Mila didn't need Ethan to tell her that Isaac had talked to her cousin. She could tell the moment they walked into the garden center. She glanced at Ethan, who was smiling, and he looked back at her and nodded.
"She knows," he murmured.
Riley looked up at her mate. "Can I talk to my cousin? Alone?"
Isaac frowned at her and looked at Ethan. "We'll go outside."
The minute they were outside, Riley almost exploded. "Holy cannoli am I overwhelmed by all of this."
"You didn't know any of it?" Mila asked her. She really wasn't sure what Riley knew and what she didn't.
"Well, I knew most of the basic things with a normal pack. Or at least I think I do, but I didn't know that there was a Royal Pack or a King," Riley said, her eyes wide. "How long have you known?"
"Not that long. He told me the same day you found Isaac. The day before yesterday. He decided to just get it over with since everything was all screwy between us anyway." Mila frowned. That day had really sucked.
"Mila, I'm so sorry," Riley said.
"I am too. I can't believe I really thought you would steal my mate, or that Ethan would cheat on me." As devoted as he'd been to her, it was hard to wrap her head around now that she was thinking about it rationally.
"It's hard to deny what your eyes see," Riley said.
"You're not wrong." Mila agreed.
"I suspected he was your mate when you two first saw each other," Riley said quietly.
"What? You knew he was a werewolf?" Mila frowned at her.
"Well the third guy that came with him and Nick is named Ezra and I know for a fact that he's one. I've met him before. Given that Ethan and Nick have similar builds and were with him, it wasn't hard to come to that conclusion," Riley said.
"Why did you suspect he was my mate?" Mila asked.
"Because the moment he laid eyes on you, he couldn't take them off of you. I could have been standing out there naked and he wouldn't have noticed. I knew if he was, he'd be back, and as sure as shootin, he showed up the next day and asked you out," Riley smirked.
"And then you asked him if he was? He said you confronted him." He'd told her that the day he'd told her what he was.
"Yeah, he wasn't happy with me about that, but he wanted to know where you were so I traded information. He told me that he'd taken over at Alamo and was the new Alpha, which surprised me. The only thing I couldn't figure out was why he didn't want to stay in the position. It's the top rank in a pack. Everyone kept telling me, It's complicated Riley, which was rather annoying. But now I understand why and yes it is complicated," Riley said.
"Their pack is so different from the other," Mila said.
"Yes it is," Riley agreed.
"What happened when Isaac showed up?" Mila asked. She'd been wondering about that too. She was fairly certain Riley didn't even know Ethan had a twin.
"Oh that was awkward," Riley laughed. "Of course I thought he was Ethan, especially because he said he'd be back after lunch. He comes walking in here and I was just like, Hey, Ethan. He didn't respond to that. I'm just looking through a catalog, mostly ignoring him, and he stops on the other side of the counter and just stands there. So I finally looked up and I freaked out."
"You freaked?" Mila's eyes widened. "Good freak or bad freak?"
"Bad. Rebekah told me how it was when she laid eyes on Max, how her world changed in that moment, like it flipped upside down and then back upright and he was the only one there for a few moments. I felt that and I freaked out because I thought it was Ethan." Riley looked down and took a deep breath. "I immediately asked him to reject me."
"You did?" Mila asked in surprise.
Riley nodded. "I could never do that to you."
Mila felt her heart clench and she reached over and squeezed Riley's hand. "What did he say?"
"His eyes got really wide, and I think panic set in," she giggled. "He wanted to know why."
Mila wondered if it was because his chosen had just dumped him as well. Poor Isaac. Almost two rejections plus he'd upset her. "And?"
"I told him I wouldn't do that to my cousin. I wouldn't be mated to the same man she is," Riley said. "I think that's when it all clicked for him. He told me he wasn't Ethan and of course I didn't believe him. He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of him and Ethan together and that's when I realized he really wasn't."
"I bet you were relieved," Mila giggled.
"Well yeah. I was just thinking, why am I suddenly having these feelings for him. I'm not going to lie, Mila. I've always thought Ethan was very attractive, and now I understand why. His twin is my mate." Riley smiled.
"I'm glad you have a mate, and that we're together on this," Mila said. "I've been wanting to talk to you about it all since I found out, but Ethan said Isaac hadn't told you yet."
"So how long did it take you to agree?" Riley asked her. "I know you. You wouldn't just tell him yes."
"A few hours. I had to rip it apart in my head and think it through," Mila admitted. "But I would be an idiot to give this up."
"Not surprised," Riley muttered. "Isaac told me everything last night. I'm not sure which part surprised me the most. The fact that he's a prince or that I could become a werewolf myself and live with him for as long I wish. That was hard to wrap my head around."
"Did he tell me what I had chosen?" Mila asked.
"No, he wouldn't. He said he didn't want it to influence me, but I told him I already had an idea and it wasn't a hard decision anyway. I already knew I wanted a mate, and Isaac is pretty amazing," she said with a happy smile. "Oh and I told my parents we're both going to be quitting."
Mila's eyes widened. "You did?"
"Yeah. I turned in my two weeks, and told them you probably would too, but check to make sure it's the same date. They're not thrilled because we're awesome workers, but at the same time, they know how happy Rebekah and Ruby are, so they're happy we're both mated now as well," Riley said.
"Okay. I was planning to give my two week notice today anyway," Mila said. "I'm ready to go."
"So he hasn't marked you yet?" Riley eyed her neck.
"No. He wants to wait until I've changed first," Mila told her.
"Isaac said the same. Which is fine with me. Gives me time to get to know him." Riley smiled happily. "He's so sweet."
"So is Ethan. Oh, do you want to go shopping tomorrow? I need to get a few more clothes and I really am not good at dressing myself." Mila stared down at her casted wrist in annoyance. It was another reason to change sooner rather than later. So she could get that thing off.
"Has Ethan been helping you?" Riley lifted an eyebrow at her.
Mila blushed. "Yes. He's amazing."
Riley smirked. "I'm sure he's very helpful. So, I take it our men are coming too?"
"Yes. But Ethan told me to ask you so that you could help me in the dressing room," Mila explained.
"I don't think Ethan would let you go shopping by yourself. Not with Owen still out there," Riley said. "He's going to need to keep you safe."
"That's why he's here every day. But having both Ethan and Isaac will be good tomorrow," Mila said.
They both looked up as a man walked inside the garden center, and dropped their conversation. Ethan and Isaac walked in behind him, though neither one of them approached the counter. Ethan locked gazes with Mila, and she frowned at him, but he gave her a small smile and moved over towards the house plants. Isaac was busy looking at the watering cans. She watched them move around, looking at different things, though she could tell they were both focused on the man and wondered about him. She glanced at Riley who shrugged.
The man finally walked up to the counter ten minutes later with a large bag of seed. He sat it down. "Morning. Just this."
"Morning," Riley greeted him and rung up his purchase. "Thank you."
"Yes ma'am. You best be careful out there. Never knew who you can trust." His gaze flicked over to Isaac and he turned around and left the store.