The talk went about as well as expected.

From me, there were a lot of tears, snot and the occasional sob. From T4, a chorus of growls.

I tried to be stealthy and skip the Philip part entirely. They were already growling, what would that story do? But Tripp and his stupid Alpha face ruined that. "Tell them or I will."

So I did. Mangy, flea-infested bastard.

The growls actually stopped altogether during that particular story. Even though I tried to keep it as quick and as vague as possible. After I was done, everyone except Trey walked out the back door, hands balled into fists.

I don't know why I expected anything different.

I've caused nothing but trouble from minute one and they've been there, whether I wanted them to be or not. As a recent convert, I now knew the pull they must've felt to me. For me, they felt safe.

But everyone has limits. And apparently I'd found theirs.

I couldn't expect them to deal with all of this. I was just too much trouble. And the fact that they just walked out and left the nicest brother to babysit me was my proof that they had reached their limit.

A fact that kept the tears flowing out of my eyes and made it really hard to see. But that wasn't going to stop me. Even as it broke what was left of my heart.

I wiped at my eyes with one hand while getting to my feet.

"Harper, what are you doing?"

I didn't even bother to answer him. I couldn't stand to hear the relief in his voice at not having to kick me out.

"Harper." I could hear Trey standing up. His voice had a bit more of a command to it, something I'd never heard from him.

Without answering, unsure whether I could if I tried, I slowly walked toward the front door. I only moved slowly because the tears were still blocking my vision and I didn't want to fall on my face.

A large hand gently grabbed my arm. I tried to yank myself out of his hold, but unless he allowed me to go his hand wasn't budging. Without a word, the hand was gone before an arm scooped under my thighs and another behind my back. Before I knew what was happening I was being carried bridal style back to the couch.

After all that effort to get that close to the door, he just had to set me right back at the start.

He took a seat on the couch and adjusted me so I was sitting on his lap, my back resting on his bicep. As soon as he settled I tried to get up again, this time getting nowhere.

The irksome chihuahua…

Trey seemed completely content to confine me to his lap and stare at me, as if he was waiting for me to explain something. In my opinion I had nothing to explain. He was the one thwarting my escape attempts. Seemed he wasn't going to let me leave with any shred of dignity.

So that was how we sat for what seemed like forever but was probably only about ten minutes, when I really couldn't take anymore of his staring. The tears stopped about halfway through. I tried again to extricate myself from the lap prison, but his arms were as immovable as granite slabs.

I sighed. "Why are you doing this?"

He didn't even blink. "Doing what?"

"Keeping me here."

"Did you want to leave?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Was he being dense on purpose? "You don't want me here anymore, so just let me go. I won't make a scene."

Trey narrowed his eyes, seeming to search my very soul. "Why would we not want you here?"

…does he have to continue to ask ridiculous questions? That's all he'd been doing so far and it was getting on my nerves.

"Have you been completely oblivious today? The better question would be, why WOULD they want me here? I've caused nothing but chaos and drama since you met me. I tried to ignore you, honestly I really did. But you four are so infuriatingly stubborn that you wouldn't leave me alone! And now look what happened; I get in trouble, you all have to save me, I tell you what happened and everyone but the kind brother can't leave fast enough! You're probably only here because you have such a big heart that it won't let you leave me here by myself.

"I don't need a babysitter. And I don't need your pity. I'll figure things out on my own and you all can go back to…fixing cars and saving distressed damsels, or whatever it is you all do." My entire being shied away from the thought of not seeing them again. I chalked it up to that pesky shifter stuff and tried to cram it into a box at the back of my brain.

Trey let out a soft sigh. "Do you know the real reason why they left?"

His words made so little sense I just scrunched my face up in confusion and stared at him.

"Harper, they left because they care about you. Hearing what you've been through… well, they didn't handle it well. Neither did I, but I'll take my run later. If they would've stayed, the house would probably not be standing right now. They are working out their rage, so when they come back they will be able to help you." Trey hesitated. "There will probably be some revenge-plotting as well when they get back, but at least they won't break the foundation."

I briefly wondered how long I could keep my face scrunched like that before it stuck that way.

Trey lifted a hand, running his thumb over my rumpled forehead. "I told you before it would take time. Try not to give up on us so easily."

His head lowered and he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

...well shit...