Chapter 5

We rode the next day in comfortable silence, each of us lost in our thoughts as we processed all that we had seen and heard last night. The biggest difference between this car ride and the one yesterday was that Erik and Rune kept their hands on me. We were always touching the entire ride. When we stopped for food and bathroom breaks Sten and Frode were connected to me.

Touching seemed to quench the anxiety that rose whenever we were apart. I wasn’t sure if it was the mate bond causing the anxiety or fear from my vision last night, but their touch allowed me to think straight.

It was dark when we entered a forest area, and the men relaxed more in their seats.

“We are home.” Erik said, grinning at me.

“Mom said she stocked the fridge for us, so there’s food for dinner.” Rune said, looking excitedly out his window. “Can we run tonight?”

“Sure, I think a run would do us some good.” Frode said. “Let’s drop the car at the cabin and I’ll figure out dinner then we will leave.”

We rode for another hour in quiet, before Frode pulled up in front of a large log cabin. It had a wraparound porch, with a seating area in front of a large window. A porch swing was situated in the corner.

I watched Frode stride into the cabin and flick on a light. Erik slid out of the seat and smiled, as he took my hand, helping me down. He closed the door once I was clear, but then caged me in against it.

“Welcome home, kitten.” He whispered in my ear.

“Let’s run, then we’ll clean up and eat.” Frode said as he rounded the car, his gaze hardening as he stared at Erik and me.

“Need help with your clothes?” He asked as he pulled my ear lobe into his warm mouth, pulling a moan from my throat.

“I’m sure she can handle it, perv.” Sten said, playfully shoving Erik.

Erik grinned at me but pulled back. A part of me hated the space between us instantly. He turned and I moved to the back of the SUV, finding at least a little privacy. I heard the quick snapping of bones and took a deep breath. I hated this part. I usually only shifted on the full moon when the pull was too hard to avoid. Unfortunately, that meant it was still painful because my body wasn’t used to it.

I couldn’t help the cry that escaped my throat as my bones rearranged. I finished shifting, my head hanging low as I recovered from shifting. A brown wolf touched my cheek with its nose, and I turned to look at it. Instinctively I knew it was Rune.

He whined and nudged, checking if I was alright. I growled and snapped at him, not wanting to make a big deal of it. A deep growl had me lower my head, and whining. I looked over my shoulder and saw two very large wolves, Erik and Frode. Sten came trotting around the care only a second later. Frode looked to each of us, his gaze lingering on me before he howled and took off through the woods with us on his heels.

I had found a small park that I could run in at night when I shifted but running with other wolves was exhilarating. Wolves are pack animals, and I thought that I was handling being a lone wolf the best I could, but the feeling that came with running with someone else was beyond what I ever imagined.

We ran for a few hours and then met back at the cabin. After shifting and changing back into clothes, I found Frode leaning against the SUV while the other guys were already in the house.

“How often do you change?” He asked, casually.

“When I have to.” I said as I brushed past him.

I knew that I needed to do it more often. Changing more frequently would allow the shift to come easier and with less pain but living in the city and being a doctor didn’t leave a lot of time for roaming the forest.

“You’re well past the age of shifting. It should be second nature to you now.” He said, his hand settling on my arm as he pulled me back to him.

“Lots of things should be second natures to me, like controlling my magic, or sensing you. But it’s not. I’m sorry that I wasn’t raised in a pack, that I’m different from you and the rest of the people here. I’m more human than wolf, and that’s just something you’ll either have to deal with or have to train out of me.” I snapped, pulling my arm away from him and earning a growl.

“Don’t.” He said, coming in front of me and blocking my path to the cabin. “Don’t walk away from me. Not when we’re talking.” Frode growled, backing me back against the car.

Part of me knew I should be nervous, I didn’t know this man and he was much larger and stronger than me, but fear isn’t what filled me. Butterflies filled my belly, and a warmth filled my lower belly. Arousal, that was what filled me. Frode grinned when he scented it.

“Little one, what has got you smelling delicious?” He asked, his hand trailing down my side and wrapping around my hip and drawing me against him.

“Nothing.” I said, forcing myself to think of anything besides his body against me. “We should get inside.”

“Of course.” He said as he pulled away, letting me get past him.

I walked into the cabin and was meet with three sets of eyes staring at me. Frode stopped behind me so close I could feel the warmth from his body at my back. I smiled nervously and took my shoes off. It was silent for a moment, and then Rune went back to cooking, while Sten helped, and Erik came and led me to the couch.

“Hmm, what was you and the alpha doing out there? You smell amazing, kitten.” He said as he ran his nose over my neck.

I reflexively tilted my head giving him better access. I jumped slightly when his tongue trailed the path his nose had just taken. My body had never reacted to anyone like it does these four. I wanted more but knew that more with these men would mean more than just tonight. I mentally shook my head to clear it. Who was I kidding? I’d never had a one-night stand. Would it be so bad to have four men who cared enough to look after me?

Erik’s hand wrapped around my hip while his other settled on the other side. Before I could realize what was happening, I was flipped around and straddling his lap while facing him. A squeal slipped out of my mouth in surprise of the sudden position change.

“You made her squeak.” Rune said, accusingly from the kitchen.

“She’ll do more than squeak before I’m through with her.” Erik growled as his lips claimed mine.

I was surprised and didn’t react at first. His hands found their way up my sides to my head, and he pulled me in closer to him. My lips finally woke up and started moving against his. He bit my lip, making me gasp and he took the chance to slip his tongue into my own mouth. My eyes shot open in surprise. I’d never been kissed like this. I sat up, pushing away from his dangerous mouth, sitting back on his lap.

“As amazing as that was and I would love to watch it play out, we have to talk. It’s late, and our parents will be over for breakfast in the morning. We need to go over some things before they get here. There are some topics we need to cover in private.” Frode said from where he had perched leaning against the wall.

Erik nodded and settled me sitting on his lap while Frode sat beside him with my feet over his legs.

“I know this is a lot, but what are your thoughts about the mate bond?” Frode asked.

“I literally know nothing about pack or pack life. Or what a mate bond is.” I said, picking at my nails.

“Well the mate bond is the bond between two or more souls that are meant to be together for the rest of their lives. It’s what connects us to each other.” Sten said, watching me as I digested that.

“So just like that we are connected, and no one else is…um…tempting?” I asked.

“Yes.” Rune answered.

“Is that why I’ve never really been interested in men?” I asked quietly.

“Are you telling me that you’ve never touched another man?” Erik growled.

I didn’t say anything.

“Goddess.” Erik groaned. “What’s the farthest you’ve gone?”

I looked at him and blushed.

“The kiss we just shared, that was the farthest you’ve gone?” Erik asked sitting straight up and looking at me.

“Does that make you upset?” I asked, having a hard time reading his reaction.

“No, that doesn’t make me upset. It makes me happy. We will be your firsts for everything, and we can teach you how to please us. It makes me want to throw you over your shoulder and take you upstairs and devour you.” He said, leaning forward on his knees.

“Why are there four of you?” I asked.

“There aren’t many female shifters. This is the solution to help keep the males from killing each other. The numbers are better now than they used to be, but tradition holds. Some mates only have each other, but others -like to us-have multiple. It’s also a display of strength. We are one of the strongest matings and are next in line to take the place as the territory leaders.” Frode answered.

“Do you want us?” Rune asked, his voice timid and soft.

“I was nervous at first when you showed up a few days ago. Your kind of an intimidating group, but I’ve seen the soft side of you. How much you already care for me despite only knowing me for a few days. I’ve never felt like I belonged or was loved, and you’ve already shown me how that feels. Maybe it’s just me being selfish, but yes. I think I want this.” I said, meeting each of their eyes.

“The mating process is informal, but it requires us to mark you, with a bite, while we have intercourse. We can have intercourse without mating too. It can be with all of us present, or one on one. We’ll let you decide, and you don’t have to do it tonight.” Erik said.

“In fact, I recommend talking with our parents first and see what they have to say before you make any final decisions. We’ll be here to support you no matter what. Even if you don’t choose us, you’ll have a cabin on the territory where you’ll be safe.” Frode added.

I nodded.

“Well, then let’s get to sleep. Do you want your own room? Or if you want to sleep with us, you can, no sex required-unless you want it.” Erik said raising his eyebrows.

“I’ll sleep on my own, thank you.” I said, as he led me down up the stairs past the master bedroom and to the guest room.

“Get some sleep little one, our parents will be here early. Good night.” Frode said as he walked back to his room.

Erik gave me a last smirk and then looked over his shoulder. No one was there, and before I could look back to him his lips were pressed against mine. He held me close to him and deepened the kiss.

“ERIK!” Frode yelled from the bedroom.

Erik gave me one last kiss and ushered me into the bedroom. I undressed and laid bed, processing our conversation from earlier. These men were my fate, my destiny. Four of them. My face heated when I thought of the kisses I’d shared earlier with Erik. I wanted him I realized. I wanted all of them.