CHAPTER 2 The Princess Comes Home Today

Zeke POV

Kicking the door to my bedroom open, I place my hands on my hips and glare at my sleeping brothers. We might be triplets, but we are nothing alike. I have been up since before the sun helping Dad with pack business and then helping Mom with preparations for our adopted sister's coming home party.

It is now noon, and neither of their lazy asses have gotten out of bed. I slam the door shut, and Zane covers his head with his pillow. Zeus throws his pillow at me as hard as he can, hitting me in the face.

"Wake up, Assholes," I growl. "Elara comes home today."

Zane moans something from under his pillow, but he doesn't attempt to leave his bed. Zeus throws his feet over the side and stretches. Stark naked, he leaves his bed and rips the pillow off Zane's head.

"Wake up, Idiot," he growls at Zane. "The Princess comes home today. Let's get ready."

Zane turns his head to the side and opens his eyes. The only thing he can see is Zeus's massive cock in front of his face.

"Goddess, damn it," he screams at Zeus. "Why is your dick always in my face?"

Zeus steps away, and Zane rolls back over. "What time is the party?" He asks.

"In a couple of hours. Mom wants it to be a surprise," I tell him.

"Who's coming?" Zane demands to know.

"Does it fucking matter," Zeus growls at him. "It is a party for the Princess. We haven't seen her in over a year."

"She's not even our sister," Zane replies. "She is just someone Mom found out in the snow when she was three."

"She is family," I remind him. "You will be at this party."

"Fine," Zane grumbles. "But I am bringing a date."

Zeus and I share a look. Neither of us is surprised that Zane wants to bring a date. In fact, I would be shocked if he didn't. There is always a girl on his arm. I just wonder who the flavor of the week is tonight.

"That's fine," I tell him. "Apparently, Elara is too."

Zeus and Zane both look in my direction. "What the fuck do you mean?" Zeus growls.

"Our little Princess is all grown up," I say.

"The fuck she is," Zeus snarls. "I will kill him."

"Take it up with Mom," I shrug. "She okayed it."

Zeus storms from the room, and I flop down on my bed and try not to let the excitement of Elara coming home show. Out of my brothers, I probably love her the most. From the moment my mother brought her into this house, I knew I wanted to take care of her and protect her.

She was so small and freezing cold. She didn't speak for a week, and when she finally did, all she said was her name. Eventually, she followed me around the house like a lost puppy; her golden eyes were wide with wonder. It was like she hadn't seen any technology or toys before.

My mother doted on her like she was her own, dressing her in frilly pink dresses and lacy socks with matching shoes. We all love Elara, even though Zane pretends he does not. Zeus and I know the truth, he loves her as much as the rest of us.

I pull on my headphones and get lost in my video game. I am screaming through the headset when someone places their hands over my eyes. I pause my game and sniff the air. Lavender fills my nose, and I suppress the groan in my throat.

I pull Emery's hands off my eyes, and she flops down on my lap. The bright smile on her face makes me want to vomit.

"It's a good thing I'm not the enemy," she laughs. "Or I could have snuck up on you and killed you. Or maybe you wanted me to sneak up on you."

I try to move Emery off my lap, but she is persistent. She is the daughter of our Beta. We all grew up together, and she has been throwing herself at us since we didn't find our mates when we turned eighteen.

It was not just her; our father has been hinting that one of us should take her as our mate. It makes sense she is the daughter of a Beta and that she could be Luna one day. The only problem is none of us want her. Not even Playboy Zane will touch her with a ten-foot pole.

"Your mom wants me to tell you it's time to come down," Emery says, tightening her arms around my neck. "Elara should be here any minute, but I don't think anyone would notice we are missing."

"Shit," I mutter as I throw Emery off my lap.

She hits the floor on the other side of the room. I don't bother to look back at her as I race from the room. I jump down the stairs two at a time. The main room of the pack house is dark. Everyone is silently waiting in the dark for Elara to arrive.

I want to be at the front of the crowd when she opens the door. Being the first person she sees is at the top of my list. As I push my way through the crowd, the scent of honeysuckle fills my nose.

My eyes widen, and I search the crowd for the smell. My sight sharpens as I peer through the darkness, and I can see my brothers looking around at the same time. They smell it, too. My wolf is clawing dangerously at the edges of my mind, trying to break free. It can only mean one thing. Whoever this scent belongs to is my mate.

While I am searching for the origin of the scent, the doorknob begins to jiggle. I am torn. Do I run to the front of the crowd to see Elara, or do I find my mate?

My mother shushes the crowd, and my father steps through the doorway. He doesn't look pleased. His dark eyes glow weirdly in the dark, and I am instantly worried for Elara. Turning my full attention to the doorway, I watch as my father steps to the side and Elara walks in.

My breath hitches in my throat as the lights are turned on. Everyone yells, "Surprise," but not me. My eyes are on Elara. The scent of honeysuckle is swarming around her. Her blonde hair is longer than the last time I saw her, hanging down to her waist. It has been a year since I have seen her, and she has filled out in all the right places. She is wearing a pair of jeans and an oversized sweater, but she can't hide the supple shape of her body.

Tears of joy are running down her face as people approach her. She hugs each one, and jealousy rises in my chest. Why are they touching her? She belongs to me.

I don't know what has come over me, but I know I need to get Elara out of here and get her to myself.

Just as I am about to approach her and drag her out of the party, a man steps through the door and wraps his arm around her shoulder. A growl rumbles in not only my chest but also from my brothers.

Elara's eyes dart in my direction, and a smile spreads across her face. "Zeke," she squeals.

She ducts out from the man's arm and rushes in my direction, wrapping her arms around my neck. Jumping into the air, she wraps her legs around my waist. She places a kiss on my cheek and hugs me tightly.

"I have missed you so much," she whispers next to my ear.

I carefully wrap my arms around her, trying to ignore the chanting of my wolf in my mind. 'Mate. Mate. Mate.'