Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Lottie POV

"Comfy?" I asked as I walked out of the bathroom to see Chase sprawled out on my bed. I hadn't even had a chance to sleep in it yet, so his bloodied shoes resting on the comforter had a nerve twitching in my eye.

"Not really; I prefer feather down." He shrugged like the wind-up merchant I knew him to be.

"Aw, sorry, Princess, but it wasn't meant for your delicate ass; it's for my mates and me. And we like it hard." I teased playfully, wanting to drop my mates into conversation.

"Gross." He grunted, a shiver running down his spine.

"Hey, you started it!" I winked, leaning up the door frame to watch him.

"Whatever." He laughed, nodding to me, the sound making the muscles in my body relax instantly. But it didn't stop my eyes from noting the way he looked at me. There was no desire in his stare, no lust or craving; it was purely platonic. Which was somewhat reassuring, but I knew I needed to broach the subject with him, just to make sure we were on the same page and to soothe Sage's nerves.

"How do you feel about impending motherhood?" he asked, his lips twisting into a smirk.

"Fine." I fibbed, but given the way his lips curled further, he knew I was lying.

shitless even because I never exactly had a family that gave a shit, and I am

edge of the bed. "But

many questions and hoped that if I let him talk, I might get

his eye, a smile teasing his lips. "Three questions, that's all you get!" He nodded, crossing his legs as he turned to face me. My eyes dropped to the bloody mark his shoes left on my bed, a brow arching as I

trying to rub the mark off, only to

hand away, his eyes lifting to meet mine, filled with fake

dragged out the last word caused hesitation to lick up my spine, although it vanished quickly, seeing him grin, the smile

asked, deciding to push through my feelings to make the

befriend them when Sebastian shared his plans to align himself with the Maddox family. They wanted to ensure that brothers would not be too much trouble; Knox has a reputation as a loose cannon and the powers that be wanted to confirm Kane could keep him under control." Chase admitted freely, his fingers fiddling with the laces of his shoes

aligned themselves, so I was not stupid enough to think they hadn't vetted Alpha Leigh, his pack, and my mates before agreeing to the match. Nodding, I pursed my lips, wanting to confirm my theory that the Royals had hired the Sparrow Brothers, but knowing that

pick you, Liam and Adam? You must have had some history with my mates for them to choose you three." I asked, pursing

never said the Royals hired us," he stated, but the twitch in his eye let me know I was right. Letting out a laugh when I

occasionally but were never close to

I asked, my head spinning with sadness because that sounded lonely, isolating and honestly rather pathetic for men as vivacious and sweet as these three. Chase's finger fell on my lips to silence me. Pouting under it, I nodded for

are the bastard children of the Royals." He shared sincerity, lacing his tone as he shrugged, trying to act unbothered. However, I could see the pain swimming in his eyes. "We were raised to protect the family line, reputation, and each full-blooded component at all