Chapter 20

Chapter 20
Over the next week the three of them settled into a routine of sorts. They would chat about the things they liked, loved, hated, and what they wanted for the future. They agreed to take turns cooking the meals and the chores in the house for the time being. Well, until the guys had to go back to work. All of these things, until at some undefined point or signal they were all over each other. It would start off as an innocent touch, a brush across the back as she passed behind one of them. An affectionate swipe of her hair behind her ear as she chatted with one of them. A spark would ignite, and passion flared so hot and intense between them that it didn't matter what they were doing, where in the house they were. They couldn't breathe without the connection they could only find by bringing their bodies together.

She could barely even fathom why she had fought their bond so intensely for years. To the point of forcing the Alpha to issue an official command for her attendance and leave her no option. She had never felt so complete in her entire life. She had found they had tons in common. Yes, they even shared her taste in rom coms. She knew that had to be either their mother or their sister's influence on them because she couldn't fathom two 26-year-old mountains of wolves willingly picking out romantic comedies to watch on their own. Of course, her tastes were varied so that wasn't all they watched. But, she had yet to find anywhere their interests didn't align at least partly.

Their mating ceremony was less than a week away when Toby came to wake her up early in the morning. She was still tangled in Jarold's arms and blankets sleeping peacefully. His insistent shaking of her shoulder finally made her crack a sleepy eye open and glare at him, wordlessly demanding why he was disturbing her sleep.

"I know you're still sleepy and you've been more or less holding Jarold hostage for the last couple hours. But all of our parents are going to be here in a few minutes." Toby said, holding his hands up in a 'it's not my fault' gesture.

"I've not been holding him hostage." She closed her eye again and grumbled as she felt his chest shake with laughter under her face.

"If I were him, I wouldn't have dared get up either, your knee is pressed right up against his balls, Kat." Toby said dryly, earning a grumble from Kathrine and another chuckle from Jarold. "But, if you want them to get here and find you naked in bed with Jarold, that's your business. Just figured I'd give you a heads up."

"Fiiiine." She groaned and rolled over on her back, releasing Jarold so he could get out of the bed. "Do you at least have coffee made?" She asked grouchily.

"It'll be made before you get down the stairs." Toby promised and turned for the bedroom door once he was assured she was stirring around to get out of the bed.

Jarold got out of the bed and into the shower to wash up quickly while Kathrine picked out clothes for the day. She knew what the meeting with their parents was for. She'd be expected to try on her mating ceremony dress and 'ooo' and 'awww' over the plans they'd made for the ceremony. She checked her phone and realized that the ceremony was only a few days away. She knew with absolute certainty if they made an appearance at the pack house, she'd see the house and the lawn were already being decorated for the ceremony. She was annoyed that their Alpha was making such a spectacle out of something that was typically left to be an intimate affair for the mated wolves' families and friends. By the time Jarold got out of the shower she was ready to get in but watching him come into the room with his hair soaked and hanging down to his shoulders and water dripping down his body…….she felt lust slam into her hard.

We do not have time for that. Control yourselves. Came Toby's caustic voice through their mate bond. They could both feel his laughter through the bond. She sent back an eyeroll and huff as she walked past Jarold keeping her hands to herself even though they ached to run across his chest as she passed him.

Kathrine bathed and readied herself for the day, coming down in a pair of denim shorts and a tank top as she pulled her hair up in a messy bun. She hadn't bothered to dry or style it since she wasn't intending, or required, to leave the house until they went to the pack house the morning of the ceremony. In their pack, newly mated wolves typically disappeared for a few weeks until they got a handle on themselves and could be relied upon to keep it together in public. Most bonds raged like wildfire to life inside the wolves and were intense as their connection was forged. During the process, the pair couldn't keep their hands off each other. Already passionate creatures turned into insatiable beasts until the connection fully formed and settled for long enough that the pair could control themselves.

"Good morning, Kathrine." Letha called from the couch, where Jackson and her parents sat patiently waiting for her along with Toby and Jarold.

"Good morning, Luna." Kathrine said respectfully, offering her a respectful smile. "I'll be with you guys in a moment. I need some coffee."

"I already have you a mug, Kat. Come, have a seat." Toby picked up her mug and offered it to her, drawing her to a halt a few feet from him.

"Thank you!" She said in relief. She moved around to claim her seat between her mates as she took a long careful sip from her steaming mug.

"I assume everything has been going well since we saw you guys last?" Jackson asked, casting a look at the trio sitting comfortably together and appearing relaxed.

"Everything has been going as expected father." Jarold said, then at a narrowed eyed look from his father aimed at Kathrine he decided to clarify, "Everything has been smooth considering the transition."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." Jackson said, relaxed once more. "We're here to go over all the details for the ceremony and make sure Kathrine's dress works for her. We also have picked out new suits for the both of you."

"I swear to the Goddess if you've made us matchy, I'll vomit." Kathrine said instantly, but without the belligerence she'd normally reserved for the Alpha.

"I promise, they're very tasteful and not at all 'matchy' as you call it." Letha assured Kathrine, grinning as she sagged in relief.

"Good, this isn't some human mockery." Kathrine said, though she couldn't help snarling 'human' a little bit. She'd always hated the tacky affairs they use to tie their lives to their chosen partner.