The Mating Rules

Caden growls angrily, his claws sliding out as he rounds on the newcomer, his wolf pushing forward as he places himself between me and whoever this other guy is.

‘You better leave, I will kill you’ Caden growls.

‘Not a chance Star’ comes the equally pissed off reply and my heart stops, Hadley? Hadley Carrington is also claiming to be my mate?

‘Skarla?’ I whimper to my wolf, ‘what is happening?’

‘Mate is here’ Skarla replies dreamily, lying down in my mind. Stupid mutt, as helpful as a paper ashtray.

In front of me, Hadley has moved around slightly and I can finally see him from around Caden’s broad frame. That feeling is there again, the desire to rub my body over his, cover him with my scent, and make sure everyone knows he belongs to me. What the hell is happening? We only get one mate, it’s written in werewolf lore. No one gets more than one fated mate, no one!

‘She’s mine, back away before I make you’ Caden is snarling, watching Hadley intently, making sure he is always between me and the warrior.

‘No, she’s my mate, and you won’t be taking her’ Hadley replied, a hard edge to his voice. ‘I’ll fight till my last breath for her Star, you can count on it.’

‘Submit!’ Caden yells, his temper snapping as he tried to force Hadley with an Alpha order.

‘No!’ Hadley growls back, not even flinching under the order. I’m mesmerised, how is a warrior fighting an Alpha order? It’s not possible, Caden is our future Alpha. The only people who can resist him are his parents. Even his sister can be brought down if he tries hard enough.

In front of me, the two men launch at each other, claws out as they s***h without prejudice at their competition. B***d is flowing freely from their wounds, new ones appearing as quickly as the old ones heal.

‘Stop it! Stop!’ I scream, the pain that they are both feeling causing me to double over. I’m not even marked, I hate to think what this would feel like if I were.

The two males ignore me, intent only on killing the other, ‘Dad! Please come! Hurry! They are going to kill each other!’ I scream through the mind link.

Cutting the connection before he can start asking me questions, knowing he will come, I jump up from my seat, moving toward the fighting men just as bones cracking fill the air and Caden is replaced by a huge black wolf, Cobalt taking complete control, his gold eyes flashing dangerously.

Hadley’s bones c***k and his familiar grey wolf, Hunter, appears. Only a few centimetres differ in their height, but both are deadly.

‘Please! Stop!’ I beg, tears leaking out of my eyes as I try to get near them, instinctively wanting to touch them both to calm them down.

The two wolves are too far gone though, and each rears up, teeth and claws clashing as they rip into each other, trying to force the other to submit. I can do nothing but stand back helplessly as Hunter’s teeth sink into Cobalt’s shoulder, the Alpha clawing at the warrior’s face, tearing at his skin in retaliation.

Crashing behind me sounds before Alpha Scott’s voice booms over the fight. ‘ENOUGH!’ he roars, his alpha order washing over the three of us forcing me to my knees as I tilt my head to the side, baring my neck in submission.

Behind me, the two wolves still, falling to their feet, necks bared as I stare at them both.

‘SHIFT’ Alpha Scott orders the two wolves and bones immediately c***k as my mates appear before me, very strong, very muscular and dear Goddess, very VERY naked!

A strangled noise leaves me as I slam my hands over my eyes, covering them completely. An amused chuckle that I just know comes from Caden tells me that my reaction didn’t go unnoticed.

I’m not a prude, but to suddenly be faced with two men I’m now unfortunately very attracted to with their goods out on display, does something to a woman!

A rustling sound can be heard telling me that both men have been handed some form of clothing, but I still wait an extra minute before peeking through my fingers, thankful to find that they both now wear shorts.

‘What is going on?’ Alpha Scott demands furiously.

‘I came to claim my mate and Carrington broke through the line’ Caden snarled immediately.

‘No, I, came to claim MY mate!’ Hadley bit back, his usual calm demeanor seeming to have deserted him. ‘You were already here and I don’t know why. Maybe being the Alpha’s son means the claiming line doesn’t apply to you’ he added under his breath, earning him a growl.

Alpha Scott opens the mind link to the entire warrior line and highest rank wolves, his voice reverberating in my own mind. ‘All warriors who let a wolf through the line, report to me in the clearing.’

Seconds later, four men appeared, looking warily at the Alpha as they bowed their heads respectfully.

‘Who did you let through?’ the Alpha asked curtly of the red headed man in his forties.

‘Alpha Caden’ he replied promptly, ‘he approached myself and Lang’ he indicated to the scarred man beside him, ‘he was definitely hearing the calling, we let him through.’

Alpha Scott nodded grimly before turning to the blonde who was looking worried, ‘and you two?’ he growled.

Straightening up, the warrior nodded, ‘we let through Warrior Hadley, he too presented with obvious signs of the calling. His wolf was on the surface and he was almost feral, he would have ripped us apart if we had tried to deny him.’

Alpha Scott puffed out a breath, ‘thank you, back to your posts’ he ordered, the four bowing before disappearing immediately into the trees.

He turns to me, I shift around so I’m facing him completely, feeling the eyes of my mates on my back, making me shiver slightly. ‘Jamie-Lee’ he rumbles, and I know he’s serious, he never uses my full name, ‘stand up.’

I do as instructed and he steps closer to me, placing his hands on my arms, ignoring the growls behind me. It’s dangerous even for an Alpha to touch an unmarked wolf on claiming night.

‘Skarla’ he calls quietly, my wolf immediately perking up, ‘come forward.’

I’m shoved back in my mind as my wolf takes control, ‘yes Alpha’ she says through my mouth, her voice courser than my own.

‘Look at the wolves behind you’ Alpha Scott orders, ‘which one is your mate?’

Skarla turns immediately. She cannot disobey her alpha even if she wants to.

‘Cobalt is my mate’ she says simply, causing the younger Alpha to smirk widely as Hadley’s face falls, ‘and Hunter is my mate’ she finishes.

‘What?’ Caden yells, his body rigid as his gaze swings from me to Hadley, ‘Dad!’

Alpha Scott sighs, ‘Caden’ he growls, ‘Skarla cannot lie to me, I am her Alpha, you are both her mates.’

I can see the moment reality hits both men, their anger and fight leaving them as they slump slightly and my heart breaks to see them so upset.

‘Thank you Skarla’ the Alpha murmurs, ‘please release Jamie-Lee back to me.’

Purring, Skarla sinks back into my mind, laying her head on her paws contentedly, she has her mate, she doesn’t care about the sh*t show going down in front of me.

My father’s voice snaps my attention to him, ‘how?’ he asks, and there is a distinct worried tone to his voice. ‘Alpha, this has never happened before.’

I frown, yeah, this has never happened before, but now the shock is starting to wear off, I’m not really understanding why everyone looks so panicked.

‘What do we do?’ my father continues, his eyes flicking toward me in concern before going back to our Alpha.

Alpha Scott runs a hand down his face, shaking his head before straightening up, authority rolling off him.

‘Jamie-Lee will have to choose which one to mate with’ he declared.

‘WHAT?’ I squeak, Caden and I hate each other and I barely know Hadley! I’m supposed to pick one of them to be tied to for life?

‘Good, Leeway, reject Carrington and come here’ Caden ordered immediately.

That damn nickname lights a fire in my chest and anger licks at me as I turn slowly toward him. ‘Don’t tell me what to do’ I snarl, slightly taken back by my own vehemence, and realise Skarla has joined me, the two of us speaking together.

‘Jamie-Lee, I am your Alpha, I need my Luna, you need to reject him now’ Caden orders again.

Before I can respond, Alpha Scott intervenes, ‘Caden, silence!’ he orders, his son’s mouth snapping shut. Turning to me, the Alpha gives me a warm smile, ‘Lee, I would like you to k**s Caden’ he says softly.

My eyes widen, ‘but . . ‘ I start.

‘JJ, just do it’ my father’s voice fills my head.

Nodding, I step toward the younger Alpha, who immediately grabs hold of me, crushing me to his chest as his lips descend on mine. The k**s is punishing and possessive and I grip his arms trying to keep myself upright as my legs turn to jelly.

Forcing his tongue into my mouth, I can’t help the m**n of desire that leaves me. ‘Let her go Caden’ Alpha Scott calls out behind me and his son reluctantly pulls away, releasing me from his arms that were wrapped tightly around my waist.

I wobble, my legs not quite ready to take my weight as I peek up at the younger Alpha who is smirking widely at me. Douche knows exactly what he’s done to me.

‘OK Lee, now k**s Hadley’ the Alpha orders, holding up a hand to his son and cutting off the angry growl that starts to rumble in his chest.

Shyly, I turn toward my other mate, reaching out to take the hand he offers me, allowing him to pull me into his embrace. I can’t seem to stop myself, my body just wants to be near them both, it gives zero shits about my confused mind.

Dipping his head to me, Hadley’s lips press softly to mine, his k**s so different from Caden’s but still making my toes curl. He doesn’t just take from me, every movement has a hesitancy, silently asking me for permission that I willingly give.

He pulls away before I’m ready, as a growl of protest leaves my throat.

‘Interesting’ Alpha Scott murmurs, glancing at my father, who looks equally confused.

‘What? Why are you forcing us to watch each other k**s her?’ Caden growled, obviously pissed at another man having his hands on me.

Alpha Scott frowned at him, silently telling his son that he’ll let his disrespect slide just this once due to the situation, but to watch his tone. ‘Caden, what did you feel when Lee kissed Hadley?’ he asked.

‘Angry, I want to rip his head off’ Caden replied immediately, sending a look of deep loathing toward the warrior, who returned it with equal measure.

‘Yes, but what did you FEEL’ his father pushed in annoyance, ‘in your chest, what did you feel?’

Caden frowned, ‘nothing’ he muttered grudgingly.

Turning to Hadley, he raised an eyebrow, ‘what did you feel when Lee kissed Caden?’ he asked.

Hadley shrugged, ‘nothing’ he repeated.

The Alpha nodded thoughtfully, ‘well that makes things easier’ he said with a touch of relief in his voice.

‘What? How does anything make this easier?’ Caden burst out, ‘my Luna has another mate!’

‘Yes and when she kissed him, you didn’t feel any pain’ his father ground out pointedly, ‘that means your wolf doesn’t consider her being with him as a betrayal.’

I blinked in surprise, everyone knew about the pain of a mate’s betrayal. Just kissing another wolf left their mate in so much pain he or she would be writhing on the ground. This is why hardly any mates stray, you just can’t get away with it, your mate knows.

‘As I said before, Jamie-lee must choose between you as to who she will mate with.’ He turns to me, smiling sadly, ‘I’m sorry sweetheart, you have until the night before the next full moon to choose, mate and mark your mate’ he says apologetically.

‘Dad! I’m the future Alpha’ Caden said, desperation lacing his voice, ‘I need my Luna.’

Alpha Scott stared at his son and I could see the pain on his face from the situation his child was in. ‘I’m sorry Caden, Jamie-Lee is the one who has been gifted two mates, it is her decision, no one else can make it for her.’

He takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly, ‘you will each spend time with Jamie-Lee over the coming moon phase. Get to know her, let her get to know you so she can make the right decision.’ He takes my hand as I try to process what is being said, ‘I’m sorry sweetheart, I know this is hard but it needs to be done.’

Turning his gaze to the two men who are still staring at us in shock, ‘you will both have equal time with your mate, you will NOT interfere when she is with her other mate, do you understand?’ he asks sternly.

Both men nod, neither uttering a word as the Alpha grimaces, turning to my dad, ‘you better take her home’ he mutters, my father nodding immediately, striding to my side and circling my arm with his hand, pulling me from the clearing.

‘STAY’ is all I hear behind me and I know either one or both of my mates tried to follow us.

‘Dad’ I whimper, my chest starting to hurt as my wolf whines, scratching at my mind harder and harder with each step I take away from Caden and Hadley.

‘Come on JJ, we need to go’ my father growls, lengthening his strides as I stumble to keep up in these ridiculous shoes.

Reaching the car, my wolf is pushing to the surface, howling loudly in despair. My father spins me around, my back hitting the passenger door as he bends to look into my eyes. ‘Skarla’ he calls out softly, ‘you need to stop, back down.’ His pain mirrors mine, but there is no mistaking the order and Skarla lays down, whimpering in my mind.

Opening the door, I’m pushed inside, the door slamming shut and my father runs around the car, sliding in, and starting the car, peeling out of the packhouse driveway as a howl of pain fills the air. I know without even trying, it’s Caden’s wolf Cobalt, calling to his mate, asking her to come back to him.

My wolf is whimpering, her body shaking from the need to reply to her mate, but my father’s order keeps her from following her instincts.

‘Daddy?’ I whisper, glancing over at my father, who is gripping the steering wheel, driving a damn sight faster on the way back to the family home than he drove here.

‘Not now JJ’ my father grits out, ‘wait until we get home, please’ he adds, shooting me a pleading look.

Nodding, I sink back into the seat, wrapping my arms around my body protectively.