Chapter 16: Mates

Tori’s POV

When making my way down the stairs slowly do I begin to hear voices. Familiar voices. One’s I hadn’t heard in over four years.

“It can’t be” I whisper, my feet pausing midway.

‘I told you’ snickers Rune.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes do I continue to listen to the voices. Another voice now speaking. A voice that was filled with authority yet gentle. A voice that I’ve never heard until today as it slowly reaches my ears.

“Who’s that? I don’t think I’ve heard that voice before” I whisper, now curious as to whose voice that could belong to.

‘You’ll never know unless you find out’

‘Says the wolf who’s been MIA for the past four years of my life’

‘I said I was sorry. But it was up to Mother Moon, not me’

Knowing he was right do I move to ignore it. Not looking to pick a fight with my wolf do I decide on moving closer. Three scents now hitting my nose. Each scent more delectable then the next. The first scent being sandalwood, citrus and cedar while the second one smelled of peppermint, vanilla and chocolate. The third and final scent being one of sage, cedarwood and lemon. All smells that I loved smelling when I was a child, now curious as to who these belonged to.

‘Mates. There here’ purrs Rune, now excited to finally have them.

‘Mates?’ I ask, hoping I heard correctly. ‘As in more than one?’

‘Yep. Three mates to be exact.’

Frozen in shock by Rune’s words do I slowly try and process who it could be. My eyes widening as I slowly put the pieces together.

‘You don’t think….’

‘Only one way to know for sure. Go. Go to them’ encourages Rune. Now wanting to be close to our mates. My face flushing as I move to close the distance. My legs now guiding me until I finally approach the living room.

My eyes now landing on those within it. The scents now overwhelming me as I do.

“Mates” I whisper, still in shock at what I was seeing before me.

For there, now standing before me was my mom and dad along with Jake, Zak and Alex. Along with two males who each stood alongside each of my mates. Two males that I’ve never met before now stood within my living room. Yet, based on how they dressed and carried themselves, they were definitely important people.

My thoughts still wandering as I fail to notice Jake, Jake slowly moving to greet me. Having seen me from the corner of his eye once I had gotten close to the room. The scent of sandalwood, citrus and cedar now filling my senses as my amber eyes move to spot those of his dual color eyes. One eye blue while the other one green. Eyes I’ve grown accustomed to loving ever since I was a child.

‘Mate’ purrs Rune, still excited to have our mates.

“Hello little mate. It’s been a while” whispers Jake. His body now blocking mine from those within the room as he moves to caress my face. Sparks dancing along my skin as he does. My body relaxing at his presence.

“Goddess… Oh how I’ve missed you. Zak and Alex too” I whisper back leaning into his touch.

“We’ve missed you too” purrs Jake, clearly enjoying our time together while Zak and Alex continue to keep both my parents busy.

“When did you get back?”

“Just now. The King and his Royal Beta are both here as well.”

“The King? As in the Lycan King?”

“Yep. King Arlo and his Royal Beta Quin.”

Gulping at knowing that the Lycan King, King Arlo was now standing within my house suddenly made me nervous. A rich warm voice now speaking as he does. “Did someone call my name?”

Drawing my focus, does Jake and I both turn towards the voice. Arlo looking amused as we do. “Your… Your Majesty, welcome” I stammer, now nervous beyond belief.

“Please, call me Arlo. We’re all friends here right? Especially with you being the mate of these three knuckleheads correct?”

Staring wide eye, do I move to look between him, Jake, Zak and Alex. My parents oblivious to what was being said around them and if they did manage to hear then they chose not to comment.

Amused by my sudden reaction to seeing the King does Jake move to speak up yet again, hoping to calm me down as he does. “Don’t worry, he’s nice. Trust me.”

Nodding my head, does Jake move to take my hand with his before carefully moving to lead me back towards the others. Zak and Alex both smiling as we approach. Each happy the closer I get, each of them now taking in my appearance which causes me to blush.

‘Mates like. Mates approve’ replies Rune, his tail wagging.

‘Mates have always approved. It was just a matter of waiting for us’ I move to whisper back, nobody else aware of Rune’s presence except me.

Zak and Alex now purring softly the closer I get until I was literally standing right next to each of them. My parents both unaware of our closeness and again if they knew then they chose not to comment on it as they continued to chat with King Arlo.

“So what brings you and your Beta here today King Arlo?” asks Austin, as he and his wife move to stand before the King.

“Oh… were just here to celebrate your sons 18th birthday. Jake couldn’t wait to get home and see him. Neither could Zak or Alex” chuckles Arlo. My eyes now arching at each of my friends faces as each of them blush.

‘Cute’ chimes Rune, clearly amused as well.

“Thanks” mutters Jake, his face another shade of pink. Having been ratted out by Arlo himself. The sound of chuckling could now be heard as Jake turns to look slowly, only for him to notice that it was me who was laughing.

“You think that’s funny little mate?”

Snickering more do I move to laugh out loud. Unphased by Jakes reply. Jake slowly snaking his arm around my waist as he does. My mom now spotting the movement from the corner of her eye which causes her to smile.

“So Tori… Is there anything that we should know about?” asks Layla to her son. My focus now back on my mom. Almost as if my mom was attempting to hint to me about something.

“Actually…” I say now blushing. “I finally got my wolf today”

At the mention of my wolf does everyone move to turn and look at me. Nervousness now running through my body as I do. “Oh honey, that’s great news. Did your wolf give you a name?” asks Layla.

“He did. His name is Rune”

“Rune? Why that’s a wonderful name” admits Austin, who was listening to his son talk about his wolf. Jake and the others now smiling as they do.

“I also found my mate or mates” I say, a little softer than before, Jake still holding my hand as he does.

“Mates? So there’s more than one?”

“Yes”

“That’s wonderful son… who’s the lucky wolves?” asks Layla, her focus still on her son.

Blushing softly do I move to whisper the names. “Jake, Zak and Alex.” The room now totally quiet as the news of whom my mates were begun to set in. My body beginning to fidget as I wait for someone, anybody to speak up.

“That’s wonderful Tori. I’m so happy for you” smiles Layla, clearly happy for her son. A sigh now leaving my lips. Unaware that we would soon have a visitor. A very unwelcomed visitor at that.

“So… this is your place huh Tori? Nice digs”

Freezing at the voice do my eyes now move to see who it was that had arrived. My eyes now locked with the one person who had always been my biggest bully. Lilyanna.

“L-Lilyanna?”

At the sound of her name does Lilyanna move to smile. Jakes hold over me now tightening. Lilyanna now moving to speak as she does.

“Happy Birthday Tori… Hope I’m not interrupting anything”