Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 49

Suri Nightingale

I've never woken up in this way, like my head was in the clouds and my body was as light as a feather. My stomach, though, was what really woke me up because it was screaming bloody murder and needed to be fed. Ah, and my bladder that was crying for the toilet. But as soon as I blinked open my eyes, I was in for the shock of a lifetime. The Wolfe brothers were sprawled in the hotel bedroom in varying positions of comfort.

Atlas had made a makeshift bed by pulling the couches closest to the bed and putting them together. Because his limbs were extra long, he had to use three and even then, it was obvious the position wasn't really entirely cozy because of how big he was. When I turned to my right, Devon was lying down much more comfortably on the window seat, but because Wes was right below him and had obviously stolen his blanket, I could imagine he was kind of cold.

But that is clearly not my main concern right now.

Instead, it's... what the hell are they doing in my room?!

I pulled up my blanket to peek underneath me and I realized another problem was - how did I go from wearing my outfit last night to my sleepwear because I sure as hell don't remember getting changed nor coming up to my room?!

For f**k's sake, Suri. How do you keep getting yourself into trouble at a party? This is the second time. At this rate, I really don't want to be anywhere near parties for my own sanity because it would be really nice to not get amnesia the next day.

I looked around the room and back to the brothers, glancing at each one of them as my brain began to try and come up with an answer to what in the world happened the night before.

I wrack my brain for bits and pieces of information, like building a puzzle but there are missing pieces and I had no idea where to begin looking for them at all.

Think, Suri.

The gorgeous outfit Elle and the girls gave you while you were on call. The dinner with the boys and how their eyes could not leave you. That encounter with Atlas and how angry he made you, but you also felt bad at the same time. The kiss with Ryder that may or may not have made you remember Atlas. The delicious drink you got by that bartender at the coolest beach party ever by Ryder. The beachside blankets and how Ryder came up to you and then... started... acting weird... And...

And...

Oh, f**k. That's where my memories stopped. Everything else was coming out foggy.

There was screaming. Fists flying. Blood on the sand. Warm lips? Soft hair? Strong hands? Lavender bath?

I pulled my arm closer to my nose to get a whiff of my scent and sure enough, there was a faint smell of lavender. That means I really was in the bath. But... who could have put me there? The brothers?!

While I was still blinking at particularly nothing, dumbfounded by the whole situation, I almost got a heart attack when Atlas spoke up and when I turned to him, he was looking at me with an unreadable expression. "You're awake," he says like he is not shocked at all about replaceing us all together in my room which means he definitely knows something.

I was about to demand answers out of him, but then he asked, "Are you hungry?"

I nodded my head vehemently without a second thought.

I could have sworn I saw a small smile tug at his lips, but he stood up and turned around before I could look at it longer.

Atlas' back was turned to me, almost impossible not to admire every curve and every muscle that was screaming to be touched-and maybe clawed. Oh my god Suri shut up-before he tilted his head just a little to the side. "I'll order room service. Just... stay here and rest more."

And with that, he stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room while I had my mouth agape because, who was that and what did he do to the a*****e Atlas I know?!

Maybe there was an alien invasion last night and that's why I don't remember anything. They wiped our memories and gave back nicer versions of the Wolfe brothers. That would certainly be something.

Not more than ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and room service was coming in with food meant for a feast.

It didn't take five seconds for the other two to wake up and it's hard not to guess it was because of the delicious smell.

I would feel conscious about the three boys sitting all around me topless while I eat, but that's the least of my concern when my stomach is waging for a world war.

I'm shoving inhumane amounts of french toast and waffles drenched in syrup while simultaneously drowning myself in coffee.

"Take it easy, honey bee, or you'll get indigestion and that's worse than a hangover." Wes commented with a snicker while the two other brothers shot him a look.

He gives them an innocent, "What?" back and I had to shove a piece of waffle in my mouth so I wouldn't laugh at seeing Wes in the most 'middle child' position ever. "Why do you call me honey bee?" I asked after chugging my third (?) cup of coffee.

Man, I love caffeine. It's like the battery of humans if we were robots.

The three boys turned to me with raised brows as if to say 'that's what you want to know?'

I mean... I want to know everything, but hearing that nickname made me remember I already heard it before during that night of Raquel's party and it's been bothering me since.

"Well, if you must know, sis, then it's really nothing personal. I just like the name. It rhymes and it's fun to say. I call a number of girls the same thing." Wes explained as he ate a strip of bacon and why the hell do they all eat it like they're making p o r n for bacon?! Like come on?! Do they have to look that sexy?

Oh my god, Suri. Focus here.

I cleared my throat. "Right. I guess it beats being called that stupid meat nickname, anyway. I just wanted to ask because I remember you saying it before I passed out during Raquel's party." I shrugged my shoulders at the random topic, but then both Atlas and Devon stiffened at my mention of it.

Uh... did I miss something?

"You passed out? When? I mean, when exactly?" Devon leaned closer to me that if there wasn't a table in between us, he'd almost be breathing me in.

I didn't like that deep down inside I kind of wanted that. Damn him and his hypnotizing green eyes.

"Uh... sometime after I left the dare game." I confessed, but leaving out the part where I heard Atlas and him talking about me.

There's a few seconds of silence while the two brothers look like they're analyzing something in their heads, like connecting the dots, but I don't have a single clue as to what the freaking dots are, and by the looks of it, Wes who's busy eating, doesn't know either. Or doesn't care. Same s**t.

"That means she didn't do it, Atlas." Devon said with a deep and solemn tone.

What? What didn't I do? What the f**k are they talking about?

Atlas doesn't look convinced by Devon's words. His eyes remained on his plate as he pushed his food around with his fork. "That doesn't mean anything. I saw them." What the hell did he see?!

Devon shakes his head. "What if you saw it wrong then? What if it wasn't Suri with Wes at the cabana?"

Hold the f*****g phone. What did they just say?! Me with Wes in a cabana?!

I was ready to freak the f**k out at them but Wes beat me to it.

He stopped eating as he pointed his fork towards Atlas, his eyes narrowed at his brother.

"Holy s**t, you think I made out with Suri at Raquel's party? Is that why you were pissed at me that whole week?" He asked and I blinked at them even more confused.

First of all, what f*****g makeout session?! Second of all, even if we did make out, why would that piss Atlas off? Does he not let his brothers kiss any girl they want? Jesus, these brothers are freaking weird.

"Just tell him, Atlas." Devon insisted and at this point, it was obvious he was not liking being put in the middle of whatever the hell this was.

He sat there like a sulking boy, arms crossed in front of his chest, and scowling. I hate that he looks even more devastatingly handsome with a moody expression.

But not the point here, Suri!

"Are you for-f*****g-real? Oh my god, you jealous little shit." Wes exclaimed towards Atlas who turns to him with an icy glare.

"I'm not jealous." He said through gritted teeth.

Wes scoffed. "Yeah, sure, buddy. Keep telling yourself that."

"I said, I'm not!" Atlas shouted as he got up from the seat and in a split second, he was already staring down at Wes.

Anger management issues much?

"Knock it off, Atlas! Can't we just talk properly here? We're trying to get to the bottom of things." Devon reasoned out and as much as I hate him right now, I wholeheartedly agree.

I feel like I'm in an Anonymous group for people with f****d up relationship dynamics and Devon is the 'chair' that gets the ball rolling as well as stopping everyone from ripping each other's heads off.

"Honestly, Atlas doesn't have to answer. I get it now and if you must know, big brother, then no, I didn't make out with Suri that night. You want to know how I know now but I didn't before?" He looked at him with a teasing smirk, clearly trying to provoke him. "Because believe me, big bro, after experiencing it last night, I would remember a kiss like hers."

What. The. f**k.

I have more questions now than I did earlier and the horror and confusion in my face must have been extremely obvious because Devon takes one look at me and lets out an exasperated sigh.

"You were drugged last night and at some part of the night, you did consent to Wes kissing you." Holy... shit.

It wasn't my imagination. I wasn't dreaming when I thought of warm lips and gentle hands caressing my face and the rush I felt burning inside of me.

They were all real. And it was with Wes.

"I'm kind of offended you don't remember our kiss, honey bee." Wes teased and my cheeks turned bright red.

"Give her a break, Wes. She's still trying to put two and two together." Devon told Wes off, but everything was getting muffled as my ears began to ring as last night's happenings were starting to get back to me one by one.

I looked up at the brothers with a cautious look. "Tell me... everything. From the start."

Half an hour later, food in my stomach that was starting to feel like I could puke out any minute from now, and different looks from all three of the brothers, I've been informed of everything that happened that night. Drugged. I was drugged.

Somehow, with my terrible luck, I managed to get involved in another f****d up relationship between siblings. Ryder and his twin brother, Ryan.

Hearing how Wes found me practically crawling on the sand and unable to stay still had me cringing to my core, but as the story progressed and I learned of how they never left me with every step and breath I took, I began to feel reassured.

As crazy and as unbelievable as it sounded, the brothers actually... took care of me.

"I... guess... I should say... thank you..." I tell them, my head down as I played with the napkin as an excuse not to look at them because heaven knows I looked like a big a*s tomato head right now.

"You don't have to thank us. We did what we had to do though none of it had to happen if somebody here had stopped you from going to that party." Devon's head snapped towards Atlas who was looking even more sour with his arms still crossed in front of his chest, making his pecs look even bigger.

Not the time to be admiring his muscles, but damn.

"No, he did. It's my fault. I didn't... listen to him." I said, surprised that I did, but I didn't want Atlas getting the blame for any of it.

As much of a dick he was, he still did try to stop me from going, though I'm not sure if he knew what was going to happen. I just know that he did look out for me at the start and I let myself get lost in my annoyance for him and ended up reaping what I sowed. "Thank you... Atlas, and I'm sorry I didn't listen." I told him with a guilty frown.

We locked eyes for a few seconds and though it was just short, there was something strong in the way he looked at me, like he was telling me things he couldn't with words. I didn't have time to decipher what they were before he looked away and stood up from his

seat.

"Whatever. Everybody's fine. That's all that matters." He muttered under his breath.

"Just don't hang out with that Madden guy again." He said as he turned to look at me again, his face seemingly emotionless but it was his eyes that spoke a thousand words.

Why do I have a feeling he's not saying that just because of last night's events and because of... something else?

I didn't have a chance to figure out what it was because he turned around and started walking away. I don't know what had gotten into me, but before I knew it, I had stood up as well and followed him out to the living room. "Atlas, wait, I-"

s**t. What was I going to say? Why did I follow him out here?!

Atlas turned back to face me, his gray eyes giving me an uneasy glare. "What?" He said in a hard tone that made my body go rigid.

He must have noticed my uncomfortable reaction because his face goes soft. He brushed his hair back as he let out a sigh and said, "Is there something else? Because I'd really like to get a cold shower and a nap before we have to leave. That makeshift bed didn't really help me get a good night's sleep."

Oh, right. I can only imagine how bad his back must be feeling right now. It makes me wonder more - why didn't he just go back to his room and sleep on his five star hotel bed? Ah, but not what I was going to talk to him about.

I cleared my throat before swallowing the lump that lodged in it. Just say it, Suri.

"I wanted to apologize... about what I said yesterday. I may not remember most of that night, but I remember what happened before and I didn't have the right to say that. I didn't mean it, I promise. It just... came out because I was angry, but that's not an excuse for my words. I know what I said about your mom was wrong and I'm really sorry. I never knew her, but I'm sure she loved you and your brothers deeply."

It felt like a weight had been lifted off of my chest after I said all of that, but the nervousness I felt standing in front of Atlas had still not subsided.

At least, until I saw the expression on his face change from blank to something I can't even begin to explain because I had never before seen him look like that. It was as if he was... taking in my words, wondering if I had really said it, and then each word was creeping into the cold crevices of his heart, warming it up and melting the glaciers that have formed.

He looked like he was about to say something, his mouth half open, but then he closed it again and merely gave me a barely audible mumble. "Don't sweat it."

He shrugged his shoulders then turned around to face the door again.

Seriously? Well that was anticlimactic. But then again, what was I really expecting to happen? For him to suddenly accept me? Certainly not. Whatever Atlas has against me, not one apology or a night in the same room is going to change that easily.

As soon as the door swung open though, both of us weren't expecting the person that would stumble inside out of nowhere.

"Suri! f**k, I'm so glad you're alright! I- Oh god." Ryder had run up to me and before I even knew what was going on, he had already wrapped me in his arms and gripped on to me tightly.

"Are you okay? Were you hurt?" He asked as he moved me in a distance, his hands on my shoulders as his eyes looked at every inch of my body.

My cheeks flushed at him looking at me that intensely.

"I'm okay, I-"

I didn't get to finish my words before Ryder got yanked away from me by Atlas who was clearly seething in anger at his sudden presence.

Not a second later, Wes and Devon came out of the bedroom and it only took them one look at Ryder before they flipped a switch and shot him the most unwelcoming glare ever.

"Leave. Before we make you." Atlas commanded, but this didn't deter Ryder who was still focused on me.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I just came to check on Suri and apologize to her. I didn't know my brother would come and I'm really sorry for whatever he did. I promise I had no idea. I would never want any harm to happen to you, Suri. I... I really like you." Holy s**t. Did he just confess he liked me or did I imagine that?!

Based on the sudden temperature drop in the room thanks to the brothers' glacial glares towards Ryder, I quickly concluded that nope, it was definitely not just in my imagination.

Either Ryder didn't notice or he chose to ignore it, whichever it was, the brothers didn't stop him from taking a step closer to him.

I saw from my peripheral view the brothers about to come up to him, but I didn't want them to fight or whatever it is they planned on doing. As much as I did like Ryder and appreciate the short time we spent together, I knew my answer.

"I don't think you like me, Ryder." I said and instantly, all boys looked at me with varying degrees of confusion and intrigue.

"What do you mean? I-"

I raised my hand up and he pursed his lips as I continued.

"You like the idea of me. You like that I remind you of your ex." I said and just that made his eyes go wide.

I nodded my head. "I remember bits of what you and your brother talked about. Heidi, right? Whatever happened between you two must have pushed her away and you feel guilty about it and when you saw me you couldn't help but try and get close with me." Ryder looked like he was going to deny it at first, but he ended up just giving me a guilty nod.

"I don't want you to feel bad. Never feel bad for loving someone so much that you look for them in other people. I understand that and your feelings, but understanding it doesn't mean I can be with you the way you want me to be." I took a step forward before raising up my arms to give Ryder a hug.

I was surprised by my own actions as well, but I know that Ryder is a good person and this is all I can give him. Someday he'll replace another girl that will be good for him because it most certainly isn't going to be me. I have my own struggles and right now... I'm not good for anyone.

I felt the brothers' eyes digging holes through me-mostly Ryder-but I just kept hugging and consoling him because chances are, this is the last time we'll ever be in the same place at the same time.

"You have no idea how much I needed this, how much I needed to meet you to put things in perspective for me. So thank you, Suri. Seriously." He tightened his grip around me and I thought I heard low growls around us.

Just before Ryder pulled away from me, he whispered something so low to me so only I could hear him. "I'd tell you to contact me any time if you need someone, but I think you already have three guys here ready to do just about anything for you. Take care, Suri Nightingale."

Ryder's words lingered in my thoughts even after he was no longer in the room.

"f**k, it's past ten o'clock." Wes grumbled and thankfully broke the awkward silence.

"Anyone up for a run before we check out?" He turned to the brothers with a cheeky smirk that made me wonder if 'run' had a secret meaning to them by the way he said it.

They glanced at each other for a few seconds as if talking with their eyes, and right after nodded.

Seconds later, they were walking out of my room.

"Don't forget to hydrate, little sis." Wes said before shooting me a wink that I tried my best not to feel giddy about it, but looking at his lips definitely made it much harder for me not to crave him again. Damn it.

"Yeah, what he said. And if you need me- I mean us, don't hesitate to knock." Devon said as he looked at me with that same charming smile of his and this time, I didn't let myself feel guilty for liking it. This time, I no longer felt annoyed at him for what he said about me.

What I did feel guilty about though was waiting for Atlas to say something, but in the end, he just cleared his throat and looked away.

"Thanks, you guys. For... everything." I said to them when I figured Atlas really wasn't going to say anything else. "Have a good... run."

"Oh, we most definitely will." Wes said with a snicker and then they all turned around and left.

Ever since I got here, It felt like the Wolfe brothers have been my enemy. They were the source of so much confusion and turmoil in my head, but as soon as they left and I was back to being alone in the room...

I couldn't help but think about going back to Los Altos and being able to hang out with them more.

It was odd. Very odd, and though I still don't know what goes on in their heads ninety nine percent of the time, I feel as if them going out of their way to take care of me meant something.

It meant that they were finally accepting me into their lives.

At least, that's what I desperately hoped for.

I guess we'll replace out...