Ace

I sat on my bike outside Wren's house and waited for her to appear.

Her front door opened as she stepped out on the porch and locked her door. She came down the steps and looked at me. "Ace."

"Wren," I said with a nod.

She climbed on her bike and drove to the restaurant. I followed her until she parked and headed inside. Once she was safe, I went to the clubhouse and met with the club attorney.

Capone met me in Cress's office with Cress and handed me paperwork. I read through it to ensure everything was in there.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Cress asked.

"Yeah. I don't want any loose ends when you put me down. Shadow has accepted our outcome. We won't beg Wren to spare us." I finished reading through the paperwork before signing it. I handed it to Cress.

He took it and scribbled his signature on the lines before handing it to Capone. Capone slipped into a folder and left the office to file it.

"Ace, you can take another mate if Wren rejects you," Cress said.

"I already hurt Shadow when it came to our mate. He doesn't want another mate. He wants our current one. Mom would be so disappointed in me if she were here."

Our parents' deaths left us in a downward spiral. Cress became so focused on the club and pack he hadn't been looking for a mate and almost gave up until he met Tabby. I searched for my mate but never found her, so I gave up. I resigned myself to booze and bitches while working as an enforcer. Shadow still held out hope for our mate.

Then Wren walked into the clubhouse. I wasn't expecting to meet my mate and figured she would reject me when she met me. So, I wanted her to understand I wasn't expecting her to accept me. It was stupid since I let my arrogance take over.

"I need to head to Wren's house and finish my work before she returns. I want everything ready when she rejects me." I stood up and left Cress's office before he could stop me.

I left the clubhouse without a word to anyone and drove back to Wren's house. I would finish my current job before following her home and dealing with rejection. Shadow curled into a ball and stayed quiet.

******
Wren

While I worked, the bell jingled on the front door. I glanced at Hawk as he strode to the counter and took a seat. I placed a coffee cup in front of him and poured him coffee. "What do I owe to this visit?"

"I spoke to Cress and rescinded the order. I figure that would make you happy."

I returned to the coffee pot and warmer and to my spot on the other side of Hawk's counter. "I haven't decided what I want to do yet."

Hawk raised his brow and sipped his coffee before setting the cup down. "You were so hell-bent on leaving here. What changed?"

I folded my arms and licked my lips to wet them. "I created a life here."

"And you can still have a life at home."

I looked at my feet and tapped the floor with the toe. "That's not my home."

Hawk leaned back and crossed his arms. "Oh?"

I lifted my head and locked eyes with my brother. "Your territory hasn't been my home for eighteen years. You ensured that when you put that order in place."

"I needed to protect Nova. I couldn't have a war between our territories before Nova and Kendall completed the mating pact."

I put a palm on the counter and had my other one on my waist. "You took my choice from me, Hawk! It's always been about you! Screw everyone else!"

"Lower your tone, Wren. I'm still your alpha."

"You were my alpha. Since you rescinded your order, you're no longer my alpha."

Hawk narrowed his eyes at me.

"As of today, you're my only brother." The tether between us snapped when I denounced my allegiance to Vicious Angels.

Hawk released a low growl just as Ace walked into the restaurant. Within seconds, Ace stood between Hawk and me.

"Get out of the way," Hawk growled as his wolf surged forward.

"If you want to get to Wren, you need to get through me first," Ace said.

Hawk's voice deepened as his wolf pushed forward. "That can be arranged." His canines elongated as his claws extended.

Shit. Shadow wasn't strong enough to help Ace. He had weakened over time. Think, Wren. What will help Shadow? It hit me.

I wrapped my hand around Ace's bicep and leaned into his ear. "I accept you."

The bond snapped into place as an electric current flowed between us.

Ace turned his head slightly as our eyes locked. I saw his eyes darkened as Shadow pushed forward.

"Thank you, Wren," a deep voice rumbled from his chest.

My heart stopped as my throat became dry. "Shadow."

Ace nodded in acknowledgment before shifting into Shadow. My eyes widened at the sight. Shadow was massive and grey. Hawk shifted into Loki before attacking Shadow. Shadow didn't back down and fought with Loki until a big black wolf burst into the restaurant, taking out the front door. Oh, shit.

*******
Ace

I would fight to the death for Wren. As Hawk and I fought, glass shattered from the entrance. Chaos flew through the air, landed on Hawk's wolf, and got him pinned. Hawk's wolf thrashed underneath Chaos while Chaos kept him pinned. Shadow moved from them and trotted to Wren. He nudged her to get her to move into the kitchen. He wanted to protect our mate.

Once inside the kitchen, we guarded Wren until Cress contained the threat.

"Shift!" A voice boomed.

Wren opened the kitchen door to a crack. Shadow shoved his snout past her to see what was happening.

"I told you to shift! Don't make out a shock collar in both of you!" Tabby yelled.

Wren and Shadow exchanged glances before returning to the scene before us.

*******
Tabby

Cress and Hawk shifted into their human forms. Blaze tossed them both shorts to put on. I folded my arms and tapped my foot while glaring at them.

"Tabby," Cress said.

I glared at Cress. He closed his mouth. Hawk pursed his lips.

"I won't have my restaurant destroyed because you want to compare dick sizes," I said.

Blaze coughed to hide his laugh.

"Ace was in trouble," Cress said.

"I don't give a shit if the Queen of England was in trouble. You will not wreck my restaurant!" I snapped.

Cress and Hawk had enough sense to look ashamed. Good. They're not going to wreck my dream because they throw a tantrum.

I glanced behind me to see Wren and Shadow watching us from the kitchen door. "If you plan to spy on us, you might as well join us."

They came out of the kitchen and walked toward us.

"I can't deal with this situation while you're a wolf. Shift, Ace."

Ace shifted into his human form. Blaze tossed him shorts. He tugged them on so he wasn't standing there naked.

"Since y'all decided to act like uncivilized animals and wreak havoc in my restaurant, you can tell me what the hell happened."

No one said a word and exchanged glances.

"Oh, no! You don't get to keep your mouths shut. You get to talk before I let Frost have her fun." I was beyond my limit with this bunch.

"I denounced my allegiance to Vicious Angels," Wren said.

My brows lifted in surprise at Wren's statement. "Well, good for you."

"What the fuck?" Hawk growled.

I pointed my finger at him and wagged it. "You can have your turn in a minute."

Hawk stared at me like I had two heads. He forgets I married Cress and raised Kendall. I've dealt with the two biggest jackasses to walk the face of the earth. Hawk's expression didn't affect me.

"Then what happened?" I asked.

"Hawk and I argued. Ace came in to protect me from Hawk before they wolfed out. But knowing Shadow was weak, I accepted Ace."

Our heads snapped to Wren. "What?"

Wren nodded. "I accepted Ace as my mate. It doesn't mean I have forgiven him. But I've accepted him."

"If you've accepted Ace, that means you're staying in our territory," Cress said.

"Yes." Wren nodded again.

"Is this what you want, Wren?" Hawk asked.

"I don't know what I want at the moment. But I won't let Shadow suffer any more than he has. I saw what happened to you when Larson killed your mate and returned her to you in pieces. You haven't been the same since. Loki refuses to find another mate."

"Wait. You didn't turn feral?" I asked Hawk.

"Oh, I turned feral. My dad had me sedated for six months until Loki scented a female in heat and mated with her. Nova was the one who helped Loki regain his senses."

That would explain why Cress was up my ass when I was pregnant.

"Wren, head home until Cress fixes the damage he caused," I said.

Cress arched his brow but didn't argue with me. Not unless he wants to wear a shock collar tonight. I won't have people destroy my restaurant because they can't get their shit together.

Wren grabbed her stuff, hugged Hawk, and left. Ace followed behind her.

Once they were gone, I turned to Cress and Hawk. "Was it necessary to damage the restaurant?"

"Tabby, you wanted Wren to give Ace a chance. She needed a reason," Cress said.

"When do you plan to tell Wren you lifted the order years ago?" I asked Hawk.

"After she mates and marks Ace. Wren doesn't understand what happens to your soul when your mate dies. Part of you dies with them. If Ace is willing to die for a rejection, he proves he's the right mate for Wren. I need to head home to deal with Harley after seeing Nova," Hawk said.

I nodded with a smile because Hawk loved Nova. When Hawk left, I turned to Cress. We exchanged knowing glances about Ace and Wren. Sometimes, you need help from family to find your heart.