The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

Chloe POV

"Eat. Eat!" Nonna scolded me, pushing a spoon to my lips. It was soup with small meatballs and the smoothest, aromatic broth, but my stomach was full already. Too full. I couldn't take another bite.

"I really can't," I tried to say, but as I opened my mouth a little wider at the can't, Nonna shoved the spoon in my mouth, and I was forced to chew as the meatball fell into my mouth. The broth was spilling from the sides of my lips, and she was quick to dab at it with a tea towel. Taylor was watching me from the end of the hospital bed, seemingly amused. She had been recruited to help Nonna carry in several containers of food from the kitchen and stayed to watch Nonna force-feed me everything she could over the last half hour. "I think she's had enough," Luna Gail said, flustering over her mother-in-law. "Maybe we should let Chloe rest now. The boys should be here soon."

"Nonsense," Nonna waved her away. "She hasn't eaten in three days and all she's done is slept. She needs more food to build back up her strength."

"I'm really full," I gave her a pleading look. I think my stomach must have shrunk in the few days I was asleep, so now it felt like it was going to explode. My belly button felt ready to go from an innie to an outie with any more food.

"Hush and take another bite," Nonna said firmly, pushing the spoon to my lips again.

"Mm-mm," I shook my head. I pressed my lips tightly together, refusing to budge. Taylor was stifling her laughter with the back of her hand and Luna Gail had a look like she was getting ready to panic.

"Chloe. Open." Nonna looked ready to pry my lips apart, but then we all froze when the sounds of two growling Alphas could be heard outside in the hall.

"About time," Luna Gail sighed, stepping back right before the door swung wide open.

Miles and Mick got stuck in the door, both brothers pushing against one another to be the first in. Even their wolves were snarling with their grumblings. It was comical, and had Cortina giggling in my head. I might have laughed too, but I was too scared Nonna would take the opening to get that next bite in.

"They're cute when they're frantic," Cortina said, swishing her tail as she sauntered off to the subconscious she shared with her mates. She was going to console them while their human counterparts pushed and shoved one another in their efforts to get to me.

"Chloe," Miles growled, his eyes sharply assessing my entire body.

"Cara mia," Mick pushed him aside and dropped to his knees, kneeling beside Nonna by the head of the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Miles placed a large rough hand on my forehead.

"Does anything hurt?" Mick grabbed my hand.

"What did the doctors say?"

"Do you remember what happened?"

Nonna sighed, standing from her chair and moving out of their way as they crowded around me.

"Chloe!" Another familiar but frantic voice sounded from the door. Rodger was standing there, his face a mask of relief. His eyes glowed softly, and I could detect an energy in him that I couldn't before. It was like an aura, but tingled in an odd way when I focused on it. It confused me, but then I started to think about what happened before I passed out.

That same warm energy that had coursed through my body was residing in him. Has it always been there, and I just couldn't feel it before? Did something happen to him too, or did something really happen with his magic to affect me?

There was this nagging feeling in the back of my brain, like I had forgotten some crucial detail, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was I had forgotten.

"Does your head hurt?" Miles's hands smoothed the tension on my face. "Get the doctor!" He yelled at no one in particular.

"I'm fine. Goddess, will you guys calm down," I grumbled. "I missed you both too, but I really am fine."

"She is fine, boys," Gail said. "The doctor has already looked her over. She's okay to leave and everything."

Mick and Miles both sighed in relief, breathing deep like a weight was lifted after hearing their mother's words.

"Fuck, thank the goddess," Mick rested his forehead on the back of my hand and Miles bent over to kiss my temple. They were both breathing me in, letting my scent soothe their worries away.

"I'm sorry I worried you both," I murmured, grasping their faces with my hands. My fingers gently traced along their jaws.

"I would have died if something happened to you," Mick whispered roughly.

"Me too," Miles placed his hand over mine against his face. "You will have guards with you at all times from now on."

I frowned, pulling back to look between them both. "I'd rather not. I'll just stay in the pack house from now on."

"You still need protection, cara mia," Mick said in a deep, firm voice.

"I don't need to be babysat," I huffed. "Seriously, if I'm just at home, why waste the resources? You would be wasting someone's time."

"No someone," Mick growled. "Plural. Someones. At least three guards when you aren't with us."

"No! That's overkill. I didn't even want one."

"Chloe, dear. You're the Luna now. It's not wasted resources to protect our Luna," Gail urged.

"Why have her guarded like she's the weak one?" Nonna looked at her grandsons. "Isn't she the one that saved both of you?"

"Exactly," I nodded along adamantly. "I can watch over myself, especially at home."

"Chloe, please don't fight this," Miles stressed. His sharp gaze was piercing, and I felt it itching into my skin, but I still didn't want to give in. I would give into so many things for these two men, but the icky feeling I got at the thought of being watched at all times by at least three strangers wasn't something I would give into. That insecurity I felt being Cameron's mate, never being trusted and always being watched, that was something I never wanted to feel again.

"I won't leave the pack house," I said softly, swallowing down the lump in my throat. "I'm not going to be babysat. Never again."

Mick let out an irritated growl, dropping his head on the bed. I looked around the room and everyone else was averting their gaze, uncomfortable with the situation. Even Rodger was looking at the ground, a deep frown on his face.

This was embarrassing. I don't want to defy my mates. I just don't like the feelings that come from being watched all the time.

"I want to go home," I murmured. I wanted out of this tension. "I want out of this bed and back to ours."