by Alicia White
Emma leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. “How do you know? I mean…how can you say that?”
“Things are confusing right now because this is still so new, but after a little bit, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without us. We are going to love, cherish, adore, and take care of you forever,” Mahkah told her, his voice firm, and she believed him.
“I love you, ciqala, we all do,” Chayton’s sweet voice said from behind her, and Emma couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
“I love you, too.” And she did love him. Maybe she would be able to say those three little words to Takoda and Mahkah someday soon. After all her time with Chayton and then the last week with his brothers, she was finally open to the idea of loving more than one man.
It didn’t take long for them to reach the house. Smoke billowed out of the fireplace, and Emma felt exhausted. Her mind and body were shutting down, and her stomach was empty. She just wanted to have some normalcy in her life. Exhaling loudly, she followed Takoda out of the truck and soon realized she was having trouble standing.
“It’s time for Emma to eat and go to sleep.” Takoda swung her up in his arms and headed toward the house.
“That was my plan earlier.” Mahkah stopped himself from finishing the sentence. That had been his plan. He’d wanted her to shower, eat, and then sleep before she ran off. Emma cringed, resisting the thought that ran through her head. Chayton’s betrayal. No, she wouldn’t think about that now. She knew he loved her. What he did was wrong, but his reasoning was from the heart. Mate. That made her think of so many things, but her head hurt, and she could barely keep her eyes open. She would, however, think about it tomorrow.
Takoda sat her down on the soft bed and immediately knelt in front of her. He removed each shoe and sock before rubbing her feet. Mahkah and Chayton stepped in then, stripping her down until she was completely naked. Immediately, her brain went to her dreams and these three men taking her, claiming her. Instead of taking advantage of the moment, they gently pushed her back and pulled the blankets up under her chin.
Takoda, Mahkah, and Chayton each took a turn kissing her good-night before turning away and leaving her alone. The silence was deafening, but it didn’t take long for Emma to close her eyes and fall asleep.
Emma ran through the dark forest. Everything was familiar, and she knew where to go…
Chapter 17
Gasping, Emma sat straight up and looked around. Her heart was pounding, and she was aware of a strong feeling of déjà vu. How could a dream seem so real? Everything about it was just as before, the chase, the excitement, the knowing. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear the door open.
“Hi there.” Emma gasped and jerked the covers up over her nakedness. She looked up in to Bev’s shining eyes. Their mother was in her room? Unsure of how to react, she just lay there, clutching the blanket like a lifeline. Bev smiled and walked further into the room. “I’m sorry to bother you. I thought you were sleeping. I was just dropping off some food for you to enjoy when you awoke.”
“That’s fine. You didn’t bother me. I was already awake.”
Bev brushed her hands on her skirt and smiled. “Well, enjoy the meal. I’ll leave you to eat in peace. I’m sure you don’t get much privacy with the boys here.” The older woman turned to go.
Emma stammered. “Wait…Um, can I ask you something?” That was all the encouragement Bev needed. She came back in to the room and gestured toward the edge of the bed.
“May I?” Emma immediately slid over to give her ample hips some room. She smelled of sunflower. It was a pleasant scent. Emma really looked at her for the first time. She had beautiful skin and tiny crow’s feet around her eyes. She looked good for her age. Her hair was in a single twist on the back of her head, and her smile was contagious. Emma found herself smiling back.
“It’s about the dreams, isn’t it?” Emma’s mouth fell open, and she gaped at her.
“How did you know about my dreams? I haven’t even talked to the guys about them.” Bev laughed. It was a sweet tinkering sound that reminded Emma of bells.
“All mates have them, dear. It’s more of a vision than a dream. Are they similar in nature, your dreams?” Emma could only nod. She was so blown away by what she’d just heard. She couldn’t speak for a second.
Finding her voice, she asked, “How do you know when it’s right? I mean, how did you know?” Emma felt color stain her cheeks, but she had to ask.
Bev simply said, “It’s in here.” She laid her hand over her heart. “Do you love them?”
Emma was fairly certain that she did. “Yes.” That one word brought the twinkle back to Bev’s eyes. She stood so fast that Emma almost dropped her covers. “Wait.” Emma had more questions.
“Follow your heart, pretty one. It never leads us wrong.” With that, she backed out of the room, leaving a shocked Emma to stare after her in wonder.
Emma jumped up and ran to the window to peer out. With her mind made up, she grabbed some clothes and began to dress. Fully clothed, she stared at herself in the mirror. What was she doing? Getting dressed, preparing to run through the forest, hoping her mates would chase her. Did she want to belong to all three of them? Yes, she did.
She could barely stand to be around Mahkah and Takoda and not touch them or want them. Biting her lip, Emma took a deep breath and nodded at her reflection in the mirror. This was what she wanted. She wanted to be with Mahkah, Takoda, and Chayton. No doubt about it. She craved, wanted, and needed them.
“This is the first day of the rest of your life,” she said to her reflection. She headed out of the bedroom. The hallway was dark, and Emma took her time walking down each step, giving herself a little pep talk as she made it to the front door.
Without looking back, Emma headed out into the chilly night. She looked around as she went, taking in her surroundings. The rocks and ice crunched under her shoes as she headed toward the big, thick forest in front of her. Every dream she had played in her mind, and this was exactly where she wanted to be. Outside. In her gut, she knew that her men were out here somewhere. Were they hunting together? Soon enough, they would scent her and follow her trail.
Smiling, Emma moved through the trees. The path was clear, just as it had been in her dreams. A feeling of déjà vu fell around her like a cloak, and her heart started beating in anticipation. She was excited. Picking up her pace, she started jogging, maneuvering around fallen trees. The forest came alive around her as if she was expected. Her goal was obvious. She needed to make it to the clearing to complete the ritual.
Deep growling noises followed by the crunching of fresh snow got her attention. She pushed herself to run harder and faster. Emma laughed, the sound echoing throughout the forest. She belonged to them, just as they belonged to her. She was close to the clearing, and Emma tried to calm her breathing as her heart beat frantically. The dreams had prepared her. She was ready. Stopping, she froze in place. A warm body crashed into hers, and Emma went down but her body never touched the ground.
“Turn over,” he bit out, his voice slightly distorted, and she obeyed him. Looking up, he leaned over her. In her dreams, he was gigantic, and that didn’t change in reality. His eyes were black, no white at all. His breaths were low, deep rumbling growls. He was a mixture between man and beast. She could see the bear lingering like a shadow.
“Arms above your head,” he grated, and once again Emma obeyed without question. Looking around, she saw both Takoda and Chayton stalk into the clearing. She couldn’t see their faces yet, only their bodies rippling with muscles as they moved forward one step at a time. These were her men, Mahkah, Takoda, and Chayton.
The ripping of clothes pulled her back to the moment, and she looked back at Mahkah. He sliced open her clothes, stripping her, snarling and growling while she stared at him. He stood up for a minute and tore his jeans from his body, and she stared at his hardening length. His cock was hard, pointing at her, and Emma licked her lips. Thi
s was exactly what she wanted, had been waiting for.
Positioning himself over her, he bent down and kissed her, licking her neck and nuzzling his face against her, inhaling her scent. Takoda and Chayton moved closer but didn’t join them. This was all part of the ritual, the marking. As Mahkah moved above her, she wanted to tempt him, to go to her hands and knees in front of him. It was the strongest force she had ever felt, and she could barely control her own actions. She tilted her neck, presenting it to him and showing her submission. He dragged his rough tongue across her neck, and she arched her back. Her pussy flooded.
“Turn over,” he commanded, and Emma did it immediately.
He growled, and Emma smiled. She pleased him by following orders. Shifting her hips, she waited for him to touch her, all the while getting wetter from the anticipation. She ached, feeling empty and desperate to be filled. Large hands caressed her hips, moving up her back, and finally cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples. With a gentle push, he pressed her shoulders against the ground. She laid her head on her jacket and relaxed her body. Mahkah was going to claim her, mark her.
Slowly, taking his time, he pressed two fingers into her, and Emma stayed still, panting. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.
“You’re so wet for me.” Mahkah groaned.
“Yes…take me, please,” she begged him. “Mahkah, I need you. I need all three of you.”
“You don’t have to beg, ciqala. We’re all going to claim you tonight.” Everything she dreamt about was coming true. This was happening. He was taking her, and soon both Takoda and Chayton would join. Or at least she hoped that they would. The dream never made it that far. Swallowing hard, Emma tried to ignore the nervousness she was feeling. Could she really satisfy all three of these men?
Before she could continue that train of thought, she felt the head of his cock touch her pussy, and she panted, waiting for the invasion that she craved. He was huge, and she could feel her pussy starting to stretch to accommodate his girth.
“Calm down, baby. I’m going to go real slow.” With that last sentence, he pushed his cock into her and gave her time to adjust to each and every inch. She didn’t want to wait. She was crazed with need. She wanted him to mark her, to claim her.
Wrapping her legs around his hips, she rocked back and forth, loving his hard length inside of her. Mahkah rested one hand on the ground next to her shoulder, and with the other he shoved his fingers through her hair, gripping it and easily moving her head to the side, exposing her neck. Moving faster than she expected, Mahkah’s warm breath touched her skin, and he kissed and licked at her shoulder as he moved his hips, slowly building up his pace.
Frantically, she scratched her nails up his back, needing him to move faster, to fuck her harder. He began to move, pounding his cock in and out of her pussy, and Emma was in heaven. This was the way she liked being taken, hard and rough. Her body shook with each thrust. She closed her eyes and focused on the feel of Mahkah inside of her and couldn’t believe she let herself go so long without him. Deep inside her heart, she knew this was where she belonged.
Lost in the feeling, it took her a minute to realize that it was no longer just her and Mahkah. Chayton and Takoda were no longer in the background watching, they were now kneeling next to them. Licking her lips, she looked at their naked bodies. Before she knew what she was doing, she reached out and grabbed ahold of Takoda’s cock since he was within her reach.
Opening her mouth, she pulled on his cock, and Takoda moved closer, giving her the access she wanted. Stretching her lips around his cock, her tongue darted around his shaft, touching him, licking him, exploring. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes while she worked more of him into her mouth.
“Emma,” he growled, moving even closer. When he gently cupped her face in one hand, she opened her eyes and watched him stare down at her. His eyes flared, the color seeming to become even deeper, and she couldn’t help but grin. A pinch on her nipples got her attention, and she turned her head and watched as Chayton took one into his mouth, licking and sucking. She was surrounded by three sexy men. The cold air didn’t matter. Nothing did, only this moment.
Focusing back on Takoda and his pleasure, she took her time. She scoured a heated path down his cock with her tongue. Takoda grabbed her hair, holding her head in place, and started to move, taking over. She let him have control for a minute, feeling a harder bite on her nipple from Chayton. Mahkah seemed to be losing control as well. His strokes were no longer slow and measured, but erratic and deep.
“Oh, God. Oh, hell. Oh, baby. Your mouth, it’s perfect.” Takoda managed to pant out, and Emma tightened her mouth around him, sucking harder, wanting him to come. “Baby, I’m going to explode,” he warned her, and those sweet little words pushed her to please him more. Lifting her head off the ground, she reached up and pumped her hand up and down his hard shaft. A dam seemed to break inside him, and Takoda gripped her hair tighter as he leaned forward, bracing his weight above her, and his seed sprayed into her mouth. Her lips tightened around his cockhead while she continued to suck, swallowing him down.
“Dear God! Emma!” Takoda cried out, panting, and Emma kissed the head of his cock, smiling. He moved back, looking slightly dazed, and her confidence level skyrocketed. Shifting her hips, she looked up into the beautiful, smiling face of Mahkah and watched closely as he leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth. It was so erotic. Emma bit her bottom lip, shifting her hips.
“You’re so perfect, baby. I love watching your face while Mahkah takes you. Your skin flushed, pupils dilated. Oh, the sexy little sounds you make drive me wild.” Chayton leaned down on the opposite side of her and kissed her lips. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, she swirled her tongue with his, enjoying his familiar taste.
“I want you, too, Chayton. Give me your cock.” She licked her lips and winked at him, wanting so badly to please him.
He shook his head and leaned down once more to ravage her mouth, taking everything she had to give. “Not yet, baby. It’s Mahkah’s turn. He’s going to mark you and love you.” Sitting back, he watched them, her and Mahkah, and she realized that she loved being watched by both Takoda and Chayton.
Mahkah grabbed her thick hair and pulled her toward him for a deep kiss. The kiss almost dragged her soul right out of her body. His lips were so soft, yet his actions so demanding. Her heart thudded in her throat. He reached his arm down her body, touching her clit, and her pussy flooded. Twirling his fingers, he rubbed vigorously as he pumped his hips, and she felt her orgasm approaching fast.
“Mahkah…mark me. Before I come…please…I need you.” The scrape of Mahkah’s teeth was soft as he nuzzled her neck. Then his hand snaked around her nape and clamped on, holding her in place. He was strong, and she knew that he could snap her neck if he wanted.
“Oh, God,” she moaned, giving herself over to him completely. “Oh…fuck!” His strike was strong and sure, and his teeth sank into the spot between her shoulder and her neck. The sweet pain robbed her of sight and sound until her world exploded. The massive orgasm that rolled through her had her shaking, jerking, and screaming out. She dug her nails into his shoulders, her hips bucking. It didn’t stop. Miniorgasms rocked through her. Emma panted and lay on the ground dazed and satisfied.
* * * *
When Emma went limp in his arms, he wanted to howl to the moon that he was able to please his mate. He took his teeth out of her shoulder, licking the blood and closing the wound. He only needed to pump his hips once more, and then he growled as he came deep inside of her, his perfect mate. Lying on top of her, he pulled her close and shared his warmth, but he could tell the sexual high was wearing off when she started to shiver. Moving quickly, Mahkah gathered her clothes and started to dress her.
“Let’s get back home and we can all get in a nice, warm bed.” Mahkah looked at both his brothers and could feel the arousal pumping through the woods. The night was only beginning. Takoda needed to mark Emma. Then all
three of them could love and bond with their mate.
The night had definitely taken a different turn. The three of them had only gone out for a run and ended up scenting Emma. Instead of hunting prey, they turned to tracking down their mate. She surprised him, following the dreams like a true mate. The moon and the night must’ve called to her. She knew exactly what to do, how to move, even to expose her neck. Most of the other mates were taken out to the woods. They were told about the traditions. He wanted to wait with Emma, so they agreed not to tell her about their traditions or her dreams. She changed everything, and he couldn’t be more proud.
Mahkah pulled on his jeans and watched as Chayton lifted Emma in his arms and held her against his chest. Luckily, they weren’t too far away from home. He wanted to get her inside their nice, warm home, where he planned to spend the rest of the night making love to her with his brothers. He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. He’d finally claimed his mate, after years of waiting for her. They were together at last.
Mahkah walked with his brothers, surrounding their mate as she lay comfortably in Chayton’s arms. The snow crunched under his bare feet, but he never felt so warm. Molten lava seemed to run through his veins, and he felt like the most powerful man in the world. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, his little Emma. She was the center of his world, had been since the first time he saw her. It was as if the world stopped when their eyes met, and now that he’d claimed her, it was moving again.
Peeking over at her, he caught her eyes on him and wanted more than anything to pull her close and take her. He could smell her juices lingering on his cock, could scent her delicate fragrance seeping into his pores. Thinking about other mated members in the clan, he now understood their feelings, their actions toward one another. The need to be near her was overwhelming, and he could now see why Chayton kept her to himself for a time being. He would, too. Her warmth, the feeling of being complete. He never wanted to be away from her.
