I stood, because sitting would have made it worse.
I cleared my throat, then just said it: “I owe every man at this table an apology.”
Wrecker arched an eyebrow, the only sign he was listening. Papa just stared, his huge hands folded in front of him, scarred from a roadside bomb.
“I’ve been an asshole to everyone of you who found a mate.” My voice didn’t crack, but I heard the tremor in it. “I told myself it was because mates made us weak, made us a target, but that wasn’t it.” I looked up, meeting their eyes one at a time. “The truth is, Fate had given me a mate. One I loved with everything I had in me. Fulfilled me. Made me whole. And before I had a chance to claim that mate, I was told she had rejected me. I felt like half of my soul had been ripped from my body. And it’s a shitty excuse. But I carried that soul-crippling hurt for years.”
I swallowed hard. “And when you found your mates, I hated it. I resented it. Not just because it felt like you’d all left me behind. I just knew you couldn’t trust them. That they would for sure hurt you the way mine had hurt me. And I couldn’t stand the thought of you being crushed like that. And then, when they turned out to be amazing, I guess I was jealous. Why couldn’t I have that kind of happiness? I knew I would be alone forever because I had a mate, and she didn’t want me.”
Menace’s face stayed stone still. Wrecker just blinked. Papa gave a slow nod, as if cataloging the words for later.
“I’m not proud of how I treated any of you,” I said. “And I’m not proud of how I treated your mates. Especially you, Big Papa. Aspen deserved better than what I said about her.”
Papa shrugged, but the set of his jaw told me it mattered. I pressed on, knowing I had to get it all out before I lost my nerve.
“I’ve claimed Harper. She’s mine, officially, and she’s here to stay.” I let the silence stretch, then added, “And the shit people have been saying about her? None of it was her fault. She washelpless. She did what she had to so her family wouldn’t get hurt.” I swallowed, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “She’s the bravest person I’ve ever met.”
Wrecker glanced at Bronc, then back at me. “So, you’re apologizing for being a prick, and you want us to slow down on the whore talk?”
A bolt of anger shot up my spine, but I forced it down. “Don’t ever call her that again.”
Wrecker shrugged, but there was the hint of a smile behind his teeth. “Just checking. I mean, you suggested taking Parker out. You hinted at killing her. Potato, po-tah-toe.”
“That’s fair, Wrecker. I also had Parker’s back when the chips were down.”
Wrecker nodded. “Also fair. And I’d take a bullet for Harper.”
The tension eased between us.
Menace’s voice, piped in over the Surface speakers, was cool and precise. “We all read the file. We know how bad it got.” He paused. “What’s your plan for the fallout?”
I squared my shoulders. “I’m handling it. Any problems, they come to me. Not her. Not ever.”
Bronc spoke next, his voice slow and deliberate. “You mean the shit that went down last night in the common room?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He turned to Big Papa. “What’d Aspen say about it?”
Papa rubbed his beard, eyes distant. “She had trailed in behind Arsenal. She caught only the last part of it right before you walked in. She said Harper handled herself, but it was ugly. She’s tough. She’ll be okay.” He looked at me. “But next time, don’t be a part of it. Don’t give them fuel for their fire.”
Juliet’s voice cut in through the office door and the war room. “WHAT?”
Bronc rolled his eyes. “Here we go.” He said with a sigh.
The door opened, and our pregnant Luna waddled into the room. Even though she was only about four months along, her tiny Omega size and the fact she was carrying twins made her look like she was much more pregnant than she was.
“Did you say something ugly went down in the common room last night with Harper?” Her tiny hands were on her hips.
I sat back down and addressed her. “Yes ma’am. Several women had her cornered and were reading her the riot act. Grilling her about being on the pole. And telling her they didn’t think she was Iron Valor officer mate material. I set them straight and told them if they ever said anything like that again, I’d have words with the Luna and you would visit them personally.”
Color ran up her neck to her face. “I want the names by the end of this meeting.”
Bronc was rubbing her back. “Now, little wolf, take it easy. You’re carrying my pups, and I don’t want you dealing with things that can cause you stress.”
She looked him eye to eye since he was still seated. “You listen to me, Alpha. I won’t have any members of my pack bullied and disrespected. Especially not an officer’s mate. It won’t take long I can assure you. I’ll get the names, and you can call them, their mates or fathers if they don’t have a mate, in for a quick meeting. And I will address it. Boom. Easy peasy.”
I hid my smile as Bronc smiled at his mate and agreed as Juliet looked my way.
