sloane had looked at him with such raw desire, the feel of her skin against his, the perfect way she'd fit in his arms afterward. For one night, he'd allowed himself to claim what fate had destined for him. For one night, he'd stopped sacrificing his own wants for everyone else's needs.

The mate bond that had solidified between them that night hummed constantly now, a living connection that carried echoes of Sloane's emotional state. Fear. Uncertainty. Confusion. All of it crashed over him in waves, making it impossible to ignore how overwhelmed she was by everything he'd dumped on her yesterday. But underneath those turbulent emotions, something else flickered through the bond—something that gave him hope even as guilt ate at his conscience.

Longing.

She was fighting it, but he felt her desire for him. For Ronan. For the safety and belonging that Hale Lodge represented. The triad bond might be confusing and unprecedented, but it wasn't unwanted.

If only Ronan would stop treating me like I'd betrayed him.

Kozue's jaw clenched as he folded chocolate chips into the banana bread batter with more force than necessary. When he'd told Ronan about how he'd revealed the triad bond to Sloane, his Alpha had looked at him like he'd single-handedly destroyed their chances of ever earning her trust. The disappointment in Ronan's blue eyes had been worse than anger would have been.

They'd agreed to take things slowly, to let Sloane adjust to the supernatural world gradually. But when she'd asked for complete honesty, what was he supposed to do? Lie to his mate? Pretend the intense connection between them was just physical attraction?

She deserved the truth. She asked for it directly.

The sound of light footsteps on the kitchen's tile floor made him look up from the industrial-sized pot of hot chocolate he was stirring. Emerson bounced through the swinging doors with her characteristic energy. But her usual bright smile faltered when she took in his expression.

"You look unusually gloomy," she said, settling onto one of the bar stools at the center island. "That's not like you."

Kozue managed a weak smile. "Well, I think I messed up big time."

Emerson's green eyes sharpened with curiosity and concern. She'd known him since she was a teenager running around the lodge in pigtails, and she could read his moods better than almost anyone. "Does this have anything to do with why Ronan has been more broody than usual?"

"Yes," Kozue admitted, his voice rough. "Unfortunately, it does."

"And does it also have anything to do with why Sloane hasn't left her room?" Emerson leaned forward, her expression growing more serious. "She keeps specifically requesting me instead of you or Ronan when she needs anything."

Kozue's hands stilled on the wooden spoon he was using to stir the hot chocolate. The fact that Sloane was actively avoiding both him and Ronan felt like confirmation of his worst fears. She wasn't just processing the revelation about the triad mate bond—she was pulling away from them entirely.

He nodded grimly. "Yes. Unfortunately, it does."

Emerson studied his face with the perceptive intensity that made her such an excellent front desk manager. She could read people's needs before they even spoke them, and right now she was clearly seeing more than he was comfortable revealing.

"So how did you mess up?"

Kozue had never been able to lie to Emerson. She was family in every way that mattered—the little sister he'd watched grow from a spirited teenager into the vibrant woman who'd become the heart of Hale Lodge's operations. She'd been there through every major moment of his life, and she deserved honesty.

"Well, Emerson," he said, setting down the spoon and meeting her gaze directly. "I may have slept with Sloane. She's my fated mate."

Emerson's eyes brightened immediately, her face breaking into a delighted grin. "Well, I don't see anything wrong with that. It's about time you found your mate. And from what I've seen, she's absolutely perfect for you."