Chapter 8

Eight

ARES

He’s here.

Hendrix.

His scent hits me suddenly, flaring up my spine like icy fire fingers, eliciting a shiver of excitement and pain. He’s just as beautiful as the last time I saw him, that night he rejected me.

A high-pitched noise hits my ears, and it takes a moment to realize it’s me keening. The whine is a mixture of incomprehensible emotions—relief that he’s here, pain from the rejection, sadness for all that we’ve lost, and anger. Anger at him for being vulnerable, at myself for running away, and most of all, anger at whoever did this to us.

My alphas all shift, wanting to forget their promise to give Hendrix and me a moment, wanting to comfort me. Kato growls softly, only stopping when Knox elbows him, muttering under his breath.

Hendrix’s face crumbles, his lower lip trembling like mine, but his teary eyes remain fixed, silently promising that he’ll never leave us again. He remains motionless, knees on the floor, waiting for my forgiveness before approaching.

Finally, I blink, showing acceptance, welcoming. We’ve all been suffering. Now is the time to stop. Reaching out, I bridge the gap we’ve all craved.

“Mate.”

His eyes slam closed with devastation but open with gratitude. “Ares,” he whispers again, slowly sliding closer, still on his knees. When he’s close enough, he drops to his hands, gripping my bare feet, kissing my toes. “My mate, I’m so sorry.” Each word is careful, laden with emotion, his human and wolf sides warring for dominance.

An uncontrollable sob rips from my throat as my fingers dig into his hair, pulling him to eye level. Heat cramps my stomach, reminding me we’re on a timeline, and if we’re going to do this, the air needs cleared quickly.

“I forgive you.”

A kaleidoscope of noises fills the air—cries from Hendrix and me as we cling to each other, a whoop from Knox in the background, a grunt of approval from Maddock. Kato is already dropping to his knees next to his brother.

His eyes dilated, lips murmuring ‘mate, mate, mate’ under his breath as he rubs his cheeks across my thighs. Hendrix ignores him, cupping my cheek as he leans in to brush our noses together.

“I love you,” he chokes, diving headfirst into our commitment. “I think I always have?—”

“Me too, mate. Me too.” Kato’s interruption hums softly as he somehow maneuvers his way between my legs, nuzzling the warmth between my thighs.

A moan of appreciation signals the start of our first heat, drawing my other mates forward.

Maddock reaches out his hand, silently offering guidance. The wolf and alpha in him drive his instincts to take, to claim, and I’m entirely open to it as I reach out.

“Evie’s napping now, but we’ll take care of her during your heat.”

“Oh!” Clarity dawns, and I corral the hussy between my legs. “Evie…” I turn back to Hendrix. “Do you want to meet your daughter?” The bond in my chest aches, signifying heightened emotions running through the four of my mates, but none so intensely as with Hendrix in this moment.

“Yes.” He squeezes my hand and tugs me towards the hall, as if he’s lived here for years and knows exactly where he’s going.

The door to Evie’s room opens slowly, trying not to wake her with the sound of five adults coming to admire her while she sleeps, but her little angel face keeps us all silent.

A smile tugs at my lips when I see she’s still in the clothes she ate in—strawberry stains everywhere. Thankfully, she’s mostly clean, so I remain quiet. They’ll get the hang of fatherhood, and the dull ache in my chest pounds harder at the thought. The first real moment of acceptance sparks to life, and I embrace it. No, I love it.

“She looks just like you,” I whisper, letting a bit of my heartache show. “I think that was the hardest part, seeing her every day and then seeing you too.” I glance around the room, making sure to lock eyes with each of them. “All of you, really. She has your same damn eyes.”

Knox doesn’t hold back, chuckling quietly, causing all of us to smile. “She may have our eyes, but she definitely has your beauty.” A wave of his scent hits me, causing my eyes to roll and my legs to quiver. Slick pools in my soaked sleep shorts, eliciting growls and purrs of appreciation from each of them.

“Come, Moon. Let’s get you settled. I have a surprise for you.” His voice is low, rumbling with a purr, and something in me melts for him, wanting nothing more than to listen to his every whim. In the blink of an eye, we’ve moved from Evie’s room to mine, and in the corner is a pile of blankets I’ve never seen before.

Tilting my head in question, Kato answers. “Maddock put this together after putting Evie down, using the blankets I brought in earlier. Of course, we don’t pretend to know how to do it as well as our omega, so why don’t you arrange it just the way you like.” He raises an eyebrow, triggering an immediate urge to do exactly that.

My skin feels itchy against the fabric covering my body, and it’ll have to go soon, but first, the next step. I’ve read enough since high school to understand what being an omega entails, and now that my mates are here, I’m quite excited.

Moving over to the pile, I notice Maddock did an excellent job arranging the blankets just so, placing the softest ones on top. Once I’ve fluffed the edges and found no flaws, I nod in approval, watching Maddock’s chest swell with pride.

“Let’s give our mate the finishing touches.” Maddock smirks at my confused expression, then pulls his shirt over his head, leaving me momentarily speechless. He chuckles at my comically slack-jawed expression. “Here you go, Moon. Tuck them around until it’s just right.”

As soon as the soft cotton of his shirt touches my fingers, I squeal in delight, giggling at myself while tucking his shirt next to where my head would be in the nest. This way, I can always smell him.

The rest of my guys follow suit until they’re naked before me, causing me to pant and melt where I stand. Another keening noise escapes my lips without permission, calling to them.

Hendrix is the first to step forward—fitting with our history—eager to put the past behind us, erase the haunting memories. He does so the moment he tentatively reaches over and cups my cheek.

His fingers slide to the back of my scalp, tangling in my hair, pulling me to him slowly as his eyes search mine for any hesitation. Once satisfied with what he sees, his lips crash onto mine.

It’s a move that sets the rest of them into action, and I’m thankful we discussed our boundaries, or rather, the lack thereof, before this moment. Nothing can stop us now.

Hendrix wraps his free arm around me, pulling me flush against his body, while our tongues dance. His scent is heady, creating a fog thicker than my heat-induced haze.

“Tell me what you need, Ares. I’ll give you the world.” His lips trail my neck, words muffled against my skin.

“Clothes. Itchy.” One-word sentences are all I can manage.

“You heard our mate.”

At Kato’s command, four sets of hands swiftly remove my scratchy clothes, and I’m naked in no time. Purrs of appreciation drown out any embarrassment I might feel at exposing myself for the first time to my mates. They remain close, caressing soft skin, teasing my nipples as Hendrix continues to devour my soul.

He lays me down in the middle of the nest, gently nudging my legs apart. His big body fits perfectly, nestled skin to skin, his cock pressing nicely against my wet slit, gliding slowly until I arch into him, silently begging for more.

He nuzzles my neck, rubbing his cheek against mine to mark me, claim me. “Do you want me bare, mate?” He directs the question to me but glances over his shoulder to Maddock for confirmation, knowing I’ll agree to anything that gets him inside me faster.

“Yes. Yes.” I breathe, tilting my hips in a futile attempt to catch his tip and draw him home.

His strong hands cup my hips, holding them in place, eliciting a pout and a whine of frustration from me. “Shh, shh, shh. You’re all right, baby,” he coos, before glaring at Maddock. “Come on, brother. I can barely hold on here.”

Maddock chuckles, clearly enjoying his brother’s torment. “We had time before her heat progressed too far. She wants us bare. She doesn’t care about shifting if we get her pregnant.” The word is growled out as a promise. There’s no other outcome— their seed will take root if they have any say in it.

The thought makes me moan and rock against him again. “Please, Drix. I need you now.”

His gaze snaps to mine. “You never have to beg, baby. I’m yours—always.” With that, he guides himself into my entrance and thrusts forward.

A scream escapes me—the pleasure mingled with pain.

Hendrix remains still, fully seated inside me. His lips trail my ear, nipping at my lobe, whispering, “After all this time, your body remembers me so well, takes me completely with one thrust. Did you miss me as much as I missed you, love?”

“Yes,” I breathe, panting with fullness. “Every day, I missed you. All of you.”

My words unleash the rest of his restraint; his hips begin to piston forward, hitting the perfect spot immediately. “Fuck, baby. You’re going to drive me wild.” His movements become erratic. “Are you going to come for me, love?” he breathes against my neck, slipping a thumb between us to stroke my clit until I scream with release. “That’s it. Now you’re going to take my knot like a good girl, aren’t you?”

Whimpering, I agree. “Knot. Yes.” I had read extensively about heats, but this surpasses all expectations. I had always assumed I would be alone, without mates, with no trust for the opposite sex.

Hendrix growls, burying his face in my neck as he begins to climax. “That’s it.” Thrust. “Take it all, like a good mate.” Thrust. His groan is deep and satisfied as his cock twitches and his knot swells, locking us tightly together. Another orgasm rocks me when his every movement brushes his pelvic bone against my clit. He deliberately tilts his hips for better friction, sending me into another whirl of pleasure, drawing a whimper from my lips. He kisses my neck, inhaling deeply, his teeth grazing my skin in a silent question.

When I tilt my head to grant him better access and whisper, “Yes,” there is no hesitation as his teeth sink into my neck, thrusting shallowly as he reaches his peak again. His growl is possessive, claiming me, our souls intertwining as one. His emotions hit me hard, mirroring my own confusion, pain, and heartache—something I wouldn’t wish on any of my mates.

“Shh… I’m here.” He cradles my head, positioning me perfectly to sink my teeth into him. A shocked gasp escapes his lips, as if he never expected me to claim him back. “Ares.” His voice cracks, tears dampening my skin as he leans back to search my eyes. “Never again, baby. No one will take you or Evie from me. I won’t allow it.” By the time our emotions calm, Hendrix’s knot has receded, and he slips free. A whimper escapes my lips, but because of our connection, he simply chuckles. “I’ll just check on Evie, sweetheart. Kato needs your love now. Did you know he’s saved himself for you all these years?”

Hendrix grunts when Kato elbows him. “I can reveal my own secrets, brother.” His irritation towards his brother melts into love when he refocuses his attention on me. “May I come inside your nest, my love?”

A giggle escapes as I watch his cobalt eyes lock onto me as if I’m his last meal, licking his lips. A shiver of anticipation runs through me.

“Whatever you’re doing, brother, she likes it.” Hendrix laughs again, the sound light and carefree, a tone not heard in a long time.

Kato purrs as I nod for him to approach.

“Have you really saved yourself for me?” I had seen women throwing themselves at them since we were young, yet both he and Hendrix remained faithful.

My heart swells as his cheeks flush and he nods. “I always knew you were the only one I wanted. I admit, I struggled to keep my distance from you as a teenager. You were my only temptation growing up. Now I know why.” A cocky smirk graces his handsome lips.

Heat spreads through me—slickness summoned by the melting possessiveness evident in every feature. “You boys were the only ones I saw growing up. The only ones I thought about.”

Appreciative growls rumble around the room—all eyes locked on my naked form, hands caressing their erections. “We’ve come a long way from being boys, Ares. Do you still want us?” Knox’s tone is teasing, playful, yet he knows my legs spread willingly for each of them at this moment.

Without another word, I sit up, cupping the back of Kato’s head as he kneels, bringing our bodies flush together. Our lips meet in an enthusiastic kiss, savoring every movement.

Whimpers escape me, begging for his cock, for him to knot me, to claim me along with the others, to be a family with Evie, to reclaim everything that was stolen from us.

Kato may be new to this, but you wouldn’t guess it from the way he positions himself and slams into me like his life depends on it.

We both howl with pleasure, growling, moaning, and purring in ecstasy until neither of us can take any more—he groans as his knot swells, tying us together.

“Fuuuuuckk.” His cock pulses inside me, releasing so much that I’m surprised his knot keeps it from dripping down my thigh. His forehead presses against mine, his cock jerking again, causing me to giggle. His eyes meet mine, humor dancing in their crystal depths. “A giggle wasn’t what I expected to hear after fucking you for the first time.” He wiggles slightly, turning the grin into a prolonged moan that sends me into another mini orgasm before he sinks his teeth into the top of my left breast.

His emotions hit me just as hard as Hendrix’s, overwhelming in the best way possible. As soon as he releases, my teeth sink into his neck, binding him to me. Our souls dance together—creating a moment of our own—before intertwining with Hendrix’s bond, weaving us together like a braid.

His tears fall onto my chest as his lips find mine. “I can’t wait to start our lives together. To be a father to Evie.” He clears his throat, grinding his knot against me, causing my eyes to roll. “And to fuck you every night.” His tongue glides across his mark.

When he withdraws, liquid trails down my thigh, evidence of the amount of cum they’ve pumped into me. Apparently, it’s not enough, as Knox takes Kato’s place, catching the spill with his fingers and pushing it back inside.

The brush of his finger reignites the heat, an endless well of desire and need. Another whimper builds in my chest, eliciting a comforting purr from Knox as he leans over me, framing my head with his arms.

He nudges me with his nose, brushing his lips against mine. “Now that you’re not running, what has my mate been up to these past couple of years? Sorry we didn’t have more time together before biology took over.” His dirty smirk suggests he’s not that sorry.

His question makes me giggle, recalling how quickly we ran from the library to escape him. But my smile fades just as quickly, remembering why we were always running.

He’s incredibly distracting as he traces my curves with his fingers, cherishing every soft inch. “Hey… we’ll figure everything out. But don’t let them steal this moment from us, too.” His fingers tuck damp hair behind my ear, eyes searching mine for permission before our lips seal together.

Heat flares with each swipe of his tongue, devouring my soul and cementing our bond as his teeth clamp down on the right side of my neck with a deep thrust. Instantly tightening around his cock, I come.

“Fuck, princess. Your pussy’s tighter than I imagined.” His hand sweeps down my thigh, curling my leg around his hip, fingers digging into my ass as he penetrates deeply. A shiver runs down my spine as his teeth graze my ear, whispering dark promises. His fingers glide between my cheeks, trailing slick and cum left by his brothers, teasing my back entrance. “Once Maddock’s had his turn with you, we’re going to show you what you’ve really been missing.” His finger circles my hole again as he quickens his pace. “You’ll have one of us in every hole, mate, showing you exactly who you belong to now.” Teeth nip at each of my mate marks, driving me wild, scattering coherent thoughts until my eyes roll with pleasure. “That’s it, take my cock like a good omega. You gonna take my knot?”

A soft whimper is my only response, confirming my desire.

A dark chuckle rumbles to our left, revealing Maddock watching our every move from the head of the nest, drawing another moan of desire. A smile curls his lips as his thumb circles the tip of his cock, gathering a drop of precum. “Soon, my Moon.” His thumb slips into my mouth, smearing his seed across my tongue.

“Mm…” the moan mixes with a possessive growl. “Knot.” A plea, mingling with demand, drawing several chuckles.

“Not yet. I need one more from you. Come for me, princess.” Knox grinds into my clit, launching me into climax before shouting his own release. His knot tightens within my walls, sending tremors with each twitch.

My eyes roll with pleasure, marveling at my enduring stamina as I continue to rock against his swollen member. After catching my breath, I sink my teeth into the same spot on his neck that he chose on mine. "I love you," I whisper, my words intended for all of them.

Knox murmurs sweet nothings into my ear until his knot releases. Exhausted and exhilarated, I manage to keep my eyes open, reserving enough energy for Maddock. When I glance at him, he's watching intensely from the edge of the bed. "Mate." Our relationship has progressed at lightning speed, but deep in my soul, I know they're all mine. He swallows hard, his eyes shining as he traces my face. "Are you ready for me, Moon?"

I nod immediately. He's the last one I need to claim. Impatient as ever, I don't wait for him, lunging towards him. My teeth sink into his chest, right over his heart. He purrs as he holds my head in place, whispering words of encouragement.

When I finally release him, he kisses my forehead and lays me beneath him like a treasured prize. "My Moon was eager to be mine, huh? Little does she know; she always has been." His brow quirks. His words coax a purr from me, making him growl appreciatively. Gripping his cock, he rubs the head against my entrance. "There's a reason I let the others go first, Moon. I'll go slow until you're ready."

Glancing down, I see the head of his cock, then the silhouette. He's massive, eliciting an anticipatory whimper from me.

"I'll take it easy. I promise." He nudges the tip inside, stretching me despite the slickness of cum. "That's it. Breathe, mate." Thrust. "Breathe." Thrust. "One more." Thrust.

An elongated moan vibrates from our chests when he bottoms out. "So good," I whisper, lifting my hips to meet his next thrust.

His grunt is satisfying, knowing his efforts. Fingers tighten in my hair, pulling my neck taut, lips trailing kisses across my gooseflesh skin. He captures my wrist, caressing his lips against the soft flesh until he sinks sharp canines through the skin, then he truly begins to move.

As our connection deepens, so do his thrusts, sensing what I desire through our bond. "Brace yourself, mate." A snarl trembles on his lips as he lifts my legs together, cupping them against his chest, driving deeper than before.

A scream tears from my lungs, clenching around his length as I climax hard enough to see stars.

"That's it, Moon." His cock begins to swell. "Take my knot." My walls tighten so much he struggles against the muscles.

"Too big," I cry, but cling to him just in case he tries to move.

"Such a good girl, taking my huge cock and knot. Almost there, baby." Finally, he homes in once more and remains seated. His length twitches furiously inside as jet after jet of seed warms my insides. "Fuck," he grunts when an aftershock clenches him. He turns us so I'm lying across his chest, his knot nestled between my thighs. "Sleep, Moon. Our souls are intertwined now. We'll be here when you wake." He brushes his lips against my forehead, and soon I'm drifting off.

Hours have passed since I claimed all of my mates, their souls now playfully tethered with mine. As our emotions and minds intertwine, doubts and uncertainties slip away, freeing us from reservations.

Hendrix kisses my neck gently over his bite before moving away from my thighs. "I'm going to tag Maddock in and spend some time with Evie. Do you need anything?"

"No. Tell her I love her." My smile reflects my excitement about our daughter.

"Will do, mate." Hendrix's eyes meet mine. "I love you, baby. I always have and I always will." He kisses the tip of my nose before heading to the bed to grab his shirt and shorts.

His words hit me deeply, and tears spring to my eyes. "Hey, hey. None of that, okay?" Kato starts fussing, nuzzling me to ensure his scent covers my entire body. "You've been with your mates, had our knots, and some sleep. Now it's time for food and a bath. Knox, head to the kitchen—no, scratch that. Knox, prepare a nice bubble bath for our mate, and I'll make her something to eat. Maddock, see if you can help her relax a bit more before she gets in the bath."

The sly smile on his face tells me exactly how Maddock plans to relax me, and I'm completely on board with it.