Chapter 5

Asher

When I went out this morning to check my territory I had not expected to end up in a fucked up situation like this. How could I? I couldn't think this up even if I tried. First, the fact that someone like me would be given a mate, and second that I would be sharing her with three other guys.

My eyes move between the two remaining men in the room. As soon as the Incubus gave us the go-ahead to make ourselves comfortable the Dragon dashed for the kitchen. I'm not sure what he found in there but whatever he's cooking smells fucking amazing. Thanks to this shit show I missed out on my usual hunt.

The Mage is sitting in a chair across from me with his back straight as an arrow and a book in his hand. I don't remember seeing a book with him when we arrived, so I'm guessing he conjured it somehow with his witchy juju.

It doesn't take long for the Incubus to saunter into the room with a shit-eating grin on his face. He drops down on the couch between where the mage and I are sitting.

"What's got you smiling?" I grumble and he turns that cocky look at me.

"Just enjoying having another taste of our mate. She's sweeter than anything I've ever tasted." He muses and my wolf lets a low growl work through my chest.

We may not have been expecting a mate but we sure as hell are going to protect her from anyone, including her other mates.

"She's not some plaything for you to toy with," I growl.

He lifts a brow at me. "I wouldn't disrespect my mate. As soon as she became mine I became hers completely, so watch it pup or you won't like going up against me."

I scoff and cross my arms over my chest giving off a laid-back vibe. It's an insult for a predator to seem unaffected by another. No way could this guy take me or my wolf.

"What could you possibly do to me? All your kind is after is getting their next fuck. The only power you have is convincing people to want you." I give him a smug smile.

What I don't expect is for his eyes to brighten and narrow on me like a target.

"I can bring others pleasure but I can also cause pain." He says in a deep threatening tone.

My confidence wavers for the briefest second but it's not in my blood to show weakness.

"Prove it," I growl back at him.

Now he's the one with a smug smile. His head tilts down toward his chin like he's concentrating his full attention on showing me how wrong I am. Then there is a sudden shock of pain in my gut that feels like my insides are being twisted and pulled tightly into a knot. My mouth drops open in a scream but no sound comes out. It feels like I can't even breathe anymore.

"Release him." The deep thundering warning shockingly comes from the Mage.

He's standing now and the book is gone. He looks downright scary now. His eyes have turned fully black and the room feels heavy with tense energy.

It doesn't matter because the Incubus releases me and I fall to the floor with a gasp.

"What the fuck man!" I yell as I try to pull more air into my tight lungs.

"You may think wolves are the badest assholes in this world but you would be wrong. Now you know who you're up against if try to suggest I would be anything but faithful to my mate." He says it in such a casual way that you would think nothing happened.

"Throwing our weight around is not in the best interest of our mate. We need to learn to coexist together for her sake." The Mage says.

He's sitting again and he sounds so calm that it's hard to imagine he was that scary fucker I saw a moment ago.

"Yeah, well wolves don't share well," I grumble finally pulling myself back into my chair.

"But you are not just any wolf are you?" The mage says and I freeze.

My eyes fix on him and anger starts to boil inside me. "What did you say?"

He tilts his head and looks me over. "You are more than an ordinary wolf shifter."

My wolf starts to bristle. "That's none of your business. So keep your witchy powers to yourself."

He gives me a contemplative look but it is the few real emotions he has shown.

"I'm not a witch. They use simple spells and incantations. That is only a small fraction of what I can do, but unlike our new friend here I won't demonstrate my powers to make a point. Now, would you like to share what else runs through your veins?"

I narrow my eyes at him but he doesn't seem fazed about looking a beast in the eye. He's got balls I'll give him that but he hasn't met a monster like me.

"Drop it Mage," I growl out, but my anger is only igniting the heat inside me even more.

If I'm not careful they'll see a show of power they won't quickly forget if they survive at all.

"I will not. If you can not control yourself around our mate then you do not deserve to be near her. I need to calculate the risk we pose to her." That darkness from earlier is creeping in again and I'm a little shocked that I feel threatened by the guy.

He's a little shorter than the Dragon and I but he isn't as built as us. Not surprising since casting spells doesn't take much physical strength. Still, he seems to feel tough enough to take two of us on already, and my wolf seems to respect his power.

"I would never hurt her," I say firmly.

"Then be honest about who you are." He pushes.

"A hellhound." A soft voice says and all our heads turn to see our mate step into the room.

My eyes take her in now that she isn't covered in blood and dirt but even then she looked beautiful to me. Now she looks almost luminescent. The soft lights dance along her skin like streaks of gold and her long hair falls over her shoulder in waves. It's her eyes that are the most mesmerizing though.

Gold and red.

Wolf and Vampire together.

"How did you-" I start to say.

"I could smell it on you." She says with a shrug.

"Have you met many hellhounds sweetheart?" The Incubus asks.

She gives him a shy smile before turning her attention back to me. "I met one once. They are darker creatures, like us. They give off a special aura and scent. It's hard to mistake it."

"Wolf and hellhound. How did that happen?" The Incubus asks and I snap my eyes his way and give him a scathing look.

"None of your damn business." I snap and he holds up his hands in surrender.

"How do you feel?" The Dragon asks finally moving away from the kitchen.

Our mate's eyes move to him and she gives him a sweet smile. She seems calmer now.

"Better than I have in a long time. Also, I'm sorry if I was a little snappy earlier. This has been a...strange day and I sort of get annoyed when I'm hungry." That last part is said as more of a grumble but I catch it and huff a laugh.

"Well, dragon boy has been cooking something over there since we walked in. Let's get you fed." I say nodding at the Dragon to get a move on.

He moves back to the kitchen like his ass is on fire.

"Plates or on the right." The Incubus yells without turning, instead keeping his eyes fixed on our mate.

Our mate remains standing and looks us all over.

"What's wrong?" I ask her.

"This is really weird. I have a strange feeling like I know you all and am comfortable with you but we don't know each other at all." She says.

"That's what having a mate is supposed to be like. A level of comfort and security you will not feel with others." The Mage explains. "However, there hasn't been a case like this as far as I know. Not only the fact that you have multiple mates but also multiple mates of different species. It will be a learning experience for all of us."

Nova blows out a breath a sits on the coffee table in front of me. "This is crazy." She runs her hand through her hair and my fingers twitch with the need to do the same.

Her scent is intoxicating. It reminds me of spiced wine.

"So what do we do now?" She asks glancing at each of us.

"First, you must eat." The Dragon says walking over with a plate of food and setting it beside her.

She smiles up at him when he stands and he hesitates for a moment before leaning down and resting his forehead on hers. When he steps back she is staring wide-eyed at him. It takes a few blinks of her eyes to pull her out of her apparent shock and then her face blooms pink. I roll my eyes at the Dragon's display but I guess I'll have to get used to the other's odd ways of showing affection for our mate.