Page 5 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

"So why did you throw us together at the bar?" I fire back, my stomach sour. I can't fathom why anyone would put temptation firmly before their partner like he did tonight. Wolves aren'tstrictly monogamous, but there aresomelines. Like not fucking with the Alpha's girl.

We're going to be left without a pack again. My wolf whispers, his green eyes wide with terror.

Seems like it. I'm sorry.

"I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to know what you would do and what Artemis' reaction would be." Jay answers without looking away from the hockey match.

I grunt. Jay doesn't say anything back for entirely too long.

"And?" I question, impatience winning out. This feels like torture, waiting for my sentencing. I'd never thought Timber Hollow would end up as another passing memory. I thought we'd found a home this time.

"And what?"

"What are you going to do?" I press, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

"Me?" Jay's eyebrows scrunch together as he swings his head toward me. "Nothing. It's up to you at this point."

"I don't follow." I've got a bundle of knots where once there was a stomach.

"Saint," My Alpha sighs. "Her happiness is the only thing that matters to me. I'm not going to stopanythingthat makeshersmile."

"So, what… Do I have your blessing or something?"

"It's not me that you need to worry about."

"Now I'm really lost."

"I would doanythingfor Artemis. Let me give you one piece of advice, though. Artemis can flirt like nobody's business. Getting her to flirt with you is easy. The hard part will be getting her to admit that shehasfeelings at all."

Jay

I see the way Saint looks at her and watches her. I've seen it sincethe day she walked into the kitchen. He called her Tiny to get a reaction out of her, and she dished him up a heaping scoop of attitude. She's been that way ever since I can remember. Ask her for attitude, and she'll deal it in spades.

Saint and I are alike in that aspect. We like our women to have a backbone. Sharp-tongued. To possibly be contemplating your death on some days– you just never know.

There are very few things I would ever deny Artemis. She could have picked worse options for a third than one of my betas. Saint has the Alpha instinct, the need to ensure his pack is safe and happy.

The very short list of things I would deny Artemis does not include a wolf like Saint Delacroix.

I would giveanythingto make her happy. Anything forher.

"So if I can make her happy- you, you don't care?" My friend stammers, and I take a sip of water.

"I'm confident that I can andwillmake her happy, but if you want to try to make herhappierwithme, I'm not going to stop you."

"And you don't care that Ialsowant to get into her pants?" Saint drawls, fists clenched. I roll my eyes.

"Of course, Icare. Artemis is my girl. I care abouteverythingwhen it comes to her. But, she's hot dude,I get it. It's not my permission you need, though. It's hers."

"And you're not jealous? Mad?Anything?"

A deep sigh fills my lungs before I say anything else. "Artemis is amazing, Saint. I would do anything for that girl. She's been my pack since we were kids." In the end, that's all it comes down to. "I would do anything for her, and I'm not letting her go, but I don't do jealousy. There's nothing to be jealous about, anyway. She's mine to hold, touch, and love, but I would rather chew my arm off than prevent her from beinghappier. She deserves the world."

Saint grunts in agreement, and I add, "I will fuck you up if you fuckthisup, though," as a final reminder.

My Beta grunts again but doesn't respond. The tension bunching his arms and jaw could cut diamonds. He doesn't say anything else, so neither do I. The only thing it comes down to is her. It's up to Saint to get under her skin, to wiggle into her heart. If there is anyone who could make a triad work between an Alpha and Beta, it's us three.

Artemis trusts me, and Saint. Iknowshe does by how she looks at him and seeks refuge from the day in the kitchen with him. They're already close. I'm not worried at all.