Page 85 of Sinful Mates

I scream when cold hands grab me, pulling me against them. I know it’s Theo. He puts me on the boot of the car holding me in place with one arm while I struggle and kick at him.

“Stop!” he screams, punching the boot right next to my head, leaving a huge dent. I freeze, fear consuming me as his eyes turn red. He leans in closer, and I fear he is going to attack me. His arm around my waist grows tighter, his hand on my shoulder forcing me down. I slap him, the sound echoing and my hand stinging from the force. He growls before ripping me off the boot and yanking me forward, when suddenly I hear her voice.

“Let her go now, Theo. I will not watch you treat your mate that way.” Caroline screams, furious at her son. He lets go and I stumble back, leaning against the boot. Tobias grabs my handbag out of the car. He is livid and his shirt has blood on it from his already healed nose. He glares at me before shoving my bag back in my hands. I flinch under the look he gives me. I feel their anger running through me from the bond.

“That’s enough, both of you. Can’t you tell you’re scaring her. Come here, Imogen,” she says. I look toward her and can see Josiah waiting in the car a little up the road. Shaking his head, clearly annoyed. I run toward Caroline preferring to be in her presence than her sons’.

“Clean this mess up, I am taking her home,” she says before pulling me toward her car. I can hear Theo and Tobias growl, but they don’t argue back at her. I honestly think they are too scared to. Caroline, I can tell, is the sort of mother who will give them a dose of their own medicine if they defy her. She squeezes my shoulder softly.

“I’m sorry about them, Imogen; they shouldn’t have carried on like that. I’m not defending their behavior, but they became quite panicked when they realized you managed to get past the wards,” she says.

“Did Percy let you out?” she asks curiously. I shake my head.

“Well, that is interesting,” she says thoughtfully. She opens the rear car door and I climbs in.

Josiah looks in the rear-view mirror at me, his eyes crinkled slightly, and I could tell he was smiling.

“Remind me to never let you borrow my car,” he says with a wink. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Their car is a total right off now. Especially after Theo destroyed the front end. Josiah pulls away, driving around the wrecked car. I can see Tobias is on the phone and see Theo arguing with him, both throwing their hands in the air obviously arguing with each other. Theo steps closer indicating for Josiah to roll down the window.

“Drop her off at home, we won’t be long,” he says, sending a glare my way in the back. I cringe back, pushing myself into the seat.

“I won’t be leaving if I feel you are a threat to the girl in any way, Theo. You made this mess, you clean it,” she says leaning over her husband and glaring at her son. He stands straight before giving his mother a nod and turning away from the car.

“Hungry, dear? We will grab dinner on the way home,” she says. I nod, feeling a little awkward. Why is she being so nice, even Josiah? We stop by a Chinese place on the way home. When we pull up to the house, Theo and Tobias are sitting on the step out the front. I can feel their guilt through the bond, but I ignore it, they don’t deserve forgiveness after that. They told me she was dead, let me believe she wasn’t an issue and now she just decided my fate, as if finding out they lied wasn’t enough. She gets the last laugh; I never did anything to her, yet she can choose my death. I wipe a stray tear as it falls running down my cheek. Opening the car door, I get my bag and walk past them into the house, ignoring their pleas to let them explain.

No amount of pleading will make me forgive them this time; I want the truth. But even then, would it be the truth coming from them or just another lie, another excuse? We all sit awkwardly at the dining table eating. Tobias and Theo’s eyes never leave me when Caroline announces that they will be leaving. My heart skips a beat. I don’t want to be left alone with them. I didn’t want to be around them. Seeing my panic, Caroline stands and places a hand on my shoulder.

“I will be back tomorrow” she says.

“We have work tomorrow, you will have to come to the office,” Tobias says, his eyes never leaving my face.

“I’m not going, you can go by yourself” I spit at him not even bothering to look at him. He growls but one look from his mother makes him shut up.

“I will come over first, okay?” she says, gazing down at me. I can feel through the bond Theo and Tobias don’t want me anywhere they aren’t. Well, they are going to have to suck it up. I have no intention of spending more time than necessary with them. Caroline and Josiah eventually leave, leaving me alone with my mates. When I can’t handle their stares anymore or the awkward silence. I get up and head upstairs.

I grab my pajamas and make for the shower. I don’t care for their excuses. While showering, Tobias and Theo walk in. I’m currently washing my hair. I turned my back to them when I hear the door open.

“Let us explain, Imogen,” Theo said.

“Save it, I don’t trust you and how am I supposed to know if it isn’t more lies? Seems to be the only thing you know how to do.”

I hear the door lock click and turn to see Tobias has locked the bathroom door. I glared at him before turning around.

“You will listen.”

I rolled my eyes at his tone.

“Let’s hear it then, get it over with so I can leave.” I’m annoyed, and I not stepping one foot out of this shower. I know they want to touch me and if they did, I would turn to putty in their hands because of a stupid mate bond I have no control over.

“I never lied when I said I killed her. We caught her in bed with Alaric. Alaric bolted when we found out. I grabbed her in anger when we realized she had played us all along. What I didn’t know was that Theo had given her blood the night before and it was still in her system. I thought I killed her, and Theo was too slow to react, to stop me. Only after I snapped her neck and her body fell limp on the floor, did Theo realize what I had done. A few minutes later she woke up and started laughing before walking out. She knew we couldn’t touch her now without the council’s permission. That was her plan all along. She wanted us to kill her so she could be with him. Alaric couldn’t change her; his parents would never allow him to be with a non-supernatural. So, he had us do it.”

“Did you love her?” I ask.

“We thought we did. We refused to find another female until we saw you. I felt an instant pull to you. I ignored it but Theo couldn’t. We agreed not to act on it. We didn’t want to be involved with another human. But the mate bond just got stronger, the pull to you got stronger, to the point I couldn’t ignore it anymore,” Tobias said. I shake my head. They only want me because some invisible bond makes them.

“That’s not true, Imogen, we love you and not just because of the bond. Don’t think that,” Theo says with a growl. I turn around to face them, my face devoid of emotion. I honestly don’t care for their reasons anymore; you can only lie and treat someone like that for so long before they have enough. Before they find the end of their rope and snap.

“Stay out of my head, Theo, now I heard your excuse and it doesn’t change anything. Now unlock the door,” I say, reaching out and grabbing a towel and wrapping it around myself. Theo tries to grab my hand, but I pull back.