by Lori King
“Well I’m not sure I like some of your friends very much,” she grumbled, taking a step backward out of his arms. “I know that you two feel obligated to go through with the challenge. I respect it and I understand it, but what I don’t understand is why none of you are smart enough to accept that no one has to die.”
Both men sighed and looked frustrated and disappointed with her. The latter stung a lot. Why shouldn’t she voice her opinions? This was going to affect her life just as much as theirs.
“Whitney, it’s not as black and white as you make it out to be. There are traditions in place that have worked for werewolves for thousands of years. You know that,” Mateo said softly. His big arms were crossed over his massive chest, and he looked immovable in every way.
“They are traditions that were created thousands of years ago for a different time, and a different people. Seriously? Guys, this is the twenty-first century. Shouldn’t we progress along with the rest of the world? What would it hurt if three men walked away losers. At least they walked away!” Her voice was borderline hysterical as her fears finally hit the surface and spilled over. If they wanted to talk about this now, then she was going to lay it all out there. “Don’t you get it? If you two die, I die. Even worse, if one of you dies and the other lives, then two of us have to figure out how to survive without our third! I don’t want this! I never wanted this!”
Both men were staring at her like she had lost her mind, and she couldn’t keep her temper in check anymore. Like a burst of molten lava from a volcano she erupted. “You two have it all mapped out for us. You’ll go into battle and come out easy victors, and then we’ll pack my stuff and take off for Chicago without a second thought. Well let me just tell you both something. I’m not the submissive housewife type. I know what genuine love and respect is, because my family has taught me it well. I’m a grown woman with a full-time career, and being mated doesn’t mean I have to give up my own life. My future hinges on what happens in that challenge, but after that, it’s in my control again. I will decide if and when I move away from my family and my home to join the Diego pack. Got it?”
“Strong words from a weak heart are usually regretted.”
Whitney stumbled and nearly dropped her camera to the ground at the sound of Delaky’s voice behind her. Embarrassment flooded through her that someone other than her men had heard her selfishness.
“Delaky, um, what are you doing here?”
The blonde woman moved gracefully down the path toward them, smiling. “I suppose I am where fate has placed me. Your fears are poisoning your good sense, daughter.”
Whitney looked everywhere but at Delaky. It stung to hear the words because she knew that they were right. “I can’t let my life be decided for me.”
“Then be sure when you make your choice that you choose wisely. Use the heart of a woman, and not the petulance of a child.” Delaky continued to stare at her until Whitney finally nodded, and then she turned her attention to the two men. “Have you chosen to release your mate?”
“Release her?” Cadence asked.
“She’s asking if you’ve decided you made a mistake by mating me,” Whitney whispered. She could feel the blood drain from her face as she spoke, and the realization dawned on her that not everything could be her way. Just as she had a choice in her future, so did her men.
“Of course not,” Cadence snapped, “Why would you think that, Grandmother?”
“When pieces of a heart are left guarded, no one wins. You three are fighting for dominance in a relationship that is new, and that will only serve to break your spirit. Fight for yourselves if not for your mates.”
With that, Delaky left the three of them standing on the path staring at each other. Whitney thought she understood what the woman was trying to tell them, but she was still fumbling with her need for control. If she gave up the argument now, would they ever respect her the same way in the future?
“Little flower, you’re deep in thought again,” Cadence said, exchanging a look with Mateo that spoke volumes about their feelings toward her.
“I’m not rejecting you. I want you both,” Whitney responded, playing with the strap on her camera in order to avoid looking at them. “That’s the problem, I want you both. I don’t want to lose either of you.”
“I thought you trusted us.” Mateo sounded disappointed, and she hurried to reassure him.
“I do! Please don’t take it like that. It’s not you that I don’t trust, it’s fate. Lately the Gray pack has seen a lot of turmoil, and I’m scared that this is just another ball of chaos to unravel.”
“What do you want from us, Whitney?” Cadence asked softly.
Whitney stared at him in surprise. He was an Alpha wolf, and yet he was standing in front of her asking what she desired, giving her the chance to choose her destiny. It was what she wanted all along, right? Frustration balled in her gut because she didn’t have an answer to that question. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore.
“Right now, I want to forget the battle and dance. Will you dance with me?”
Mateo’s eyes lit up, and he gave her a cocky grin that melted her heart. “All night long if you’ll let me, mi reina.”
He took her hand and tugged her forward, but she resisted, waiting for Cadence to speak. When he finally did, she wanted to weep with relief. “I want nothing more than to sweep you off of your feet, flower. For tonight we will not talk anymore about the battle. We will only share information about ourselves and get to know each other, okay?”
Whitney nodded and accepted the tender kiss he offered. Biting her lip, she looked up at him from under her lashes. She could feel Mateo move in behind her, and she felt her panties dampen, “So does that mean no sex? Because I’m not sure I’ll make it all night long.”
Cadence smirked at her, and his nostrils flared as the scent of her arousal grew stronger around them. Blending with the natural scent of the forest and the two men, it was a heady fragrance. “Oh there will be sex. Lots of it.” He dropped his head to one side of her neck and Mateo rested his chin on the opposite shoulder. She moaned when they both nipped at her throat from opposite angles. “But, anticipation will make you come harder, so for now, we dance.”
She laughed and lifted her camera to snap a picture of his smiling face. She would remember this moment forever. It was the moment that she realized these two men were worth sacrificing for. She protested playfully as they drug her back out into the clearing and they joined the festivities.
Between dancing and enjoying herself, she snapped photos of the gaiety around them, determined to document this first civil interaction between the two packs in decades. Both groups were now her family, and she would spend the rest of her days ensuring that they remained on good terms with each other.
All around them were offers of congratulations and well wishes for their mating. There was no animosity among most of the Diego werewolves, but she could sense anger every time she drew near Reyes or his father. They watched the newly mated trio with too much interest to be comfortable, and she had to force herself to ignore them. Tomorrow was soon enough to deal with them. Tonight was for her and her two mates to celebrate.
Chapter 7
It was well after midnight when the trio made their way back to Whitney’s cabin. To her surprise, neither of the men had picked up any alcohol all evening, and the moment she had helped herself to a can of beer, they both gave her a pointed look that had her putting it back and getting a soda instead. She wasn’t a big drinker, but she did occasionally enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer, and every man she knew drank on occasion, making it even more unusual that hers didn’t.
“Why don’t you like alcohol?” she asked after they settled comfortably on the sofa. Her feet were in Mateo’s lap while she reclined against Cadence, and it felt absolutely heavenly to just be held by them.
Mateo’s eyes widened and he looked over her shoulder at Cadence. “What makes you ask that?”
“You didn�
�t want me drinking tonight, and you were upset when you found out that I’d had wine with my mama earlier today. I can hold my liquor pretty well you know. I promise I won’t embarrass you.”
Cadence stiffened under her head, “That’s not it at all, love. My father and Mateo’s father, Erock, were both heavy drinkers and they weren’t nice when they drank. In fact, they were absolutely vicious when they got drunk. Especially to their families.”
He stopped there, and Whitney held her breath hoping he would continue. Just that little bit of knowledge made her heart hurt for what they must have gone through with fathers like that.
“The smell of alcohol turns my stomach,” Mateo muttered, and she reached her hand out for his in sympathy.
“I know what happened to Barton, but tell me more about your families.” When they both stayed quiet and avoided her gaze, she huffed with impatience. “This is important if I’m going to be the Alpha-bitch. Don’t you think I should know what I’m going into?”
Mateo nodded, but his mouth tightened into a grim line. Behind her, Cadence groaned. “Fine, you want to know about my family, I’ll tell you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. My mother, Maria, got pregnant with me when she was only sixteen. My father was fifteen, and he had yet to take the reins of the pack from my grandfather. You’ve met Rolando and Reyes. My father and grandfather had a similar relationship. Barton was a nasty man with a violent temper. He used to beat my mother Maria on a regular basis for no reason at all. When I was thirteen, she died and he beat the hell out of me until I grew big enough to fight back. I had to watch him beat members of the pack for minor grievances, and I saw him steal from his own pack members. Being told he was dead was the first moment of real happiness I’ve ever had in my life until I met you. I loathed the man, and he got what he deserved. I’m the son of a murderer, a liar, and a thief. How’s that for good stock?”
Whitney sat up and took Cadence’s face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Listen to me, Cadence Diego. You are not your father. I may have only met you this morning, but I know you well enough to know that you would never be those things. You are a good person, and you will make an excellent Alpha.” His dark eyes looked glassy for a moment, and she forced a smile to her face. “Thank you for telling me. I expect that there will still be some who fear you even though you aren’t your father.”
He nodded and pulled her into his lap, nuzzling her neck. “Thank you. I want to be better than he was, but there are moments when I wonder…”
“Don’t. Don’t ever wonder, because there is no evil in your soul. You must have taken after your mother. Tell me about her,” Whitney said softly. She knew that Mateo watched them, but right now she remained focused on Cadence. He needed her comfort.
Memories of his mother brought a smile to his face, and combined with the dark scruff on his jaw, he looked sexy as hell. Squirming a bit, she inhaled sharply when he shifted her again so that she was straddling him.
“Little flower, there is no way I can talk about my mother when you smell so delicious. It’s just plain wrong.” She started to pull away because she desperately wanted to hear his story, but he clamped his hands down on her butt to hold her in place. “No! Fine, if you want to know it so badly I’ll tell you. Just stop wiggling.”
Freezing in place, she locked her hands behind his neck and pressed her forehead to his. “Tell me.”
“My mother was only seventeen when she and Barton were finally married. They weren’t true mates, and although she never said as much, I think he forced her into it. He may have even raped her to get her pregnant.” Whitney had to bite her tongue to keep from cursing. She didn’t want Cadence to stop talking. This was too important. “She was a timid person, weak if you will, but she was also warmhearted and generous to a fault. It drove my father nuts that she would help any wolf in need, but there wasn’t much beyond beating her that he could do to prevent it. I remember the first time he used me against her, saying he would beat me every time she gave his money or food away. That moment broke something inside of her. Once she was unable to share with others, she seemed only half of herself. Anyway, when I was thirteen she drowned in the river. It was ruled an accident. My father claimed she had slipped on the wet rocks and hit her head. By the time he was able to pull her out she was gone. I think I’ve always known that wasn’t the true story, but it’s the only one I’ll ever know now.”
“Oh my God.”
Cadence nodded. “I told you he wasn’t a good person.”
Whitney frowned. “What I don’t understand is if Barton was such a terrible man, why didn’t anyone else in the pack challenge him for his place as Alpha?”
“Those that even whispered about a challenge were dealt with swiftly and harshly,” Cadence answered.
“But—”
Mateo interrupted her argument with a gruff snort. “What my cousin is trying to avoid telling you is that Barton wasn’t the only bad guy in the Diego pack. There were three of them. Barton and Rolando”—he paused as that name registered in her head and her mouth dropped open—“and my own father, Erock Diego, Barton’s older brother.”
“Holy shit.” The word fell from her mouth, and she grimaced when she realized she couldn’t pull them back. Mateo met her gaze steadily, but she could see the pain etched in his eyes. “So your father is—”
“Was. He’s long gone. He disappeared when I was six. Everyone always said he ran away to be with a woman he met, but who knows. Barton and Rolando might have killed him. Rolando always believed that my father held a grudge against Barton because he wasn’t made Alpha. He was the oldest, but he wasn’t the Alpha son, he was clearly a Beta. When Erock disappeared, my mother was left with a six-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter to care for by herself. She was at the mercy of the Alpha and his Beta.”
“Barton and Rolando.” A sinking filling filled her stomach and her eyes burned with tears. She could only imagine the horrors that a single woman would have had to deal with under the leadership of the two men.
She was relieved to know that her instincts were correct about Rolando Asis, but it also left her feeling apprehensive for her friends and family. As long as he was here, they were at risk. Even knowing there was nothing she could do to protect them all, she still promised herself that tomorrow she would have a long talk with Devin and Damon. They needed to be aware of the threat.
“So you have a sister?” she asked Mateo.
“Yes, Carmella, Cara, is five years younger than me. I know her and my mom will love you,” Mateo said with a wink her way.
“Enough of this serious talk. I’ve got a hard-on that has your name on it, love,” Cadence teased, biting her earlobe and squeezing her ass.
“Mmm…my name on it, huh? You know that’s not a bad idea. I’m thinking a tattoo that says, Property of—” She let out a squeal as Cadence pushed her from his lap to the floor, following her down. Spread out on top of her, he pinned her with his body weight while he shut her up with his mouth.
Her brain went blank as she focused on the tingling in her body that seemed to happen every time she kissed one of them. On instinct she parted her knees, allowing his hips to settle into the spread of her thighs, and they both groaned at the perfect fit.
“Ay dios mio. You’re going to kill me, flower.”
She shot him a wicked grin. “Not until I’m finished with you. That hard-on is mine, remember?”
“How could I forget, love?” He rolled to his back, dragging her with him so that she was straddling his body, and his hands were free to push her shirt up and off of her. Once he had her breasts in his palms, he smiled back and pinched her nipples. “Mateo, you had better get your ass back in here if you don’t want to miss the party.”
Whitney’s eyes darted around the tiny living room in surprise. She hadn’t even realized that he had left them, she was so distracted by his cousin. “Mat? Where did you go?”
“How come he gets to be Mat and I have to be wolf-man?” Cadence f
rowned up at her.
“Because, Mat is my gentle giant, the sweet, sensitive one, but you, my wolf-man, are all raw masculine power,” she said, bending forward to brush her lips over his. A sharp slap on her upturned ass had her in fight mode and she jerked her head around to glare at Mateo. “What was that for?”
“For doubting my raw masculine power, mi amor. After tonight you won’t ever doubt it again.” He held up a small container of petroleum jelly that she’d had in the back of her medicine cabinet.
Instantly her ass cheeks clenched as she realized just what he intended. “Uh, I’m not so sure I’m ready for that yet, guys. I’ve never done it before.”
“There’s a first for everything, flower. Mateo will go easy on you, he’s your gentle giant, remember?” Cadence teased, rocking his hips up into her so that his erection tapped her swollen folds.
When her panties stuck to her, she groaned and slipped off of Cadence to finish undressing. Realizing that both men were watching her every move, she added a little wiggle to her motions as she slid her jeans and panties down to her ankles. Their eyes took on the glow of desire, making her wolf sit up and take notice. The animal inside of her was desperate to connect with her mates in a very physical sense.
She watched them both through hooded eyes. “I’m at a disadvantage here.”
“No, mi reina, you’re not. This is new to all of us. Perhaps not the mechanics, but the emotions are very new. Nothing about this is like anything I’ve ever experienced. I’d like to try it, but if it makes you uncomfortable I won’t.” Mateo held his empty hand out to her and she didn’t hesitate to take it.
“I’ll try anything once, just be gentle,” she murmured, accepting a deep kiss from him that had her rising on her tiptoes, seeking more. His arm came around and went under her ass to lift her. She gasped as his bicep rippled under her hand and her pussy rippled in response.