The Mating Rules

‘Hello Luella’ I sigh in resignation, studying the woman who came into my pack and told me the story of my wolf and those that came before me.

‘Hello Spirit Wolf’ the old woman returns, pulling a chair from nearby and taking a seat so that we are facing each other. ‘Yes, I came to meet you right at the beginning, as soon as I felt your wolf emerge.’

I shake my head slowly, ‘you were so damn convincing’ I mutter more to myself than my captor.

‘What?’ she taunts, ‘did you really think you met the Moon Goddess’ little lackey? She writes history, you naïve child! Did you think she has some spotty teenage intern or something who could just take over the job for her so she could come and interfere with fate?’

To be honest, I hadn’t even thought about it, the Warlock is right, I was naïve. I took Luella and everyone else at face value, even after she warned me to trust no one, I still did. The Warlock is right, I am naïve and I walked right into his arms with my mates, he didn’t even have to try to get me where he wanted me, I came willingly.

The old woman laughs at my obviously stricken face, inching closer on her seat as she reaches out to brush a strand of my hair behind my ear. ‘You wolves are such a gullible species, it’s almost laughable’ she murmurs fondly. ‘Every single one of you that gets the gift of the Goddess is the same. You think you can outrun your destiny, that somehow you can change fate but none of us can.’

She takes a deep breath, her hand falling back to her own lap, ‘We are connected, your Spirit Wolf and I, we have been for millenia. My b***d is your b***d, the power of the Goddess runs through my veins just like your own and it will always try to return to you. Like a tether, it leads me to you every single time you emerge, a single invisible link between us, pulling me toward you unwaveringly.’

She sits back in her chair as I glare at her, anger licking at my insides, ‘so why didn’t you just kill me when you came to the pack house?’ I demand, ‘why all the cat and mouse games? Was there a reason for you wanting me to think I stood a chance to win?’

The old woman glances at me meaningfully, her gaze suddenly curious and with what looks like a pinch of . . . respect?

‘You chose both your mates,’ she muses softly, ‘for the first time in I can’t tell you how long, one of the mates was not rejected. I had no idea how strong you would be or what your mark would do to those two mutts over there’ she indicates carelessly to the lifeless forms of the two men I love. ‘I also admit, I was vaguely curious, no wolf has had the fire to go against the laws, they have always chosen one of the mates and released the other, I wanted to meet the she wolf who spat in the face of tradition, saw what she wanted and took it be damned the concequesnces.

I have learned over the years little wolf, that you should never underestimate your opponent and never trust anyone, I needed information on you, what was different about your character compared to those who came before you? You are an anomaly, Spirit Wolf, when I put that law in place so long ago, one mate for each wolf, it was to help me weaken you. Only you get two mates, no one else. It was also another way for me to find you, just in case that pesky Goddess came up with a way to break our connection some how, I wouldn’t put it past her. I always make sure that I have the right she wolf before I do anything. let us be honest, it would be all out war if I accidentally hurt an innocent woman, I like to cover all angles.

With the one mate law in place, Alphas were diligent in notifying the Council of a she wolf gifted two mates. If there is one thing you can guarantee with the werewolf kind, they are sticklers for the rules. As soon as a pack would find a she wolf double mated, they would tell the council and I would wait for her to pick a mate before striking.’

‘So I’m not the first to get two mates then?’ I frown.

Luella laughs, ‘of course not’ he bubbles out in amusement, ‘you are just the first to go against my law and mark them both’ he admits with a sigh.

‘I concede, I was impressed with you, despite the crimp it placed in my own plans. Finally, a she wolf that would maybe wield the power she was given. You know for the last few awakenings, I wondered if maybe the Moon Goddess had held back with the previous Spirit Wolves, made them weaker to stop me reaching the heights of power needed to dislodge her and her band of meddling friends. Then you were awakened and it was different, I could always feel your wolf in her previous births, but with you, it was stronger, I could almost taste your strength.’ The old woman gazes at me, a flicker of hunger in her eyes as she licks her lips. ‘

I straighten my shoulders, meeting the old woman’s gaze and hold it steadily, ‘I want to see you’ I announce strongly, ‘I want to see the real you. Not the disguises you used to get near me, but the face that you were born with, the one you intend to rule our world with.’

Luella tilts her head slightly, studying me for a moment before nodding and standing up, pushing her chair back. Waving a hand, she shrouds herself in smoke, her whole body hidden from view before it clears to reveal a tall thin man. His jet Black hair is perfectly groomed, sweeping across his forehead in a sexy ruffled look. He has deep brown eyes and his skin is naturally sun kissed. He stands at least six foot two and would be considered handsome to most but if you looked closely, you could see a hardness to his gaze and a low frequency vibe that screamed that he was dangerous.

‘So this is the real you? This is Avrilak?’ I murmur, trying to sound unaffected.

‘It is’ the man replies, doing a slow turn so I can take him all in, ‘do I live up to the hype? Dangerous, power hungry murderer? Would you run from me at a party?’

The truth is, if I met him at a party, I’d probably be quite charmed by him, even his dangerous trait would most likely draw she wolves to him rather than push them away. We do have a natural respect for power, it draws us like a flame and this man oozes control and dominance.

‘I’d no doubt shake your hand and then wipe it inconspicuously on my dress after you moved away’ I retort instead, causing Avrilak to grin in delight.

‘Oh, I love your sass’ he murmurs, ‘I’d definitely have asked you to dance, and enjoyed the jealousy that would have been written all over the Alpha pup to see you in my arms.’

I arch an eyebrow, ‘you don’t mention Hadley, he would be more likely to rip your arms off me without a warning.’

Avrilak shakes his head as he walks over to my mates, ‘no, the warrior is different’ he muses, ‘it’s strange. He is devoted to you, that is plain to see, but he holds no jealousy. The Alpha, well he suffers jealousy even over you being with your other mate, but the warrior, like a said, an anomaly.’

Clapping his hands together, the warlock rubs them together, his face lighting up with anticipation, ‘now, what do you say about us waking these two fine gentlemen up?’ he asks, not even waiting for me to reply before he produces two syringes and plunges one into each of my mates necks simultaneously.

Both men flinch as whatever was in the injections infiltrates their systems before Hadley G****s as Caden tries to move his neck with a grimace.

‘Caden? Hadley?’ I call out desperately, unable to stop myself. I should be projecting a cool façade but the sight of my mates finally moving alerts every protective instinct in me.

‘Leeway?’ Caden is the first to talk, forcing his eyes to open as I strain over the side of my chair, trying to get closer to them both. He squnts against the lights for a moment before his gaze lands on me, a frown marring his features.

‘Leeway’ he croaks again, trying to move but the silver restraints hold him in place. ‘What the hell’ he mutters, glancing down at himself then across to Hadley as he g****s again, then back to me before finally landing his gaze on Avrilak. ‘A*****e’ he snarls, yanking at the cuffs, growling deeply at the Warlock who looks amused by the Alpha’s anger.

‘Welcome back Alpha’ the Warlock replies warmly, ‘I hope you found your sleep restful.

‘What the f*ck is going on?’ Hadley grumbles drunkenly, his eyes still unfocused as he swings his gaze around the room in confusion.

‘Hadley?’ I whimper, ‘can you hear me? Are you OK?’

My voice seems to ground the warrior because his gaze snaps to mine and a slow smile crawls across his face. ‘Hey sweetheart’ he murmurs, ‘I’m perfect now that I’ve laid eyes on you.’

I bite back a smile as I drink the man in hungrily, it’s been so long since I’ve seen him. He’s thinner, his clothes are filthy and his usually soft strands are matted with dirt and b***d. ‘I missed you’ I whisper, wanting nothing but to wrap my arms around him and never let him go.

Hadley winks at me, ‘not as much as I missed you and waking up to that gorgeous face every morning’ he replies.

‘OK, enough with the simpering declarations of love’ Avrilak cuts across us, folding his arms across his chest. ‘Let’s get to the fun shall we?’

Walking over to my mates, he steps behind them, laying a hand on each of their shoulders, ignoring Caden’s growl of warning. ‘Let’s play a game shall we?’ he asks, looking directly at me.

‘What kind of game?’ Hadley asks warily, his gaze shifting from me to the man in control.

Avrilak grins, his gaze predatory as he watches me, ‘why, Jamie-Lee’s favourite game’ he croons, ‘pick the mate.’

I shake my head automatically, ‘we are already mated and marked, you can’t make me reject one’ I shoot back immediately, ‘it won’t work.’

The Warlock’s grin widens as he tilts his head at me, ‘you are not picking who to reject Spirit Wolf’ he murmurs, ‘you are picking which one will die.’