Chapter 10

Ten

ARES

"You're doing so well, Moon, taking our cocks like a good girl," Maddock praises, drool dripping from my chin as his length slides between my lips, eliciting a moan. "Jesus."

"Look what you're doing to him, baby," Kato whispers in my ear, slowly thrusting through my wet folds. "You're driving us all to the brink of insanity." He glares over my shoulder at his twin, who's preparing to enter me from behind. "You better move faster if you want either of us to last."

Knox chuckles, sliding through my wetness before pressing against my rear entrance. "No rushing. We're going at the speed Princess needs." He eases in an inch, causing every muscle to tighten and each man to groan.

Maddock runs a hand down my spine, thrusting deeper into my throat while soothing me. "Easy, Moon. Relax. Let your mate in."

Their lips trailing across my skin calm my nerves, allowing him to sink to the hilt. "Full," I moan around his cock, clenching and swirling my tongue.

"Fuck. That's it, Moon," Maddock grunts, gripping the back of my head and holding me down until he's emptied himself into my throat.

"Now, that's a sight," Knox murmurs, nipping at my neck as Maddock withdraws. "Our turn to steal the show, brother."

The word is their signal to move in unison, starting slow to allow my body to adjust to Knox's entry. After a few tentative thrusts, they pick up speed until they're both slamming into me, our bodies slapping together amid moans of pleasure.

"Fuck, you're perfect," Kato groans, gripping my hips tightly. His cock twitches once more before warmth fills me, my inner walls clutching his cock tightly as he releases into me, his knot swelling.

"Can you take my knot too, Princess?" Knox grunts through clenched teeth, fingers gripping my hair tightly.

"Yes, yes, yes," I pant in reply, matching each thrust until he fills my last hole.

Unease jolts me awake, realizing they've fucked me into oblivion. As they both withdraw simultaneously, liquid trails down my thighs, marking me as theirs just as much as their bites.

Again, that foreboding sense washes over me, instincts on high alert. I scanned the room, seeking reassurance from my mates. Maddock remains passed out where we left him atop the nest. The twins flank me on either side, their knots having just slipped free, a wave of relief washing over me. My heat is dormant for now, granting clarity for the first time in hours. Enough to realize Hendrix isn't in the room, and the distressed pull in my chest emanates from wherever he is in the house.

A low growl escalates into a steady snarl, snapping my other three mates to attention. Even Maddock, who moments ago was out cold, sits up and takes notice of his surroundings.

That's when I catch her scent.

Another female.

In my house.

"What's wrong, Moon?" Maddock slides closer, pressing against my back.

Before I can alert them, Kato's snarl mirrors mine, and he leaps to his feet. "Tamera. That fucking bitch is in our mate's house," he grits out, his bond throbbing with the same foreboding sensation as mine. "Something's wrong."

Everyone in the room nods, sharing the weight of Hendrix's distress through our bond. He's in trouble.

Without a second thought, I storm toward the living room, my mates hot on my heels, only Kato’s wrapping me around the waist before we sprint down the hallway.

"Easy, love. Let me handle this. No one fucks with my mate, my family," Kato's eyes blaze with barely restrained rage as he storms into the living room, leading our naked pack to confront whatever ill intent Tamera has in store.

But as we round the corner, we're unprepared for the scene that awaits us. Tamera, arms wrapped around my baby, holds a lit match in her other hand.

Tamera smirks our way as we freeze, realizing simultaneously that a psycho holds the most precious piece of our soul.

Her manic cackle shatters the tense silence. "You're too late." She sizes us up, eyes lingering too long on my mates, eliciting another warning growl. Her attention snaps back to me, curling her lip in disdain. "They came too easily to you. You don't deserve them, but they all flocked to you—watching and waiting in silence. Too bad they're a bunch of idiot males, too obtuse to recognize you were their mate. Might as well lump you in with them since you didn't realize it either." She rolls her eyes, patting my daughter on the rear in her mock motherly role. "I tried roofies, spent a fortune on witch's tea, but none of it worked..." Her voice trails off, as if these admissions are for herself. "Yet somehow, you found each other." Her eyes snap back to me, a dirty sneer curling her lip. "The bonus is, now we have a daughter." The match between her fingers burns slowly, an internal mantra praying the flame will scorch her fingers, but she continues unabated. "Hendrix is salvageable, the rest of you will burn right along with your whore."

She twists her fingers, revealing three matches intertwined, each dancing with flame. With a magician's flourish, she tosses the first into the living room curtains, flames erupting and crawling up the walls like creatures from Hell.

"Stop," I plead. "Give me my daughter and leave!"

Tamera's cackle grows manic, her unstable mental state peeking through the sinister smile. "You don't have a daughter." Flick—another match ignites the couch. "Hendrix, baby, why don't you fetch the baby's bag and car seat before I finish this."

My eyes dart between them, panic evident as Hendrix hesitates, clearly not a part of her madness. "You're not going anywhere!" I scream, horror mounting as she laughs and strikes her final match. Fire swirls like a lasso around the room, engulfing us in seconds.

"Ares!" Hendrix snaps, a snarl curling his lip. "There's nothing you can do. We're leaving and taking Evie with us." He gestures toward her, his words final.

"Ashley. Her name is Ashley," Tamera murmurs, rubbing Evie's back, who miraculously sleeps through it all.

Even though I see through her fa?ade immediately, his rejection stings, dredging up my insecurities, causing my lower lip to tremble. It's a blow that shatters our soul, felt through our bond. He turns away, unable to meet my gaze as he heads to Evie's room, his departing words cutting deep. "It's over."

As my world goes up in flames, my legs give out, dropping me to all fours. Sweat coats my body from the inferno blazing in my home, tears cascade down my cheeks, sobs wrench through me. Three sets of hands touch my skin, trying to comfort but only causing pain, their touch like razors. Their concerned voices fade, muffled as cotton fills my ears, narrowing my focus to panting breaths. The ache is deep, hollowing my insides, breaking my soul in two.

"Did you get everything?" Tamera coos, glancing from Evie to Hendrix who reenters the room.

Hendrix looks around nervously, noticing the fire's rapid advance. "I did. We need to get you and the baby out before it gets too smoky." He's beside her, rubbing their backs with the care of a mate, another stab to the heart.

"You're right," she nods, finally grasping the danger around us. When Hendrix moves to take Evie, she jerks away, growling. "I've got her."

"Fuck you, Drix!" Knox snarls. "I always knew you were an asshole, but you've really outdone yourself this time."

"You've always been jealous. She chose me. Get over it," Hendrix retorts, stepping in front of Tamera and Evie, shielding them. But in reality, he mouths, "I love you."

He's about to sacrifice himself to save us all, snatching her into the flames the moment she releases Evie into her seat. Telepathy isn't part of our mate bond, but heightened emotion transmits his plan to us.

"No," Maddock whispers, understanding in his eyes.

Within seconds, everyone springs into action. Knox snags Hendrix's shirt, bounding toward Tamera, her eyes widening in shock as his clawed hand grazes her throat, intent on ripping tendon and muscle. Instantly, betrayal flashes across her eyes, shifting to Evie, replaced with vengeance.

Before she can reach Evie, Kato bellows at the top of his lungs, body taut, fists clenched. The drama queen emerges as expected, startling the crowd.

Simultaneously, Tamera recoils, something inside me fractures. Tears my insides, breaks my bones. My vision sharpens, every scent overwhelming, including the smoke billowing overhead.

Next thing I know, Tamera's neck is between my teeth. Only, they're attached to a snout, razor-sharp. The sharp snap of her neck grounds me in reality.

I'm a wolf.

My jaw slackens, astounded that I shifted and ended someone's life seconds later. There was no control. My she-wolf desired nothing more than the death of this female who trespassed into our den, attempting to steal our pup and mate. Knowing Tamera had no other fate awaiting her doesn’t make taking a life easy.

Luckily, my mates have no such reservations.

"Moon!" Maddock pets my coat, trying to calm the storm raging in my skull. "We need to get out of here. Let me carry you." He doesn’t give me a choice, wrapping my wolf form in his alpha arms and sprinting outside butt naked. Kato and Knox are hot on our heels, also naked. Hendrix is the only one with any clothing. "Can you shift back for me, baby? The paramedics are coming." Sirens blast the air, signaling their approach.

As my wolf form dissolves, proud of protecting our family, I mentally scratch her ear in thanks. Maddock opens a car door and sets me inside.

Knox elbows Maddock aside, tracing my body until satisfied there are no injuries. "Here. Put this on, princess." He helps slip my arms into a giant t-shirt that hangs like a dress on me. "Drix had extra clothes in his trunk." Glancing around, I notice they're all in basketball shorts.

"Where's Evie?" I cry, attempting to exit the car in search of her.

"She's here, love. She's safe." Hendrix slides into the driver’s seat, Evie in his lap. We stare at each other for a long moment, a million silent apologies passing between us. "You're both safe now."

My lower lip trembles, and Kato squeezes in front of his twin. "Move!" He lifts me, sits down, and places me in his lap. Burying his face against the side of my neck, he breathes deeply. "Fuck, baby." He doesn't need to say more. The cacophony of sirens racing toward us underscores the horror of our situation.

Our love story started out rocky, almost sabotaged twice by a mentally ill woman. Now, as we watch my house go up in flames, it's almost fitting that our love rises from the ashes to begin anew. It's the only way to cleanse our souls of pain.