Chapter 6

T he sensation of running in my wolf form is the closest feeling to freedom I've ever had. Freedom from my past, my responsibilities, my fears. Even when shifting into my wolf form felt more like a punishment, running through the forest with the moon high above us always felt freeing. Right now, running with my new pack around me, it finally feels like I'm free, free to be the person I want to be without having to constantly look over my shoulder to see which of the monsters from my past are following me.

Glancing to my left, I see Seb loping besides me, skipping about as he chases moths as we run, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth giving him a goofy expression. Alex is just behind him, watching our backs, like the good beta wolf that he is, protecting us at all times. To my right, Garett runs next to us in his bear form. He isn't as fast as some of the fully-grown wolves, but considering he stands over seven feet tall when on his hind legs, he is fast . Eric and Killian have run ahead of us, racing against each other, but they're never out of sight. I know they're both fast enough to run far enough away that we couldn't see them, but I catch the little looks they keep throwing my way, checking that I'm okay.

The pack seemed a little wary of Eric in his demon form, but not as much as I thought they would be, trusting that the Eric they have come to know wouldn't hurt them.

As a pack, we run deeper into our territory, remaining together as a group as we run. I've been on pack runs with Moon River before, but this feels different, like I'm seeing the land with different eyes. I'm not sure how long we run for, but everyone comes to a stop, and I realise we've made our way back to the clearing we started in. Mortlock walks over to me, huge in his wolf form, and gently butts his head against mine before throwing back his head and howling at the moon. The rest of the pack does the same until the air is filled with the sounds of our howling. Giving me something that looks suspiciously like a wink, the alpha turns around and lopes towards Lena's wolf before they both trot off into the woods. A couple of other wolves, including Isa, come and make the same gesture as Mortlock. The rest of the pack mills around, some changing back into human form, while others head off in small groups still in wolf form.

Turning my head, I see my guys have gathered around me, waiting to see what I want to do next. Usually, I would change back as soon as I could, but tonight, my wolf isn't ready to go back, she wants to play with her mates. Looking at the guys around me, I realise she considers all these guys as her mates—not just Killian and Eric, who we have a fated bond with, but all of them. I haven't really thought past living in the moment and haven't really considered what this could become or what any future with these guys would be like. Would society accept a wolf with five mates, two of which are a different species altogether? Do I care?

Shaking my head to rid myself of those thoughts, I give the guys a wolfy grin. I don't want to think about that now, I want to play.

Pouncing forward, I bop Garett on the nose with my muzzle, enjoying his shocked expression before a cunning guise crosses his face, which is an interesting look on a bear. Before he has the chance to retaliate, I spin on my paws and run deeper into the forest, glancing over my shoulder in time to see Garett knocking shoulders with Alex, bumping the shocked wolf over before Garett runs away.

A rough game of tag ensues, and by the end of it, all of us are panting for breath. Dropping to the ground, I let my wolf form drop, opening my eyes as a human once more, smiling as I see the others have done the same. Every one of them is grinning, even my grumpy Killian. Shuffling closer, we lay down on the forest floor, the guys each touching me in some way, with Seb's head resting on my stomach. We are all naked except for Eric, who's still in his demon form and loose trousers.

Enjoying being in their company and my body completely exhausted, I find that my busy, chaotic thoughts are quiet. It's beautiful out here, the moon hanging bright and low in the sky. I wish I could share this with Tori.

My heart thuds painfully, and my breathing hitches. For a moment, I had forgotten about losing her. What kind of friend am I? Running around in the woods when I should be out there hunting those who are behind her death. Sure, I killed the guy that shot her, but he had been following orders. I haven't forgotten the words he spoke into his microphone. Target number four has been neutralised.

"Ari, what's wrong?" Seb asks quietly, having sensed my inner turmoil.

"For a moment, I forgot about Tori. She would love this," I admit, my voice tight, but I won't cry. The bastards that took her from me don't deserve any more of my tears.

"Ari, Tori wouldn't want you mourning her. She would want you to get on with your life. I know what it's like to lose a loved one, and if you let it, it will tear you apart. The guilt, blame, and thirst for vengeance can take over you. I know you miss her, and that's only right, but you have to live. She would've wanted that." Killian's voice gets louder as he sits up and pulls me into his lap, the others moving in sync around us to keep physical contact with me, like magnets.

We sit like this in silence for a while, until the cool evening air starts to chill our skin, and eventually, I pull away, meeting each of their gazes.

"Thank you."

I don't explain why, and I don't need to, their gentle smiles let me know that they understand. Jumping to his feet, Seb offers me his hands, helping me up as Killian and Alex go hunt for our clothing.

"Ari, I need to go back to the city tonight." Eric's voice, deep from his demon form, still surprises me. Turning to face him, I study his face with human eyes. He still looks like Eric, just more . He even seems taller in this form, more imposing, but I guess that makes sense. He is a demon after all.

"So, what do I call you?" I inquire, the question suddenly coming to me, unsure whether he would have a different name or not. Sure, they are the same person, but they have such different personalities that it makes sense for them to have different names. He smiles at the inquiry, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

"My name is the same, just pronounced differently. Some choose to take a different name for their human form, but I chose to keep mine. I was born Eiríkr many, many years ago," he answers, putting more emphasis on the ‘I' so his name sounds more like Er-iee-k with a hard ‘K' sound on the end.

I'm quiet for a moment as I think over his words. "You have an accent in this form." It's slight, but certainly not the soft central American accent I'm used to from him.

"Yes, I was born in Norway, my accent stayed with me." My eyebrows raise at his comment. I hadn't thought that Eric was anything other than an American human for years. I've known he's part demon for a while now, but for some reason, the revelation that he's from Norway shocks me more than that he's a different species .

"So, Norway… Were you a Viking?" I joke, unsure what to say about these new pieces of information.

"No, I had left Norway by the time the Vikings were around."

"Whoa, how old are you?" Seb chimes in, making me laugh at the blunt question.

"I was born in the year 532 AD," Eric says with a sly smile.

"Wait, you're over fourteen hundred years old?" Seb mirrors my shock, but I'm glad he was the one to ask. Eric looks between the two of us, staring at him in open-mouthed shock, and bursts out laughing.

"Well, I'm a demon, we live long lives," he explains with a shrug of his shoulders.

I can't help but look at him in a different light. Damn, he looks good for such an old man , I think to myself, my eyes running up and down his defined abs.

Realising I'm staring, I drag my gaze away from his body, but not before catching the knowing look on his face.

"So you're leaving now?" I ask, trying to hide the tone of disappointment in my voice.

"Yes, there are some things I need to take care of." Stepping forward, he places his hand on my cheek. "Plus, I need to feed, and I don't think you're ready for that tonight, not with me in this form." I shouldn't find what he says sexy, but I can't help the arousal his words cause. A low growl leaves his throat as he takes a step away from me. "If I don't leave now, we may both regret what happens. While I want nothing more than to complete the mating bond with you, you're not ready yet." He walks back a few steps and tilts his head back as a blueish light seems to form around him, until he simply vanishes from view.

"Of course he can teleport," I mutter to myself, shaking my head as I turn to face Seb and Garett, who are eyeing the spot Eric had been standing in only a moment ago.

"Phew, that guy is intense in that form," Seb comments, pretending to fan himself, causing me to laugh. My attention turns to Garett, who has stayed silent during the whole exchange, his expression distant.

"Garett, do you have to go back tonight?" I call quietly, knowing I've kept him away from his pack and his brothers for a while. I can't help my pleased smile as he shakes his head, holding out his hand for me to take. Placing my hand in his, he pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me.

"No, my attention is fully yours tonight." His tone lowers, and a glint in his eyes tells me exactly what he has in mind for us tonight. I wrap my arms around him, gripping his shoulders as he lowers his lips to mine, kissing me gently at first, slowly adding pressure against my lips until I'm moaning into his mouth.

"I guess I'll leave you guys to it," an awkward Seb remarks, and I pull guiltily away from Garett's mouth, dropping my face to bury it into his chest. I can hear Seb's footsteps as he starts to walk away, wanting nothing more to call out to him, to stop him, but I'm unsure of Garett's reaction.

"Seb, wait!" Garett calls, and I look up at him in surprise. "Ari, do you want Seb to stay?" He looks down at me, no judgement on his face, just the desire to please me. The only time someone else has been involved in our sex was with Killian when the two of them had some stuff to work out, and Killian had to learn that Garett wasn't willing to walk away. It hasn't happened again, and Garett hasn't shared me with anyone else since, and while I know he doesn't have a problem with me being with the others, I'm not sure how well he would take seeing me with them.

Glancing over at Seb, I see the hopeful look he's trying to hide. "Stay." The word leaves my mouth quietly before I've really thought it through. "If you're okay with it?" I murmur as I quickly look back up at my bear.

Answering me with a knowing smile, he leans down to kiss me again, letting out a low growl as I catch his lower lip between my teeth, biting down gently. I feel his erection pressing against my stomach, and I can't help the smile that crosses my face .

"Get over here, wolf," Garett growls out, his voice gruffer than it had been a minute before.

"Yes, sir!" Seb presses up against me, moulding against my back, giving stinging little bites and kisses against my neck, causing me to arch into Garett's chest more. I dig my nails into his back from the intensity of having two guys kiss and worship my body at the same time.

"Fuckkk," Garett mutters under his breath between kisses, his hand skimming down my side, cupping one of my breasts, and pinching my nipple gently in his fingers, making my breath hiss from my mouth.

The benefit of doing this straight from a pack run is not having to waste time removing clothing. Dragging my nails down Garett's back, I enjoy the feel of his muscles under my hands, knowing how strong he is, that he could stop me any time he wants, but he won't. I meet his gaze and see the truth of that reflected back at me, his love so easy to see shining in his eyes. There was a time where I would have run from a look like that, but now it only serves to turn me on even more.

Seb moves his hand from where it rests on my hip, dipping it lower until he finds my pussy. His finger circles my clit as he uses his other hand to pull back on my hip, keeping himself pressed against me. Sandwiched between two of my guys, I think I might have died and gone to werewolf heaven.

I drop my hand between us and reach for Garett, a small moan of pleasure slipping from my lips as I find him hard and ready for me. Kissing him deeply, I swallow his groans as I run my thumb over the head of his cock before slowly stroking the length of him. Seb distracts me, slipping a finger inside me, making it my turn to groan. My legs start to tremble under their ministrations, and they help me to the ground, laying me on my back with them on their knees on either side of me. I should probably be more concerned with the fact that we're in the middle of the pack forest. Anyone could walk by and spot us, not to mention Killian and Alex will be coming back any moment, but I can't find it in me to be bothered, in fact, it excites me even more.

Garett leans over me, pressing a kiss to my lips before trailing them down my neck, collarbone, and down to my breasts, before pulling my nipple into his mouth and twirling the hard bud with his tongue, then he moves to the other breast, paying it the same attention. I open my eyes as he pulls away, not even aware I'd closed them in the first place, just catching his appreciative look as he runs his eyes over my body. Movement catches my eye, and when I glance to the side, I see Seb is watching us with a hooded gaze, his hand tightly wrapped around his cock as he pumps slowly. For a moment, I'm worried he's feeling left out, but the cheeky wink he sends me tells me he's enjoying himself too much to mind.

"So beautiful," Garett murmurs, running his fingers softly along my leg, causing the hair on my body to stand up on end. His touch so different from Killian's, who is demanding and intense. Even Alex likes to take control in the bedroom, whereas Garett and Seb truly worship me. If pleasuring me meant that they didn't get to come at the end of it, they would still find pleasure in making me happy.

Gently parting my legs, Garett leans down and presses kisses against my core, paying particular attention to my clit, making my breath come out in pants, and I have to dig my hands into the ground, needing something to hold on to.

Seb hums in his appreciation. "You should see what I can see right now. So fucking hot."

Curling my finger at him, I gesture for him to come closer, wrapping my hand around his cock as soon as he's near enough as Garett continues to lick and kiss my pussy. Slowly pumping down the length of Seb's cock, I watch his face as he groans before leaning forward and biting at my breasts, nibbling at the sensitive skin there. It's an awkward angle, but neither of us care, completely lost in each other's bodies .

The pleasure of their touch has wound me up, pushed me, but not quite taking me over the edge. I need more .

"If someone doesn't fuck me soon, I'll find someone who will," I growl out, then gasp as Garett slides his fingers inside me, curling them up so they flick against that sweet spot within me.

"Huh, someone wants to be fucked, do they?" he asks as he pulls away from me, sharing a knowing look with Seb as he shuffles back. "We better not keep the lady waiting then, Seb."

They both move back to give me room, and I realise I'm in control here. I get to dictate how I want this to go. A grin fills my face as I sit up, feeling powerful as I run my gaze over them, both hard and ready for me.

"Seb, I want you in front of me, I want to taste you." I grin, enjoying his obvious pleasure at hearing me talk like this to him, watching as he eagerly comes forward with his cock gripped tightly in his fist. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Garett slowly pumping his cock, catching him admiring my ass as I talk to Seb. Winking at me, he doesn't try to hide that he was checking me out.

"Garett, I want you to fuck me." His eyes darken at my words as his bear comes to the surface, his chest rumbling with a growl as he stalks towards me. Some may worry about getting fucked by a bear shifter, thinking they might lose control, but not Garett, neither he nor his bear would ever hurt me.

Getting onto my hands and knees, I smile as I feel Garett move into place behind me, his large hand engulfing my hip while he uses the other to position his cock against my entrance. He slowly presses forward, entering me, and we both groan as he fills me fully, stilling for a moment as he waits for me to adjust to his size.

Looking up, I smile at Seb before I take hold of his cock, licking the head before taking his length into my mouth. Seb's cock isn't as wide as some of my guys, but what he lacks in girth he makes up for in length. Taking as much of him in my mouth as possible, I grip the base of him, caressing with firm strokes of my hand, savouring his moans of pleasure .

Garett uses this moment to start slowly moving, easing his cock out before sliding back in, causing me to moan around Seb's cock. Picking up speed, Garett starts to fuck me as I hollow out my cheeks, sucking Seb farther into my mouth. Seb's fingers thread into my hair, directing my movements as he gets closer to his climax. His body stiffens for a second, then he comes in my mouth, panting before he pulls away and drops to his knees. He kisses me hard while Garett continues to fuck me from behind. Pulling away, Seb leans against a tree trunk and watches us with pleasure filled eyes.

A cry of protest is pulled from my lips as Garett pulls out of me, but it's cut off as he spins me around and crushes his lips to mine. I lose myself in his kiss and follow him as he guides me until his back is pressed against a tree trunk and he lowers me onto his lap, letting go of me for a second to position himself so as I sit down, I impale myself on his length. I throw back my head and moan in pleasure, my hands finding their way to his shoulders as I start to ride him.

"As sexy as it is to fuck you from behind, I want you to fuck me ." His voice is low, growling, as his large hand grips my hair, lightly tugging on it so my neck is exposed to him. Leaning forward, he kisses my pulse point, nibbling along my collarbone as I pick up the pace, feeling the hitch in his breath as I rock against him, dictating the speed of our fucking. Garett has always enjoyed having me on top, being in control, so I make the most of that now, digging my nails into the skin of his shoulder, causing him to thrust up into me farther.

I'm close, so close to the edge that when Garett bites my neck, harder than before, the slight pain only adds to my pleasure as it pushes me over the edge and into a bone-quaking orgasm, with him following quickly behind me.

Resting my forehead against his, we sit silently as we try to catch our breath, as a happy, sated Seb comes over to join us, curling up against the two of us. With Garett's help, I slip between Garett and Seb, my eyes closing as they put their arms around me.

"Looks like we missed out on something." Alex's amused voice stirs me from my dozing. I look over at Killian, the most jealous of my guys, but find he's smirking. Perhaps we can make this work after all.

Seb

I wake up in the middle of the night. I'm not sure what's woken me, and looking around, I can see that Ari and the others are still fast asleep. Walking over to the window, I look up at the moon, still high in the sky, and feel a pulse of energy jolt through my body.

What the hell was that?

Recently, I feel like I'm not in control of my own body. Strange waves of power roll over me, which shouldn't be possible. I know the others can feel it, I've seen their worried glances when they think I'm not watching.

I've been spending a lot of time with Jessica lately, making sure that she's okay since our mom died, but mostly because she doesn't seem to notice or care about these…power surges.

Sighing, I turn to look back over at Ari. She looks beautiful with the moonlight shining on her face, peaceful in sleep. Whenever she wakes, I can see the weight of her past settle on her shoulders, which is why I work so hard to make her smile—she doesn't smile enough. Tonight has been the first time I've seen her so carefree, running with the pack, her pack. Pride runs through me, knowing we are part of the same pack, and I feel that strange wave of power pulse through me again.

It seems to get stronger the longer I look at Ari, and soon, a loud cracking noise fills the room. Spinning around, I see that I've crushed the wooden windowsill with my hands. I hadn't even realised I'd been holding it. Splinters now cover my hands, but I can't feel anything over the pulsing of the power, so alien to me.

Ari moans in her sleep, and I panic. I need to get out of here, get away from them until I know what's going on, and if I'm safe to be around them. Hurrying to other side of the room, I pull on my clothes from earlier and go to leave the room, pausing at the door. Indecision fills me, I don't want to leave, but I need answers.

Glancing over my shoulder, I take one last look at Ari, the power throbbing painfully through me.

"Bye, Ari, I'll be back soon."