A Rogue For Four Alphas

Chapter

Sixty Four

Two Weeks Later

"Congratulations to Lily," Ian says, raising his glass of soda in a toast to my sister. She's an official high school graduate with plans to start attending community college later this summer, thanks to a generous scholarship she earned. The men insisted on taking her out to a nice restaurant to celebrate.

Lily deserves having people make a fuss over her, and she looks happier than I've seen her in a long time. That may also have to do with the presence of her friend Jenifer, who came along tonight.

Lisa is with us too, and it's been a wonderful evening.

The men brought me to this same restaurant last week on our first official date, and I enjoyed it so much that they chose it again for tonight. The food is delicious, but I'd be happy eating bread and water as long as I'm with Damon, Ian, Harry and Erik.

Before dessert arrives, Lisa and I excuse ourselves to go to the restroom. When I pull a compact out of my purse at the sink, my friend says, "Don't you dare put any powder on."

"What? Why?" I ask, wondering why she's suddenly anti-makeup. "Your face is already glowing. You can't improve it."

I grin at her. "Must be all the sex."

She shakes her head, skeptical. "You've never really suffered from a shortage of sex. It's much more than that."

My smile broadens. I can't deny it.

"I really like them," Lisa says. She met the four men when they picked me up for our date last week, but this is her first time spending more than a few minutes with them. "I knew you would. They're great guys."

"Now I just need to find one like them. I won't be greedy. One will be plenty for me."

"You might be surprised," I say laughing, glad that Lisa is ready to move on from Vincnt.

"Not to bring up a downer," she says, her voice growing serious, "but Lily told me your mom showed up at thee coffe sshop last night. What happened?"

I sigh. "It was the same stuff. She was saying nasty things and asking for money. It was crazy timing because the guys just happened to be there, having a few drinks and keeping me company during my shift." Her eyes widen. "What did they do?"

"Damon took me aside and suggested that they offer her a big sum of money if she agreed to leave me alone, but I wouldn't let him do that. It wouldn't work anyway; if she got what he wanted, she'd keep coming back for more." "So he consulted with you, rather than just doing whatever he thought was best," Lisa says, confirming.

I nod, smiling. I hadn't really thought of it that way, but that's exactly what he did.

"So then what happened?" Lisa asks.

"She started making a scene, so they took her outside. When she hurled another insult at me, they went off on her - not yelling, but calmly telling her off, telling her how wonderful they thought I was, and how she's losing out on having me for a daughter."

"Oh, wow. Good for them."

"It actually seemed to affect her. She started crying, and she apologized to me. I was shocked."

Lisa looks surprised by this too, and searches my face to gauge my feelings about

"It's not going to change anything," I say, shrugging, "but maybe she'll leave us alone for a while."

"People can change," Lisa says.

"We'll see. I'm not holding my breath, but I won't shut her out if she actually demonstrates some decent behavior."

"That's a good way to approach it. Are you staying at the guys' house tonight?"

"I don't think so. I thought I'd stay at the apartment, since we're celebrating Lily tonight."

Lisa holds the door open for me.

"The guys seem eager for you to move in with them. Are you scared things will go bad if you do?"

I slow my pace as we walk back to the table, thinking over her question, and finally shake my head. Damon actually told me tat they came here to kill off thee rogues causing problem but when they met me, it's was. Easier for them to track down mother and heer lawless pack but because of our relationship, they decided to spare mother regardless of how reckless she is but they told me Santos and the other are dealt with in a way they refused to mention and our territory is now safe for both humans and werewolve.

"No, I'm not worried. I love being with them, but I've got the best of both worlds lately, spending some nights with you and Lily, and other nights with them. It's been so nice being able to see more of my sister - and you too, of course," I add with a laugh.

"It has been a lot of fun, and I don't know how I would've gotten through the breakup without you."

"I hear that the best way to get over a breakup is to find someone new," I say. "Seen any hot guys coming into the bakery?"

"A few, but I'm not sure I trust my judgment anymore."

"The right guy will never make you feel bad about yourself," I say, "and he'll never make you feel like you come second in his life. You deserve someone who always puts you first."

It's an odd moment, me giving relationship advice, when I've spent my entire life avoiding any kind of attachments. But thanks to Lisa urging me to be vulnerable, I've opened myself up to four wonderful men who show me every day how a woman should be treated and how happy a good relationship can make a person.

All four of those men are watching me as we return to the table. Even as Harry and Ian are talking to Lily, their eyes find mine, and they smile. When I take my seat, Erik leans over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek, and from my other side, Damon takes my hand and holds it throughout the rest of the meal.