by Drea Shane
With a naïve hopefulness, I commented one last thought. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll give up waiting in this ridiculous line.”
Max snorted. “No way that’s going to happen, princess. Do you know how many male wolves would kill to have a mate? And no, that wasn’t a metaphor.”
Craig agreed. “There will probably be quite a bit of violence during this process. In fact, the only reason the fighting hasn’t started is because they don’t want to risk their chance of meeting you.”
“Fine. Let’s continue.” I wasn’t thrilled but stayed the course.
The next shifter to enter was visual eye candy with muscles, a tapered waist, scruffy facial hair, and fuck me eyes. Unfortunately, my wolf had no interest. He was just another in a long line.
I watched two more with as much interest as I could muster but none of them clicked. My wolf seemed to be napping, leaving me to deal with the unworthy candidates. She was such a bitch sometimes.
That line of thought vanished the moment the next wolf entered. Goddess, was I dreaming? I recognized the scent of him right away. Everything inside me warmed. He smelled of fresh cut grass and sunshine—outdoors in the summer. Finally, my gray wolf.
He’d come for me, and I’d get to see who the man behind the wolf was. I wasn’t disappointed.
He strolled right up to me, ignoring personal space. That was more than okay with me and my wolf, who were blended tight in reaction to his proximity.
My eyes traveled over his cinnamon skin, broad shoulders, and trim athletic body. His presence was soothing, and happiness radiated between us.
Thoughts of our night together filled every nook and cranny in my mind. Intense want joined my happiness of him as a wolf.
His long, slender fingers reached back and rubbed his neck in a nervous gesture. When that hand moved to run over his shaved brown hair, I noticed the tinge of pink on the tips of each ear.
Was I intimidating, or was he just shy? I would get my answer soon. When those mahogany eyes looked up, I took in his slightly crooked nose. The full, real smile displayed gleaming white teeth.
My smile was automatic. I wanted him, but he also soothed me and my wolf.
Then, it was over too soon. Max moved forward and gripped his arm. Without thinking, my wolf let a growl slip before I could reign her in. Max merely raised a brow.
I looked down, ashamed of my threatening reaction. When I regained my composure, Max was back. Another Alpha followed him into the room.
Nope. No way. I didn’t need to see more. My wolf was shouting for him to leave us alone. Such a strong reaction. The tree trunk of a man was shooed away with just a shake of my head.
In the aftermath of meeting the last potential to stroll through the door, followed by two duds, the pheromones were dissipating, but so was my need to be here.
I was too keyed up, and my wolf paced inside, feeling caged. She currently had other ideas. She was distracted, and I knew why.
My hopes of speeding this up disappeared along with my patience. My wolf and I wanted to go to my potentials in the other room and get to know them. We didn’t want to be part of the Assembly showing anymore.
To my surprise, Dad stepped in and not another Alpha. I was quick to plead with him.
“This is awful, Daddy. Can’t we just stop for the day and continue tomorrow? Have you seen all those Alphas outside? I’ve only met about half of them.”
“Unfortunately, no. The showing must go on. We would have an all-out riot on our hands if they weren’t allowed the opportunity to meet you. Remember, as one of the few females alive, this is a once in a lifetime chance for them to find a mate.”
Alarm bells sounded. It was torture sitting in that “room of doom” all day. How long would it take to meet them all? Even with half sorted, the sheer amount still waiting was immense.
Panic started to stir in my chest, making it harder to breathe than normal. Then Dad’s hand landed on my shoulder, bringing me back to the present.
“Don’t worry, Sydney. I have an alternative you might appreciate to speed the process up. Why don’t we have them enter in groups of five? If you find a potential in a group, then we can narrow them down from there. I think it might keep your wolf calm, knowing that chair isn’t a permanent fixture for you.”
It sounded too good to be true but hey, I wasn’t about to say anything to jeopardize the new arrangement.
When my eyes reached him once again, they were light and playful. A smile curled up on one side of his mouth in amusement.
“I wouldn’t want you to get stuck in the ‘room of doom,’” he said, using air quotes around my nickname for the room.
My cheeks reddened a bit in embarrassment. Oops. I hadn’t planned for him to hear that.
“Alright, enough talking. Let’s get the showing over with. Take another few minutes to collect yourself. Find another dress, make yourself presentable again, and Miles will be just outside your room to escort you once you’ve finished.”
“For now, James is just outside the room, and he can get you upstairs without interference.”
He brusquely left, and I was right on his heels, ready to get out of the oppressive room.
Surprisingly, Lila wasn’t waiting. I wanted to wonder about her whereabouts, but there wasn’t room for concern. If I could just get through the rest of this torturous event.
I didn’t waste time getting ready. My wolf was anxious to see her potentials, making the desire to get the showing over with that much stronger. With one last deep breath, I smoothed my dress down and carefully opened the bedroom door.
My hesitancy wasn’t so much returning to the room of doom, but getting pounced by strange wolves. The pack kept tight security, but images of the worst happening still cropped up from time to time. To my relief, it was just Miles waiting, like my dad said.
There were only friendly feelings between me and Miles, but he did show appreciation of the new dress I wore.
The back had a diamond shape cut-out, displaying a large swath of creamy skin. The silver color matched my eyes, and the gossamer material shimmered to highlight soft hues of other colors.
He winked, and I exhaled. “Let’s get this over with. I don’t think I, or my wolf, can handle much more today. Talk about intense. As soon as I figure which way is up, I’m sure reality will set in.”
“I can only offer one piece of advice since this isn’t something I’ll ever participate in. Follow your instincts. Your wolf won’t lead you astray. This is the only mate you’ll ever get; your happiness impinges upon your choice. I know it won’t relieve any pressure weighing you down, but it’s the truest advice anyone can give you.”
I looked up and gave him a big grin, even though I didn’t feel it. “Thanks, Miles. Any advice is helpful advice. Especially with the massive number of wolves clambering to meet me.”
The one thing I didn’t bother mentioning, was that my choices were mates, as in plural, not just one. Dad didn’t want it known just yet, so I’d follow his lead until everything was on the table and I knew what was really at play.
It was a relief to see Dad standing at the bottom of the stairs. Once I reached him, he put his elbow out for me to wrap my arm in. My uneasiness instantly dulled from his comfort. No one would dare ambush me in the presence of the Alpha.
For once, being treated as a coveted princess had its benefits. My musings were cut short as Dad guided us through the dining room door.
Craig and Max stood at attention, necks bared in respect. I let go of his arm and moved to my chair, preparing myself for the rest of the showing. Goddess, this had to be faster with the changes being made.
It was strange, but I could sense my potentials and their restlessness. Unease began to return, but soon I was distracted by the conversation starting behind me. I turned in my chair to listen.
“There’s been a change of plans. Since Sydney’s already spent a large part of the day cooped up in this room, and with the current potentials making her wol
f antsy, we’re moving this part along at a quicker pace.”
Both guys nodded at their Alpha’s instructions. It was always amazing to see how loyal Daddy’s wolves were to him. No questioning, disobeying, or dominance issues. They genuinely respected him as an Alpha and leader.
“I’m going to send the Alphas in five at a time. It should speed this process up quite a bit. If a group should show a potential, we cut the wolves until they are found. Hopefully, we can shuffle them in and out without too many issues.”
Craig nodded, then responded. “That’s a good idea, Alpha. Max and I can handle it. Sydney’s safe with us.”
Satisfied, Dad turned to me. “Good luck. I hope we get through this quickly. Remember to let your wolf help. Don’t let her out completely, but give her a chance to assist you.”
Then he strode out the door and disappeared. Max winked at me, and before I could blink, the knock came, starting part one of the showing—take two.
I already had four potentials, but Dad wasn’t clear on how many mates I would end up with. Goddess, I hope she’d chosen no more than that.
The men shuffled in and lined up in front of me. The hotness level was high, and they all had well-toned bodies, beautiful eyes, and sexy smiles.
Unfortunately, my necklace lay cold against my neck and my wolf stayed silent. Nada. Attempting to speed this process up, I raised my hand and formed a zero with my fingers.
Craig and Max made them disappear with haste, and another knock came. Someone outside was prepping the shifters. Knowing that, the promise of a speedier process was within sight.
This time when the five Alphas stood in front of me, I knew. One of the potentials was present. I nodded, and Max was there to help. The first stepped forward, close enough to breach my personal bubble.
I closed my eyes and let my wolf instincts take over. The minute she rose, her blatant disregard for him was obvious, and I shook my head no.
Air lightly brushed my face as number one was replaced, and number two stepped forward. Same results. Three stepped forward, and I was starting to get discouraged.
When number four moved closer, I felt the heat of my necklace flare, and my wolf tried to overpower me. It was a struggle to rein her in.
The guys didn’t give me time to explore our connection, just guided him out and handed off to Dad as a ‘yes.’
The fifth one did zilch for us. Then, it started all over.
When the last group finally exited, I jumped up and bolted for the door. The sudden move confused Max and Craig enough for me to escape.
Clearly, this plan hadn’t been created with any sense of rationality. I was a wolf possessed, driven by instinct.
Even if I hadn’t known where the potentials were, my wolf would have. She was pushing against my body, trying to break free of her cage. My control was slipping, and all rational thought began to fade.
Two enforcers were guarding the door to my guys. In the frenzy, my Alpha power leaked out and both men dropped to the floor, necks bared. Ignoring them, I crashed through the door.
My wolf finally took total control. She shredded my beautiful, silver dress and shifted in an instant. We stood high, tail wagging excitedly. Her uninhibited nature was the driving force now.
There weren’t words exchanged, just the sounds of my potentials shifting into their own wolves. I was a frenzy of excitement. My shifters, my potential mates, my Alpha males.
All of them approached slowly, prowling toward my wolf. Excitement unfurled inside, and I felt my heart race in anticipation.
My heart was racing, thrumming in an increased patter. When my males reached me, they dropped to their bellies, scooting as close as they could to offer themselves to us.
My wolf dominated, but she allowed my approval to leak through. We moved on instinct, crouching down to reach the wolves. Then we struck.
I was quick, faster than ever before. My teeth nipped the first wolf on the neck and the pad of my tongue licked the wound. Then we smelled them and sorted their alluring scents.
We repeated the process until all had been marked and scents cataloged.
The tang of blood coated my pallet in a heady mix, sending pleasure through every vein in our body. Their scents swirled together and combined with their pheromones, creating a heady aroma that clearly affected all of us.
We howled as one, standing tall and proud. Immediately, each wolf shifted back until I was surrounded by nothing but mouthwatering sexiness.
Every bite had healed, no external signs to acknowledge what just happened. Their scent would likely mix with mine just enough to show my acceptance as potential mates.
I was surrounded by rock-hard abs and sinewy muscles flexing as they moved. They all stood, staying in a closed circle around me.
They weren’t shy, and I got my first up close and personal view of their arousals. Wolves were built to please, obviously. Long and thick, hard, and jutted; my hormones went wild in response.
Unconsciously, my wolf receded until I was Sydney again. I stood, my own flesh on display.
Both breasts were sensitive, with nipples tightened into buds. My golden hair was messy, spread over each shoulder, stopping just above my breasts. The triangle of golden pubic hair did little to cover the slick need glistening between my legs.
I felt different. Heat rose inside of me, the blazes licking each nerve. There wasn’t an urge to cover myself. My wolf preened at the attention.
Growls of excitement filled the room, and we responded automatically with a mewl of encouragement. I thought of nothing other than the desperate need to run my hands all over each inch of flesh they all displayed.
The thoughts from before filtered through some of the haze. I needed to lick, taste, and experience them. My wolf was wanton and curious. Without the clothes previously separating us, there was no longer a barrier.
My Alphas seemed to be waiting for me to give them orders. I wasn’t ready to do anything but watch. Many of them reacted so strongly to the power of my desire, a hand ran over their own shafts.
The scene fascinated me. Suddenly, having multiple mates didn’t seem like such a bad thing. I trembled with need—need to have these mouthwatering shifters.
Before the overwhelming swirl of pheromones took us to a place of bliss, a loud crash sounded. It was enough of a distraction for my mind to clear some. The sight of my extremely pissed off Alpha doused my hazy desires.
The growl that ripped out of him leaked so much power and dominance, everyone dropped like stones to the floor, including myself. Our necks bared in submission, we stayed as close to the ground as possible from the sheer force of the unspoken command.
Dad shouted through the door for a robe. In seconds, a hand cracked it open just wide enough to slip a white, plush robe through. Dad threw it at me, landing in a heap next to my head.
“Put that on, Sydney. NOW,” he roared.
It wasn’t a request, but an explicit command. I scrambled to my feet and wrapped the white terrycloth around myself.
Now that rational thought had returned, my cheeks flushed bright red in embarrassment. I couldn’t even look at the naked men with Dad present.
What had I done? Oh, nothing—just merely brought the entire room to orgasm. And that was without even a stroke or touch.
Having that kind of power was intoxicating. Except, of course, when a parental figure was present. Ewe.
My dad took three long strides, grasped my bicep in his large hand, and pulled me from the room. He used his other hand to slam the door behind us. The action was so forceful, the wood cracked somewhere.
In my shock, my thoughts were so jumbled that I didn’t speak once as the Alpha dragged me into my room. He shut the door behind us and started pacing back in forth in manic strides.
My panic was tangible. What was going to happen now?
I went to the bed and sank down on the side. The look of misery on my face was clear and when he saw it, Dad’s features softened.
Unnerved, I
tied the robe tighter and sat on the edge of my bed. After what happened, I had no clue what to say or even how to process the events that led us to this point.
He ran a hand down his jaw, preparing what he was going to say next. “Look, Sydney, there are some things we need to discuss. I hadn’t expected things to move so fast. It’s hard to share our family secrets without freaking you out. Too much hinges on this process going as planned.”
“I know you’ve been trying to tell me something big, even my wolf has some sort of knowledge about the situation. She’s been quiet around me, aside from taking over completely. I’m losing myself to her. I thought we would become one and at harmony, not this tug of war raging inside of me.”
Dad closes his eyes briefly and then continued. “I won’t lie, your birthday is going to be a life-changer. The wolf inside senses the changes coming and is acting on instinct. She’s a primal part of you, the heart to your head. While you work through things logically, she works through them instinctually. The closer to your birthday, the more she expresses herself. It’s part of the mating process.”
He came up to me, showing uncharacteristic gentleness. Dad held my face in his hands, eyes kind as they met mine.
“Sweet, sweet, Sydney. I love you more than you realize. Your mom and I were blessed with our little miracle, now a woman and soon the most powerful Luna in the history of our kind.
My mouth gaped like a fish. He’d said the Goddess had taken notice, but not that I would be quite that important.
“Yes, you heard me right. Without her, I’ve tried my best to raise and prepare you for the journey that will come on your eighteenth birthday.”
My brows wrinkled in confusion. “What makes me so special? I mean, yes, I’m one of the few female wolves alive. How does that make me the most powerful one in the history of our kind?”
“I’m not allowed to share too much too soon, but I can say—this isn’t a coincidence. You are exactly where you need to be; this gift is a very long time in the making. Trust your wolf. She has a part to play in all that’s to come. Don’t try to shut her out.”
