Chapter 0421

Jesse nods once, agreeing to it, and I make the squeaking noise again, needing to know what’s going on.

Rafe laughs and squares his shoulders, nodding to me and getting started. “Look, it’s not a big deal, I just…I wanted to take a minute with the two of you alone. Because…because you two mean a lot to me.”

My little wolf howls in my heart, bursting with pride and love for my brother and my cousin. But I do my very, very best to keep quiet, even as tears start to well on my lower lashes, threatening to fall.

“I just…” Rafe sighs, hanging his head for a second and collecting his thoughts. “It’s always been the three of us, hasn’t it? Growing up…I know I was first, but I can’t even remember a time when I didn’t have the two of you by my side, when you weren’t my best friends. And Ariel, I’m so glad you didn’t marry that asshole and came to school with us instead.” He flashes me a big smile now, and Jesse follows suit, tightening his arm around me as he does.

And I can’t help it – it’s all too much. The tears start to spill down my cheeks.

Rafe grins at me, pushing forward, because he knows he only has so much time before I burst into sobs. “It wouldn’t have been the same without you, Clark,” Rafe says with a smirk. “And I think…I think it was meant to be – you there, with us, like you’ve always been. We were always meant to be together. But…we’re growing up now. Aren’t we?”