Chapter 24
“Dang girl! Three hot guys as your mates? Is this a shifter thing or can this human get in on this action?” Natalie shouted and giggled which broke the tension in the air. I laughed at her and the guys glared for her getting my attention. Having several mates was going to be so much fun. I still felt a bit empty so I asked my mom what that could mean.
Her eyes got huge and she rushed up to me. “Ryder there is nothing wrong with feeling that way. It just means you have more mates out there you need to find, quickly. Each mate makes you stronger in different ways and you make them stronger. This is something that needs to happen to be strong enough to lead us all back to reclaim what is rightfully yours along with peace among all the different supernatural species.” She gave me a hug before standing back,” Ok everyone. We are going to call this a night. I think it would be a great time for my daughter to get acquainted with these men as her mates and not her enemies. Melissa, Natalie, and Parker do you want to stay over in Ryder’s room?”
“Mom where am I going to sleep?” I just shook my head at how bossy she was being.
“You and your mates are going outside to get to know each other and each other’s wolves so we can move forward to find your other mates. And do not fight me on it!” She shoved me toward the back door, and I just couldn’t even say anything back with how shocked I was.
I could hear the guys following me out so I just kept going. I knew they would follow me wherever I went and I wanted to talk with them privately. I hope Blake and Andrew knew that just because we are mates doesn’t erase the s**t they pulled before so they were already on thin ice.
“Where are we going Ryder? Are you trying to get away from us so soon, Mate?” Asher asked with a smile. I looked at him and winked before shifting into Blue and making a run for it. I could hear them all growl before shifting themselves and Blue was excited for the chase. ‘Give them hell, Blue. They need to know we aren’t the kind of mate to roll over and just take their crap!’ She smiled and ran faster while criss crossing until she came to our favorite tree and climbed up it to hide. ‘Blue mask our scent a bit to make them work for it.’ She snickered and did as I asked. We could hear the guys searching all over the place while getting a bit frustrated and confused.
“Her scent ends here so where the heck did she go?” Andrew growled out after he shifted back. I never thought I would enjoy looking at his naked butt as much as I was. I had to hold in a giggle or small bark since I hadn’t shift back yet.
“You don’t think someone would know where we were headed to take her, right?” Blake asked trying to sniff out other wolf scents. He had a tattoo on his back of his wolf and it was amazing. I wanted one of Blue now and she nodded in agreement.
“No, we would of sniffed them out by now. I think our little mate has other powers he has yet to tell us about. I think she is going to be a sneaky one we will have to keep an extra eye on.” He laughed before sitting down and decided to wait me out from what I could tell. I knew the gig was up so I grabbed the bag of clothes I had hid up here after shifting back silently and getting dressed. I had enough extra clothes up here for them to have some on as well even if it was a damn shame I couldn’t keep checking out what they had to offer me.
I threw down the bag of clothes and it landed with a thump. They all jumped and looked up at the tree. I jumped down right after and smiled at them. “I have some clothes for you boys to put on so we can have a talk. How about you all get dressed and I will get some firewood since it will be getting a bit chilly soon?” They all nodded and I ran off.
By the time I got back they all had clothes on and it seemed someone sniffed out my bag of snacks. I just shook my head and started putting the sticks together to start a fire. Asher knelt down and put his hand on mine when I felt like small fireworks were going off in my head and my mind was telling him to put his hand somewhere more private. I looked up at him with l**t in my eyes and met his l**t filled eyes which scared me back to reality. Shaking my head to get my brain back on track I smiled at him and took my hand away. Instead of him acting hurt he took over making a fire like that is what he intended to do anyway. I moved back and sat down facing the other two watching them to see if they wanted to start us off. I was nervous, angry, resentful, hopeful, and so many other emotions that my brain and heart were going crazy.
“So this silence is very awkward and I am having a hard enough time with my wolf who wants to be right beside you or marking you as ours so I want to clear the air so we can at least feel more of the mate bond and start to be better together.” Blake stated as he looked at everyone and settled on me. He smiled and it was like I was seeing it for the first time and it made me want to giggle like a little girl. Crap on a cracker am I going to be able to hold out to see if they are really in this for the long haul.
“Well that is an honest confession and it is about time you all are honest with me.” I sneered as I sat up straight with my legs crossed in front of me. “This is hard for me in several ways. I have thought about a mate since my parents told me about them and the bond they have. I never thought it would be with you two and I actually had nightmares where you both were part of my life after high school. Your both on thin ice even with the mate bond. Rejection is a last resort but always an option so keep that in mind if you lie, torment, or hurt me in any way. Got it?” I kept my eyes on them both waiting for their answer. I have never felt this torn before and I hated it. My heart wanted to be near them, touching them, forgiving them, and even marking them but my head and Blue both knew reason so that is what kept me seated where I was. These guys have made my life hell almost every day of high school yet here I am expected to mate and mark them like nothing happened.
“I know we did wrong before and there is no excuse for it. I have always felt drawn to you and now I know why. I want to be the mate you deserve so please give us a chance. I know Blake feels the same way and I am sorry Richard is such an a*s about all of it.” Andrew’s eyes were so sad and I felt like I had hurt him in the worst way. I got up to sit between them and Asher. It felt like my body needed it and when they all scooted closer it seemed they did too.
Asher got close enough to grab my hand and he kissed it as he threaded his fingers between mine. “Ryder, we don’t know much about each other but I can tell you’re a fierce and passionate person. I can’t wait to get to know you and treat you right.” My body relaxed and I smiled.
Before I could look toward Blake for an actual answer Asher leaned forward and kissed me. It was soft at first but I needed more. I lost all thoughts of taking it slow and anything that would make his lips leave mine. I scooted closer to him and he pulled me onto his lap leaving my legs straddling his and my butt sitting on his manhood. ‘He wants us! Let’s mate and mark him right now. The others can wait!’ Blue shouted in my head and I had to shove her back before she had her teeth in his neck marking him as mine. I pushed away from him and leaned my forehead against his. Both of our breathing was heavy and neither of us wanted to stop.
“Your taste yummy, Asher. I can’t wait to make you mine for all the see but for now let’s go a bit slow. This is all new to me and you just gave me a killer of a first k**s for us.” I smiled at him before crawling off his lap and sitting back down. I looked at the other guys and I saw the l**t in their eyes.