They Took His Inheritance, He Claimed Three Alpha Mates novel · Chapter 38 of 40

Chapter 38: The Ranking

"I knelt first," said Joel. "It should be me."

"Kneeling first," said James, "is the argument of a man with nothing else."

"I carried first. I counted to the end."

"Everyone counted."

"I have never asked for anything," said Raven, to the ceiling.

"You asked on the floor," said Max. "It was lovely. Sit down."

They sat on the nursery rug in a ring with the three pups asleep behind them.

It was the third argument of the evening and it had no end in sight.

Max rubbed his eyes.

"Fine," he said. "I'll rank you."

All three went quiet at once.

"No, I mean it. A list. From best to worst. No appeals."

"At what?" said Joel, suspicious.

"At being my husband."

James grinned slowly.

"Third place," Max said, "is Joel."

Joel's whole face fell open.

"Third."

"You said I was a thief of Linda's money on a bench in front of your whole pack."

"I apologized on my knees."

"You did, and it was wonderful, and you're still third."

"Joel, my friend," said James, laying a hand on his heart. "I grieve for you."

"Second," said Max, "is Raven."

Raven blinked.

"Second."

"You wrote one line about me at a toast before you knew my name. I have read it forty times."

"It was a very good line," Raven said, with great dignity.

"It was. You're second."

"And first," said James, shutting his eyes, "is a man who needs no introduction."

"First," Max said, "is James."

James let out a whoop that woke the Helix pup.

"On the grounds that he's never once made me feel like I owed him anything," Max said, over the wail. "He walked me home with a lamp and a bad excuse. He's first."

Joel put his head in his hands.

"I'll take it," Raven said at last. "Second is acceptable."

"Third is a slaughter," said Joel, muffled.

"You'll have your turns," said Max, and heard how that sounded, and felt his ears go hot. "Later. Not tonight."

James was already on his feet, holding out a hand.

"Right," he said, with a very bad attempt at a straight face. "I'd like to claim my prize."

← Chapter 37 · All chapters · Chapter 39 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend