Her Mates by Tamara White
Fifteen
What the hell is taking them so long? I’ve been in here for an hour and have already showered, dressed, brushed my teeth, and blow dried my hair, yet they still haven’t showed up.
I open the door, preparing to go hunt these chicken shits down, and almost walk straight into Pete.
“Whoa there, firecracker. You really gotta stop throwing yourself at me. People are going to get the wrong idea.”
“Ha-ha! Very funny. I was looking for you. Figured you guys would chicken out of coming to me, so I was coming to get you,” I reply, stepping back so he can come in.
“Nah, we wouldn’t do that to you. The others are still getting dressed though, so unless you want to hunt them down for a quick peek, we’re better off waiting here,” he informs me, throwing himself on my bed.
I pace by the door while waiting for the others. I just want this conversation over with. I’ve been pondering what it could mean that all my mates are alphas, but all I can come up with are bad theories.
They finally show up, appearing relaxed, while my stomach is cramping from anxiety. I resist the urge to scream at them to tell me what it is.
“Dani, can you stop pacing? It’s nothing bad, we just didn’t want to drop a bombshell on you when you had to deal with everyone at the party,” Pete assures me, grabbing my hand and leading me to the bed. He sits me down, takes a seat beside me, and places his hand firmly on my knee to stop my fidgeting.
“Easy for you to say. You guys know whatever the hell it is, but me, I’m in the dark. It could be any number of things, and seeing as I only know the basics of the pack so far, there are infinite possibilities.”
“Alright, just promise not to overreact. Most of this is rumor, so I don’t know how much is true, or if any of it is,” Jason warns, watching me patiently.
“Okay, I understand, just please tell me,” I beg him.
“So, a bit of an explanation about our kind is needed to explain everything. No one knows where we came from, but it was said we originated from our natural counterparts. There, we were left to our own devices, hunting and killing without remorse. It’s said that was when the first Alpha Queen, Malina, was chosen. She was given instructions on how to lead us, how to operate as a pack, and what must be done to find her equal counterpart—her mate. We aren’t sure by who, but she was told about the trials that must be undertaken, and how all eligible mates must compete for their right to rule with her. Only the strongest and smartest would survive.
“There’s a prophecy or vision that Malina was also aware of. It was about the importance of a future Alpha Pair that would save their race when it was dying.
“The reason we were shocked, as well as your grandparents, was because according to what we’ve been told, the woman who would compete as Alpha Queen would have alpha mates contending for her. When the trials finished, she would choose, changing our fate and saving us. This is the first time more than one alpha has been a mate to an Alpha Queen.”
Seriously? Oh sure, Dani, don’t worry. I promise it’s not bad. I can’t believe them! How is this not bad? That means I have to choose the right person to save the world. Just fucking great!
“You okay?” Mitchell asks hesitantly.
I can’t open my mouth to answer. I think I’m in shock. How the hell can I save their race when I don’t know the first thing about it?
Finally finding my voice, I remember my newest mates. None of them are alphas, I think. “Wait. What about my other four mates who were chosen today then? Does that mean they’re automatically out of the running because they’re not alphas?”
“None of them are your real mates. Stephen is from my father’s pack. He’s the son to my father’s second in command. I bet he only said he was your mate because he knew how important it was to have a chance. It would make them proud,” Pete clarifies, slightly disgusted.
“Trey’s in it for the same thing. His father could be forcing him, or my dad has brainwashed him to kill you. Either way, I won’t be letting him get too close to you,” Cam tells me, a look of determination flashing across his face.
“Okay then, what about Jake and Rick? And did anyone find it odd that they didn’t mention what pack they were from?” I question, watching as smirks are shared around the group.
“Well, um, don’t get mad, but it was Dad’s idea. Jake and Rick are two enforcers from our pack. Dad figured others may step up, so he wanted to make sure you would be safe,” Nate responds, looking guilty as hell. As he should. They could have told me.
“And you didn’t think to say something before I was offered to the pack? Jeez, way to be honest.”
To say I’m frustrated is an understatement. Why wouldn’t they just tell me rather than leaving me up there in front of the pack, embarrassed from being on display? It’s mean.
“Sorry, Dani, but we were only told before we came to get you. We got distracted by everything. We’re really sorry,” Mitchell apologizes softly.
Damn him for being so sweet and shy. How can I be mad at them now?
“Fine, but in the future, you tell me, okay? No keeping me in the dark, waiting for some random surprise to pop out of nowhere. I barely know anything about the packs. Which brings me to my other reason for wanting you here tonight. Tell me everything about each pack and my grandparents. I want to be prepared for what comes next.”
“Okay, that’s fair. The first thing we should tell you is that we’re more like wolves than humans. So make sure if you see behavior that’s pretty out there, like fighting and such, you don’t interfere or object,” Jason says, moving to sit on my other side. Pete gets up from the bed and takes the seat Jason vacated, while Cam takes his place on the bed. What is this? Musical chairs?
“Show as much respect as you can to anyone while being firm. You can’t let them walk all over you, though at the same time, if you let them get away with stuff, they’ll never respect you as alpha,” Cam explains, rubbing his thumb over my hand.
When did we start holding hands?
“Sure, I understand both of those based on what I’ve already seen. Anything else? Is there a hierarchy to the packs? Like, say, Cam’s dad’s pack then Pete’s, then Jason’s? Or is it just same level kind of thing?”
“Yes, there is. So, Nate’s is first, then mine, then Pete’s, then Jonnie and Mitchell’s, then Cam’s,” Jason expounds, leaving me confused. Surely Cam’s would be the highest?
“That doesn’t make much sense to me. Shouldn’t Cam’s be higher ranking with his father being Alpha King?” I ask them.
“Usually it would,” Nate begins, taking over, “however, it’s been the same rank system the past twenty years. Power for each pack individually isn’t just about strength. It relies on you being able to provide jobs, income, food, hunting land, and property. Dad has all of that here. A lot of the others have most of those things, but they are weaker in other areas.
“Cam’s pack has strength, but not unity. Pete’s pack has jobs and land, but not much strength. Jonnie and Mitchell have no way of providing hunting grounds. Jason’s has all of the same things as mine, he’s just unable to adequately distribute it evenly,” Nate details, firing off descriptions of each of their packs.
For once since being here, I’m finally feeling like I’m starting to understand the packs.
“Hey, this is probably nowhere near relevant, but can you guys tell me what that cage was that Monique mentioned earlier and why isolation was such a big punishment to Sarah?” I query, extremely curious to know. I guessed the cage was some kind of penalty device, I just want to know why.
“I keep forgetting how little you know,” Pete comments, shaking his head.
“It’s not her fault,” Jonnie snaps at him. “Dani, do you know what pure silver is?” he inquires from the floor.
“Yeah, Dad told me all about it, and I’ve been scratched with it. Why?”
“Well, the cage is made of pure silver except for the bottom, which is concrete. The point of the cage is to have someone punished in the cruelest way possible. The silver won’t hurt her unless she’s touching it, though it will make her slightly ill while she’s in there. It’s not harmful in the long-term, but it can be an effective tool when we have rogue wolves that need containment.
“As for the isolation, it’s because our wolves like to be around others. Without the support of the pack, she’ll become extremely lonely and it will make her want to be around others. Monique was very forgiving by letting her parents visit her so she won’t go completely insane, but a wolf that’s isolated with no visitors will eventually want to escape to be around its pack. It’s the ultimate test of self-control and it’s one of the best ways to teach a pack member to show respect. It rarely ever happens. She really did annoy Monique, so I don’t blame her for using the cage to scare her,” Jonnie says, grinning.
“What will happen if I do something like that? Will I get punished? Will it be the same?” I question, curious to know just how bad things can get.
“It all depends on you and what you do. If you did the same thing by speaking out against the Alpha Pair, then it may be the same. If you were to disobey orders given to you by an alpha or the Alpha Pair, it could lead to the cage. However, because of your position, it could be a lot better for you than it would be for another wolf. You may just end up with just a slap on the wrist. Though with Luke in charge, there is the possibility he will make it worse for you to prove he can control you.
“In some cases, you can also be whipped, beaten, or banished. For those things to happen, you have to be extremely horrible. The last beating happened when Luke was punished, not that he didn’t deserve it. Although now I’m thinking he deserved a lot more after knowing what really happened to your mother. His beating was because he let your father kidnap your mother, but obviously, that’s not true,” Mitchell explains, while the others all nod in agreement.
“Whipping hasn’t happened since my father was called to the elders for my appeal. It was decided he would no longer be allowed to use whipping as a punishment and, if it’s a harsh enough crime, he has to consult with the elders. They will then decide on the punishment,” Cam adds, unconsciously rubbing the scars on his chest.
“What about banishment? That must be a pretty severe crime to warrant that. Dad said going rogue means losing your wolf, but he never elaborated…” I trail off, enthralled to hear more.
“Being rogue is always dangerous. Most wolves can survive, but they become more withdrawn and angry as each day goes by without companionship from the pack. Recently, we’ve been told the rogues have actually banded together to keep them all alive.
“Banishment usually happens for extreme crimes, usually murder, although sometimes harm to another wolf warrants it, depending on the severity of it. If it was self-defense, and there’s a special circumstance to call for it, you would be left alone, but if not, it would warrant banishment. Usually, the Alpha Pair decides on the best punishment for the crime, however, in some cases, the elders can make the decision,” Jason explains, leaning back on the bed.
“Alright, now that we’ve gone through all of that, can we talk about something else please? I don’t like thinking about you being punished. It’s hard enough having gone through it myself,” Cam insists, abruptly getting up from the bed.
He paces back and forth, his anger obvious. I feel so guilty for not realizing how much this conversation would affect him.
“Okay, guys, maybe we should go to bed. It’s been a long night and I have to meet Monique in the morning. If I think of anything I want to know, I’ll just ask Monique,” I say, closing off the conversation.
“Sure thing, Dani. We’ll see you after your meeting with your grandparents. Do you want to maybe have lunch and come to training with us?” Nate asks me a little hesitantly. I guess he’s picking up on the vibes from Cam too.
“I’d love to,” I chirp, offering him a smile. It will give me the perfect opportunity to train and get to know them better. I’m actually looking forward to seeing Jason fight. He comes off as a soft teacher, but I have a feeling he’s pretty vicious when his wolf takes over.
“Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Pete calls, leaving my room while the others hurriedly follow after him. Cam lingers, so I decide to offer him a chance to talk. Something’s bothering him. Maybe if he talks about it, he’ll feel better.
“Cam, do you mind staying please?”
He stops fidgeting, dropping back on the bed while Jason dawdles in the doorway. I can tell he doesn’t want to leave me while Cam’s acting like this, but I trust Cam to behave. Jason must sense I have no problems with it, because he walks out, closing the door.
“Is everything okay?” I inquire, approaching cautiously. I may not be scared of him, but I’m not stupid enough to get too close to an agitated werewolf.
He sighs before throwing himself back on my bed and rubbing his temples. “No, nothing is okay. I’m scared about you facing these trials.”
“Why? I’ve already proven I’m strong enough to handle anything they throw at me. I’ll be fine,” I soothe, promising him nothing will happen. Honestly, the depth of emotion he has for me confuses me. I thought for sure he would distance himself rather than get closer.
“You don’t get it. My wolf is terrified to see you go through the same things I did. He was the only reason I was able to survive. You can’t even shift yet. I know you’re strong and wicked fast, but that won’t save you from saying the wrong thing. My dad will leap at the chance to get rid of you. I couldn’t stand it.
“This may be too soon, but I care for you. From the moment I saw you, I knew I was meant to keep you safe. I’m sure the others feel just as strongly as I do, even if we have to compete for your affection. No matter who you choose, we’ll always be here for you. There’s no getting rid of us now.”
“Then that’s how I’ll stay safe. You will protect me from doing or saying something stupid. We’ll get through these trials together. Just, please, don’t be sad. I hate that my curiosity made you feel like this,” I admit, gesturing to his defeated demeanor.
“Okay, I’m just going to wait here for a minute while the others go to bed. I hate when they gang up on me,” he murmurs, exhaustion seeping into his voice.
“That’s fine. I’ll lie here with you until you’re ready to go.”
He looks tired as hell. It’s been a rough few days, going from moving to having mates, then moving again. Now, we’re dealing with all this trouble with his father. I wish life could be simpler.
