Fated (Fated Mates Book 1)

by Tami Payton

  “Ok, so you’re safe from this whole fated mate thing, and Sam you’re not mated. I’m assuming your not mated either Mason, right?” I look up and asked Mason. He looks at me with a half smirk on his face, “Now why would you automatically assume that I’m not mated? I could have a mate and you just haven’t had the chance to meet her yet.” I laughed, “because if there’s one thing I’ve learned just from being around you guys and the short walk over here it’s that wolves are protective and very jealous. If you did have a mate, there is no way in hell she would have let you carry me in your arms, put me in your bed, use your shower, feed me, and escort me over here. She would have already tried to rip me to shreds about a hundred times already.” I stood there with my hands on my hips as I glared at him making my point. Sam, Cameron and Sarah all laughed. “God, dude she is so right. You know damn well there ain’t no female alive that would have allowed any of that.” Cameron managed to get out between laughs. Mason just shakes his head, “no baby girl I don’t do the mating and romance thing. Female wolves are too complicated, so I avoid looking for the mates.” He shrugs, I look at him closely, “I can understand that, I mean look at the example I grew up with. Hell, love is a bunch of bullshit to me. All of this mating and fated mates can kiss my ass. I am perfectly fine staying clear of any of that, have been my entire life.” Sam and Cameron look at each other and shake their heads as Mason looks at me and grins, I shake it off and head into the kitchen to give Sarah a hand with coffee.

  “You really don’t believe in love or finding that one true person?” Sarah asks me as we’re waiting for coffee to finish. I nod, “no I don’t my mother had a new guy that came in and out just about every other day. I’ve never been able to depend on anyone my entire life except for my best friend, Gage. He’s been the only guy in my life who has never asked for anything from me or expected something from me. Every man I’ve ever known has tried to take advantage of me, some of the guys that my mother would bring home would try. They never succeeded, but they tried. A couple of times if it weren’t for Gage they would’ve accomplished what they were after. He’s saved my life and virtue quite a few times. I mean we’ve both taken beatings in the process but in the end, I can say it was worth it.” Sarah looks like she’s ready to cry, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry for everything that you’ve had to go through! So, you’re a virgin thanks to your best friend Gage saving you from those awful men?” I laugh, “Well don’t make it sound like I was forced to stay a virgin. I’ve chosen to keep my virginity, it’s something that I chose to give away. But yes, I am still a virgin because Gage saved me a couple of times from a couple of assholes.” She hugs me and my eyes water. I’ve never had girlfriends and it feels good to be able to talk to Sarah. She has the same calming feeling as the rest of the guys. I feel calm and safe around her.

  I can sense him before I see him, it’s weird I don’t know if it’s my wolf or what. “If you want to come in, Mason, you can, it’s not like we’re talking about anything private.” I turn, and he walks into the kitchen looking like he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, I laugh. “I’m sorry I wanted to wait until ya’ll were done talking, it sounded personal and private.” He runs his hand through his hair, and it grabs my attention. God, I want to do that. I shake my head and look up at him. “No, I have nothing to hide. My life is an open book. Anything that anyone wants or needs to know all they have to do is ask.” He looks into my eyes and I see a sadness that I can’t explain, and it tugs at my heart. “Are you really ok? None of those men you mention ever.” He swallows and grits his teeth, balling his fist. “Touched you?” I shake my head looking him in the eyes, so he can see that I’m telling the truth. “No, Mason. No one ever touched me. I was always able to fight them off or Gage was there to protect me.” His body relaxes, and he lets out a breath, “I guess I don’t hate this best friend as much anymore now.” He mumbles low under his breath, so low that I almost don’t hear him, almost. We head out to the living room and it occurs to me that I never asked about the pack bands that Cameron and Sam were talking about earlier. “Hey guys, what did you mean by the pack bands that show up when you mate?” Cameron is the first to respond, “Well, each pack has their own markings. The males are the ones that carry the bands and when they mate the band will appear on the female to show that she is a mated female and off limits.” I nod. “Ok so kinda like a wedding band, but tattoo style?” Sam laughs and nods. “That’s one way of putting it. Now when you’re fated, the bands of the two packs will blend together making one band. The band will show up after the wolves’ mate, but that’s with regular mates. With fated mates the bands will show up on their own, when their wolves have found each other, and the connection has been made. There’s only been one other set of fated mates in history that I’ve ever heard of and I’ve spoken to our healer as well and he can’t think of any either. Their bands showed up when they were young, knowing they were destined so they had time.” I nod, “So what does your band look like?” I look at Cameron, both him and Sarah walk over to me. “This is the band of the Hallow pack, and Sarah received hers after she became my mate.” I examine their bands, it wraps around their upper left arm, it’s a black tribal band that has openings and a wolf that looks like it’s aimed towards the moon. Almost like it’s howling. “Wow, that’s really awesome, I wouldn’t mind that as a tattoo.” I laugh and at the same time hear a low growl, I turn and look at Mason. “Well, Mr. Grumpy let’s see yours.”

  MASON

  “Mr. Grumpy, huh?” I smile at her? She cocks her head and waves her hand, “well, I’m waiting, we don’t have all night.” I laugh, she thinks she’s cute. Well, she wants to see it I won’t keep her waiting, I strip my shirt off, so she can see the whole band. Her jaw drops a little at the sight of my chest, the same way it did the last time she saw me shirtless. I point to my left shoulder and upper arm, “That’s it; it wraps around and comes down.” She’s staring and gets up to examine it, she runs her fingers across it and I swear it feels like everywhere she touches is on fire. It takes all my control to hold back a groan. “Why is yours so big?” She bites her lip and blushes as the words come out of her mouth as she realizes what she said. I laugh, “When a wolf becomes Alpha his band expands, my band was the size of Cameron’s. Then I became Alpha and it expanded up and around my shoulder. Sam’s is the same way.” She looks to Sam to confirm this and Sam nods. “It’s true, the Alpha’s band is always bigger to show his rank in the pack. When Cameron becomes Alpha his band will expand and as long as Sarah is his mate hers will expand as well, not as big as Cameron’s but it will get bigger.” Cammie nods, like she understands. “Ok, so the Alpha gets the power band and the females follow. But if the females are the Alphas mates why don’t they get as big? I mean aren’t they just as important and powerful? Like the female Alpha or something?” I sigh, this will be complicated to explain. “Unfortunately, there’s not many female Alphas. It takes a lot to be a female Alpha. Most females stand behind they’re males, they’re domestic. They will engage in fights when they have to, but most don’t. An Alpha female has to have the back bone to deal with the pack business, the packs enemies, be able to stand next to her mate, and fight with her mate. It sounds like it’s sexist and like the women aren’t as important but really, it’s not. There’s just not many out there.” I bite the inside of my lip hoping that I explained that right, because let’s face it I really don’t want to face her wrath if she doesn’t understand. She sits there taking it all in and thinking over everything I’ve said. She turns to Sarah, “Are you ok with all of this?” Sarah nods, “I’ve always known I’m not an Alpha female. I’m made to stand behind Cameron, to support him. If he ever was to need me, I would be there for him, but I’m not the one to fight his battles for him. That’s not my place.” She smiles as Cameron pulls her close. Cammie takes a deep breath as she seems to understand. “Ok, I guess I understand how it works. This just confirms even more how I will be staying the hell away from this whole mati
ng thing. Because there is no way in hell that some guy will be telling me what I can and can’t do.” Sam laughs, “I don’t think we will have any problems with that sweetheart, any problems at all.”

  Sam is still laughing as he finally tells everyone that it’s time to head out for the nightly run. “We’re shifting again tonight?” Cammie asks. Cameron comes up next to her, “Dad and I made the announcement to the pack earlier about your arrival and explained everything. A lot of the pack remembered my birth and remembered mom so, you being here isn’t a problem. It’s a shock that your wolf has decided to wait this long to wake up and no one knows why, and that you were able to complete a shift so quickly your first time. It could be that you’re an Alpha’s daughter, but no one knows, so, for now we’re just going with it.” I’m on the other side of her. Walking protectively beside her in case some of the pack feels threatened by her, after all she is a new female. She is sending off nervous vibes and she needs to get ahold of herself or their gonna eat her alive. “Hey, baby girl.” I grab her wrist and pull her to a stop, she looks up at me with wide eyes. I run my fingers down her checks, “I can sense how nervous you are, which means they can as well. You need to pull yourself together and act like this doesn’t bother you at all. Go out there and kick ass. Show them the badass girl that we’ve all seen. Ok?” She bites that delicious lip and nods Pulling her back up straight she walks with purpose towards Sam and Cameron. Damn, this girl is gonna be the death of me.

  I reach them and hear Sam telling Cammie how the run works. “Ok, Cammie here’s how the run works, I’m in the front because I’m the Alpha. Cameron follows behind and we allow Mason to run along side since he’s a visiting Alpha. No one is to run past Cameron or myself, since you are my daughter your place is next to Cameron now. The pack may try to test you today as it’s your first run, this is important you must not let them win. You have to keep up with Cameron. Do you understand?” I’m a little worried and want to yell at Sam for making her do this so soon after arriving here. I know some of the females in this pack are horrible and won’t hesitate to try and take her down. But I know Sam didn’t have a choice after Cammie was seen being brought in and seen with Cameron and Sam. Cammie looks nervous but holds her head high. She looks him in the eyes. “Yes, I understand, keep up with Cam and don’t let the pack intimidate me. Got it.” Sam smiles and nods. Cameron laughs, “Cam huh? I kinda like that lil sis.” She laughs. I smile at their playfulness. Sarah shows up with a blanket and I give her a look, “I figured Cammie wouldn’t be used to getting naked in front of a bunch of people yet?” She shrugs, I nod and thank her. I walk over to Cammie who is trying to avoid looking at everyone stripping, “One day you’re going to have to get used to it.” She sighs, “I know but I mean come on, it’s only my second time! Can’t I have at least a week or so before I’m thrown into an orgy!” I bust out laughing, “An orgy really? I mean that’s a little extreme don’t you think?” She shakes her head and sighs. “Look baby girl, Sarah thought you could use this, and I think it’s a great idea. I will hold up the blanket while you shift. Then when we get back. I will do it again. I will do it every time I’m here until you get comfortable.” She looks at me with the sweetest look and smiles. “Thank you, Mason. That’s very sweet of you. I appreciate it.” She reaches up on her toes and kisses my check, I hold the blanket out and turn my head. I feel the air shimmer and look back and see her beautiful wolf standing there. Looking up at me with gold eyes. Once again, man I’m fucked!

  Everyone has shifted and is lined up; the pack is ready to start the run. Sam let’s out the howl of the Alpha to let his pack know that the run has started. I stay beside Cammie instead of Cameron just in case she needs me, although I notice Cameron staying steady with her as well. Cameron and I share a look, she’s doing great and my heart swells with pride. I shake my head, she’s not mine to be proud of what the hell is going on. My head has been so jumbled these past couple of days that I’ve been in her presence, it’s like she’s imprinted on the inside of my brain and won’t get the hell out. I’m snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of growling, I look and notice that one of the female wolves, Tonya has advanced on Cammie. I hadn’t realized that the run was almost over, and we have almost reached the return point. Tonya had pushed to the front and as soon as we reach the return, she’s going to attack Cammie. My heart is in my throat and my blood is pumping. I see Cameron turn around, he’s already reached the end. “Cammie you have to reach the end of the run, you can’t stop. Come on baby girl get to the end.” I push into her mind hoping that she can hear me. I see her push herself and as she gets a burst of energy she takes off and crosses the end. Tonya is still approaching as Cammie, me and Cameron are headed towards them when I hear Sam’s voice in my head. “No, you boys stay back, Cammie is being challenged. Tonya is testing her place in the pack and we can’t interfere. This is something that Cammie is going to have to do on her own. I didn’t think that anyone would have the gull to do this soon, she feels she doesn’t belong in the pack.” Sam shakes his head but stands tall like an Alpha is supposed to. My heart is in my throat. This can’t be happening. There is no way she’s ready for this. I mean this is only her second shift! “Cammie, baby girl I hope to god you can hear me. Tonya is challenging you to a fight for your place in the pack. You have to face off with her and fight for your place. There’s nothing that anyone can do, this is all on you. I know that you can do this baby girl. Come on show us that bad ass that I know you can be. Put that bitch in her place.” I growl out praying to God that she heard me.

  CAMMIE

  I look to both sides of me and have Cameron on one side and Mason on the other, we’re flying through the woods, fields, and mountains at a speed that is un real. This feels amazing. I’m having no trouble what so ever keeping up. I see Sam reach the ending point, Cameron told me he would reach it before anyone else, so I’m not worried about that. Suddenly, I hear a growling and snapping come up from behind me. I look back and there’s a female wolf a little bigger than me snapping at my heels. It took me off guard and caused me to lose my footing some, so it slowed me down some. I hear Mason in my head again telling me I have to reach the end, so I push myself and make a dash to the end. That bitch is not gonna show me up in front of the pack, not on the first run. I reach the end and am proud of myself and look for Sam, Cameron and Mason when I notice the female wolf circling towards me. I cock my head because at first, I’m not sure what the hell she’s doing. I notice that she’s bearing her teeth and her fur is standing on end. Holy fuck. Well, I guess she’s not done with me just yet, I’m not sure who pissed in her cheerios this morning, but she’s decided to take it out on me. Once again, I hear Mason in my head, telling me that this wolf, Tanya, is challenging me for pack position. I mean what the fuck? Now I have to face off and fight this bitch? Great just what I wanted to do. Well, I guess I’m getting my first lesson in fighting as a wolf, time to show these bitches who I am.

  Tanya circles me, snapping at my legs but has yet to actually advance on me. I’m not sure what her game is but I’m kinda getting dizzy and it’s pissing me off. “Cammie you need to get her down, get her hind legs.” Mason is screaming in my head, I try to shake him out, but he keeps coming back it’s starting to piss me off. Tanya advances again and manages to grab my tail just as Mason is screaming “try grabbing her neck to get her to submit.” I shake Tanya off, look at Mason, growl and scream at him in my head, “Shut the fuck up and Get the fuck out of my head!” I didn’t mean to sound so mean but I mean damn a girl can only deal with so much at one time. Mason hangs his head and I feel bad but can’t deal with that right now. I’ve got a wolf that wants to rip out my throat. She comes at me again and I roll out of the way and manage to snag her left back leg. I bite down as hard as I can and hear a snap. She lets out a howl and an agonizing painful sound, as she moves out of the way I pounce again. She comes back at me, but I dodge her and land on her. I’ve got her by her throat and can feel her blood in my mo
uth. The taste is a foul metallic taste, but I push down enough to break the skin some more. I then hear Sam howl, and his voice is inside my head, “Enough! The victory goes to Cammie.” I release Tanya and go to stand next to Sam and Cameron comes and stands next to me, he’s grinning like a fool so proud of me, I just shake my head. I look around for Mason but don’t see him anywhere and my heart drops to my stomach.

  I head over to where we left the blanket, so I can shift back, and Mason is standing there holding it. I look up at him and cock my head, “I told you I would hold the blanket for you to shift back, I’m a man of my word.” He turns, and I shift back and wrap myself in the blanket. “Thank you. Look Mason, I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier. It’s just you were yelling really loud in my head and I had her coming at me and my heart was pounding. It, it was just a lot all at once.” I look down, ashamed and feeling horrible that I hurt his feeling. He tips my chin up so I’m looking up at him, “baby girl don’t be sorry. I know that was a lot for you. I was terrified for you. I was trying to help you and didn’t know what else to do. We weren’t allowed to interfere and all I could think of was to give you advice, I’m sorry if it distracted you. I promise to stay out of your head, I’m still not sure how I can communicate with you anyway.” I grab his hand. “No. I kinda like the fact that we can talk like that, it’s kinda neat. Just give me the space when I need it please. I really can take care of myself.” I look at him, so he does know this. He nods., “I know you can baby girl, but for some reason I want to be the one to do it. You need to get some sleep, you’re exhausted, your first pack run and challenge all in one night. You’re going to be staying in my cabin since it’s next to Cameron’s and Sam’s.” I look at him, “Where are you staying?” I bite my lip, please say you’re staying there as well. That’s all I want to hear him say. He caresses my check, “I’m heading out, I just got word that there’s some business that I have to take care of at home with my pack. I will be back baby girl. I’m only a couple of hours away. If you need anything let Cameron know and he can get word to me. I left my number on the table by the bed.” I look up at him, biting my lip. I really don’t want him to leave. I have this gut feeling that he’s supposed to be here, but I can’t place it. His finger sweeps my lip from between my teeth and he growls, “God, I’ve been watching you do that for days and I can’t take it anymore. I need to taste what that lip taste like.” With that he attacks my mouth like I’m a cool drink of water after being in the dessert for months.