by Lori King
Caroline’s eyes filled with tears, and she sniffed. “Thank you, Whitney, that means a lot to me. I guess with the weddings, and then everyone leaving, I have been feeling a little unsettled. I hope things calm down soon.”
Whitney laughed. “Don’t count on it. I don’t remember the guys promising you a quiet life when they said their vows.”
The sound of their combined laughter eased Whitney’s tension another notch. “So, why did you ask me about the babies?” Caroline asked.
Whitney felt her stomach tighten and she hesitated. “I guess I’m just wishing for things I don’t have.”
Caroline nodded. “Believe it or not, I understand. I used to envy the other women I knew who had families to go home to. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that sometimes the things we wish for don’t come to us in the most ideal way. I wanted a man who would love me unconditionally, and I ended up with a pair of overprotective werewolves for my life mates. I don’t know of any fairy tales that described that particular happy ending, but I wouldn’t give either of them up for any prince. Just don’t rush the future. It will come when you’re least expecting it.”
Whitney smiled and nodded. “I know you’re right, but I can’t help but be jealous of you, Tina, and Shandi having good men who love you.”
“When your mate finds you, I have no doubt he will love you just as much, Whitney. How could he not?”
“Thank you, Caroline. I sure hope that fate sees things the way that you do. I’ll see you in a few hours for our shopping spree.” The two women embraced before going their separate ways. Even though she knew Caroline was right, she couldn’t deny the jealousy that lingered. Why was it that all of the eligible werewolves were being snapped up in multiples all of a sudden?
There was no way to avoid the fear in her belly that she might never find her mate. Many wolves didn’t, and with her particular Alpha Bitch tendencies, she knew that she intimidated all of the single men of the Gray pack. That left her alone unless she wanted to venture away from her home. Perhaps one of the newcomers from the Quiver Creek pack would be her mate?
A glimmer of hope sparked in her chest. If one of them turned out to be her mate, she would count herself lucky. Not only would she have a man to love, but she would be able to remain close to the only thing that mattered in her life. Her family.
Chapter 2
Twenty-four hours later…
There was barely a whisper of sound as wolves bled out of the forest onto the grassy bank of the lake that bordered Gray pack land. The first to shift had to be Devin, but he did so reluctantly. For a few precious moments while he was in his human skin, he would be completely exposed to wolves he didn’t completely trust. As the leader, it was his duty, but as a man, it was his burden.
After forcing himself out of his furry form, he rose to his feet and broadened his stance, unflinching in his nudity beneath the gaze of ten strange wolves. Barely a breath passed before they all began to shift into their human forms, and then instead of wolves, he faced a pack of large muscular men.
“Devin Gray?” The man speaking was easily in the six foot four range, and he looked like a bruiser. He had broad shoulders that probably caused him as much difficulty buying shirts as they brought him women to his bed. Paired with black hair in a short military cut and dark Hispanic coloring, he was so unlike what Devin expected that he hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Cadence Diego?” he asked, holding his hand out for the younger man.
The return handshake was firm, but not overly so. There seemed to be no animosity in the man’s body language that he could surmise. His late enemy’s son was significantly older than he had expected. “Yes, I’m Cadence, and this is my cousin Mateo Diego.” Standing next to Cadence was a man of similar build, but instead of broad shoulders narrowing into a slim waist, Mateo was proportionately wider. He looked like a professional bodybuilder, and a shiver of apprehension skittered down Devin’s spine as the man cautiously nodded to him.
Behind them stood a pair of older men, one Devin recognized immediately, and as their eyes met, he felt his lip curl up in disgust. “Rolando Asis.”
“Gray.” Rolando smirked back, obviously aware of Devin’s disdain for him, but he didn’t say anything further.
“Are we enemies, Devin Gray?” Cadence asked, looking pensive as he watched Devin and Rolando square off.
Devin shook his head. “Not necessarily, but the last time I met up with a Diego wolf we weren’t exactly on a social outing. I’m sorry for your loss, Cadence, but I won’t apologize for killing him.”
“Bastard! You killed Barton because you want to take over the Diego pack. Admit it. That’s what you’ve always wanted.” Rolando’s outburst surprised them all.
“Stop it, Rolando. You promised us all that you would be civil. I apologize for Rolando’s outburst. He’s still grieving.” The oldest man there held out his hand to Devin. “Alastair Cooper. Thank you for allowing us to hold our contest here. I don’t envy you the convincing you must have done with your pack to clear the path for it.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken.” Damon stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Devin as he, too, shook hands with the Diego pack wolves. “Dev doesn’t have to ask permission. The Gray pack knows that he would never do anything to put them in harm’s way. They stand behind their Alpha one hundred percent.”
Cadence nodded. “However it happened, we thank you. We assure you that we have come here in peace and friendship. As Alastair said, Rolando has been grieving for my father. They were friends for many years, but I’m sure he will agree that it won’t happen again.”
The look on Rolando’s face was nasty as he glared at Cadence, but he nodded after a few moments of tense silence. It was a good thing that the Diego pack was going to be naming an Alpha soon. Devin figured whoever earned the title in the match would surely still have his work cut out for him with the rest of the pack.
Gesturing to his men to step forward, he named them off individually, ensuring that the werewolves in front of him knew how close he was to his Betas. They would see his knowledge of his team as a sign of strength. It was important that they knew who the leader was here.
“Now that we’re all introduced, let’s get you back to the den. We’ve set up a couple of cabins. Unfortunately, for the moment we’re short on space, so you’ll have to bunk together. A situation came up for our pack after we agreed to hold the Alpha battle, and we have more visitors coming soon. I would like to hold the contest as soon as possible.”
The Diego men exchanged looks and fidgeted awkwardly. It was Cadence again who stepped forward to answer, and Devin confirmed his own suspicions of who the next true Alpha of their pack was meant to be. “That shouldn’t be a problem. None of us like having to have this battle at all, but it is the only fair way after everything that happened.”
“Understood. Follow me.” Devin shifted again and waited patiently while the Diego wolves stepped back to the tree line to collect their bags. They each threw a satchel over their neck, spinning it so that it rested against their spine, and then shifted back into their animal form.
A nod from Cadence, and they were on their way back to the Alpha cabin. Devin wasn’t quite sure what to make of them all, but he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sending his thoughts to his wife, he ran.
We’re on our way back, sugar. There are ten of them just like we planned.
Good, I’m not sure we could manage more. Is it safe?
Yeah, I think so. Damon, what did you think?
Rolando is still bitter, but Diego’s son Cadence isn’t. He is clearly the leader of their group.
I agree.
Well it sounds like you two have it all worked out. We’ll be waiting at the big house for you. I’ve put together some food and drinks so they can relax when they get here.
When we finish getting them settled, I have plans for you, beautiful, so don’t wear yourself out.
; Instead of replying, Caroline just sent them a few wicked images for their minds to play with, and Devin happily doubled his speed. He needed to settle the Diego family in before he could disappear with her, but he wasn’t opposed to rushing them.
* * * *
The ladies of the Gray pack were able to obtain everything necessary to fill the three new residences. There were only ten wolves coming, but they had overprepared by building two cabins to house six wolves each, and one cabin for Cadence Diego and his second. Normally they wouldn’t have made separate accommodations for a wolf until after he had won the Alpha position, but traditionally the son of the Alpha wolf would inherit his father’s position when the reigning Alpha decided to step down.
In the case of the Diego pack, Barton had been killed in the most dishonorable way possible, attacking another wolf pack for personal vengeance. So the standard rules didn’t apply. Every wolf in the pack who thought themselves strong enough would have the opportunity to fight in the Alpha battle. In Whitney’s opinion, the tradition was archaic and disgusting, but the Diego wolves had voted to use the traditional system to determine their Alpha’s rightful place.
It was expected that Cadence would still win his position of power, but there was an air of doubt when three other wolves had taken up the battle position. That meant that a total of four wolves would fight alongside their preselected seconds. Along with the eight contenders would be two of the pack’s elders who would stand in for the majority of the pack as the judges of the battle.
In essence, the Gray pack was expected to do nothing but remain an impartial audience. It was odd, but it all came down to tradition. In order for the rest of the werewolf community to take the new Alpha seriously, they had to follow tradition.
The day after the shopping trip, Whitney found herself sitting on the sofa of her Alpha’s cabin, nervously awaiting Devin and Damon’s arrival with their guests. Tawny, Shandi, and Caroline were all just as fidgety. None of the women were allowed to join the Gray men in meeting the visitors at the edge of the den property. With so few of the strong Betas still at the den, Devin didn’t want to take a chance on an ambush taking out both the male and female leaders of the pack. Most of the Gray wolves would meet the visitors later at the den clearing when Devin introduced them.
Whitney was in the middle of describing her new contract with a local wildlife magazine when the fragrance hit her straight in the gut. It swamped her senses so fully that she moaned out loud, drawing confused looks from her friends. She couldn’t help it. The sharp scent of sandalwood filled her nostrils, fogging her brain. Her breath was trapped in her lungs, and her heart was racing. She could feel her wolf butting against her, trying desperately to get out, to find the origins of the deliciously enticing aroma. Her skin tingled all over, and even the tiny hairs on her neck stood up as it became stronger.
Twisting her head, she heard the crunch of feet on the grassy front lawn, followed by the rumble of male voices. Her body started trembling with anticipation, and it all clicked in her head in an instant. Her mate.
Mate.
Her heart pounded at the one word growled by her wolf, and she gasped as it bounced in her brain like a ping pong ball. Her mate was headed this way, and her wolf wanted him desperately. No, not wanted, that wasn’t a strong enough word. She needed him. Her body ached with the need. She could feel the points of her canine teeth as they lowered, and her bones screamed out to shift and run toward the scent of her soul’s other half.
The door pushed open and she heard a sharp male voice snarl, “Move, now.” Devin and Damon came through it first as a growl escaped her throat that was matched by someone on the other side of the door.
Wait…was that two growls? What the hell was happening?
Before she could question it further, she was on her feet, moving toward the front door. Devin and Damon were forcibly pushed out of the doorway, and a pair of the sexiest and scariest looking men she had ever seen filled her vision.
Her pussy wept into her panties, and her nipples stood up hard as diamonds, begging to be touched. Her wolf whined with pleasure at being this close to its mate, but the human side of her brain was struggling and her hands were trembling. Confusion hummed through her as her eyes darted back and forth between the two. They were the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, but they both carried an aura of bad boy, too. Who was her mate? Shouldn’t she just know?
Instead of moving closer, she took a step backward, away from the unknown. The two men growled simultaneously, and the slightly shorter of the two stalked toward her first, with the taller one right in his shadow.
In that moment, the fear of the unknown was overcome by an animalistic desire to be in her mate’s arms, and she moved forward, meeting the first man in only a couple of steps. He wrapped one arm around her waist and used the other hand to grip the nape of her neck, tilting her head backward. She felt her lips part as he dropped his head down. When their mouths met, she whimpered loudly in her throat, and her body caught fire. It raced through her system, lighting her soul up from the inside out, and she very nearly came in front of everyone.
His mouth was hard and forceful, but his tongue swept leisurely over hers in a sensual dance. Tempting and teasing while demanding and devouring. It was everything she had hoped to feel when she met her mate. She felt their souls touch as he held her, and she wanted to laugh, cry, and eat him alive all at the same time.
A second pair of hands touched her shoulders, and her wolf relaxed even further at this new touch. Her body responded by pressing back against his hardness. It was several moments before she grasped the fact that she was being held by two different men, and her wolf was ecstatic about both of them.
Roughly jerking her mouth free from the stranger’s passionate onslaught, she panted, trying to recover her breath and her brain function. Two men meant two mates. Fuck no, her brain screamed at her, while her wolf rolled around inside of her like a happy puppy.
Mate.
Stupid wolf. Was that the only word she knew now? She closed her eyes, trying to get her bearings before opening her mouth, but all she could hear was her wolf.
Mate. Mate. Mate.
“What the hell is going on?” Devin demanded from the doorway. She jumped, letting out a nervous whine before opening her eyes and looking up.
“Oh my God,” she whispered as her vision was trapped by the darkest brown eyes she had ever seen in her life. They were the color of melted dark chocolate, and right now they were glowing. She could feel her own wolf under her skin basking in the heated gaze, but she fought to tamp it down. “Who are you? What is happening?”
“Exactly what the fuck I want to know.” Her oldest brother Liam’s voice came out in a snarl, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the man still holding her close. A soft sigh against her ear and the tightening of fingers on her shoulders made her jump. The second man was still there, too.
“I’m Cadence Diego. But you already know what’s happening, my flower. I’m your mate. Now, tell me your name.” His voice soaked into her veins like aged whiskey, and she felt her body relaxing even further under his touch.
“Whitney Gray,” she heard herself murmur in an unusually husky tone.
“Whitney….beautiful.” The second man’s voice was lower and deeper than Cadence’s, but it affected her equally. Her panties were so wet that she was afraid she was dripping on the carpet, and she clenched her thighs together. Both men let out a low rumble of approval as the strong scent of desire drifted around the three of them like a cloud. “I’m Mateo Diego, Whitney, and apparently you are also my mate.”
She couldn’t seem to form words with her tongue. It was as if the ground had just suddenly thrust her up in the air and then disappeared from beneath her, leaving her to free-fall back down to Earth. Liam broke the tension.
“Devin, do something! These two fuckers can’t just waltz in here and screw my baby sister on the living room floor,” Liam snarled. Whitney’s eyes drifted over to
the door way and took in the fact that they had a rather large audience for this very private moment.
A sense of awkwardness filled her, and she pressed her hands against Cadence’s chest, giving him a little push to get some distance. Drawing in a deep breath, she turned back to Liam. His ice-blue eyes were filled with an equal amount of anger and concern, and her heart squeezed. This was her big brother. She knew how much he wanted to protect her, but he was going about it the wrong way.
“Shut up, Liam. This isn’t about you and what makes you uncomfortable. I just found my mate…er…mates. I think you should be congratulating me.” Her tone was firm but not harsh.
A low chuckle had her turning to take in the man behind her. Mateo was about two inches taller than Cadence, which put him at six and a half feet tall. Compared to her five foot eight inches, they were mountains. Especially when she took in the ridges and mounds of muscle they were encased in. She had grown up around handsome faces and athletic bodies, but she couldn’t help perusing their body builder physiques with feminine appreciation. They were both delicious looking men. Cadence joined his pack mate in soft laughter, and her pride prickled.
“Are you laughing at me?” Knowing she sounded snotty didn’t stop the words from coming out, but it did stop her from pinning Mateo with a nasty glare. Especially when his eyes narrowed and he stopped laughing.
“I would never laugh at you, mate. Don’t misinterpret my admiration as arrogance, mi reina.” The way the last word rolled off of his tongue with the hint of a Spanish accent made her pussy clench.
“Well, this is certainly unexpected, Diego,” Devin said from the doorway where he stood with his arms across his chest.
