White, Alicia - Katie's Mates [Novikov Clan 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Alicia White

  “I didn’t want to be. I said and did things I’m not proud of.” Ethan could tell that Lucas was feeling guilty. He knew his brother too well.

  “I know.” He nodded his head.

  “She’s gonna leave us.” Lucas stared at him, and Ethan wondered if she really would try to leave them again.

  “No she isn’t. We won’t let her. The four of us working together, loving her. She won’t want to leave. I know that she cares about us already. We have plenty of time,” Ethan said.

  “We have no time left. I talked to Nathan a little while ago. He told me about the conversation you all had with Adam and Brandon while I was home with Katie. He said that they are expecting her back tomorrow. The full moon is tonight, and their ceremony with Chloe. It’s over for me.” Ethan had never heard Lucas talk this way before, as if he was giving up completely. He knew they needed to take Katie to their Alpha’s house, but they weren’t actually planning on doing that.

  “That’s true. Didn’t Nathan tell you that we weren’t taking her there tomorrow? Adam and Brandon won’t come for her. She’s our mate. They can’t take her from us. I repeat…you still have time, Lucas. Don’t give up.” Ethan grabbed his shoulder and squeezed, wanting to show him that everything was going to be okay.

  “We have to come up with a plan to keep her here. I’m not sure how Adam and Brandon will react, but we should be prepared,” Lucas said.

  “Tomorrow morning, instead of going to the Alpha’s house, we should go see the elders. Maybe then we won’t have to take her anywhere. They won’t allow a mate to be taken away. Although, I doubt that’s what Adam and Brandon want to do. We just need more time with her. We can leave Ryan here to watch her and go first thing. I’ll go talk to Nathan now.” Ethan turned and headed down the hallway, leaving Lucas standing outside the main master bedroom watching Katie and Ryan.

  Ethan knew what needed to happen. He went to his bedroom first to get dressed and then headed to Nathan’s office. As he walked toward the office, he liked his idea more and more. They could talk to the elders, which was a respectable term for his fathers and uncles. Once they had their support, Adam and Brandon wouldn’t demand for Katie to be brought back. He wasn’t planning on keeping her under lock and key forever. He just wanted to have more time for her feelings to grow toward them.

  Being a shifter, he felt the pull toward her instantly. The animal in him recognized her as his mate. She was fully human. Her feelings would grow over time. He hoped that she felt the pull to them as well. That way it wouldn’t take a lot of time to convince her. She knew a lot about them already, and she accepted them. Ethan walked inside Nathan’s office smiling. Everything would work out. He had no doubts, not anymore.

  Chapter 8

  Her eyes sprang open, and she stretched. She seemed to have the same dream or vision every time she closed her eyes since arriving in Alaska. Katie climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom. She needed a few minutes to think. She stared at herself in the mirror and relived the dream. It had seemed so real, and that’s what scared her. She never had a dream that she remembered. This time was different.

  She was running through the woods that surrounded the house, running as if her life depended on it. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, she could see her breath, and she was cold and shivering. She wanted to stop, she needed a break, but she couldn’t. Loud noises surrounded her, growls and snarls. She didn’t know where she was exactly, only that she was being chased, chased down by some unknown being. Whoever it was was closing in fast. She could hear pounding feet getting closer. She should be terrified, frightened, or at least a little scared, but she wasn’t. She felt light, maybe even a little giddy, and those emotions confused her and had her running faster. Her muscles burned, but she didn’t stop or even slow down. She always woke up at that point. She never knew if she got caught or had escaped.

  She shook her head, walked over to the large shower stall, and turned the hot water on full blast. She climbed in, closed her eyes, and let the water pound against her body. She put her hands against the cold tiles and leaned into the water, trying not to think about her dream.

  “Can I join you?” She lifted her head to see Ryan standing outside the glass door, naked. It was nice that he had asked instead of barging in. She nodded and watched him climb in the shower. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

  “Are you okay? I woke up and you were gone.”

  “I’ve been having weird dreams since I’ve been here.” She pulled back to look in his eyes. There was something about those deep pools of blue that drew her.

  “Tell me about it.” He grabbed the soap and a washcloth off the shelf. His goal was obvious. He wanted to clean her. It was sweet the way these men wanted to take care of her. She had never experienced that before. She knew she was caring for these men more than she should, especially since she had no idea what the future would hold. It’s not like she had some amazing life to get back to in Oregon. She was a regular woman, with a regular job and bills. She was nothing extraordinary at all. She was lost in thought, feeling Ryan’s strong hands soap her body up. He took his time, massaging her as he went.

  “I’m running through the forest. I’m being chased. Ummm…it’s dark. I’m kind of scared because I have no idea what’s after me.” She leaned back against the tiles as Ryan got to his knees and concentrated on her legs and feet.

  “Would it make you feel better to know who was chasing you?” He looked up at her and smiled, and she smiled back feeling a lot better. “What if I told you that I’m chasing you? That it’s me and my brothers? How would you feel then? Still scared?” He picked up her right foot and used his thumbs to massage her. The pressure was perfect, and she moaned.

  “I guess it would depend what you planned on doing to me once you caught me.” She really loved Ryan. He was changing her dream for her, making it something fun instead of scary.

  “What if our plan is to fuck you? The four of us seeing to your pleasure. What if it’s not a dream but a vision preparing you for a real event?” Ryan’s voice was deep and hypnotic. He grabbed her other foot and gave it the same attention, touching all her pressure points.

  “I don’t know. You and your brothers pleasuring me, that sounds like heaven. Being chased through the woods at night, that sounds a little scary.” She told him the truth. She did want all four of them. What she wouldn’t tell him was that she didn’t feel like she would be able to keep their attention for a lifetime. Four men and one woman… Yeah right. Things like that didn’t happen, and if it did it usually involved getting really drunk at a frat party. Temporary and awkward, with the walk of shame the next morning.

  “You already know so much about us. I have no secrets from you. You know that you’re our mate.” He waited for her nod and then continued. “There is a bonding ceremony that happens on the night of the full moon. It’s an old tradition dating back centuries. Most mated couples, ménages, whatever, participate for fun. It’s not mandatory. The ceremony seems to bond the mates, making them closer, able to read each other better. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun from what I’ve been told.” Ryan stood up and led her to the large bench in the shower. She didn’t say anything, hoping that he would tell her more.

  They sat on the bench, two naked bodies leaning against each other. “I thought we should get more comfortable. Anyway, the whole clan doesn’t join in and participate like the old days. It’s only the bonding mates. It happens on the full moon when our animals are closer to the surface, that way man and beast can both bond, making the mating even stronger. Were you scared the whole time?” She saw concern in his eyes and really concentrated on how she felt.

  “No. There were so many different things in my head. I do remember feeling a little giddy. So this dream, are you saying it wasn’t really a dream at all then?” She already knew the answer. Ryan was always so honest. He wanted to make sure that she knew everything.

  “It’s a dream that prepares you for the cere
mony. We don’t have to do that, though. We’ve already made love, and I’ve marked you. Nathan and Ethan have as well. The bonding ceremony would be good, though, to bond us more than we are, and I’m sure at that point Lucas would be involved. Most males dream of the ceremony. We get to be wild, let our animals out to play.” Katie moved then, climbing on Ryan’s lap. She needed him to hold her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she kissed him. She took her time, enjoying his lips and tongue.

  She put her head on his shoulder. “The ceremony, is that like marriage for your clan? I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.”

  “The fact that you’re our mate and we’ve marked you, that’s the marriage part. The ceremony is the bonding, and that’s for the mates.” Ryan nudged her shoulder, and Katie sat up again. “There’s no going back, Katie. You are our mate. There isn’t anyone else for us. You are it. I know this is hard for you, and I’m trying to be patient and honest, but you have to know that we won’t let you go. I won’t let you go.”

  Katie stared at him, unsure of what to say. She already knew that he was taking her to her sister in the morning. When she was away from this house and away from these men, maybe then she would be able to think straight. Maybe then, they would realize that she wasn’t meant for them. Could that happen?

  Ryan stood up and set her on her feet. He climbed out of the shower and started drying off, keeping his back to her. She knew that she must’ve hurt his feelings and wanted to run after him and apologize. She shut off the water and stood there for another minute, letting the cold air reach her. Ryan walked over and handed her a towel, and she grabbed it, drying off without saying a word.

  She just needed some time to think. Everything was happening so fast. She had been there a handful of days. How was she supposed to come to terms with her thoughts and feelings that fast? Ryan, Nathan, and Ethan kept saying that she was their mate, that she belonged to them. They knew that because of the animal inside them, but she didn’t have any guidance in her. She did feel an unbelievable need and want to be with them. She couldn’t deny that.

  She walked into the bedroom and grabbed her clothes, getting dressed quickly. She put her long-sleeve shirt on and a sweater. She felt so cold now. She moved slowly and sat next to the fire, watching the flames jump and dance. She kept thinking about her dream, about Ryan and, of course, about Nathan, Ethan, and Lucas.

  * * * *

  Ryan watched Katie as she sat by the fire. His good intentions seemed to have made things a confusing mess. He wanted to be honest with his mate. He tried to explain things to her and hoped that she would be as excited as he was. He wanted to have the bonding ceremony. He wanted her to realize that they were her mates. It was a two-way street. When he was saying mine, he pretended she was saying it back. He wanted to belong to her. They only had a matter of hours before he took her to see her sister.

  He walked out of the bedroom and toward the kitchen. He wanted to make her something to eat and then sit by the fire and try to explain more about mates and answer more questions for her.

  “Hey,” Ethan said when he walked into the kitchen.

  “Hey.” Ryan walked straight to the fridge and started looking for something to make her. He decided on sandwiches, something simple. He wasn’t the cook in the family.

  “Tomorrow morning, we’re gonna see the elders. We want you to stay here with Katie.” Ethan’s words surprised him, but he kept his head down, focusing on making the food instead of showing Ethan his shock. How was it possible that things were working out so easily? He wouldn’t have to sneak Katie out of the house. His brothers weren’t going to be home. Maybe it was a sign or something.

  “That’s a good idea.” He couldn’t say more for fear that he might give something away. The only reason he was taking Katie was that he had promised, and if nothing else, he always kept his word.

  “I thought so. Lucas wants to go to the elders because he wants more time with her. He has a lot of making up to do. She should have all four of us. Maybe then the bonding will become stronger,” Ethan said.

  “Where are Nathan and Lucas?” Ryan asked.

  “They went for a run. Adam, Brandon, and Chloe should be having their bonding ceremony in a bit. Nobody is allowed to be out running. They don’t want her being embarrassed. Therefore, the clan is out now. They’ll be home in a bit.” Ethan grabbed one of the sandwiches before leaving the kitchen. Ryan didn’t try to stop him. He just made another one before heading back to the master bedroom.

  When he walked into the room, Katie was in the same place he had left her, still staring at the fire. He walked over to the chair next to her and sat down. When she looked at him, he handed her one of the plates.

  “I know this is confusing. It must be hard to understand. I grew up this way, knowing about shifters, about multiple partners in a relationship, and knowing that this is exactly what I want for my life.” He took a bite of his sandwich, trying to give her some time to gather her thoughts.

  “When I met you, I instantly wanted you. It was the same with your brothers, but I didn’t want to admit that. You are all so different, and I like you each in a different way. It hasn’t been that long. It’s weird. I’m thinking about changing my whole life after a week. That’s not normal.”

  “That’s true for non-shifters. I’m willing to change my life, and so are my brothers, and that was after knowing you one day. This isn’t exactly a normal situation.” He tried to emphasize the word normal by putting it in air quotes. Because what really was normal? He had grown up in a clan of polar-bear shifters. His parents were in a ménage marriage. It might not be human society standards of normal, but it was his life. She was his mate.

  “I guess you’re right. I didn’t think of it that way. This is new to me, and I really just need a little time wrapping my head around it.” She took another bite of her sandwich, not saying anything more. Ryan enjoyed the silence with her.

  Ethan walked into the room and went to Katie, dipping his head and kissing her on the lips quickly before sitting down on the floor in front of her chair. “Nathan and Lucas should be back any minute.”

  “I didn’t realize they were gone,” Katie said.

  “Yep. Went out for a run. It’s a full moon tonight.” Ethan grabbed her legs and put them over his shoulders, leaning his back against the chair as he stared at the fire. It was a funny-looking position, and Ryan shook his head.

  “Full moon huh? What does that mean?” Katie asked.

  “It means we’re a bit wilder tonight. I don’t know if you can handle all four of us tonight. Maybe we should let you rest and give you more time.” Ethan stared at the fire, and Ryan was wondering what he was thinking.

  “You’re probably right. I need more time to think about this whole mate thing anyways. I’m not sure if I’m ready.” She let out a deep breath, and Ryan swallowed, unsure of what she might say next. Would she reject them?

  “You are our mate.” Nathan growled from the doorway, and Ryan watched as Katie jumped and moved to look at him.

  Katie moved her legs off Ethan’s shoulders, and it seemed like she was already creating some distance. Ryan’s shoulders slumped. This wasn’t going to be good. It was a full moon, and he could see the strain on Nathan’s face. His animal was roaming, just at the surface.

  “I know. Ryan’s been kind enough to tell me everything. I’m just not sure I’m ready for this. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt any of you. I came here to make sure my sister was okay. Ryan brought me to your house instead. I do care about all of you. I just need to think. Being around all of you is making it hard on me.”

  “Hard on you? Seriously? We’ve been completely calm and accommodating. We’ve been taking care of you. We’ve told you that you’re our mate. That’s forever! We all agreed to let Ryan talk to you and explain everything. What more is there to think about? You’re not some temporary girlfriend. We’ve marked you.” Nathan stalked into the room, and Ryan held his breath, hoping this little conversation di
dn’t turn into some sort of battle. Lucas followed closely behind him, smirking. Ethan changed positions as well, wanting to watch Katie.

  Oh, God. This isn’t going to turn out good, Ryan thought as he shoved his hands through his hair.

  “I told you so,” Lucas said, and Ryan groaned.

  “She isn’t going anywhere.” Ethan shot him a glare. “We’ll give you more time, Katie, if that’s what you need. We more than care about you. We love you. We want forever. This is different than what you’re used to. I’ll try to understand, but we won’t be letting you go anywhere.” Ethan got up then and left the room, and Ryan really hoped that Lucas would follow without saying anything stupid.

  “You can’t just keep me here!” Katie jumped up off the chair, and Ryan cringed.

  “Yes we can, sweetheart! You aren’t going anywhere!” Nathan added and left the room. Lucas didn’t say a word, just looked at Katie with a smirk on his face before following Nathan out.

  “Shit,” Ryan whispered. He was always the damn peacekeeper. It was a position he hated being in. Tomorrow when his brothers realized that he took her to their Alpha’s house, he was gonna get it.

  “What the hell just happened?” Katie turned and stared at him.

  “When you said that you needed time to think away from us, Nathan took that to mean you wanted to leave. He probably felt rejected. It’s hard for us. We aren’t just human, Katie, we have a lot of possessive, aggressive, dominant traits from our bears. You should probably take tonight to think. Tomorrow is another day.” Ryan got up and left the room. He needed some space from this whole situation. Tomorrow was going to be shitty. He could see it now, and he was taking their mate away. His brothers were going to freak out.

  How could someone who wasn’t a shifter understand? How could he make Katie understand that they needed her, craved her, and couldn’t be apart from her for long without going crazy? He wanted to give her time to think, to come to terms with things, but he was concerned that she might not. He went to his bedroom and closed the door. He could hear his three older brothers talking in the next room, but he didn’t want to be a part of the conversation.