Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 2

Each of the men took off their shoes and jackets before they moved deeper into my apartment. I hung my purse, took of my shoes and jacket before grabbing plates and cups and moving to the dining room table.

Erik had already set the food down, and Rune grabbed the plates distributing them to each setting, like this was just part of a normal day for them. Once everyone had pizza and drinks, they stood behind their chairs watching me.

“Will you be joining us, kitten?” Erik asked, stepping to my seat, and pulling the chair back.

I stepped forward and took my seat as he pushed it in for me. Frode smiled as each of the men took their seats. We ate in silence, and I took the opportunity to study each of the men. All the men had brown hair and brown eyes.

Frode was clearly the leader. His presence commanded obedience without question. Erik had a slightly less strict, but still a leadership role. Both men were tall, over six foot and muscular. The biggest difference was their hairstyles. Frode had his pulled back into a tight bun, high on the back of his head with an undercut, while Erik had more of a military style buzz cut. Sten was leaner, built more like a runner. He was also a few inches shorter. His hair was shaggy, but short coming to his ears and his collar. Rune was the baby of the group. He had an innocent air and a kind, playful demeanor from what I’ve seen. His hair was wavy and shorter on the side with it long enough to be styled on top. Despite his youthful appearance he still had a strong build.

“Like what you see, Little One?” Frode asked as he stood gathering plates and walk to take mine. “Keep staring like that and you’ll end up marked and in a full heat.” He growled in my ear and nipped at my ear lobe as he passed.

My face heated despite my not knowing the terms. His growly tone was sexy enough to cause my stomach to flutter, his playing with my ear only increased the butterflies. Rune and Erik helped clear and wipe the table. They put the left-over pizza in the fridge, and I heard them load the dishwasher. Sten stood and held his hand out to me.

“Let’s go to the couch and talk.” He said, helping me to my feet.

Sten settled himself on the couch and I sat on the opposite end, groaning as my body relaxed into the softness of the couch. This was the first time I’d been able to sit and relax all day. Sten cleared his throat and looked away. Confused I let my attention drift to the other three men as they claimed their seats in my small living room. Frode sat in the armchair, while Erik sat between Sten, and I. Rune settled on the floor by my feet.

“You were raised as a human, I’m assuming?” Frode asked, his expression giving nothing away.

“Yes. How did you guess?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The little knowledge of how a pack works, the terms we used were the first clue. Plus, we got way to close to you without you knowing it.” His tone was almost scolding, my face heated at my failure.

“You can’t do something you weren’t trained to.” Rune said, his large warm hand squeezing just above my knee, while he glared at Frode.

I stared at his hand, frowning. Even through my jeans I could feel a hum where we connected. His hand was warm and soothing. I didn’t like to be touched, but something about his touch was comforting and welcomed. It awakened wants and needs I hadn’t felt before.

“Don’t touch her, Rune.” Erik snarled, brushing Rune’s hand away.

“Sorry, it was like a reflex.” Rune said, dropping his gaze.

“You aren’t in charge of who touches me or not.” I snapped at Erik, earning his heated gaze.

“It is if it makes you smell like you do now. We are holding on tight to our control as it is but smelling like the way you do now pushes us to our limits. You smell of need and want, it makes us want to claim you before you would even know what claiming is or what it means. He knows better and needs to control his urges.” Frode snarled, glaring at Rune.

Rune glared at Frode but kept quiet.

“Can you explain all of this? Why are you here?” I said, staring at my hands in my lap.

“Let me start with the basics, Little One. We are a part of the strongest group of packs in the world, ruled be our parents. We live in the Asketill territory, named for the leader. A pack consists of four males, their mate, and their pups. Each pack will birth four sons and a daughter.” Frode explained, his tone softer.

“So, you’re saying I’m your mate, all four of you. As in all four of you will share me?” I asked, I could feel the color draining from my face.

“Relax, kitten. I know that to someone who was raised as a human that is a little, well, odd. For us it’s normal. We may wear human skin some of the time, but we are much more in touch with our wild side. I’m sure you’ve noticed that you’re always struggling to fit in.” Erik said, his tone and eyes soft and comforting.

I nodded. My parents had been killed when I was very young, and then I’d been in foster care my whole life. I’d never fit in anywhere, but I figured it was because I’d witnessed their murder. Plus, the rumors around what happened to my foster family when I turned 16 and shifted for the first time. The result being two killed foster-parents and another rehoming without many details being released or explained by local law enforcement and officials. My face blanched more at the memory as I pushed it further away from my train of thought. Sten stared at me with concern but didn’t say anything. I ignored him and faced Frode.

“How did you find me?” I asked, hoping to move the conversation in a different direction.

“Unmated females go into a form of heat until they are found by their pack. Rune’s gift is tracking, and he caught your scent when we were dealing with a rogue. Another pack finished handling the rogue while he tracked you.” Frode said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “We were starting to think we’d never find you.”

“Well, you did. So, what is supposed to happen now?” I asked.

“You come home with us. We’ll complete our mating and start our lives together.” Erik said bluntly.

“Excuse me? I’m just supposed to drop everything and move to be with you? What about my life here?” I pushed myself to my feet and moved to stand behind the couch, putting some distance between us.

“It’s how our kind work. It’s easier to move one person than it is to move four. Besides you live in the city. It’s a miracle you haven’t been found by hunters yet. It’s safer in our territory.” Erik said as he stood and turned to face me with his arms crossed over his muscled chest.

“Hunters? It’s the city, people don’t hunt here.” I scoffed, looking away from his bulging arms.

“Shifters are hunted in the city. They are hunted everywhere. We just have security and protocols in place to keep the packs safe.” Frode explained, leaning back in the chair and rubbing his chin.

“Wait, you’re saying they’d hunt me? Us?” I asked, shocked.

This was crazy. Why would we be hunted? I’d never done anything wrong, in fact I worked to save lives every day. Even having only just met the others in my living room I didn’t get a criminal, or murderous feeling from them. Why would be hunted?

“Yes.” All four of them answered at the same time, making me freeze.

“This is crazy. I’m tired. Do you have a hotel room?” I asked, too tired to even try to be polite about telling them to leave.

“No, we aren’t leaving you.” Erik stepped forward.

“We’ll sleep on the couch and floor out here if that is alright?” Frode asked, glaring at Erik, but his tone was more a command than a question.

“I should say no, I don’t know you. But fine, whatever. We’ll discuss this more after I work tomorrow. I have to be up early.” I said moving to my bedroom.

“We leave tomorrow. All of us.” Frode said, standing and facing me.

“We’ll talk in the morning.” I said over my shoulder, not responding directly to his statement.

I changed into a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top and crawled into bed. Despite not knowing these men, I felt safe and not threatened, which scared me. I felt like it made me more vulnerable to them. I didn’t have the energy to worry about it and sleep claimed me quickly.

I woke to a dark room. Even without looking at a clock I knew it was too early for work. I rolled over and closed my eyes trying to go back to sleep. A warm hand moved up my bare leg, leaving a trail of tingles behind in its wake. I froze, spice and pine filling my senses.

“It’s alright, princess.” I recognized Sten’s voice.

Before I could protest his hand wrapped around my hip and cupped my privates. I swallowed hard but couldn’t make myself move.

“You smell so good; your scent is intoxicating.” He rumbled in my ear as he sucked my earlobe into his hot mouth.

One of his fingers pushed between my lower lips and pressed on my sensitive bundle of nerves at the top of my sex. I bit my lip and pressed into his touch. I heard him chuckle behind me and his fingers moved my underwear out the way. I groaned and spread my legs for him. His fingers moved lower, barely pressing into me.

“You’re soaked and so hot, I want to taste you, but that will have to wait for another time.” He said, as he moved his slippery fingers back to my bundle of nerves and started circling around them.

I moaned and lifted my hips to his touch. It didn’t take me long to start to climb to my release. He continued circling and then flicked my clit, pushing me over the edge to my release. I fisted the sheets beneath me and moaned. His fingers went back to his fast circles, and I moved my hips away. The feeling of his touch on my sensitive sex overwhelming, pushing me to feel as if I was floating.

The next thing I knew I hit something hard, and my head was aching. I brought my hand up to my temple, where I felt blood. I looked around and saw I was on the floor, the sun shining through my curtains. Confusion filled me. It had just been dark, and I had been floating. A sharp knock on the door had me looking across my room-my empty room. My cheeks heated as realization hit me. I hadn’t been floating, I’d been falling because I’d had a sex dream, my first ever sex dream.

“Astrid? Are you alright? I can smell blood.” Rune asked through the door.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be right out.” I said, scrambling to my feet.

I moved to my bathroom and after checking that my head wound was minor, I started the shower. Moving quickly, I washed and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt before I walked out to the living area to find Sten, Rune, and Erik. Rune quickly moved toward me.

“I can smell your wound. What happened?” He asked, brushing my back making me wince as his hand brushed over where I’d landed.

“I fell out of bed. I hit my head on the nightstand. I’m fine.” I said, pulling away from him.

“Must have been some dream.” Sten said, a knowing smile on his face. I blushed and looked away.

“What did she dream? Did you use your powers on her?” Erik growled.

“No, I believe she used her powers on me.” Sten smiled in my direction again.

“She’s a dream walker too?” Erik asked confused.

“No, I don’t think so. I’m not sure what her exact powers are, yet.” Sten said. “I’m still figuring them out.”

Frode walked into the apartment, holding a tray of coffees and a box of food. Glad for the distraction I moved to help him. He glanced at his brothers, then back to me.

“You’re hurt.” He said, moving to the counter to set down the food before closing the distance between us.

“I’m fine.” I said, waving him off.

“She had a dream, a wet dream, and fell out of bed.” Sten shared with the room.

I shot him the best glare I could as I felt my face heat. I was going to kill him. A vicious growl filled the apartment, my growl. Frode and Erik chuckled but got their coffee and food and moved to the table.

“It’s common after finding mates.” Rune said, sneaking a kiss to the back of my head.

“Wasn’t his to share.” I muttered grabbing my own plate of pastries and coffee.

“But it was, princess. You do in fact smell intoxicating, by the way.” Sten said as he reached around me to the food, his body so close I could feel the effect the dream had on him.

I felt my mouth drop and I ducked below his arm, moving to the table. What was happening? I sat down and did my best to ignore the men at my table. Thankfully they were content to just eat in silence, letting the embarrassing topic go. We were cleaning up when the sound of breaking glass filled the air, then a hissing.

“Hunters, get to the SUV.” Frode said, grabbing my keys and setting off a flurry of motion.

Thick fog filled the air, making it hard to draw in a deep breath. What was that? A smoke bomb? I gasped for air. Sten continued to drag me from my apartment as. My head started to spin.

“Move, we’ll explain in the car.” He said as he hauled me out the front door.

We all but ran down the stairs and out the front door. Our escape was stopped quick when we saw three men leaning against my SUV. Hatred filled their gazes, despite their casual stances. They pushed off my car and took a step toward us. Hatred, anger created a tense air between us. I swallowed hard and stepped closer to wolves behind me. There wasn’t much that scared me, but these men made me terrified.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter