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Chapter Text

The Mate

Alpha Werewolf Steve x Black Plus Size Reader x Beta Werewolf Bucky 

By V.C. Turner

A/N: I have never written a werewolf fanfic before. I don’t know much about Alpha and Beta wolves, so I’m creating my own mythology based on what I read about wolves. I anticipated that this would be a one shot, but I would like your opinion as to whether or not you want me to write more. I also want reviews because I feel like I don’t get that many. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. 

Chapter 1

He noticed her unique scent the moment she walked into the coffee shop. No other human would have been able to distinguish it from the overwhelming hazelnut, vanilla, and cocoa fragrances that filled the air, but he could; perhaps because he wasn’t entirely human. 

Steve Rogers took a sip of the black tea he’d ordered 10 minutes earlier and stared at the young woman waiting on her drink order at the counter. None of the other patrons seemed to notice her. After all, she looked just like any other professional woman getting a cup of coffee before heading to work - probably some office job with a boss that didn’t appreciate her talents.

He took his time examining her features. Her curly black hair was pulled up into a bun, away from her lovely heart-shaped face. Her russet brown skin shimmered in the glow of the morning sun that flooded into the large windows of the coffee shop. Her dark brown eyes cast downward as she watched her steps, carefully avoiding walking into any other patrons before finding her seat by the window. 

He hoped she wasn’t waiting for someone else. After all: he’d already recognized her as his mate the second he caught her scent on the wind: sweet, inviting and intoxicating.. 

Steve scanned her form. She wore a heavy wool coat, burgundy scarf, and black jeans that draped over a pair of black boots which raised her 5 foot 4 frame to nearly 5 foot 8. She clasped the coffee, probably in an effort to keep her hands warm from chilly October morning. He watched her shiver as the door opened and closed, sending the draft of cold air inside the restaurant. Worry pierced his heart. He wanted to protect his beautiful stranger from the chill in the air. 

He tried to envision what she looked like under all that clothing. He hoped he’d discover a full figure beneath the winter garb: large breasts, wide hips, and thick thighs to slide himself between as they kept each other warm at night. 

His cock twitched at the thought. 

“You’re wearing too many clothes, Angel,” Steve muttered to himself as he took another drink. 

Steve continued to appraise the woman as he waited for his second in command, the Beta Wolf of the pack, James “Bucky” Barnes. Best friends since they were pups, James had been the one to tell Steve that finding the right mate was necessary for the survival of their small pack.

Steve understood his responsibilities as leader all too well, and he felt the weight of those duties on a daily basis. Nevertheless, he wanted to find the right mate before settling down. The pack elders told him that she would be entering his life soon and that he would know it when he caught her scent. He was skeptical at first, yet there he sat in a coffee shop staring at a total stranger and feeling an unfamiliar warmth that radiated from head to toe. He wasn’t simply attracted to her beauty. Something inside him wanted to protect her, hold her, and make sweet love to her over and over until she understood how precious she was to him. 

He shook his head. He never expected to get caught up in such a feeling, nor did he expect to find his predestined mate in a coffee shop, but fate often has a strange sense of humor. 

Steve began to think of what he would say to her when his Beta pulled out the chair across from him and flopped down in an exaggerated display of exhaustion. 

“Alpha,” Bucky said as he placed his leather gloves on the table. 

Steve didn’t respond; his gaze focused on the young woman sitting on the other side of the room. 

“Steve!” Bucky said, knocking on the table to get his Alpha’s attention.

Steve jerked and faced his friend.

“Sorry about that,” he muttered and took a drink of the now cold tea sitting in front of him.

“What’s wrong with you?” Bucky asked.

“She’s here,” Steve answered, unable to hide the excitement in his voice, as he motioned toward the table where his mate sat with her coffee cup.

“Her? What about her?” Bucky inquired, sitting back and crossing his legs as he appraised the object of his Alpha’s attention.

“She’s my mate,” Steve responded matter-of-factly. 

Bucky took another look at the young woman and released a disinterested sigh.

“How do you know” Bucky asked.

Steve answered with confidence, as always.

“The Elders said I’d feel it...well, I feel it,” Steve said, “She’s my mate. I can smell it on her.”

Bucky regarded his commander’s assertion with skepticism.

“Ah. She’s ok.” 

“Ok?” Steve asked, his tone serious and protective.

Bucky shifted in his seat, knowing that he’d offended his leader. He took a different approach.

“She’s pretty, I guess. She’s just not my type,” Bucky went on. 

“Well, that’s because she’s my type,” Steve defended. 

He turned to look at the woman whose attention was focused on her coffee cup. She rarely peeked her head up except to look out of the window and then turn back to her drink. She appeared to be considering something and the saddened look on her face dug into Steve more than he expected. He would go to her soon enough, but he had business with Bucky.

“What took you so long?” Steve asked, still looking at his mate from afar. 

“I was … tied up,” Bucky said, a smirk on his handsome face. His dark brown hair fell over his blue eyes, and he brushed the unruly mane from his face.

Steve nodded, knowing that his Beta wolf still enjoyed the pleasures of multiple women even though he was reaching the age where he needed to settle down to find a mate and start a family. 

“So tell me about your new girlfriend,” Steve asked, not really interested in the answer because he watched his mate with a protective glare in his eye. She continued to sip her drink with a faraway look in her eyes. Steve smiled, his heart quickly becoming attached to someone he hadn’t even met. 

Bucky’s voice broke him from his thoughts.

“It this a sexy little redhead named Natasha,” Bucky said, “I don’t plan on seeing her again, but I saw plenty of her last night...and this morning.”

Steve shook his head. He’d enjoyed his share of women over the years, but he actually had relationships. Casual sex just wasn’t his thing. He enjoyed courtship - getting to know someone and figuring out if they were the right person for him. Most of his relationships were short lived because he always felt something was missing. He was seeking something specific, and none of the other women in his life possessed this one mysterious thing.
“You should shower when we get back to the compound. I can smell that woman’s stench all over you. It's confusing my senses,” Steve stated.

“I apologize, Alpha,” Bucky sheepishly responded.

Steve observed small child playing around the windows near the object of his affection. His mate smiled and played peek-a-boo with the toddler for a few minutes until the mother dragged the little one away. Steve’s heart melted as he thought about eventually having a family with the young, brown-skinned beauty. 

He looked at his Beta and felt a tinge of jealousy as his best friend looked at his mate.

“What are you staring at, Buck?”

“I like her smile,” he said, “It lights up her whole face.”

“I thought you said she wasn’t your type,” mentioned

“She’s not. I mean, not really. Like I said: she’s pretty, just has too much of a good-girl-next door look to her. I prefer the bad girl next door.”

“You don’t think my deliciously curvy mate is sexy?” Steve inquires.

Bucky shook his head.

“Steve, I do not feel comfortable discussing the sexiness of my Alpha’s chosen mate. I will say that sexy isn’t a size. It’s a state of mind. It’s how you carry yourself, and little Miss Conservative over there needs to loosen up,” Bucky asserted.

Steve gave his friend a skeptical look and turned to study his mate. She continued to stare out of the window until a tall, handsome man walked up to her, greeting her with a smile.

Steve shifted in his seat, possessive of the woman with whom he had never spoken. His muscles tensed. His wolf paced within him, ready to strike at any moment as instinct took over. Bucky quickly grabbed his friend’s arm and held him in place. 

“Not here, Alpha,” Bucky warned, “Don’t rip the poor guy apart just for talking to her.”

He saw his mate smile widely in what appeared to be recognition. She stood and hugged the man briefly before sitting back down and chatting with him. She then waved goodbye and the man left, as she continued to stare at her cold cup of coffee. 

“See,” Bucky continued, “False alarm.”

Steve still growled at the interaction. 

“I need to claim her so no one else dares to touch her,” seethed Steve.

“You may want to ask her out first,” Bucky suggested, “Besides, she's human and might not be interested in our ways.”

“Something tells me she knows more than you think,” Steve said.
“Alpha, we need to discuss the annex,” Bucky said.
Steve turned to face his Beta knowing that he’d called the morning meeting at the coffee house in order to discuss expanding their territory in the mid-Atlantic. 

“You’re right. The county is giving us a hard time about zoning and I really don't know why,” Steve stated. 

“My guess is that they’ve got a developer on the line who wants to put up some big retail complex and funnel a bunch of that money back to the county,” Bucky suggested.

Steve nodded, knowing full well there would be a fight for the land he’d purchased and wanted to keep residential so he could erect additional ranches and trees while maintaining and preserving as much of the forest as possible. 

“You’d think they’d want more houses sprouted up out there to help raise property value,” Steve offered.

Bucky shook his head.

“Not if they can get some big-wig to bully us off the property and feed the money to the government officials - off the books, that is,” he suggested. 

Steve looked back toward the windows where his mate had been sitting. He didn’t notice that she’d left because the perfume emanating off of his Beta was now giving him a headache. 

“Shit!” Steve said to himself as he scanned the restaurant with no luck. 

The front door opened and a rush of fresh air swept inside. He took a deep breath to clear his senses. 

Then it hit them both. Both men stood at attention, a strong scent filling both of their noses. They jumped from their seats, ignoring the confused faces of other patrons in an effort to leave the coffee shop and follow what sent them both into a panic. 

The Mate was in danger. 

***

I went to the coffee shop to clear my head. I’d taken a shower and threw on a thin t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and my wool coat because I didn’t expect to be gone long. I just wanted to get out of my house and get out of my headspace. I’d gotten used to looking over my shoulder since I left the company, but their demons still haunted me from time to time, so I planned on walking to the cafe close to my apartment, getting one large cup of coffee, and sitting by the window to keep my eye out - just in case. 

I felt eyes on me the moment I arrived, but I figured I was being paranoid. I scanned the restaurant and didn’t see anyone I knew, so I kept my focus on my coffee cup and the morning light peeking in the large picture windows. 

After several minutes, I decided to head home because I didn’t like leaving the apartment these days. I wanted the solitude. It gave me comfort since no one else would. I tossed my cup into the trashcan and left as quietly as I entered. The walk to my apartment would take less than 10 minutes...but that gave him plenty of time to find me. 

I heard him call my name from his slow-moving car, but I ignored it. I wasn’t sure how he’d found me since I’d quit work over three weeks earlier, but there he was: rolling up behind me like a beast stalking its prey. I kept walking. I continued to ignore him just like I had for several weeks after I tendered my resignation and signed the non-disclosure agreement indicating that I wouldn’t discuss the sexual harassment settlement I’d agreed upon.

But my legal agreement to silence wasn’t enough for him. 

I didn’t realize that until his silver VW pulled in front of me and blocked the path to my apartment. I’d never feared him before: not physically. In that moment, however, I did because I thought our issues were resolved. I was wrong. 

He launched himself from the driver’s seat and slammed the car door behind him. I stopped walking and glared at him. The only weapon I had on me was the set of car keys tucked into my right hand. I slid the longest silver key forward, placing it in the center of my fist and prepared myself for a fight rather than a discussion. 

“Y/N,” he said. My name sounded like a swear word coming out of his mouth. 

“Michael,” I growled at him, my makeshift weapon at the ready.

“We still have some unfinished business,” he noted, walking toward me with his usual arrogance.

“Michael, the terms of the agreement are clear. I won’t say anything. I’ve left the company. You’ve ruined my work reputation and I can’t find another job. You won. What is left to discuss?”

I hoped to resolve the conversation without using violence and prayed that he felt the same way.

“All of this is true,” Michael pointed out, “But there’s still the matter of ‘us.’”

I stopped backing away from him. He couldn’t possibly be serious.

“‘Us’ ended well before the non-disclosure agreement was signed. I thought we both accepted that,” I said.

“Sweet y/n, you and I can’t be over. There’s one thing you didn’t give me,” Michael pointed out, referring to the fact that the two of us had never slept together.

I began to shake a little. He’d made it clear after our breakup that he wasn’t really attracted to me anyway. I was too black. Too thick. Too fat. He was simply curious and he’s satisfied that curiosity, then paid for it with a harassment scandal. 

Why did he think I owed him anything?

“Michael, please,” was all I got to say before he grabbed my right arm and pinned it behind my back. He then pushed me against an abandoned car and leaned into my ear. Pain shot through me. It felt fierce, immediate, and paralyzing.

“You think I’d pay such high a price for this pussy and never get the chance to see if it was worth it?” he groaned in my ear. 

The absence of alcohol on his breath actually terrified me more than if he’d been drunk. It simply meant that he needed no liquid courage to do whatever he wanted to me. Every ounce of bravery I thought I had melted away when I looked up into his cold eyes. I could feel the anger radiating off of him. I felt the fear radiating off of me. I closed briefly closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. 

He used his free hand to rip open my coat, exposing my thin t-shirt to the winter air. 

“Let me go,” I cried.

He shook his head.

“Never,” said Michael.

The unwelcome warmth provided by his body gave me no comfort, and when I suddenly felt the absence of it, my eyes flew open again.

A blur of movement clouded my vision and I found myself landing on the sidewalk with pain shooting up my lower back. The ample padding provided by my round butt and wool coat wasn’t enough to break all of my fall. 

A pair of strong arms quickly scooped me up with ease and carried me to what I assumed was safety. My benefactor smelled of pine needles, expensive cologne, and leather. Random thoughts flooded my mind and I kept blinking away the image of a large, tan-colored wolf with blue eyes running through an unfamiliar forest. 

The sound he made when he sat me onto my wobbly legs was unmistakable. Had he been fully human, it would have sounded like a grunt. But he wasn’t fully human, so the sound he made seemed more like a growl...and a protective one at that. 

I looked up at him and felt several sensations that seemed to be at war with one another in my boggled brain: relief, wonder, intimidation, belonging, peace, and ...arousal. 

A complete stranger would not be able to make me feel this way. Only someone with whom my soul had already been acquainted would have such an affect on me. But I’m human, I shouldn’t know this sensation. I should not have felt that level of familiarity. But there it was: coursing through my veins and my brain like the blood giving me life. I tried to regulate my breathing as I looked up. I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. 

My savior’s mid-length, dirty blonde hair glimmered in the sunlight behind him. It looked almost like a halo as he lifted me and leaned me against a nearby brick building.

The kindness in his blue eyes held me in place as I scanned his handsome features. A neatly groomed dark brown beard covered the lower half of his face, but not enough to hide his luscious lips and god-like jawline. The urge to kiss him was overwhelming and I had yet to know his name. I looked away from him, not being able to handle just how handsome my benefactor was, but his calloused hand lifted my chin so I could look into his eyes, which darked a little as he scanned my face, his gaze landing on my full lips. 

“Hello, Alpha,” I muttered, knowing he would hear me regardless of how softly I spoke. I then instinctively bowed my head, knowing his place of leadership in the pack and the inadequacy of my human form. 

An earnest expression crossed his face. Transfixed by the gaze he gave me, I paid no attention to the world around us, though a part of me was keenly aware that we did not stand alone on the street. His second in command, the Beta wolf, stood at his side, a brooding dark haired man that I couldn’t see clearly because I could not take my eyes off the one we both called “Alpha.”

My grandfather told me stories of werewolves and their place in our society. He knew their customs only because our land bordered theirs and he enjoyed a long-lasting trading relationship with the pack near our home in the country. He kept their secrets and honored their ways. I think, deep down, he wanted to be a part of them and that was the closest he would ever get to being a member of the pack. 

I wonder if he knew that one day I’d find my way back to that world.

“So, ...you know what I am?” he asked in a deep voice that washed over me like a wave.

“Yes, Alpha,” I answered.

He leaned forward, his face brushing against mine as he drew in a deep breath. He buried his nose in my hair, then moved downward to my ear and eventually my neck. I instinctively grabbed onto his shoulders as his hands held onto my waist. I arched upward and felt him groan as my nipples brushed against his shirt when he pulled me flush against his chest. 

I inhaled his scent more deeply this time, my face rubbing against his neck, my lips and teeth grazing his skin. I ran my tongue along the same path, tasting his flesh and something else - something more primal that stirred my arousal and flooded my core. I ached for a stranger recognized only by my body. Every taste, touch, smell of him seemed as though it called to me..

“You know what I am… and your body already senses what we are to one another. We should get off the street before I fall to my knees, rip off those jeans, and feast on your arousal - because your scent is driving me insane,” he growled in my ear.

“My Alpha,” I cooed has he began nipping at my neck. The words escaping my throat didn’t seem to be my own, yet I’d spoken them nonetheless. 

The loud sound of a throat clearing interrupted our intimate interlude. 

“Ahem - Alpha,” the Beta wolf warned, “We need to go. The street is becoming crowded.”

His words sobered me as I pulled from his embrace and backed away enough to gather my senses a bit. I immediately missed his warmth, so pulled my coat around my frame and buttoned it as the breeze began to pick up. 

“My, my apartment isn’t far,” I told him, then pointed down the block toward my building. 

He nodded and straightened his posture. He towered over my 5 foot 4 frame, his leather jacket not able to hide his wide shoulders and broad chest. He closed the gap between us, his Beta close on his heels. 

I finally got a look at the other man. His dark brown hair now tucked behind his ears. A five o’clock shadow peppered his strong lawline, highlighting a pair of lush pink lips. His blue eyes stared at me, and I began to feel something, but he glanced around too quickly for me to understand what sensation he evoked in me. 

Wordlessly, they followed me as I quickly walked toward my apartment building and up the stairs to the second floor. My nerves vibrated within me. I felt a heightened level of excitement and anticipation, though I did not know the reason. 

I pulled out my key and slid it into the deadbolt just as the Alpha placed his his right hand on the door jam above me. His sweet voice stilled my movements as I felt his left hand unbutton my coat. His lips grazed my ear and I leaned into him, drawn by a powerful magnet unseen by the both of us. 

“Tell me your name, Angel,” he whispered.

“Y/N,” I moaned as his lips skimmed my earlobe.

I pushed open the door, but before I stepped inside, I felt his arms wrap around my waist, as the Beta wolf followed close behind as we entered the room. 

The once spacious dwelling now felt small and uncomfortable as I entered it. The walls seemed to be closing in on me and I felt a desperate need to escape even though the same space appeared to be my sanctuary only a couple hours earlier. 

I turned to face them and they both regarded me with what can only be described as reverence as I stood there feeling the twin sensations of arousal and love. 

“My name is Steve Rogers. I am Alpha of the North Pointe Pack. This is James Buchanan Barnes, my Beta,” he said with authority as he walked toward me.

“I want to thank you both for saving me back there. I truly appreciate it,” I said, looking from one to the other. They both smiled and I noted a hint of blush on their cheeks; both men seemed bashful in my presence.

“You’re welcome, Little One,” James spoke, his first words to me sounding soothing, like we were old friends rather than complete strangers.

“It’s our pleasure, Angel,” Steve added, “Now pack only what you need. We’re going home.”

“Home?” I asked aloud, but my mind, heart, and body knew his answer.

Steve stepped toward me, his presence filling the room and wrapping around me like a protective cloak. His hand gently held the base of my neck as he leaned forward again, his lips pressing a soft, slow kiss to the side of my mouth. I released a moan and I could feel his smile against my cheek.

“You know what you are to me. You feel it. We both feel it,” he whispered, “So tell me what you are, Angel.”

“I am your Mate,” I confessed in a whisper, my body aching for a man - a werewolf - that I had just met.

Steve nodded as he lifted my chin.

“And you are coming home with me.”

I nodded my head in agreement and obeyed without hesitation, yet as I quickly packed my things I could not escape the fear that the darkness which followed me onto the street that morning, would soon follow me to my new home.

Chapter Text

The Mate

Chapter 2

Warm fingers slip beneath my shirt and caress my skin, pulling me back to press against a broad chest.

Home.

No; not the apartment in which I am standing. This isn’t my home.

Right now, home is the embrace of a man I didn’t know an hour ago.

A soft beard tickles the exposed skin at the base of my neck. I hear my name whispered. My foggy, lust-filled brain doesn’t fully register the closeness, but I know it’s Steve. His impossibly soft lips brush the spot where my pulse thumps the hardest.

According to what my grandfather told me about wolves when I was growing up, that is the place where he’ll mark me during The Claim. It’s where he’ll pierce my skin with his fangs, taste my blood, and initiate the bond between us; when my human mind and heart bind themselves to this new, familiar stranger … a wolf.

The sense of hopelessness that I felt earlier is somehow whisked away. Warmth floods my being, instead. It wraps around me and I feel content. Soon another sensation stirs my blood. It’s colder – much different than what I feel from my Mate. It’s only then that I realize Steve’s Beta Wolf, James, has taken position behind me and to the left. He’s close, but in the background – doing his job of standing guard even though there are no immediate threats to any of us.

There’s something else I feel beneath the cool sensation that I get from him, but it’s buried deep and I don’t have time to investigate it further, so I simply note its existence for future reference and consider my immediate situation.

I am about to leave my old life behind, beginning with this apartment.

I stand in the center of my living room, looking around to see what I will take with me. The thought is surreal since I have called this apartment my home for so long, yet standing here it seems as though a stranger lived once lived here. As I try to organize my thoughts, a pair of warm, muscular arms gives me a reassuring squeeze. Although I’ve only known him an hour, Steve’s affection provides me a level of comfort that I don’t remember ever feeling before. I relax into his embrace and close my eyes, breathing in his masculine, woodsy scent.

“Where should we start, Angel?” he asks, his lips brushing against my ear. His gentle touch shoots electricity down my spine. 

Soon, a different kind of warmth begins to engulf me, only it pools between my thighs and erupts goosebumps all over my skin. I hadn’t even kissed the man and he turns me on by asking a perfectly innocent question. 

“The bedroom,” I answer, but it comes out in a breathy moan. I clear my throat and add, “I mean, my clothes and most of my personal items are in the bedroom. I think I should start there.”

            “Ok. Bucky and I will pack up the living room once we get some boxes for your things. What do you plan on keeping?” he inquires.

            I scan the room and realize that I would prefer to leave as quickly as possible, not wanting to spend any more time here than absolutely necessary.

            “I’m not taking much with me. The sofa and desk came from a thrift store. I don't have any attachment to it. The appliances came with the apartment. Just focus on the pictures, books, and things like that,” I tell him. 

            Steve nods and turns to his Beta.

            “Bucky: take my truck and get some boxes so we can pack up the rest of her things?” Steve states, although it sounds more like a command than anything else.

            “Yes, Alpha,” the handsome man responds.

            Steve throws the keys to his Beta, who quickly catches them and leaves us.

            “Bucky?” I ask, referencing the nickname of his Beta wolf.

            Steve chuckles, his manner changing back to a kind of sweetness I’m not used to seeing from men – at least not since my grandfather passed away.

“Yes, (y/n). It’s a nickname from when we were kids. It’s from Buchanan, his middle name,” Steve explains, “You can call him that too if you want.”

I reluctantly separate myself from him and head to the bedroom to pack up my things. It only takes a few minutes to toss what I need into the new luggage I once purchased for a trip I never took. 

I fill up my suitcases with my meager wardrobe, socks, shoes, etc. I then move to the bathroom and fill up a duffle bag with all of my toiletries, hair products, and other items.

My run-in with Michael resurfaces in my mind. I begin to move through both rooms with a new sense of purpose. I feel like I’m escaping him all over again.

He knows this address. I realize that no matter what, I can’t stay here. He’ll find me.

Going into the living room, I take note of the two handsome men that are placing my things in cardboard shipping boxes. Steve looks up as I enter the room.

He acknowledges me with a warm smile. Butterflies flutter in my stomach when I look at him. His hair falls in his eyes and the simple motion of him running his fingers through it makes me a little weak in the knees.

Using what could only be described as supernatural speed, they pack up my personal items in less than an hour. All that remains is my computer and a few books. 

“The bedroom and bathroom are all packed up,” I tell him, “I don’t have much.”

Steve gives me a quick nod.

“We’ll finish taking your things down in a few minutes, then head home to the North Pointe Compound. From now on, one of us will always be with you. I promise, (y/n): you won’t be alone again,” Steve assures me.       

Steve walks toward me with an aura of authority. He truly is an Alpha, but his presence isn’t overpowering, as one would expect. Instead, he seems more like a caring leader who will do anything to protect those he loves.

I look into his blue eyes and find myself lost in them again. The strength of my attraction to him increases with every moment spent in his presence. It feels so much deeper than physical, which is intense enough. I reach up and touch his face. My fingertips tingle at the contact and the only word comes to mind the moment our skin connects is: “Mate.” I don’t just hear it. Somehow, I know that this beautiful man belongs to me.

            “Yes, Alpha,” I say aloud, my voice sounding small. Internally I question how I have become submissive so quickly. Perhaps it is a part of being the female mate to the Alpha of a wolf pack.

I don’t dwell on it for long as I scan the room trying to make sure we have everything.

            “Just call me Steve,” he says while caressing my left cheek. 

            The tingles return.

            I nod then walk over to the desk in my little home office space. I consider the fact that I won’t be working from home any longer. I have no job. Still, I want to get my computer equipment gathered as soon as possible so we could leave for my new home.

It feels surreal to be speaking of a place I’ve never been as “home,” yet I know I’ll never come back here. I can’t.

***

            We don’t speak much on the ride to the North Point Compound. I sit in the passenger side of Steve’s truck, clutching my purse and computer bag. I don’t know why I’m shivering. It’s not cold in this small space. It’s actually warm. Yet somehow my Mate senses my discomfort and reaches across the seat to hold my hand. Warmth spreads throughout my body and I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

            We drive deep into the heart of the county, through winding roads and side streets I never knew existed. Eventually, the truck pulls onto a pristine paved road nestled between two large trees. It looks like we’re in the middle of nowhere.

The private road is simply named “North Pointe.” After a couple of miles of driving deep into the forest, we come to a large stone wall with an iron gate in the center. Security cameras sit atop the gate and they face in opposite directions. A keypad sits on a post in the center of the private driveway.

            Steve enters a code and the gate opens. We drive through a perfectly landscaped gated community where the grass looks so green, I keep thinking it must be fake. Flowers, trees and bushes line the streets in this secret neighborhood and each house looks as though it could appear on the cover of a magazine. They are large and beautiful with a perfectly cut lawns surrounding them. Each home sits on at least one acre of land.

            A large park with a playground is on the left of the road, filled with small children playing and smiling parents watching.

            “Welcome home,” he says with a smile as he turns down a street called “Alpha Drive.”

            “I never knew this was here,” I tell him, “This is so beautiful.”

            “Well, it’s mostly natural, but we have so many carpenters, landscapers, gardeners, and designers in our pack that at least the area around each house is professionally landscaped, manicured, etc. The compound is in the center of more than 150 acres of land, and woods surround all sides. Any trees we cut down are used to build our homes. For every tree we remove, we plant at least two along our borders. Nothing is wasted and we try to be as eco-friendly as possible,” he expresses proudly.

            My mouth falls open once we drive up to what must be the largest home in the compound. We park front of an impressive three-story log and stone home, with a wide, circular cobblestone driveway. Steve’s Beta Wolf parks next to us and he immediately starts grabbing boxes from the back of the truck.

            I hesitate before exiting the vehicle, now feeling nervous again in anticipation of the new life I’m about to lead. Steve must sense my mood, so he walks around the vehicle and opens my door. He holds my hand and leads me down the cobblestone walkway to his house.

Our house.

Before we reach the door, two women exit the home with large smiles on their faces. One has long salt and pepper colored hair. Her blue eyes almost glow as she stares at me with a knowing smile. The other woman possesses light brown hair with a gray streak that highlights the right side of her bob hairdo. Both women wear long skirts with vibrant colors, and long silver necklaces around their necks.

            Steve stands by the woman with lighter hair and introduces me.

            “Mother, this is my –” he begins, but she interrupts him with a raise of her right hand. She then presses two fingers to her son’s lips and walks toward me. She reaches for my hand and I surrender it without hesitation. I feel it’s the right thing to do.

            She turns my palm upward, examining the dark brown lines that branch in multiple directions. She then looks into my eyes and smiles at me; her blue eyes twinkling.

            “I’m Evelyn, sweetheart,” she starts, “I’ve been waiting for you for some time now. We’re glad you’re finally here.”

            The delightful woman pulls me into a tight hug and I immediately feel welcome in the embrace of this stranger.

            Bucky passes us and enters the house, however he is stopped by the hand of the darker-haired woman. She whispers something in his ear. Bucky shakes his head and continues inside.

            The woman then turns to me and offers the same genuine smile as Steve’s mother.

            “Welcome Home. My name is Sasha Barnes. I am one of the pack elders and mother to James, the Beta Wolf,” she says with an accent I can’t place.

            Sasha approaches me, but her expression holds wonder and a bit of confusion.

            “It’s very nice to meet you – to meet you both. I am (Y/N),” I announce with a shaky voice.

            Sasha reaches for my hand and I give it to her. Rather than turn it over to look at the lines on my palm, she simply strokes the back of my hand, tracing some sort of pattern on my skin before releasing it. A tingling sensation follows her touch. I shiver, but only slightly. She notices.

She steps backward and away from the door to allow Steve and I to go inside.

After the introductions, Steve shows me around the house, which is more like a mansion than a normal log home. There are five bedrooms on the second floor, including the Master Bedroom where Steve, and eventually me, are to sleep.

I gaze at the impressive floor to ceiling windows, rustic furniture, and fireplaces in almost every room.

He leads me to a large bedroom next to the master suite. This room is still quite large and a fire burns in the small hearth of the north wall. I don’t know how my personal items end up in the room so quickly, but I see that several boxes line the walls. Clothing has been placed in the walk-in closet; however, these clothes are new, yet they are all my size. I frown in confusion.

“While I gave you the tour, some of the other pack members brought in your things. My mother did some shopping and bought you a few outfits to wear. If you look in the dresser, you will find more new clothes that you can wear around the house to make you more comfortable. They should all fit you just fine,” he states.

I look at all of the tags. Most of them read size (y/d/s), which will fit me. I know I should feel some type of way at the idea of strangers purchasing clothes for me, but instead I feel loved – cared for like I haven’t since my grandfather died. I offer a shy smile.

“Thank you. Thank all of them for me,” I tell him.

“I figure you may be more comfortable with your own room for now. I want you to settle in as much as possible,” Steve says.

He lifts my chin, his eyes gazing into mine with such devotion, it takes my breath away.

            Steve’s arms wrap around my waist and my body instinctively relaxes into his embrace. He kisses the top of my head and gives me an affectionate squeeze. I’ve just met him and he already makes me feel safe and comforted, which is something that I desperately need; especially after the run-in with Michael. 

            “(Y/N), Will you please me about the man who attacked you?” Steve whispers in my ear. 

            “How did you know what I was thinking?” I ask. 

            He shrugs his shoulders. 

            “You tensed up a little, then you relaxed. I don’t know. It just made sense that you’d be a little jumpy. Once your body remembered me, you relaxed again,” he explains. 

            “I thought you read my mind,” I confess, “Fated mates are able to do that, right?”

            “Yes, but it usually takes place after the Bonding Ceremony and then the Claim,” he answers. 

            “I understand,” I say, unable to hide the disappointment in my voice.

            Steve lifts my chin again, looking me in the eyes and smiling down at me.

            “Don’t worry, Angel,” he reassures me, “We’ll be bonded soon enough. Now, will you tell me about that man – Michael?”

            A chill runs down my spine and my body freezes at the thought of Michael and our history together. I don’t want to burden Steve with the story, but he deserves to know more about the man that nearly ruined my life and poisoned potential employers against me.

            “His name is Michael Frederickson. He used to be my boss,” I explain.

 I look up at Steve for an indication as to how much he wants to know. He gives a slight nod, so I continue. 

            “It started off like some cheesy television movie. Handsome boss. A new employee that found herself attracted to him. He was smart, charming, outgoing, and polite. He was always respectful. At least he was in the beginning. He was never inappropriate with me or with any of the other women in the office,” I state. “I admit I had a crush on him, but I stayed professional.”

            Steve brushes my cheek, encouraging me to keep going.

            “One night, when the office was closing, he offered to drive me home because my car was being repaired. I accepted. I had no reason to say ‘No’ to him. Once we got to my apartment, he walked me to my door. I never invited him inside; he just followed me. I didn’t expect him to try and kiss me, but he did. The next thing I knew, I was pinned beneath him on the couch. I thought I would enjoy it, but I didn’t, so I told him ‘No.’ I kept saying it until he finally let go of me. After he did, he called me ugly and said I should be glad that he thought about fucking ‘a fat black girl’ in the first place,” I tell Steve. 

I note the increasing level of rage appearing on his face. He looks as though he wants to kill Michael. I feel the need to hold onto Steve just in case he decides to leave the safety of the compound in order to hunt Michael down again. 

            I look up at him and continue my story with a little more caution.

            “I reported him to Human Resources the following morning. After several meetings and depositions, he was quietly sanctioned in the office. He had to attend some sensitivity training. They offered me a small settlement, but after that I felt so horrible, that I put in my notice and left the company. I soon realized that Michael had black-balled me from the marketing industry. I can’t find another job and the money they gave me in the settlement will run out soon,” I finish.

            “You didn’t deserve what he did to you. No one does; especially not you,” Steve adds. 

            “I don’t know why the whole thing makes me feel guilty, when I did nothing wrong, yet I’m being punished for it.”

            “You don’t have to worry about Michael any longer, nor will you have to worry about money ever again,” Steve insists, “I’ve got you.”

            That should reassure me, but it doesn’t. I still worry about what will happen after all of this.

“Did - Did you kill him?” I ask after several agonizing seconds.

Steve shakes his head.

“No, Angel. We just dumped him in a nearby alley. He pissed his pants after seeing what we were,” he explains.

“You shifted in front of him?” I ask.

A cold shiver runs through my body. I turn toward the doorway and find Bucky standing there.

“No, Little One,” Bucky answers, “At least not all the way. I just showed him my fangs. He probably saw my eyes glow. That was enough to leave him shaking in his expensive shoes.”

“If he tells someone what he saw, no one will believe him. He doesn’t have any cuts or bruises, even though he deserves much more than that for attacking you,” Steve adds.

I nod my head and look around the room although it is hard to look away from my Alpha; the handsome man standing before me claiming that I’m the equivalent to being considered his true love. 

He holds me for several minutes before letting go.

“Why don’t we let you get settled in. You can take shower if you want, and change into something more comfortable.

            Steve places a chaste kiss on my cheek and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. I remove my shoes and socks, placing them neatly against the wall closest next to the in-suite bathroom. I pull out a random top and pair of shorts from the dresser, then prepare to take a shower.

            I try not to take long; mainly because I have a feeling Steve’s waiting for me. Perhaps it’s also the fact that I can’t wait to see him again. I know this is the “honeymoon phase” of the relationship – when you first meet someone and are so drawn to them that you can’t think of anything else. Still, it somehow feels deeper than that. I feel like I can relax for the first time in a very long time. I’d spent so much time thinking about Michael and fearing for my safety, that I never had time to enjoy much of anything. Yesterday, I felt alone in the world. Today, I found the man that would soon become my family.

            Surreal doesn’t seem to cover it.

            After several anxious minutes getting myself ready, I finally descend the stairs. I see a fire burning in the hearth. The faint scent of delicious food wafts into my nose. I turn to see that the oven is on and a casserole dish is holding something I’m aching to devour. I didn’t even realize I was hungry, but I find myself walking around the kitchen in search of some oven mitts so I can get something to eat.

            I find them on the far end of the large kitchen counter.

As I pick them up, I can sense Steve’s presence behind me. The warmth of him reaches me before he does.

            “It needs another 10 minutes,” he says, his voice rumbling behind me and causing my skin to erupt in goosebumps. A part of me wonders if he will always have this effect on me whenever he’s around: always aware, aroused, overheated inside and out.

            I turn to face and my mouth immediately waters. He’s wearing a dark blue t-shirt that stretches across his perfectly sculpted chest. His black sweatpants hang low on his hips, leaving very little to the imagination. He notices my appraisal of him and smirks before leaning into me and placing his cheek against mine. I feel his warmth envelop me, only the sensation is much more erotic this time. I feel moisture pool at the apex of my thighs.

            My body clearly hasn’t gotten the memo that I haven’t even kissed this man yet. I think I’ll explode when I do.

My body responds to his touch by pressing myself against his chest, wrapping my arms around him, and placing my nose in the crook of his neck. There is no way for me to censor my actions. This is instinct only. I have the urge to sink my teeth into him, leaving a mark that lets everyone who sees it know that this man – this wolf belongs to me. I’m human. I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do. I graze my teeth along his neck, placing a small bite there and I immediately feel guilty for it.

I step out of his arms and place a hand over my mouth.

“Steve, I am so sorry,” I tell him.

His disarming chuckle helps release some of the tension I didn’t realize I was holding in my shoulders.

“Sweetheart, it’s fine,” he says, “Bite me as hard as you like. You won’t hurt me.”

“I don’t know why I did that. I just …. I couldn’t control the urge,” I confess.

Steve kisses my cheek. I lean into his touch. I’m his. My body and my heart have already surrendered themselves to this man.

“We’re mates. The urges will get more intense over time; especially after the Bonding Ceremony and The Claim,” Steve says, soothingly.

I nod, but I still have so many more questions.

“What happens with the ceremony and the claim?” I ask.

Steve leads me over to the couch. He sits down first, then places me on his lap and wraps his arms around my waist as if he’s known me forever. His fingers trace dangerous paths back and forth along my bare thighs. He must know that simple action makes me hotter than the fireplace blazing several feet away.

“The Bonding Ceremony is like any other wedding. It only takes place on a full moon – and that’s a little less than a month from now. The pack surrounds us in a circle and the elders bind our hands together. Then, we commit our lives to one another as mates,” he explains.

I find myself running my fingers along his face. I trace all of his features as if I need to commit them to memory; trying to learn about my future husband before we take our vows. I begin at his forehead, then I trace his eyebrows, his eyes, nose, and finally his lips.

He gives me a warm smile, placing a soft kiss to my fingers. He lifts my chin as if he needs me to hear the next part.

“Then we go upstairs and spend several days making love,” he adds with a smirk.

I bite my lip before I add anything.

“I think we should probably kiss first,” I tease.

“Anytime you’re ready, Angel,” he answers, using the pad of his right thumb to ghost over my lips.

Too nervous to act on my desire just yet, I ask him another question, hoping it will ease some of the sexual tension building between us. I clear my throat and try to tear my eyes from his aqua blue gaze.

“And the claim?” I ask.

Steve’s expression straightens. I get the distinct impression that I won’t like what he’s going to say.

“The claim takes place after the ceremony. Wolves mark their mates with a bite on the neck. It leaves a very dark scar, noticeable to everyone. The scent of the mate is permanently marked on its companion. All other wolves know to stay away. With human mates, however…” Steve hesitated, “It’s different.”

“How different?” I ask him, hoping my tone didn’t reveal the fear I felt.

“A true claiming bite would most likely kill a human, so human mates are tattooed on the neck with the symbol of the pack, and in your case the sign of the alpha,” he finishes.

I consider what he tells me and I somehow feel cheated that, being human, I can’t fully get the experience of truly bonding with my mate.

“I want the claiming bite. I can handle it,” I insist. I need him to know how determined I am.

Steve looks at me with concern.

“It’s too dangerous,” he says.

“It’s my choice, isn’t it?” I ask him.

He nods.

“Then do it!” I demand as kindly as I can.

Steve concedes and I feel the tension in his arms release.
            “Thank you,” I say softly.

“I don't think you should thank me just yet. As strong as I believe you are, you're still human,” Steve warns, “I'll do everything I can to make sure you're safe. We have doctors here, but there is no guarantee they will be able to save you. There’s only so much we can do with the methods we use.”

“And after the claim, is that when we’ll be connected telepathically?” I ask.

“It’s more than telepathy. We can read each other’s thoughts, feel each other’s emotions. Our senses are connected, too, especially touch,” he explains.

I nod, his arms still around me. I settle into his embrace, soon finding my head in the crook of his neck while he runs his hand up and down my arm.

“Tell me about you,” I ask Steve.

“Well, as Alpha of this pack, I’m pretty much like the CEO of the all the operations and businesses that go on here. I’m mainly in charge of construction projects, within North Pointe as well as throughout the state. I handle zoning approvals, hiring of staff for contracts – things like that. I make sure everything runs smoothly, but most of all, I ensure that our secret is maintained. Only a select few humans know what we really are and they have sworn a blood oath not to reveal our true nature. North Pointe is considered a private community – a gated subdivision that requires special approval to get into. We have our own private medical facility, but the doctors here are affiliated with the community hospitals as well. I know, it sounds very busy and very boring, but we’ll spend plenty of time together,” he explains. He then rubs the pad of his thumb against my cheek and my eyes automatically close.

Somehow, it feels like our souls are connecting - bonding, even before being officially bonded. I want to have that connection right now. I need it.

I run my fingers over his lips and he kisses them individually as he looks into my eyes. I reach for his hand and pull it to my lips, doing the same action - kissing each of his fingers. 

Kiss Me, my mind says. At that moment, Steve gives me a small smile, leans forward and presses his lips to mine. I kiss him back, hoping I can match his skill, but I doubt if anyone could. With almost too much gentleness, he glides his lips along mine, his tender exploration his warm breath ticking my face and leaving tingles in their wake.

            “I have plenty of willpower, but you’re testing it right now,” Steve confesses between kisses.

            “Don’t fight it,” I suggest, through raging hormones and pheromones, “I don’t want you to fight it. I want to feel you inside me… I mean…”

            “I know what you mean, beautiful,” he begins, “I’m not supposed to do it before we’re married, but a little nibble isn’t forbidden.”

            We start kissing again. I’m not sure how it starts, but it doesn’t stop. I feel his hands on my skin. They slip beneath my shirt and find their way to my bare breasts. I lean into him, but it’s not enough, so I stand up just long enough to straddle him. Steve immediately reattaches his hands and lips to me. He’s caressing my breasts while licking and nibbling a path along the column of my throat.

I surrender my neck. A sharp, slightly inhuman tooth pierces my skin. I shudder. I feel a slight trickle of hot blood makes its way down my throat. For a brief moment, I feel my essence transfer to him and his essence to me. The blood my puncture wound is quickly lapped up by his rough tongue.

What feels like a shimmer courses through my body. It is deep and unwavering. In that moment, I feel him. In that moment we belong to one another. I don’t know how long this sensation will last. The true bonding has not taken place, however I am closer to him than I have ever been with anyone else. He’s inside me – my mind. He sees through me. And I am just as much a part of him as he is of me.

This merge might last several minutes, hours, ... maybe even the better part of a day. But while we have this, I want to enjoy it. The next time we do this, it will last forever.

I can’t fight the strangled cry that escapes my throat. I can’t deny my body’s desire as my back arches toward Steve’s chest, and my head falls back. Warm lips. Soft skin. Pebbled nipples rising toward the ceiling fan above us. Finger nails seeking something to grab onto, only finding purchase in flesh. Discarded clothing falls to the floor.

Our kisses turn gloriously messy and it doesn’t matter to either one of us. We’re simply following our instincts  - even if it drags us over a cliff in our effort to succumb to them.

I’m at his mercy.

****

Steve’s POV

I’m at her mercy.

Hypnotized by her eyes. Drunk off the taste of her skin. Dizzy from the kisses we share.

I wanted her long before I met her. Now that she’s in my arms, I can’t deny myself the pleasure of enjoying all that her luscious body has to offer me. She tries to hide behind baggy clothes, but I discard her shirt almost as quickly as she rids me of mine.

She’s straddling me; all soft, dark brown skin, frizzy hair, soft moans, and full hips.

The only thing I hear is our combined moans and the crackling of the fireplace nearby.

“We should probably go upstairs,” I moan against her kiss-swollen lips.

“We’d end up having sex,” she warns.

I reluctantly pull her away so I can look her in the eyes when I say it:

“For the record: You and I would end up making love. It would also last for several hours; until we’re both too tired to keep going,” I admit, right before drag her back down to me and kiss her again.

I want you, her sweet voice sounds in my head.

I want you, too, (y/n), but we have to wait until the ceremony, I answer.

My body betrays my thoughts, however, as my hands slide up her thighs and beneath her shorts. It’s primal now. Instinct takes over. Her arousal fills my nostrils. My wolf wants to claim our mate in every way.

Her body responds to my touch, and, fuck, I just can’t stop touching her. Neither of us want to stop. It’s in that moment that I hear a faint shuffling upstairs. A door creaks open and I immediately cover my future bride with my shirt. Her surprised look fades once Bucky appears on the second-floor landing.

She gasps, wrapping the garment around her as I hide her with my chest.

“Sorry guys,” he says, looking embarrassed.

Once she’s fully covered up, I growl at my Beta. His halts his pace and he apologizes again before walking down the rest of the stairs.

“I’ll just head to my room,” (y/n) says, then scurries away like a frightened mouse.

“I’ll be up to tuck you in,” I call after her. She turns briefly to give me a smile before jogging upstairs, past Bucky, and into her room.

I glare at him. Had my eyes been daggers, I would have impaled him.

“Sorry, Steve”, he croaks out.

“Don’t pretend like you didn’t know what was going on. You heard us,” I offer.

“I did. I also needed to do my job as your second in command.”

“Which is?” I insist, already knowing the answer.

“To stop you from allowing your hormones cloud your judgment,” he tells me.

“How?” I ask.

“You know pack won’t accept her as the Alpha female if you claim her before the Bonding ceremony,” he reminds me.

“I could have stopped!” I lie. He knows it.

“Doubtful!” Bucky snaps back.

I nearly punch through the concrete pillar next to me. I know he’s right. The taste of her lingers on my tongue. Had she offered me her neck again, I would have claimed her; sunk my teeth into her flesh and marked her for all time. But - I’m the Alpha. I don’t have the luxury of giving in to my nature.

So, I’ll wait.

“Fine!” I growl at him, but he understands that my anger is more at my recklessness than his caution.

I start to walk toward the staircase and to (y/n)’s room to say goodnight.

“Will you chaperone?” I ask, knowing deep down that he can’t refuse me.

Bucky nods and we both head upstairs to say goodnight to (y/n). I knock on her door. When she beckons me from the other side, I turn the knob. The door swings open widely, but I don’t cross the threshold.

“You can come in. It is your house,” her soft voice cuts through the sexual tension between us.

“It’s our house, now, and I can’t come inside. I might not leave,” I chuckle.

Her smile is timid, but since I can still hear her thoughts through our temporary connection, I know she wants to tempt fate. To tempt me. Bucky is right. I wouldn’t stop.

She must have read my mind as a twinkle of mischief brightens her dark brown eyes.

“Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, “Sweet dreams.”

“You too.”

“Good night Bucky,” she says to my Beta.

“Night, Little One,” Bucky answers.

****

(Y/N) POV

Hunger stirs me from my new bed. My stomach growls loudly and I force myself to leave the warmth of the pillow top mattress to seek something to eat. I tiptoe downstairs to the kitchen using the flashlight on my phone. I guess I should have checked to see where all the light switches are. I open the door to a very large, very well stocked refrigerator. My eyes land on a small bowl of pineapple chunks and I grab them, setting them on the counter. I find a fork and dig in, letting the juicy flavor fill my mouth.

I place my phone on the counter so the light shines up to the ceiling, casting a glow around me. I feel all alone until a cool breeze wafts into the kitchen. I look up to see a figure standing on the other side of the counter; right in front of the patio door.

The human part of me considers running and screaming, only my heart tells me not to be afraid.

The form steps into the light. Cobalt blue eyes stare back at me through long black hair.

“Bucky?” I inquire into the darkness.

He steps into view.

“Midnight snack? he asks.

“My hunger woke me up.”

“Mine too,” he offers, then he scans me from head to toe as if I’m his next meal. It’s a brief look. Most people wouldn’t catch it, but I’m good at reading people.

His face sobers before he turns to secure the sliding door that leads outside to the patio.

He enters the kitchen and reaches for the switch on the wall; one I didn’t see.

“Don’t!” I beg. My eyes have adjusted to the relative darkness and the bright light will hurt my eyes.

“Sorry,” he says softly as he approaches.

He looks at me, a slight smile playing across his lips. He’s in my personal space before I realize it. The cold sensation I felt in my old apartment returns. I don’t shiver. I don’t shy from it. I can’t move. I’m frozen as he reaches for my chin.

Bucky lifts it, brushing his thumb across the skin and catching the pineapple juice that escapes my lips. He slips the thumb into his mouth and his eyes close for a moment. He says nothing. His expression gives nothing away.

I don’t know why I ask him:

“Did you find something to eat?”

            He doesn’t answer. Instead, he steps forward, his body caging me with my back against the counter. He’s not touching me. Not yet.

Bucky draws in a shaky breath. I see his eyes glow for a moment – just a fraction of a second. He leans into the right side of my neck, his nose brushing against my skin.

            Then his mouth barely ghosts over that same spot.

            Bucky’s lips are on my ear now.

            I hold my breath.

“Get upstairs! Right now! Lock your door! Don’t come out until sunrise,” he demands within his whispered words.

            “Why?”

“You know why,” he groans in my ear.

I brush past him, running as quickly as my legs will carry me upstairs.

I lock the door and lean against it, sliding down to the floor.

Sunrise is a very long six hours away.

Chapter Text

The Mate:
Chapter 3
By Valencia Jermaine (@writeturnlove)

I barely slept during the past six hours. I know I’m overthinking my interaction with Bucky last night, which is why I plan to avoid him today. He didn’t seem angry with me. He seemed … turned on and I don’t like the direction that takes my mind right now. I’m the mate of his Alpha. He’s not supposed to feel that way about me.
A part of me feels excited by the fact that he reacted to me; which makes me a horrible person because the only man I should feel that way about is Steve. Although we don’t have an official commitment, the truth is that I’m bound to him and I want to stay true to that. He’s a beautiful, wonderful man and I find myself falling for him every minute that I’m here.
I don’t think he’s awake yet. I don’t hear anything downstairs. I wash up, put some leave-in condition in my hair, and pull it away from my face. I don’t bother with makeup. To be honest, I don’t really think Steve cares if I wear it. He seems to want me regardless of how I look. Perhaps I’m his type. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that he can’t help himself: he is beholden to his hormones and, for some reason, those hormones have chosen me.
I’m trying to delay going downstairs, but I’m hungry again. I didn’t finish the pineapple from last night. My stomach rumbles in protest. I put on a pair of bedroom slippers and head downstairs. I feel like I’m sneaking around someone else’s house. I know I’m welcome here, but I need more time to get used to all of this.
The scent of bacon and sausage soon fills my nose. When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I see that the countertop is filled with a variety of delicious breakfast foods: pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, etc. I’m watching Steve as he stands over the stove, pulling out a tray of biscuits. He always seems to wear clothing that accentuates his broad chest, muscular arms, and perfect… everything. This morning, he’s blessing me with a dark blue polo shirt and a pair of black jeans. I don’t know if my heart can take it.
He turns to watch me walk into the room and his smile warms every part of my being. How can I feel so close to someone I just met?
“Good Morning,” he coos, walking over to me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. He’s still standing so close to me and I can barely think. His scent invades my nostrils. His proximity to me is distracting. My instincts are telling me to touch him. I need to touch him. I need to feel him. I’m trying to resist that urge because the power of it scares me.
He must see the war raging behind my eyes because he pulls me into a hug, rocking me back and forth as he rubs my back. I’m comforted and aroused.
I want him.
“I want you, too,” he says.
I suddenly remember what happened last night and the fact that he can still read my thoughts – at least for now.
I pull away from him feeling a little embarrassed.
“Sorry about that,” I say.
His eyes scan my face before he leans in to kiss me. It’s soft. It’s so damn sweet and romantic. My heart flutters. Butterflies take flight in my belly. I wrap my arms around his neck and fall into the depth of the kiss with him.
Then my stomach growls again. We pull away from each other laughing.
“I guess making out is going to have to wait until we’re done with breakfast,” he tells me.
Steve leads me to the dining room table, which is already set for three. I look at the third place setting and suddenly remember what happened with Bucky last night. I push the thought aside and try to focus on the present. He’s filling my plate with food and I have to touch his hand and tell him to stop because there’s no way I’m eating all this food.
During breakfast, we get to know one another. I tell him about my family, the fact that I was raised by my grandfather, and that I have no close family left. No one is going to miss me or wonder where I went – at least not for a while.
I discover that Steve has already handled things with my former landlord. He has also scheduled some events in the upcoming days; things that will eventually lead up to the Bonding Ceremony. A slight cloud hangs over the conversation and I get the distinct impression that he’s holding something back.
Steve tells me that he has scheduled a pack meeting for tonight in order to go over a few things with everyone in the community, but the main event will be introducing me to the other members of his pack. My heart goes into overdrive and he reaches over and takes my hand in his.
“You’ll be fine,” he assures me.
I believe him, but it doesn’t change the fact that I will be interacting with more than 100 people who will probably view me as an outsider.
“How many human mates are there in your pack?” I ask him, worried about how I would be viewed by everyone.
“There are about 10 human mates in our pack. Most of them aren’t fated mates. They are chosen just like any other romantic relationship. There are also a few triads within the pack,” he explains.
“Triads?” I inquire.
Steve nods.
“Those are even more rare. There has always been a shortage of female wolves in all werewolf shifter packs. It limits with whom we can mate, so sometimes the relationships are between two men and one woman,” he casually states.
“So, they all …,” I start to say, but I can’t finish the sentence.
The thought excites me: the idea of two men adoring my heart, body, and mind; however I’m satisfied with the one that fate has blessed me with. Steve is enough.
He will always be enough.
Steve smiles at me. He pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around my waist. My heart kicks into high gear. I feel magnetized to this man. I want him around me all the time. I place my forehead to his. He strokes my cheek and I release a contented sigh. I’m starting to adore him, and I can sense his adoration of me.
“Triads are easily accepted in this community. The most powerful Triads in the werewolf family occur when a female wolf is fated to bond with the Alpha and Beta of a pack. That doesn’t happen very often and as far as I know, there are no human members in a triad relationship,” he explains.
“I’m so glad that I’m bonded to you,” I tell him.
He touches my cheek.
“I can’t imagine sharing you with anyone,” he insists.
After a few seconds, he adds:
“Well, I guess I could share you with Bucky,” Steve says in a teasing tone, then he starts to tickle me. I know he’s joking, but something in the back of my head wonders if he isn’t. Then it occurs to me: what if they’ve shared a woman before? I don’t want to ask the question. We are set to marry one another in less than a month. While I don’t want to add more stress on him, I can’t help wondering if he and Bucky have bedded the same woman – at the same time. They are so close. Their relationship is deep. They are more like brothers than best friends: two sides of the same coin.
Steve nips at my neck. While I can’t read his mind, I feel as if he’s holding something back from me; something I may not like. I decide to change the subject for now. I don’t want to think about it, nor do I want to think about what happened with Bucky last night when he got back from his run.
“What else do you have planned for today?” I ask.
“Work,” he grumbles.
“Don’t you enjoy it?”
“I did,” he answers, “I do. It’s just that I’d rather spend the day with you, take you on a tour of the compound, spend time with my family, things like that.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for that,” I reassure him.
I place a brief kiss to his lips. He smiles, his blue eyes twinkle. I can’t help but kiss him again, and what starts out as an innocent peck turns into something much more passionate. My nipples harden as I press against him, enjoying the kiss way too much for this early in the morning. But I’m not alone.
Through Steve’s pants, I can feel his growing erection. The length of it pressing against my thighs is sending sensual shockwaves through my body. He groans as his hand slides up the back of my shirt. His fingers are almost searing my skin. His touch is incessant and hot and my body craves this man like I’ve never craved anything before. I don’t want to wait another three weeks before I feel his bare skin against mine; before I feel him impale me with his massive cock, claiming me in every way imaginable.
A loud bang sounds behind us and we separate from one another. Steve stands and takes a protective position in front of me, but there’s no need. It’s only Bucky. It looks like he took a cast iron pot and banged it against the stove in order to get our attention.
“Damn it, do I have to turn the hose on you guys!” Bucky announces, his voice commanding, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Steve’s thundering timbre.
“For Christ’s sake, Buck; we’re allowed to make out!” Steve yells at his Beta.
“You don’t have any control around her!” Bucky snaps back.
Steve gets into a fighting position.
“What’s your fucking problem?!”
“My job is to make sure you don’t screw everything up by fucking your mate before the Bonding Ceremony. You’ve known her less than 24 hours and at the rate you were going just now, you would have had her bent over the table in a few minutes.”
My cheeks burn at the comment, but I also want to slap Bucky for saying something so crude.
Steve lunges at his Beta and for some reason I step between them. Anger radiates from my Alpha and my muscles begin to shake from nervousness, but I stand my ground. My outstretched arms hold them both at a distance from one another. I know that Bucky is doing his duty, but there’s a different edge to his voice today. Yesterday, he sounded worried about the requirements of the Bonding. Today, he sounds … jealous, which is impossible.
I don’t have time to evaluate the thought.
“ENOUGH!” I shout. I don’t know where it comes from, but there’s a gravity to my voice that seems to get their attention, and the fight fades from both of them.
I’m no wolf, but I do have a temper. I’m angry. I can’t stand the thought of them arguing. They are too important to one another. They are too important to me.
I can feel Steve’s heartbeat slowing down. Reason is finally taking the place of the anger that preceded it. I turn to Bucky. He’s breathing hard. He looks as if he wants to rip apart his Alpha, but a look passes between us and he calms down too.
After a moment, I offer:
“Both of you overreacted,” I look from Steve to Bucky, “Yes: I do mean both of you. Bucky, you could have just cleared your throat to get our attention. You could have broken the stove. Steve, your Beta was trying to help. He did it wrong, but you need to calm down and understand the reason he did it. He’s looking out for you. For us.”
Both men cast their gazes at me for several seconds. I feel the weight of their stare, but rather than let it intimidate me, I allow it empower me. A simple human shut down two werewolves with the power of her voice.
I turn and sit down in my chair to finish my breakfast. Neither man speaks to one another or to me. They just watch me in apparent awe as I eat half the breakfast on my plate, then wrap up the rest for later.
I walk up to Steve and kiss him on the cheek. I then walk to Bucky, reach up, and pat him on the shoulder before I return to my room. If Steve is going to be gone all day at work, I am just going to ensconce myself in my room until he gets back.
After about a half hour, I hear a soft knock on my door. I expect Steve, but my eyes catch Bucky’s dark hair as steps across the threshold.
“Do you have a minute?” he asks.
I nod.
“I’m sorry about … this morning,” he mumbles.
“It’s okay.”
“Steve is leaving for the office soon. He wants to make sure you’re not pissed at him before he heads out,” Bucky says.
“Ok. I’ll head down right now,” I tell him.
“Another thing: I’m gonna be the one to show you around the compound today,” he adds.
“Understood,” I say. I then head downstairs where Steve is waiting for me.

***

There is a hint of sadness in Steve’s cerulean eyes. I’ve humbled him and now I feel guilty for it.
“I’m sorry about losing my temper earlier,” Steve offers, “I don’t ever want you angry with me.”
“Steve, if we’re going to be together for a lifetime, we will eventually disagree. It’s normal. Besides, I don’t think I could ever stay mad at you,” I confess.
He hugs me, cautiously at first, then he transitions into his usual warm hug, ending it with a squeeze as he tells me goodbye for the day. He says he will be back home by 6 p.m.
Until then, Bucky is keeping me company.

***
I slide into Bucky’s truck. My nerves are frayed. Now, all I can think about is how he responded to me last night in the kitchen.
As if reading my thoughts…
“I also wanted to apologize about … well about last night. My wolf got the better of me. He scented a woman in the house. He’s not used to it. Neither am I. He wanted to pick up your fragrance – introduce himself I guess,” Bucky explains.
I breathed an inward sigh of relief. That explains his behavior, but it’s weird that I don’t believe it to be entirely true. I give him a quick smile and a nod, and we drive around the compound.
The entire area is so beautiful. Bucky shows me the clinic, the daycare center, a small retail store, a convenience store, and all of the other community facilities. We pass homes that look as if they could grace the covers of magazines. He tells me the history of the pack and shows me where the prominent members live.
We pass a very long steel building that doesn’t seem to fit into the rest of the landscaped community.
“What’s that?” I ask him.
“It’s our security office and training facility,” he points out as we drive by.
“Training facility?”
“It’s where we train young wolves and humans to fight so they are prepared to defend themselves when they go outside of the compound. It’s for self-defense training as well as more advanced tactical skills for our security force,” he explains as well pull up to an adorable home at the center of a cul-de-sac.
The house is a small rancher. It’s painted white with dark blue shutters and ivy growing along the metal posts outside. A flowerbed sits in front of a narrow sidewalk leading from the driveway to the front porch. It’s filled with an array of annuals; all different colors. He parks in and gets out, quickly running around the truck and opening my door to help me down.
“Who lives here?” I ask.
He just smiles and mouths the words “You’ll see.”
He holds out his hand and I take it as he leads me to the front door, which is also painted dark blue.
Sasha Barnes opens the door and smiles widely at us. She hugs me as if she’s known me for years and I hug her back with just as much enthusiasm. She looks her son up and down and gives him a quizzical look.
“Don’t tell me you came here looking for food. I know I taught you how to cook,” she teases.
“Ma,” he whines.
She yanks him down, giving him a loud kiss on the cheek and pretends to pinch him on the arm.
“I’m joking, Pup. Breakfast is keeping warm in the oven.”
I look up at Bucky.
“You expect your mother to feed you?!” I ask.
He looks between his mother and I.
“Necrezut!” he says, “Ganging up on me already and you’ve known each other less than a day,” Bucky notes as he heads to what I assume is the kitchen to get himself a plate.
Ms. Barnes leads me to the living room where we sit down to chat.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Barnes. “Steve cooked a huge breakfast this morning. He could very well have eaten at the house.”
“Mom’s a better cook,” Bucky calls out from the kitchen.
Ms. Barnes shakes her head.
“First of all, please call me Sasha, sweetheart. You are family now,” Sasha says.
“Ok. I’ll try to remember,” I tell her.
Sasha and I spend the next few hours chatting away as if we’ve known each other forever. She tells me about her role as an Elder to the pack. It’s a position of great authority and I can tell how much respect she commands inside and outside of her home. She takes me on a tour of the house, even showing me Bucky’s childhood bedroom.
We talk about her life, the loss of Bucky’s father in an accident, and what Bucky and Steve were like when they were children. She makes us lunch and we feast on chicken salad sandwiches and fresh vegetables from the garden in her backyard.
By the time Bucky and I leave, it’s late afternoon. I have a date with Sasha on Saturday for her to teach me about some of the herbs and potions she uses to heal wolves who can’t be cured by traditional means.
She claims she needs an apprentice, but I think she just wants to keep me busy. I told her that I lost my job and I wanted to find work. She’s more than willing to accommodate me. I think I’m going to love her.

***

I’m standing in the hallway outside of the large meeting room. My heart is racing. This feels like such a big moment and I am more terrified than ever. Steve is about to introduce me to his pack and my knees are about to buckle. I feel Bucky’s presence before I see him. I don’t know why my body reacts this way. I don’t know why I feel a cold sensation when he enters the room, but I always do.
He’s standing beside me, listening to Steve’s speech about upcoming events for the pack and general news in the community. I’m still shaking. Good God, I hope these people like me. I hope they accept me. I honestly don’t know what I will do if they don’t. Where will I go then?
Where can I seek shelter when I’ve already surrendered my old life? Will Steve even want me if they don’t? I’m human. I’m a natural outsider. I’m weak. At least that’s what they will think.
My palms are sweating, so I rub them against my dress and release an unsteady breath. I chose a royal blue wrap dress that doesn’t make me look too overweight. I always think I look fat, but Steve doesn’t mind, and I know I shouldn’t care. The dress isn’t formal. It’s something one would wear to a business meeting. I’m supposed to feel confident in it, but I don’t. Not right now.
My hands are at my sides when I feel a large, hand wrap around my trembling fingers and give me a reassuring squeeze. I look up into Bucky’s eyes and try to reign in my emotions.
“You’re going to be fine,” he whispers, then gives me a wink. In that moment, I hear Steve begin his introduction – my introduction. I inhale and straighten my spine.
“My family. My pack members. I didn’t expect it to happen, but it finally has. It seems that destiny has chosen the woman with whom I’m to share the rest of my life. She’s beautiful, strong, smart, and kind. Our Bonding Ceremony will take place on the next full moon. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to my mate: Miss (Y/N),” Steve announces to a round of applause.
Bucky squeezes my hand again and a sense of calm washes over me. I walk out onto the stage and step into Steve’s arms. Home. That’s all I feel in this moment. The nerves are still there, but his presence is the final piece of the puzzle for me. The security of his arms gives me a bit of confidence so that I can face the 100 or so people in the audience. I give a wave to everyone.
Steve told me earlier that I only had to make a brief statement to the group. I didn’t write anything down. I didn’t want them to think I was being fake. Steve hands the microphone to me and I swallow hard before I begin to speak.
I’m just going to wing it. God help me.
“I promise, I won’t say much. I’m actually a little nervous, but I wanted to let you know how honored I am to be here. I know that a human living among wolves is rare, but I promise that I will maintain the secret of your existence. I will protect it with my life. I’ve come here because fate has decided that I am the mate of your Alpha. My hope is that, over time, I will become a valuable and contributing member of your family. I want to deserve your respect and your love. I will work hard to earn it. I promise that you will get nothing but the best from me. Thank you so much,” I tell them.
I hand the microphone back to Steve and his reassuring smile warms my heart. He leans in and gives me a kiss on the forehead. The audience responds with a few “awws” and Steve slips his hand into mine.
He adjourns the meeting and we are immediately swarmed by people coming over to introduce themselves to me. I’m never going to remember all these names, but I’m grateful for their efforts in trying to welcome me.
Everyone gives me a warm reception except for one woman whose name I won’t soon forget: Sharon Carter. The blonde haired, hazel-eyed beauty stands several inches taller than I. She is wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. She’s absolutely stunning, despite the air of resentment radiating off of her. She gives Steve a pointed look, then casts her eyes down at me.
She reaches out to shake my hand. I take hers, knowing she’s going to try to demonstrate her strength and dominance over the meager human standing in front of her. She squeezes. It doesn’t hurt as much as I expected, so I squeeze her back just as hard. I refuse to be intimidated even though she is getting slightly under my skin with the look she’s throwing at me. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m black or I’m human. She doesn’t like me. She’ll just have to get over it.
“Good to meet you, (Y/N). Welcome to North Pointe,” she says. There’s a threat dripping behind those pleasant words. I know she doesn’t mean any of it kindly, but I nod anyway and thank her for introducing herself.
Then it dawns on me.
Shit.
She’s his ex.
Steve hasn’t said anything, but I feel it.
He didn’t choose her. He chose me.
There will be consequences.
I’ve just made an enemy.

***
Bucky’s POV

I’m pacing around the small house in which my mother lives. Sasha Barnes likes living modestly and I really can’t blame her for that. She’s a pack Elder along with Evelyn Rogers. She has visions of the future. She also creates elixirs that can heal some wounds that medical science can’t. She’s as compassionate as she is powerful.
And she’s always right.
“I want her,” I growl. Anger bubbles within my chest. “Last night, my wolf wanted to follow (y/n) her room, pin her to the bed, and sink my teeth into her neck as if she’s mine. But she’s not.”
“Tell her,” my mother insists, “You have to tell them both.”
She’s sitting in the center of the room with the Book of Prophecy open in front of her. Its pages written in the old tongue; from its birthplace in Romania, where my ancestors were born.
She’s been reading that book for years, and the Prophecy regarding the Alpha Triad is told within the pages of that book. It matches the same story written in Gaelic in the prophecy volumes owned by Steve’s mother. They told us the stories growing up. Steve barely believed it until he met The Mate in the coffee shop. He felt her presence. He knew they belonged to one another. I felt it too.
“I can’t. It doesn’t make sense,” I snap at her. She scowls at me and I return to the boy I once was, sulking against the window while my mother tells me something I’m not ready to hear.
“You cannot deny the signs are here, Pup. I dreamed of her for several months and now that she is finally home, she needs both of her mates to survive,” mom insists.
“We’re not the Alpha Triad, mother,” I assert.
She pins me in place with a look.
“Son, I know you didn’t want it to happen this way. I know you didn’t want to mate with anyone for another few years. I realize that you value your independence; your bachelorhood. You’ve certainly had your share of women. This is different. She’s different. The sacred Book of Prophecy predicts this, as well as the coming war with a vampire clan,” Mom explains.
“It’s too late,” I tell her.
“What do you mean?” she asks me.
I don’t want to admit to this, but I know my mother well enough to understand that she will just find out the truth anyway.
“Steve asked me how I felt about her – if I found her attractive, and I lied. I told him I didn’t,” I confess.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because he had already said she was his mate. I didn’t think it would be fair for me to also lay claim to her,” I say.
Mother stands and approaches me. She forces me to look into her eyes; eyes that are identical to mine. She places a hand on each side of my face.
“Steve knows about the Prophecy, too. He probably thought she was the one for both of you. Your refusal of her means he can’t prepare himself, her, or the rest of the pack for what is coming,” she explains.
“I know I have to tell them. Hell, Steve and I nearly took each other’s heads off this morning before she calmed us down,” I offer.
Mother chuckles warmly.
“That’s because, deep down, she knows she’s a very special human being…and she can’t stand to see the men she loves fight,” Mom explains.
“She doesn’t love me,” I tell her. Once I say it, I realize that the thought of (y/n) not loving me makes me a little sad.
“I know, deep down, she does feel something for you. Talk to her son. Rejecting your predestined mate will only make life hard for all of you,” Mom asserts.
“I’ll tell them both tonight,” I concede.
***

I walk into the house, closing the door as quietly as I can. A soft light shines in the kitchen. I see (y/n) standing at the counter, leaning over something. I smile, then stop myself. I need to talk to Steve about the prophecy before I say anything to (y/n) about it.
I’m prepared to sneak up to my room, but she turns around, her brown eyes wide with surprise. She looks like she’s holding back a smile. She bites her lip and I realize just how damn cute she looks when she does that. Shit. I don’t want to like her. I don’t want to feel this way about her because I know Steve is falling for her, too.
Steve and I have had threesomes with beautiful women before. Wolves are sexual creatures. Mixing humanity in with it, along with decreased inhibitions, means that eventually it’s going probably to happen. We’re best friends. That’s why being attracted to his mate feels wrong.
Then again, I need to accept the possibility that she is Our Mate, instead of just Steve’s mate.
There’s a way I can test that theory. I just hope like Hell that Steve doesn’t come downstairs while I’m doing it. I walk into the kitchen and note the bowl of pineapple chunks that she’s eating.
“Do you have some sort of pineapple habit we need to accommodate?” I ask her.
(Y/N) offers me a little laugh. Like the rest of her, that’s cute, too. She’s dressed in a low-cut t-shirt and a pair of short shorts. The clothes fit her perfectly, showing off her full breasts, narrow waist, plump ass, and perfect legs. Damn it. She said something while I was looking at her like she’s my midnight snack.
I shake some sense back into my head so I can test this Alpha Triad theory.
“Sorry?” I ask her.
“I’m a bit of a fruit addict,” she says like it’s a confession, “I feel the same way about grapes and strawberries. I love them, but I guess you wouldn’t know that from the way I look.”
Her head drops a little as if she’s ashamed of her appearance.
I step toward her. She has this expression on her face that resembles a combination of panic and intrigue. I’m in her personal space now, looking down on her lovely, chestnut brown face. I can hear her breathing pick up. Her heartbeat sounds in my ears and it’s beating faster, but she’s not afraid of me.
I lift her chin so she can look me in the eyes again. I don’t want her to turn away.
“You are beautiful,” I tell her. It came out in a whisper, but I know she heard it. Her cheeks shine, even in the low light. I embarrassed her, but she didn’t mind. I don’t really know how I know that, but I do.
I can scent her now. It’s a natural fragrance that can’t be masked by the perfume or lotion she wears. It’s much more potent. It smells like fresh lavender and something else I can’t figure out. Once it fills my nose, I need to keep inhaling it as if it has suddenly become a part of me; a part of the oxygen I need to survive.
I release her chin, but I already miss touching her. I need the contact, so I run the back of my hand along her right cheek. She leans into my touch as her eyes close. I swallow hard. I can hear my wolf in the back of my head. Ours, it says. I try to keep my wolf in check. This is what scared the shit out of me when Steve and I met her yesterday – wanting her and not being able to control it.
But now, I don’t want to control it.
The right side of her neck is exposed and a powerful feeling hits me. I lean forward, my cheek brushing against hers. She stops breathing, but she’s also leaning into me. I nuzzle her neck and she surrenders it to me, her submissive behavior means only one thing.
“Beta,” she moans with a shaky breath.
My wolf fangs begin to descend and the urge to bite her is so powerful that I almost give in to it. Almost. I bite my lip, instead. I can’t take her now.
Her hands attach to my waist and I can feel her seductive warmth even through my shirt. I chant a mantra over and over again in my head: I can’t bite her. I can’t bite her. I have to wait. I try to back away, but my body doesn’t listen.
I place my forehead against hers. Silence surrounds us. I pull her into a hug. She’s shaking now. She’s nervous and possibly a little freaked out because we discovered the same thing at the same time and it doesn’t make sense to either of us.
“How?” she asks me.
“I don’t really know. I didn’t believe it until just now, but it’s true,” I tell her, placing a soft kiss to her ear. I couldn’t help myself. My lips had to touch some part of her. The only thing is that I want more. I now know the struggle Steve must feel in trying to keep his hands off of her. It’s almost impossible. When I felt the pull before, I could ignore it. Now that I’ve been this close and felt her warmth against me, I can’t go back.
“Bucky,” she whispers.
She’s raises her head to look at me. I stare down at her, my eyes glancing at her lush, kissable lips. They’re calling to me and I know if I lean down, she’s going to let me kiss her. I can’t. We can’t. I don’t want her feeling guilty, so I have to force myself to step back just to battle to urge to press my lips to hers.
It’s a safer move for both of us. I doubt I’d stop kissing if I ever started; not without divine intervention, at least.
“Look, I need to talk to Steve about this,” I explain.
“I agree,” she tells me.
Without realizing it, she’s in my arms again. I run my hands up and down her back and she relaxes into my embrace. I’m not a hugger, but (y/n) fits into my arms like she’s the final piece to a puzzle I never knew I was putting together.
“Am I holding you too tight?” I ask.
“No,” she answers. Her arms wrap around my waist.
“Good,” is the only thing I can think to say.
“Bucky?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I should go to bed,” she suggests.
She releases her hold on me, her hands dropping away from my sides. I tell myself I’m not going to look down at her, but I do. Her lips part slightly, as if she’s going to say something. I can’t do this…not yet.
“When I let go of you, you have to run upstairs, ok. Run. I’m going to give you a head start, because if you stick around for more than a second or two, I’m gonna kiss you,” I tell her.
She nods. I let her go.
One second.
Two seconds.
She’s frozen in place. So am I.
Three seconds. She looks toward the stairs, and heads for them.
She’s walking. She’s walking because she wants me to stop her.
I reach for her hand and lace our fingers together. I haul her back to me. I can’t stop myself. I don’t want to stop myself. I gave her an escape. She didn’t take it.
“Too late,” I say before my lips land hers. I hear a muffled moan from her as I taste her sweetness, mixed with the pineapple she’s eaten. She kisses me back, the gentle caress of her luscious lips beginning to satisfy my hunger for the moment. My hands grasp her waist as I find myself pressing her against the refrigerator so that it holds us both up, because I’m too damn weak to do it right now.
My fingers bury themselves in her tightly coiled hair as I pull her even closer. Her arms encircle my neck as I kiss her deeper than I’ve ever kissed anyone before. I’m going to run out of air soon and I don’t fucking care.
I need her.
She has to be the one to stop me because I can’t stop myself.
Several seconds tick by, at least I think it’s been seconds. She lets go of me, her lips leaving a lasting impression on mine. She’s breathing hard and so am I. I place my forehead to hers.
“Now, I know it’s true,” I tell her, “We’re mates.”
“We have to tell Steve,” she says.
I nod. I’m nuzzling her again when a blinding light floods the room.
“Tell me what?!” Steve’s voice booms.

Chapter Text

The Mate – Chapter 4
By Valencia Turner (writeturnlove)

Steve’s POV

I enter my mate’s room after knocking several times. She’s not here. She probably went downstairs to get something to eat. I bought more pineapple and strawberries for her since I know how much she enjoys fruit. The thought of making her happy makes me smile. She deserves so much. I honestly wasn’t prepared to feel so devoted to someone so soon. None of my other relationships felt like this. Before (y/n) I always felt like I was playing a role: doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing rather than what I wanted. It’s different with (y/n). I do things for her because I love her. I know it makes little sense. Developing feelings for someone normally takes time. This felt like love from the beginning and it’s deeper than sexual chemistry. I’m drawn to her spirit and eager to join with it once we complete our Bonding Ceremony and The Claim.
She insists she can handle the Claiming bite, but I’ve already talked to my mother about mixing an elixir for my mate. I know it works on wolves. I’m praying it works on the human I’ve grown to love.
I think of her as I continue to head downstairs toward the kitchen. She must be there as my wolf is scenting her. Her essence fills my nose, but there’s something else present in that scent: arousal. My mate is turned on, and I’m certain that fresh fruit isn’t the reason.
When I reach the first floor, I hear a conversation that I’m certain isn’t meant for me. My wolf stirs inside me as if waiting for a fight. I’m hoping he’s wrong. The problem is: my wolf is never wrong.
“We have to tell Steve,” I hear (y/n) say.
My heart stops. I know I need to think rationally. Normally I do, but this isn’t one of those times.
“Tell me what?” I ask, my temper slowly rising as I step into the room and see Bucky’s closeness to (y/n). They are standing much too close to one another for it to be entirely innocent. It’s natural for me to feel territorial as both human and wolf, and I do, but another sensation lingers in the background as I look from my Beta to my Mate, then back again.
I’m assessing the situation with my instincts and those instincts are telling me I interrupted something between the two people I care about the most.
Bucky backs up looking much more guilty than he should, and that only angers me more. I don’t want to think about what he was doing to her, or why my Mate looks so guilty.
Why does she look as though she needs to make a confession to me? I’m the Alpha. I don’t have the luxury of jumping to conclusions or attacking without cause.
“Did I interrupt something?” I ask, the sentence sounding more like a threat than a question. Silence fills the space between us.
When no one answers, my jaw clenches; a rare occurrence since I’m normally calm for an Alpha Wolf. My blood boils, and my wolf stirs to life, ready to fight. A deeper, more meaningful sensation lurks beneath the anger – something I’m not ready to acknowledge.
Bucky’s protective instincts surge forward as he pulls my mate behind him. It’s not his job to protect her. It’s mine. She’s my predestined mate. Besides, he knows she’s not the one in danger right now.
“I’m your Alpha, Dammit!” I growl, “You WILL tell me what you were doing to my mate, or I swear I’ll fucking rip you apart with my bare hands!”
Rather than follow his instincts and submit, Bucky squares his shoulders, his hands curling into fists as he looks me in the eyes. He’s never defied me before. Regardless of the command, he’s always obeyed my orders – until now.
“She’s mine!” Bucky seethes. His werewolf nature taking over as his fangs lower, and his eyes glow a haunting shade of silver.
I snarl at him as I begin shifting into my wolf. My eyes transition to their golden shade and I allow my face to darken as my fangs descend.
He’s lying.
She is my mate! She’s not… She can’t be… I know the signs have been there. I guess I didn’t want to see it. The elders warned me of this; told me that being part of a triad union was a part of my future, but believing it means ….
“We’re the Alpha Triad, Steve,” Bucky says, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry. SORRY! You said you didn’t believe in the prophecies. You said they were bullshit and that you wouldn’t choose a mate until you got tired of the bachelor lifestyle. Then, of all the people on this God-forsaken planet, you choose MY mate!”
“Steve, I wanted this for you. I wanted her for you.”
“But now you realize that she’s who you want. What about that woman you with the other day?”
“Steve, Nat’s perfume threw me off (y/n’s) scent. When you claimed she was your mate and I felt nothing, I figured the prophecy was a bust. I could keep on being a bachelor and my best friend, my brother, found the love of his life. After I showered and cleared my head, I could scent her. I went out for a run, thinking it would go away, but it didn’t. I found her in the kitchen tonight and I knew it was more than just being restless. A lot more. Mom confirmed it.”
I don’t want to hear this right now. I don’t want to feel this right now. She’s not my possession, but she going to be my wife. I thought I was the only man who would hold her heart. Now, I must share the woman I love with my second in command and prepare for an upcoming war with Vampires; a species that has not shown itself in over 400 years.
How do I deal with this and prepare for a war when, right now, the only person I want to fight is standing in front of me?

Y/N POV

Bucky stands his ground, probably thinking of my safety and worried Steve will reject me since he caught Bucky and I in a compromising position.
“Back down, Steve,” Bucky commands. I don’t know where he summons the strength to defy his Alpha, but that’s exactly what he’s doing, and I feel guilty because of it.
He pulls me behind him. His heart thunders in his chest, adrenaline fueling his boldness. I can hear it, but I’m not sure how.
A muscle ticks in Steve’s jawline as he glares at his friend. He’s not thinking of me. He’s thinking about the fact that his Beta won’t submit.
Bucky turns to me.
“Go upstairs, Angel,” he whispers, “Please.”
Something in his tone makes me obey without question. I nod and begin walking toward the stairs. I expect Steve to stop me, but he doesn’t. He gives me a small smile as I walk away.
The argument doesn't escalate as I ascend the steps. I don’t want to leave them alone. I can’t stand the idea of them hurting each other; especially over me. I’m ordinary. It’s almost impossible for an average woman like me to tempt one handsome man, let alone two.
“She’s my mate!” Bucky exclaims.
I turn to watch them, my insides shaking as I consider the mess I’ve started.
Steve frowns as if he’s considering whether this is true. He notes his Beta’s aggressive stance and mirrors it with his own.
“Liar!” Steve booms.
“Have I ever lied to you, Alpha?”
Steve remains silent, the question quelling some of his anger.
“Mother was right,” Bucky continues, “We’re the Triad, Steve.”
Steve looks between the Bucky and me. Through our shared connection, I sense his love for both of us. He can’t stomach the idea of losing either of us. He feels the jealousy burning in the back of his mind. His wolf calms down, not feeling the need to dominate Steve’s actions or thoughts.
“You never wanted a mate.” Steve asserts, “Why did you choose mine?”
“I didn’t choose her. My wolf did. Fate did. I don’t know. I just know what I felt when I scented her for the first time, but you laid claim to her before I could,” Bucky explains.
“What happed to my Beta wolf who never planned on settling down,” Steve asks.
“I never did; not until her,” Bucky confesses, “I want to make her happy. Satisfy her …in every way she wants.”
“So now, you expect us to share her?” Steve growls.
“Tell me something: Why did you build the Triad Bedroom beneath the staircase if you didn’t think we would end up using it?”
“I am the Alpha. It’s my job to be prepared.”
“Why did you ask me if I thought your mate was attractive? Deep down, you knew she
was the one. Not just for you, but for both of us,” Bucky reasons.
Steve thinks about it for a moment.
“The thought crossed my mind, but you were talking about this other woman and didn’t seem to notice (y/n), so I figured she was my mate. Mine alone.”
“I’m sorry Steve,” Bucky adds.
Steve steps backward avoiding eye contact with his Beta wolf. Several seconds pass before he asks the question I dread answering.
“When I came downstairs, what were you two doing?”
“Steve.”
“What were you doing with her?!”
Bucky hesitates, then says it.
“I kissed her. It was just a kiss. That’s all it was. I started it. Wolves can’t always control the urge to be with a mate. Don’t be pissed off at her for this.”
“I’m not angry with her. I’m mad at you. The thought of her kissing another man makes my skin crawl,” Steve insists.
“Even if it’s me,” Bucky asks.
“Especially if it’s you!” Steve’s breathing picks up again. He’s warring with his mind, his heart, and his wolf. I can feel it.
The tension in the room rises again. They are going to shift into their wolf forms and attack each other.
They might kill each other because of me.
I refuse to let it happen. I’d rather die first, so I bridge the space between them knowing that neither would hurt me in a fight.
I hope.
“STOP!!!” I yell, the word erupting from my throat as if it come from me.
Both men still. I place my hand on the heart of each man.
A tingling sensation radiates inside my hands. I feel their heartbeats slow, as does mine. The room is silent.
I move my left hand to Steve’s cheek, and he leans into my touch. I do the same to Bucky and he leans into me as well.
“You won’t fight over me! I won't destroy your friendship. I will reject you both if I must. I can’t destroy your pack. The pack comes first. I’m going back home tomorrow,” I insist.
I step away from them and run upstairs as fast as my thick legs can carry me. I don’t close the door, but I doubt they’ll follow me.
I can hear their still hear their conversation as I pack my things. Tears well in my eyes, but I keep going regardless of how many fall.
“We can’t let her leave,” Steve offers.
“I know,” Bucky says.
“I’m in love with her, Buck,” Steve adds.
“I know,” Bucky says, “I’m not asking you to stop.”
“What are you asking?”
“Let me be there for her, too. I don’t know what love is supposed to feel like. What I know is that I need to be around her. I need to touch her, hold her, make lo-… I mean–be with her. I want to keep her safe. Make her happy.”
Several minutes later, I hear footsteps on the staircase as I throw my toiletries into an overnight bag. A knock sounds on the door and I turn around to meet two sets of blue eyes. My heart skips a beat. I love them. My God, can I be in love with two men at the same time?
Bucky and Steve look at one another, then cast their gazes at me.
“Can we talk?” Steve asks.
I wipe my eyes as I look up at them. Steve steps inside the room first, and Bucky follows him.
“You come first,” they say in unison.
I shake my head.
“I promised I would respect the pack. I can’t do that if I stay here,”
“I … We don’t want you to leave. This is just hard to accept,” Steve states.
“Come back downstairs?” Bucky requests.
I hesitate, but Steve laces his fingers with mine and leads me downstairs. The guilt threatens to consume me alive. I start pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. I’m shaking, but I’m not cold. So much is going on inside my mind and heart right now. I don’t know if I can keep it together.
How could I be destined for both men? Why would fate have such a cruel and ironic sense of humor? I love Steve so much already, and it intensifies by the minute, along with my physical attraction to him.
Then there is Bucky. My feelings for him are so complicated. Yes, I’m drawn to him too. It’s potent, and I can’t blame all of it on sexual attraction. There’s a romantic pull as well, but it’s not as intense as it is with Steve; at least not yet. Eventually I need to face the fact that I may be in love with both men, but how am I supposed to split my heart?
It’s too much to process.
I wrap my arms around myself and settle on the sofa beside the fireplace.
With my back to them, I try to explain things to my Alpha mate.
“Steve, I’m so sorry,” I start, “But the Elders are right. We are the Alpha Triad from the Prophecy. Tonight… tonight we realized Bucky is also my mate.”
“This isn’t right,” Steve says, “You stood with me in front of the entire pack. We may as well be married. How am I supposed to go back and ask them to accept this?”
I face him with tears streaming down my face. I’m guilty: not only for kissing Bucky, but for enjoying the new connection with his Beta Wolf.
“It is possible. I felt it. The sensation is unique with Bucky, but powerful. I surrendered my neck to him without thinking about it. Pure instinct. I didn’t know it was happening, but my body knows him… and it wants him too. I’m so sorry, Steve.”
My Alpha shakes his head.
“You don’t need to apologize, (y/n). I don’t blame you,” he tells me, “Your human form is too weak to resist the temptation – especially from someone like Bucky.”
“Excuse me?”
There is anger in my voice and while it stirs my arousal, I tamp it down because I need to explain.
My question silences Steve for a moment.
“I mean our kind can easily seduce you,” Steve adds, hoping it helps.
It doesn’t.
“I’m stronger than you think I am! I know when a man is coming on to me! I know how to defend myself,” I assert.
“You couldn’t stop Michael. How could you possibly stop a wolf from trying to seduce you and taking what he wants?” asks Steve.
“Maybe because I know Bucky would never hurt his Mate!” I shout at him and walk toward the window to give myself some space to think.
It’s late. All I want to do is go to sleep and figure this out in the morning, but I doubt I’ll get any rest with this dark cloud hovering over the three of us.
We look at one another for several minutes. Emotions run high: Friendship, love, anger, and jealousy are at war with one another. I want to fight. I want to sleep.
Alpha and Beta both say they want me. They claim to love me. They each want me all to themselves.
A look passes between the three of us and the energy in the room charges; it shifts into something else. Something powerful. I’m shaking again. I’m scared.
I’m… I’m aroused… by both of them.
Reason doesn’t even bother to take hold in my mind, so I root myself by the window and wait.
Steve and Bucky look at one another, then turn to me.
“Come here,” Steve says.
“Why?” I’m stalling. I’m sure they know it.
“Because I want you in my arms. In our arms,” Steve adds.
I cautiously settle between them on the couch. The room is quiet except for the sound of our breathing, which quickly picks up. I feel this unfamiliar warmth spread throughout my body. My nipples tingle, then draw up into sharp buds. A sensual feeling consumes my lower half, settling at the apex of my thighs.
This should feel wrong. When did my morality fly out the window? This feels natural. This feels like instinct. It feels inevitable.
The room warms and I can’t help but squirm.
I realize that I’m inhaling the pheromones of both men. Their combined scent is intoxicating me the more breathe them in.
Steve and Bucky exchange a glance that I can’t interpret, but I soon understand what it means. My eyes fall closed as hands begin stroking my thighs, sending scorching heat through me. My arousal spikes beyond what I think my body is capable of. It’s consuming me from head to toe and it’s euphoric.
A series of chants fill my brain, but these thoughts – these words aren’t my own:

Kiss her.
Touch her.
Taste her.
Scent her.
Satisfy her.
Claim her.
Make love to her.
She’s yours.
She’s mine.
She’s ours.

I’m sandwiched between them, their lips pressing against both sides of my neck. Two sets of teeth skim along my skin, preparing to pierce my waiting flesh. Their hands caress my breasts through the thin shirt I wear. My hips act on their own volition and soon I feel a hand slide beneath the waistband of my shorts and cup my slickening sex. They chant my name as they kiss, nibble, suck and caress every erogenous zone they can reach. I moan loudly, and the sensations only escalate as the energy surges between the three of us.
Clumsy hands seeking pleasure transition to coordinated strokes, sparking unyielding passion that rolls over me in waves. My body responds. Instinct takes over. I reach for Steve, pulling him forward and kissing him hard. He spears my mouth with his tongue, and I hum at the pleasant intrusion. At that moment, Bucky places a small stinging bite on my right shoulder. My head falls back against him. He leans forward and kisses my waiting lips. Steve lifts my shirt and wraps his lips around my left nipple. All I can do is feel. Every kiss. Every stroke. Every nibble is a sinful blessing that I never want to end. There’s no one to stop what feels like the inevitable conclusion to this night. I don’t want to stop.
Suddenly, a loud knock sounds on the door and interrupts the exquisite pleasure all of us are seeking. Steve and Bucky remove their hands from beneath my clothes as their breathing slows down. Reluctantly, I pull away from them as knock sounds again; much louder this time. It’s as if two people are knocking at once and those bangs are becoming more urgent by the second.
I pull myself together and head to the door, leaving Steve and Bucky behind as they straighten their clothing to hide the evidence of their individual arousals. Both men look embarrassed, their faces red, yet their gazes never leave me as I approach the door.
Looking through the peephole, I see our visitors are Sasha Barnes and Evelyn Rogers. Guilt washes over me. Good God. I’m going to Hell for this.
I school my features and open the door before they knock again.
Sasha eyes rake over me from head to toe, relief sweeping over her face while her blue eyes twinkle with a bit of mischief.
“Thank God, you’ve still got your clothes on, sweetheart,” she quips, “I like you, but I don’t want to see you naked.”
Then Evelyn pipes up.
“Glad we got here in time. We thought we’d have to break down the door to stop you three.”
Both older women chuckle.
“Hell, we thought we’d have to turn the hose on you,” Sasha teases.
Thank God my skin is brown. They can’t see the blush flaring on my cheeks. I cover myself with my arms, although I’m still dressed. I back away a bit and allow the women to enter the house.
“Mom,” Steve and Bucky say at the same time.
“Boys,” Sasha states. There’s a warning in her voice when she says this. I hear it and I know they can, too.
Both men bow their heads in reverence. Steve may be the Alpha of the pack, but Evelyn and Sasha are the genuine leaders. They hold a kind of power over the pack that overrides physical dominance and titles. Sasha and Evelyn can level anyone with a look because their wisdom can’t be ignored without dangerous consequences.
“Sasha and I are going to take (y/n) over to our house. We think she’ll be safer there, if you know what I mean,” Evelyn says as she leads me upstairs.
The older woman helps me pack my clothing and personal items.
“That was a close call, Angel,” Evelyn says, “We got over here as fast as we could.”
“How did you know?” I ask her, my hands shaking as I stuff a bag with my hair products.
Evelyn stops gathering my things and faces me.
“It’s hard to explain, but as Elders, we sense when something significant is about to occur. We scented an enormous increase of pheromones. We had a feeling that — bonding was about to take place, and we had to stop it as soon as possible,” she explains.
I close the bag I’m holding and sit on the bed. I’m more nervous than ever that she knew what I was about to do with her son.
“Does… does that mean that when I marry Steve, you can tell when we’re about to –,” I can’t finish the sentence because I’m embarrassed as hell.
“Have sex?” she finishes.
A wave of heat threatens to burn me under her skeptical gaze. She gives me a cautious smile and I return it.
“Technically, yes. We can hear things from even several miles away. It’s a part of our nature. We can tune it out. There are also ways to make sure the entire community doesn’t know you are getting it on… When this house was constructed, they built another bedroom beneath the stairs. It’s soundproofed to both humans and wolves. We knew that when Steve and Bucky took a mate, that they would need their privacy,” Evelyn explains.
“I didn’t know there was a fourth bedroom,” I state. So that’s what they meant earlier about the Alpha Bedroom.
Evelyn pats my knee as she before she empties some of my dresser drawers.
“I’m pretty sure Steve didn’t want to frighten you. A soundproof bedroom sounds a bit intimidating to a human. They worry our kind will go all 50 Shades of Wolf on them,” she chuckles, “It’s something I’m certain he would have brought up later.”
I nod as I gather up all my luggage.
“I understand,” I tell her, “It’s good we’ll have privacy.”
Evelyn zips up my small travel bag and leads me downstairs.
Steve and Bucky stand by the doorway next to Sasha who is giving them an admonishing look. She smiles at me.
“I was just telling your mates that behaving themselves is crucial for these next few weeks. The three of you need to exercise restraint,” Sasha warns.
Evelyn walks outside with my things, and I admire the strength she has for a woman her size.
“Now, say goodbye to (y/n) and make it quick. You’ll see her soon enough,” Sasha continues before kissing each of them on the cheeks and departing.
“Keep your hands to yourselves!” Evelyn jokes as they start up the car.
I look at Steve, then Bucky, not really knowing what to say. I reach for Steve first, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close. He holds me flush against his powerful chest, caressing my back for several seconds before letting me go. He then leans forward and places a soft kiss to my lips before stepping backwards.
Steve gives Bucky a look, then nods, giving silent permission for Bucky to bid me goodbye. I tentatively wrap my arms around Bucky. His arms hold me securely and he gives me a light squeeze before sneaking a kiss to my neck. He releases me, then looks at his alpha for permission. Once he receives it, Bucky places a chaste kiss to my lips and steps away.
I force myself to leave them and get into the backseat of the black SUV of the Elders. The further I drive from my new home, the more lost I feel. I miss them already. My attachment to them quickly overwhelms me and my eyes start watering, but I hold back the tears.
“It’ll be fine, (y/n),” Sasha says, “You’ll see them tomorrow.”
The information barely comforts me. Knowing they were close by gave me a sense of peace. I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep in another strange house. I feel exposed. Unprotected. My thoughts drift back to Steve mentioning the fact that I couldn’t fight off Michael. He’s right. The angry face of my former boss crosses my mind and I shudder. I must trust that the Elders will keep me safe. Still, I know I he’ll haunt my dreams even if he does not know where I am.

Michael’s POV

Michael wakes in darkness. His last memories make little sense to his logical mind. He sought you out to talk to you, and perhaps to frighten you a little. You deserved to be afraid. Although he kept his job, there were whispers around the office about his transgressions. He’d lost respect because of you, and he wouldn’t allow you to forget it. Two men kept him from his prize after he tracked you down. He doesn’t love you, but that is not important. He wants you and someone got in the way.
Something happened that he couldn’t explain. In a flurry of movement, he was ripped away from the street and pinned against the brick wall in an alley. Two sets of inhuman eyes glared at him, forcing him into submission. A set of long, sharp teeth pierced his carotid artery. Darkness swept over him until he fell into an abyss of never-ending night.
And now, here he is, his eyes returning to darkness as he sits up in a bed that’s not his own. He reaches for his neck, but the puncture wounds he’s expecting to feel are gone. The pain, however, remains. It stings. It burns. He glances around the room. He sees nothing, but he’s keenly aware that he isn’t alone.
“Who’s there?” Michael asks into the blackness. He shudders as an odd sensation of cold sweeps over his bare skin. He realizes he’s naked and searches for something to cover up as he waits for a response.
He thinks he must have been mistaken until a voice answers from the corner of the room.
“They left you for dead,” a woman’s voice answers. It sounds both sultry and dangerous.
“Who… Who are you?” he asks into the nothingness.
“I’m the one who rescued you, Michael,” she says, her smokey voice seems closer now, cajoling in its manner.
A sliver of moonlight pierces the dark and the outline of a woman comes into view. Framed by moonlight, he can’t see her, but his body reacts all the same. He’s afraid, aroused, and confused all at the same time. He doesn’t know where he is and he’s certain he’s not safe.
“I asked who you were,” he says, his attempt to sound authoritative falling flat in the quiet room.
The woman tsks him.
“You should be more grateful and less demanding,” she coos, “I can kill you before you draw your last breath and be gone by the time your body hits that mattress.”
Michael swallows dryly and considers keeping quiet, but it’s not in his nature to fear a woman.
“I just want to know the name of the lady who saved me from dying,” he says.
Her chuckle sends a chill down his spine, and he shivers uncontrollably.
“Well, to be fair, I didn’t save you from dying,” she answers, “I saved you from death. There’s a difference.”
Michael can’t believe his ears until a pair of red eyes glows in front of him and he suddenly loses control of his bladder. The woman steps into the light. He can see her clearly now, her beautiful porcelain skin appearing otherworldly. Her red hair cascades down her shoulders. Her ruby lips form a smile that is equal parts sexy and menacing.
She leans forward and runs a long fingernail down his cheek. It burns where she touches him, but the pain immediately recedes.
“You should be thankful, Michael,” she tells him.
“Thank you,” he says in a shaky voice, “Can I at least ask your name?”
She grins at him, her small fangs descending from her perfect smile.
“My name is Natasha,” she whispers in his ear, “And if you really want to show me how grateful you are, you will do exactly what I say—and both of us will get exactly what we want.”

Chapter Text

The Mate Chapter 5

By V.C. Turner (@writeturnlove)

WARNINGS: Do NOT read if you are under 18; SMUT, SEX, DP, MFM SEX, THREESOME, UNPROTECTED SEX, BLOOD PLAY/KINK, BITING, BRIEF MINOR BONDAGE.

To say that I’m nervous would be an understatement. I’m terrified. In less than 24 hours, I will be bonded to two men and ascend to a leadership role over a group of people I didn’t know existed a few months ago. We’re just minutes away from another pack meeting; this one called by the Elders, who plan to introduce us as The Alpha Triad. The Fates decided that I am the one true mate of the Alpha and Beta wolves of the North Pointe Pack. Once the Elders verify the mating, no one dares question their judgment.

I’m standing between my mates – Steve on my left and Bucky on my right. I’m shaking. Steve notices and places a reassuring hand on the center of my lower back. Bucky slips his hand into mine and squeezes. Today is the first time I’ve seen them since their mothers took me away from the Alpha house before we could break a fundamental rule: No sex before the Bonding Ceremony.

The ritual is set to take place tomorrow night beneath the full moon and in front of the entire pack.

But tonight, we must stand before them and assert our positions.

My breath is coming out in short bursts. Steve turns to me, lifts my chin, and places a chaste kiss to my lips. He whispers in my ear.

“It will be fine, Sweetheart,” he says.

My body instantly settles, and I can think clearly again. Steve calms me when I need it. I love that about him. I stop shaking and focus on Sasha Barnes as she calls the meeting to order.

“North Pointe brothers and sisters, it is a proud day for our pack. As predicted by Elder Evelyn and I, we have confirmed The Alpha Triad,” she announces.

A hush falls over the large room. Several tense moments pass before measured chaos begins. I can’t tell what they are saying because I’m too far away. What I can hear are the sounds of shock coming from the crowd, and I brace myself for what comes next.

From our place backstage, we see Evelyn Rogers step forward. She holds her hand up and the room immediately quiets, yielding to her authority.

“Family, as the prophecy had dictated, our Luna has been chosen. Tomorrow night she will be bonded to the Alpha and Beta of our pack. I now ask The Alpha Triad to step forward to stand before the pack, for tomorrow the three of you shall be joined for life.”

Steve leads the three of us onto the center of the stage and the sound of whispers starts up again. The moment hangs over my head like a heavy cloud, threatening to soak me with the weight of this new responsibility.

Bucky squeezes my hand again, then leans down to me.

“Stand tall and look each one of them in the eye. They need to see strength to respect you and your position,” he advises.

I straighten my posture and gaze into the crowd. There are expressions of shock, caution, and a few looks of disgust. Fuck them. I’m Luna. They will just have to deal with it.

“As you know,” Sasha begins, “While this is a happy occasion because our pack leaders have found true love, it is also a time of concern. The prophecy regarding the Alpha Triad states that there will be an upcoming war with a vampire clan. The conflict between our species has raged for millennia, however we’ve enjoyed several decades of peace due to a treaty signed by our ancestors. Unfortunately, this peace is about to end. Since we do not know when our enemies will attack, we must begin preparations immediately. My son James, as Beta, will help organize the tactical preparations, while Alpha Steve Rogers will divide the pack into specific groups who will ensure that each pack member and their families have the resources to deal with this threat. Now, I will turn the meeting over to our Alpha.”

The room falls silent as Steve steps forward, bringing Bucky and I with him.

“North Pointe Family, I know that much of what you heard comes as a shock. My primary concern is to ensure the safety of this pack, so we will begin organizing and training starting next week. I will delegate some of my usual duties to other pack leaders as I will be sequestered for the next two weeks as part of the bonding ritual. Speaking of my personal life: The fact that my new mate is also the mate of my Beta came as a shock to me, too. While a part of me knew, deep down, that she was the one for both of us, it was only just confirmed. This joining, this Alpha Triad is unfamiliar territory for all of us, however this is how things were meant to be. Y/N is a part of this family, and she will always be our Luna,” Steve declares.

My breathing picks up as all eyes focus on me. I don’t want to talk tonight. I have way too much on my mind to form a cohesive thought. Judging from the looks on their faces, I worry anything I say will make me an even bigger target than I already am.

Bucky speaks next and I internally thank him for the favor.

“North Pointe pack, I didn’t want to admit it to myself at first, but I felt it the moment I met y/n. I realized she was – she is my mate, and now I can’t imagine life without her. I will protect her with my life, and I expect my pack members to do the same. No one shall harm her, physically or mentally. If they try, they will answer to us,” announces Bucky as he turns to Steve, who nods in agreement.

I’m not required to speak. I could stand here until the meeting is over, but I can’t remain silent.

Something inside me feels an undeniable urge to say something; to stake my claim to these men and to this pack so that there is no question as to my position.

In a voice that comes out stronger than expected, I shock the Hell out of everyone when I let go of Steve and Bucky, and step forward to the front of the stage.

“North Pointe, I am an ordinary human compared to the strength that each of you wield, but do not mistake my humanity for weakness. I was not born of you. I do not have the blood of your pack running through my veins, but I am Luna, and I do not take that honor lightly. This is my oath to all of you: I will provide comfort and protection to those in need. You are my family now and I am willing to die for my family. If you learn nothing else about me on this night, know this: Those who come for my family will pay with their blood,” I state.

Once I finish, I step back between Steve and Bucky who look at me with a combination of surprise and pride. Evelyn and Sasha emit soft chuckles before returning to the stage and calling the meeting to a close. I hear murmuring as people exit the large building. Most talk about vampires. Others question my fitness as Luna.

As we walk backstage, Evelyn elbows Steve in the stomach.

“Try not to piss off the little one. I think she can take you in a fight,” she teases.

We return to the Elder House where we spend the remainder of the evening. We eat a hearty meal of roasted beef garnished with fresh vegetables from Evelyn’s garden.

I am allowed one hour with my mates, then I will not see them again until the ceremony tomorrow night.

We sit in the living room where I’m flanked by the handsome men who will become my husbands in less than a day. We are being closely supervised by the elders, so our interactions must be as platonic as possible.

“You don’t plan on challenging me for the role of Alpha, do you, Angel?” Steve jokes.

“Yeah,” Bucky adds, “I didn’t know you had that in you. I’m proud.”

“Did I mess things up?” I ask.

Steve strokes my cheek gently and I lean into him. He kisses the tip of my nose. I long for more, but we’re too close to the Bonding Ceremony now. We shouldn’t start anything, and it doesn’t take much to start something with Steve.

“No, Sweetheart. You did something that Lunas normally do on instinct. You declared your authority and intentions. Wolf packs raise their females to be forceful. You figured it out on your own,” Steve asserts, beaming with admiration.

“We still don’t plan to piss you off, though,” Bucky teases.

Steve pulls me to him, placing my back to his chest. Bucky swings my legs around and places them in his lap.

This isn’t the time to be aroused, however my body doesn’t get the memo. I’m snuggling against Steve and pulling Bucky closer so that I’m partially in his arms as well.

“How will this work: the three of us?” I ask no one in particular.

Steve answers.

“Sweetheart, it will operate like any other relationship. You will be legally married to me, but you will be emotionally, spiritually, … and physically bound to both of us,” he says, looking at Bucky.

My heart beats loudly in my ears. I know he has more to say, but it looks like he’s gathering the courage to finish. I get the feeling that sharing me with Bucky will be difficult for him.

After several seconds, he continues.

“We will share our lives together, every part of them,” he continues, “You will take the lead on most things while we are home. Who you choose to be with and what we do is all up to you. Some people aren’t comfortable having sex with multiple partners at once. They sometimes spend one night with one mate, and the following night with the other.”

I look between them, their expressions of caution giving me pause.

“What about jealousy?” I turn to Steve, “You didn’t expect to share me with anyone. How are you going to handle sharing me with your best friend?”

Steve takes a moment before responding.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you all to myself. I do. But if I’m being honest, it’s nice to know that someone who loves you can watch over you when I can’t,” Steve reasons.

“I refuse to come between the two of you,” I insist.

“You won’t,” Bucky answers quickly, “We’re like brothers. We grew up together. We share almost everything. Now, we share how we feel about you.”

I still feel a bit uneasy about how this is going to work in a practical way. I think Bucky wouldn’t choose me if he could make the decision without “fate” stepping in to make it for him. Some ancient prophecy is driving him, coupled with his natural wolf instincts.

“There is also the practical part of all of this. My duties as Alpha will take me away from you sometimes. I need to attend meetings and go out of town from time to time. Normally, you would be alone when that happens. Now, you will have Bucky to care for you,” Steve says with a bit of sorrow in his voice.

                I snuggle closer to both my mates, and they hold me tightly as I try to enjoy their company. I’m nervous about tomorrow night. I keep thinking that there are wolves in this pack that would rather have one of their own in my place and I understand that. I’m a weak human in their eyes. How could I protect the pack as Luna?

Hell, I may not survive my wedding night: the Bonding or the Claim.

My nerves are frayed when it comes to the claiming bite. Evelyn and Sasha, concerned that I won’t survive it, have been preparing me all week. They’ve been filling my belly with herbs and medicines that are supposed build up my tolerance to the wolf bites I’ll be receiving tomorrow. I’ve also never been with more than one partner at the same time. I don’t know how I feel about that.

                As if I can read my mind, Steve starts explaining things.

“There’s a master bedroom downstairs, beneath the stairwell. We built it in case we found a Mate that was bound to both of us,” Steve says.

                “Under the stairs? Why didn’t I know about it,” I ask them.

                Both are silent, their cheeks turning red as they evade my question.

I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on with them and if they have some type of sex dungeon

                “You look a little scared, Angel,” Steve begins, “I don’t want to frighten you or anything. It’s just a regular bedroom with king-sized four poster bed. There’s also a large, in-suite bathroom with a shower and a whirlpool bath.”

                I sit up straight, thinking of all the naughty possibilities of this room. I know my mind shouldn’t go there, but the prospect of the three of us sleeping, showering, and bathing together has my thighs clenching in anticipation. I don’t want to be aroused right now. It’s not the time. I’m certain they can sense my dilemma, and Steve comes to my rescue.

                “(Y/N), I don’t want you to worry about anything. We’ll take care of you. We won’t do anything that’s going to make you uncomfortable.”

                “We just want to make you happy and keep you safe. This relationship is going to be new for us, too. I guess we’re going to have to play it by ear. Just know that you’re in charge of everything. What you say goes,” Bucky says.

                I should feel reassured, but I’m worried that jealousy will crop up from time to time. I don’t want them fighting or hating each other.

Then something else hits me: what if they’ve used that bedroom before – with another woman. Sharon Carter comes to mind. When I think of how she looked at me when we first met; I wondered if she was Steve’s ex. Now I wonder if she slept with both.

                Shit! I scramble out of their hold and head to the other side of the room. I don’t want to know the answer to this question, but I need to ask it.

                “Have … Have you two ever used that bedroom before? With another woman?” I ask. I have no right to be angry at them for what happened before meeting me. How can I feel possessive of men who were strangers to me a month ago? Still, curiosity burns inside me.

                My mates look at one another and my heart plummets. I slide to the floor and let the silence in the room swallow me whole. I fight back tears, not allowing them to fall.

                An expression of panic crosses Steve’s face and he’s next to me before I finish blinking away tears.

                “No, Sweetheart. It’s not what you think. We’ve never used the Triad Bedroom. No other woman has ever or will ever set foot in there other than you,” he soothes, “But I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that we haven’t had threesomes before. Wolves are sexual. We can’t always control it, so sometimes with have sex with other women in the pack.”

                I bite my lip as he wipes a tear from my cheek.

                “Sharon was one of them?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

                “That was a long time ago,” Bucky says as he kneels in front of me, “More than a decade. It happened during one weekend of partying that got out of control.”

                “I knew it. I knew she’d … well, that she’d done something with at least one of you. Sharon looks at me like she wants to rip my throat out,” I tell them.

                They exchange a glance.

                “Don’t let her worry you, Angel. She won’t hurt you,” Steve tries to reassure me.

                I shake my head.

                “Steve, I’m not sure how well you know women, but Sharon isn’t going to let my being Luna stop her. She hates me and she’s going to find a way to get to me,” I insist.

“She doesn’t hate you,” Steve states, “She’s probably a little jealous because her family trained her to be a leader. We know that she expected to be Luna.”

“We should have thought about her upbringing before we … did anything with her,” Bucky adds.

Both men look contrite, their eyes downcast as if they’d cheated on me. Knowing this information complicates things, but I asked for it.

                When they slept with Sharon, they gave her a false sense of security, making her think that she would one day be Luna. I know I will pay for their mistake.

I don’t want this to be the last topic of conversation before we say goodnight, so I change the subject.

“I’m nervous about The Claim,” I confess, “I’m not concerned about the pain, but Evelyn said I may lose a significant amount of blood; especially because both of you will be biting me.”

“Wolves don’t drink much blood, but since you will be claimed by the two of us, you’ll become dizzy – possibly faint. We’ll be able to care for you. We also have a nurse on-call should you need stitches or a blood transfusion,” Steve clarifies.

I know they will be as gentle as possible, while also following their instincts. Without the exchange of blood, there is no telepathic and empathic bond uniting us as one. The Claim also requires that I drink blood from each of them. Despite the alternatives discussed, I’ve decided that I will pierce their skin with my teeth and hope I’m not disgusted by drinking their blood: even if it is a small amount.

Soon it is time for my mates and I to separate until the Bonding Ceremony.

The Elders and other women in the pack spend the next several hours pampering and distracting me. We dance and sing until early morning light. They each tell me of their Bonding and Claiming rituals and I enjoy hearing their stories.

The morning arrives too soon in my opinion. The sun peeks through the lightly colored curtains covering the bay window in my room. I feel ready, but also extremely nervous. Sasha and Evelyn do their best to keep me focused on enjoying today. They feed me a light breakfast because they’re worried I might throw up from nervousness.

They have organized everything, from the flowers that line the aisle, to the ones that encircle the altar. Several tree stumps are arranged in rows for the attendees to sit on. The Elders took me to where the ceremony will take place. My heart continues to beat so fast I wonder if I will pass out.

“This is normal,” Evelyn says, “All of us are nervous on the day of the Bonding. You’re human. You were never prepared for this. We did our best to get you ready, but there’s no shame in feeling the way you do.”

The ceremony is just a couple of hours away now. I’m bathed, massaged, and covered from head to toe in scented oil. My skin is tingling. My heart is racing. I close my eyes and say a prayer that things will go smoothly tonight. I don’t want Sharon or anyone else ruining the most important day of my life. I hold a title I didn’t earn: Luna. I need to show them I’m worth it. I need to believe I’m worth it.

The Bonding Ceremony

I’m dressed in a thin white chemise that falls to my ankles. The Elders adorn my head with a

crown of flowers which encircle my curls. My hands are shaking and there is nothing that Evelyn or Sasha can say to me right now to make me feel less nervous. I inhale a shaky breath and squeeze each of their hands. I’m hoping their smiles will somehow have a positive effect on me, but I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I’m about to get married to not one, but two gorgeous men who I didn’t know a couple of months ago.

Marrying Steve and Bucky isn’t what makes me nervous. Well, it does, but what’s more nerve-wracking is the fact that I’ll be doing so in front of more than a hundred strangers, all of whom look at me as an outsider. I truly hope this Bonding Ceremony will assure them that I am a part of their pack, but I know in my heart that it will be a long time before I earn their trust.

                I’m naked underneath this slip of fabric, but the darkness and my skin color shield me from their gazes.

The Elders lead me deep into the North Pointe Forest. Two torches illuminate a wooden altar and candles illuminate an aisle of flowers. The entire pack kneels as I step onto the path. The wolves shift into their animal forms, while their human mates sit next to them on tree stumps.

                Sasha and Evelyn flank me as I walk down the aisle. They are dressed in dark brown cloaks with their family crests embroidered on the back. Each step I take closer to the altar makes me shake a little more. I don’t want to mess up. Despite the assurances of the Elders and their constant teachings over the past several days, I feel like I will.

                I finally muster the courage to look up. Steve and Bucky stand at the altar waiting for me. They are both bare chested with animal pelts covering their bottom halves. I’m still shaking when the Elders place my hands in the hands of their sons. These women are glowing like the proud mothers they are. They seem to have been waiting for this moment for a long time. They each kiss my cheeks and take their places on the other side of the wooden altar.

                I finally notice what is there: tall, white candles burn in a circle with three chalices of wine and a copper bowl sitting in the center.

                I acknowledge each man, giving them a slight nod before I kneel at the altar. Bucky and Steve kneel beside me. Their fingers clasp mine and our hands are bound together with a thin rope. Sasha pulls out a knife and makes a small gash in our palms. As the blood drips from us, she collects it in the bowl, adding herbs, flowers, and incense. She recites a prayer in Romanian. Evelyn does the same thing, speaking in Gaelic.

My nerves settle as both women add a piece of parchment paper into the bowl of blood. They light it on fire, letting it burn to ash before they speak.

“On this night, we bind these three lives together: Steven Grant Rogers, Y/N, and James Buchanan Barnes. This Alpha Triad will lead our pack for many generations to come,” Evelyn announces. She then turns to Steve.

“Steven Grant Rogers, do you commit yourself to this young woman, your fated mate and Luna, for as long as you live?”

“I do,” Steve speaks loudly, squeezing my hand for reassurance.

Evelyn turns to Bucky.

“James Buchanan Barnes, do you commit yourself to this young woman, your fated mate and Luna, for as long as you live?”

Bucky gives me a wink before he answers.

“I do,” Bucky says.

Evelyn turns to me, a comforting smile on her sweet face.

“You, Luna (Y/N), do you commit yourself to Steve and James, your fated mates and Alpha wolves, for as long as you live?” she asks.

“I do,” I announce, hopefully not too loudly.

Both Sasha and Evelyn dip their fingers into the bowl, then paint our faces with blood. It stains my forehead and cheekbones, but I don’t move. My eyes close and I issue a silent prayer that I can be the Luna this pack needs me to be.

The Elders take a length of rope and dip it into the blood. They then tie my hands to Steve and Bucky, turning us around to face the crowd. We look at the assembled guests, who seem to be waiting for something.

                Then Sasha speaks.

                “North Pointe: I now present to you, your Alpha Triad. May their union be blessed. Let us all pay tribute,” she declares.

                The wolves bow in submission as human guests clap while we walk down the aisle. I soon hear howling from the pack members; their unspoken acknowledgement that Steve, Bucky, and I are one.

                Now that the ceremony is over, we are to consummate our union.

The Claim

I remain tied to Steve and Bucky as we walk back to the Alpha house. It feels different to me now. Something electric sparks between the three of us and it’s causing my skin to tingle. Steve unlocks the door, and we silently enter.

                We approach the hidden room beneath the main staircase. I’m led down a short flight of steps to a large reddish-brown door. Steve opens it as he turns to me, gesturing for me to enter the bedroom.

I walk inside and am immediately struck by how warm and rustic it looks. There’s a fireplace centered at the bottom of a stone wall. The flames are blazing, but I’m certain that’s not the only thing making me hot right now.

                I scan the room, noting the sparse amount of furniture: a large dresser, a long black table of some sort, and of course an exceptionally large bed – we’re talking Alaskan King-Sized Bed with dark blue satin sheets and a comforter to match. The headboard is made of mahogany and it has metal rings connected in various places along the elaborately carved wood. I’m not sure what the rings are for and I don’t know if I’m ready to find out.

                My mates lead me to the bed, where Bucky pulls a knife from the bedside table and slices the rope that binds us together.

                “On the bed,” Steve orders. I jump a little because it feels as though his voice has lowered a couple of octaves. I obey. My body commands me now. I don’t think. I respond. It’s also incredibly sexy that he’s ordering me around. I’m already turned on, but his command took it to another level.

I sit atop the covers and wait for my next instruction. This one comes from Bucky.

                “Lie down, Doll. We will take care of you,” he says softly as he pulls the nightgown over my shoulders, exposing my naked flesh. I cover myself with my arms. My breath hitches. I’m worried they’ll be disappointed with my body. After all: neither of them has seen me naked. Until now.

                I follow Bucky’s instruction and lie down.

They remove their clothes and seeing them naked sends a wave of heat through me. These men are too beautiful. My gaze alternates between them: both men built with broad, muscular chests, powerful thighs, and impressive cocks dangling between their legs. Those cocks stand to attention, the tips darkening to a deep shade of red as both men climb onto the bed to join me.

Even their hard-ons cannot convince my insecure brain that these men want me. I try to cover myself with the nightgown, only to have Bucky snatch it from my hand and toss it over his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare cover up,” he says. He presses a gentle kiss to my mouth and strokes my cheek.

Steve runs his thumb over my lips before kissing them so deeply that I lose focus for a moment.

“We want to see every beautiful inch of you,” Steve says.

“I don’t feel beautiful,” I tell them.

They frown in unison, and I immediately feel guilty for saying that, but it’s how I feel.

“I guess we’re going to have to prove it to you,” Steve asserts, kissing me again.

I close my eyes the moment his hand ventures downward to explore my body. He runs his fingers along my skin, and they leave a path of goosebumps in their wake. Bucky joins him in touching me wherever he can. I’m more insecure about how he feels about me than Steve. Bucky never wanted me, and I know I’m not his type. A large part of me still thinks that the only reason he wants this is because forces beyond his control are making him do it. He wouldn’t choose me on his own.

I hate that these thoughts are plaguing my mind on my wedding night. The words rattle around my brain and I’m trying hard to silence them. My breathing picks up, more from fear than arousal, although my sex is flooding with moisture because two sets of lips and hands are caressing me at the same time. Fuck.

Bucky bites my neck, growling a little as he licks the sting away. I moan because my brain decides to empty the second his hand slides between my thighs, urging them open so he can explore my damp folds. I don’t know how to do this – a threesome – so I’m taking their lead.

 Bucky dips a finger inside me as Steve settles his lips over one of my nipples and begins to suck. I arch off the bed because it feels so good that my eyes roll back into my head. I moan loudly, which spurs them both on.

I’m lost in a swirl of kisses, caresses, and strokes that threaten to send me over the edge before I’m ready, and I really want one of them inside me when I come. I’ve been waiting for this for what feels like forever. I don’t want to rush it, so I hold back as much as I can, but it’s too late, and an orgasm quickly crashes through me.

Steve leans into my ear and squashes my concerns.

“Don’t worry sweetheart. That’s not even close to how many times we’re going to make you come tonight,” he insists.

I bite my lip as I look into his eyes and see only love and passion in them. I trust him, so I allow nature to take its course. Bucky’s finger slides out of me slowly and I whine in protest. He chuckles in my other ear.

“Relax,” he purrs, “You won’t be empty for long.”

I nod and lose myself in the kiss he gives me. I feel the bed shifting and Steve is above me now. He’s staring down at me as if he’s trying to decide what part of me he’s going to devour next. I can’t lie still under his gaze, and I inadvertently shift my hips. That’s all it takes for him to scoot further down on the bed, placing his head between my legs with a smirk on his face. It’s a devilishly sexy grin and I try to prepare myself for what he’s about to do.

He dives headfirst into my sex as if he’ll die if he doesn’t eat me right now. My arms move restlessly at my sides until Bucky grabs them.

“Good girls hold still,” he teases.

“What do bad girls do?” I pant.

Bucky smiles at me.

“Bad girls need someone to hold them down,” he says.

“I wanna be bad,” I tell him.

He gives me the sexiest chuckle I’ve ever heard in my life, gathers both of my hands, and pins them above my head. He then caresses my breasts. Steve feasts on my sex and I’ve lost my voice from screaming so loudly. The overstimulation might kill me, but what a wonderful way to go.

Arousal coils within me, rising steadily with each moment that passes. It builds constantly as I rocket toward another crescendo.

Bucky slants his lips over mine, kissing me hard and moaning into my mouth as I scream into his, another orgasm lighting me up in his arms.

Steve sits back and strokes his rock-hard cock. I think it’s too big to fit, but I have little time to explore that thought before he begins sheathing himself inside me and I cry out in a combination of pain and pleasure. The sudden invasion shocks me, but it quickly subsides, giving way to ecstasy. Each stroke is slow and precise. I know he’s holding back for both of our benefits, but my body wants him to go faster. I try to meet his thrusts, but he won’t speed up the pace. He wants this to last as long as possible, so I relent and let the sensations wash over me.

Bucky’s erection presses into my right thigh and I can’t deny that I want him inside me too. The two men exchange a look and Steve pulls out of me, taking his place on my left side while Bucky positions himself between my legs. He pushes into me and stills, his mouth releasing a loud moan.

“Fuck baby, you feel so damn good,” he praises.

His strokes are a little faster than Steve’s and feel just as incredible. I arch off the bed again, my body craving all that they are giving me right now. Steve stimulates my clit as Bucky slides in and out of me, his pace picking up just before another orgasm claims me. I’m shaking, but not from exhaustion.

“More,” I moan, “I want more.”

“Whatever you wish,” Steve answers.

                He hops off the bed and heads toward the wall, flipping a switch. Two long loops of fabric descend from the ceiling. Steve takes my hand and I stand up on the bed. I’m directed to place one leg in each loop of fabric.

Before I know it, I’m suspended above the bed and sandwiched between them. They’re kissing me all over and I find it hard to catch my breath. My eyes close, and I lose myself. I love them. I want them.

                I need them inside me again. I feel empty without them connected to me and the desire is growing exponentially with each second that passes. They line my body up so that both can penetrate me at the same time.

                Steve positions himself in front, while Bucky gets behind me. I’ve never done anything like this before, yet I crave it more than anything. Steve easily slips inside my slick opening, and I feel Bucky’s hands apply lube to my rear entrance. I tense up automatically until I feel his hand grasp my waist.

                “Relax, Doll,” he coos.

                I do my best, but I know it’s going to hurt when he tries to push his impressive cock inside me. My nerves settle as he hums into my neck. Steve plays with my clit and I moan as Bucky slides one finger inside me, then another. I’m moaning and groaning until the sensation stops and I feel the crown of his cock at the ringlet of my ---hole.

                He pushes the head inside me and I wait for a pain that never materializes. I just feel blissfully full. They both begin to move, taking turns. One slides in as the other slides out. It’s a slow, pleasurable torture that drives me wild. We’re a trio of bodies undulating in pleasure. My heart threatens to rocket out of my ribcage, but I can’t help myself. I don’t want it to end. It’s too much and not enough all at the same time.  

                I clutch Steve’s shoulders and hold onto Bucky’s mid-section with my other arm.

                Somehow, my body adjusts to accommodate both, and I can’t wrap my brain around how it’s possible. They’re both penetrating me: physically and emotionally. I look into Steve’s eyes, pleasure and determination clouding them. I feel Bucky’s hot breath on my right shoulder blade. He places small nibbles on my neck, sucking the skin between his teeth. They slow the pace of their strokes and I moan in protest.

                “It’s time, Luna,” Bucky pants in my ear, “We need you to hold still. We won’t hurt you.”

                “Well,” Steve adds, “It’s going to hurt for a little while, but then the pleasure takes over.”

                Before I can chicken out, I say: “I’m ready.”

                They don’t hesitate. Two sets of sharp teeth descend into my neck. I feel a rush of pain and adrenaline course through me, nearly knocking me unconscious, but I fight the force that’s dragging me toward sleep. I feel as if they are sucking the life out of me, but they are just drawing in enough of my blood to make the spiritual mating connection between us.

                Soon, the throbbing starts. It begins in my neck, then travels down my body slowly, sending waves of pleasure through me. I feel them all over. The intensity is so intoxicating. I’m spinning into oblivion and loving every second of it. I thrash between my mates, urging them to move again. They notice my unspoken request and begin making slow determined strokes toward a release for all three of us.

                I hear their voices in my mind and there is a comfort to this new reality which makes my heart swell. I wonder what it would take for them to be able to hear me. Without thinking, I lean forward and sink my teeth deep into Steve’s shoulder. I know I’ve drawn blood when the salty/sweet taste floods my tongue. I expected to be revolted by it, but it only turns me on even more if that’s possible.

                I whimper when I release him and swallow his unexpected offering to me. I turn to face Bucky and he surrenders his neck to me. I lift myself up as far as I can and sink my teeth into his flesh. The taste of his blood is slightly different, but still sweet enough for me to enjoy the flavor. I suck a little more at the wound I made before I release him.

                I think I needed to drink their blood so they could hear my thoughts and know what I’m feeling.

                The passion between us lasts for several more hours before I feel my body begin to careen toward orgasm. The arousal increases steadily as our movements become erratic. We’re driving toward something that none of us fully understand until it happens and then, it hits.

                I detonate between them, the orgasm surging through me in constant waves that feel as though they will never end, and I don’t want them to. Steve and Bucky stiffen as they empty themselves deep inside me, but I keep coming as if my body just can’t get enough of the pleasure, they’re giving me. It takes the combined surrender of our muscles for the three of us to collapse onto the bed; sated and spent.

As I fall into a deep sleep, they wrap their arms around me, and I hear my name on their lips.

***

Two days later…

I wake between them, their body heat still sending constant waves of arousal through me. My mind and body can’t stop wanting them, but I’m so exhausted. I don’t know how much recovery time I’m going to need because I’ve spent the past 48 hours enjoying them almost constantly.

                I can’t remember the last time I had anything to eat, or the last time I cared about filling myself with anything other than my husbands’ cocks. I’ve turned into a wanton woman.

                I feel Steve’s erection pressing into my thigh, and Bucky’s is lodged against my lower back. I know they’re sleeping. If I close my eyes, I see into their dreams. Both have X-rated thoughts right now and I can’t say that I feel any differently. I’m tingling at the apex of my thighs, and if I don’t keep these legs closed, I’m going to be filled to the limit with cock.

                Damn. Being in a constant state of arousal isn’t nearly as fun as I thought it would be. Wanting them isn’t the issue. My stamina is. I am human, after all, so my body needs to get the memo otherwise I’ll end up in the hospital.

                My Claiming bites are healing rapidly. I only know this because the bandages placed on each side of my neck came off during our lovemaking last night. We barely left the bed, but Steve said that the bites stopped bleeding. My Mates felt confident that the wounds wouldn’t reopen no matter how vigorously they fucked me into oblivion.

                A small part of me worried that I’d feel ashamed for bedding two men at the same time, but I don’t. I feel loved. This overwhelming sense of belonging surrounds me; as if we’re three pieces to a very necessary puzzle.

Another part of me wonders if it’s only instinct and prophecy that draw these handsome men to me and not something they would otherwise choose to do. That’s something I will need to unpack later. I don’t have time for insecurities right now.

                My eyes drift shut, and sleep pulls me down into its depths again. This dream is different. I feel as if I’m partially awake and aware of what is going on, even though I know the vision isn’t real. I’m freezing. I’m not in bed with my Mates any longer. I’m walking through a dark corridor in an unfamiliar house. I’m naked from head to toe and I’m alone. The concrete floor is covered in dust and the thick, metallic scent of blood permeates the air.

                I stop, looking around through the darkness as I try to seek out a source of light. I walk forward because I know something is waiting for me. The scent of blood thickens as I cross a threshold into another room. A fire burns in the hearth to my left. The flames illuminate a figure standing with its back toward me. It’s a woman, her long red hair cascades in waves down the center of her back. I can’t see her face, but I know she’s a vampire. Instinct gives me this warning, so I look for a weapon. There’s nothing for me to use against her and I am powerless, even if this is a dream.

                She turns to face me; her movements languid as if she’s trapped in slow motion. Her angular face is a smooth, porcelain mask of evil. My blood runs cold as she smiles, her red lips glistening in the firelight.

                “Welcome, (Y/N),” she purrs, her voice like a hypnotic siren song luring me to her against my will.

                “Who are you?” I ask her.

                “My name is Natasha,” she states, her Russian accent more pronounced this time. “I’d prefer to meet you in person, but that will have to wait. For now, I can only access your dreams.”

                I’m shaking, so I hope my words don’t betray my nervousness when I speak again.

                “What do you want?!” I demand. She can’t kill me in a dream, can she?

                Natasha chuckles seductively as she ambles towards me. I note her black dress that hangs just above her knees, revealing shapely pale legs and feet encased in expensive high heels.

                “I wanted to introduce myself to you. I believe it is important to know the leader of one’s enemy,” she coos.

                I swallow hard. This woman is evil, but I’m drawn to her, and I hate that I have no control over what I feel right now.

                “I’m no leader and I’m not your enemy,” I begin.

                She holds up an elegant hand and places her index finger to my lips. It feels like ice against my warm skin. Natasha’s breath hitches.

                “Damn. I can see why they are so intoxicated by you, Luna,” she lets out a breath, “Had I gotten to you first, who knows what kinds of pleasures we could be enjoying right now. Unfortunately, the mark of those dogs leaves a bit of a taint to your blood… at least for now. As for you being a leader of your pack: yes, you are. You are mated to the alpha and beta wolves. I can’t say I blame you. Dogs or not, they are delicious. I understand the appeal.”

                I growl at her. Growl! I don’t really know where that sound came from, but she blinks at me and her expression wavers for a split second.

                She strokes my cheek and, leaves a cold path in the wake of her caress.

                “God, you’re so fucking sexy. I may turn you and forgo the war if you keep making sounds like that,” she threatens, “Alas, we don’t have much time before your Mates wake up and interrupt our little discussion.”

                Natasha begins to circle me as she speaks again.

“The North Pointe Wolves are expanding their territory and increasing their numbers. We cannot stand for that. My clan of vampires wants to remain hidden, but this expansion threatens to expose us all. The humans will come for us, recruiting witches to help them eliminate us. The treaty between North Point and my vampires is falling to dust. Bodies are turning up – torn apart or drained of blood. There’s now only room for one supernatural family in this area, and it’s going to be mine. You, sweet Luna, have one month to prepare your pack for war. Tell your Mates that death is coming.”

I glare at her, but I know I’m no threat.

“I’ll tell them,” I state, “But isn’t a treaty supposed to bring about peace?”

From a darkened corner, I hear a man’s voice.

“We don’t want peace,” the man says.

My heart stops when I see Michael step into the dim light, his eyes briefly glowing red as he displays his fangs to me.

I try to stop myself from hyperventilating, knowing that the man who tried to attack me now has the power to kill me in an instant.

Natasha scowls at him, then turns to me with a softened expression. She leans forward and whispers in my ear.

“Michael has a bone to pick with your husbands,” Natasha says as she wraps her right arm around me and pulls me to her chest, “I, however, could be convinced to take you as compensation in lieu of all-out war.”

“I still –” Michael starts.

“Silence, child! When you’ve earned those fangs, you can speak out of turn. Not before,” Natasha hisses at Michael. He silences.

Natasha turns to me.

“Tell them of our conversation tonight,” she says, “Hmm. I wonder if they would surrender you to protect their pack. Remember, you have one month from now, dear Luna. Don’t waste it.”

The air leaves my lungs the second her finger touches the center of my chest. I can’t breathe. I begin to panic, then I’m ripped from the darkness.

I sit upright in bed, gasping for air as Steve and Bucky eye me with concern.

“You started to scream,” Bucky says.

Steve places his hand on my shoulder.

“What the hell was that? I didn’t know you had nightmares,” Steve offers.

I’m still trying to catch my breath, but I need to tell them.

“It wasn’t a nightmare, Steve. It was a message,” I say.

“From whom?” they ask in unison.

“The vampires. They are led by a woman, a red head named Natasha. She said that we have one month to prepare for war,” I confess.

My Mates look at one another, stunned into silence for several moments. They each place a comforting hand to my skin, and I immediately begin to warm up because of their touch.

“Did they say anything else?” asks Steve.

I look at each of them, debating whether I should tell them.

I don’t want to put them at risk, but I can’t lie to them.

“All of it can be avoided if … If they get me,” I state.

“NO!” they both shout, holding me tighter.

“Listen, I won’t risk the lives of the pack –” I begin to say, but I’m cut off.

“That’s not going to happen. No discussion,” Bucky announces.

“We’re not losing you. We just found you,” Steve states.

“There’s something else,” I say, “Michael, the man who attacked me the day we met, he is one of them – a vampire.”

Steve mumbles something under his breath that sounds menacing. I didn’t hear it, but apparently Bucky did.

“You’re right, brother: we should have killed him,” he adds.

I clasp both of their hands in mine and try to reassure them.

“There is a way out of this. I know there is. Just give me and the Elders a chance to think, okay?” I offer, giving them both pleading looks. They need to give me time to figure this out.

Steve lifts my chin.

“Ok, Luna. We’ll prepare for battle regardless,” Steve announces.

“There’s no guarantee they won’t attack before the month is over,” Bucky mentions.

Steve nods his head.

“Then it’s our job to prepare for war. Those who cannot fight will be evacuated to the Black Mountain stronghold,” Steve says.

With plans made, we lie down, and they hold me until they fall asleep. I extricate myself from their arms and make my way to the living room. I can’t sleep now, no matter how exhausted I was before. I pace the floor in front of the fireplace until my feet begin to hurt. I can’t let the pack be placed in danger because of me.

I can stop it. I will stop it.

I will prepare the pack for relocation, but they won’t have to go anywhere. I’ve already decided. If I can’t find any other solution within one week, I’m surrendering to the vampires.

I can’t let the pack die for me.

I won’t let the men I love die for me.

If one month is all I have left with them, I’m going to make it count.

Chapter Text

The Mate
Chapter 6
By Valencia Turner
(writeturnlove)

Bucky

My Luna snuggles closer to me. I pull her into my arms and hold her against my chest. Her warm skin soothes and excites me at the same time. My cock stirs to life as her sweet breath fans against my skin. I want to sink myself deep inside her, but I can't.
Well, I can, but I won't. Steve left earlier and we never talked about how this would work. Sharing her heart and her body. Can I only make love to her with Steve’s permission? As the primary pack Alpha, does Steve have approve of what Luna and I do together?
Damn it. I should have paid more attention to the folklore of our pack. I grew up surrounded by books passed down throughout North Pointe history, yet I never read any of them. My mother is an elder, yet I avoided learning more about my possible role as a second Alpha to the pack. Maybe a part of me, deep down, knew learning about our folklore would mean I was accepting a fate I didn’t have a part in making.
Destiny is a dirty word to me. It means I can’t choose my own future, and I’ve never been a fan of that. I wanted to choose when I gave up playing the field, but this union feel like I thought it would.
Our Luna is beautiful - in an adorable sort of way. She’s got that girl-next-door beauty that forces you to give up your bachelor ways, settle down, and build a family. Until several weeks ago, my family was my pack, but I’m closest to my mother and Steve. Now, that circle includes Luna.
I want to give her everything she wants, needs, and deserves, but I'm holding back when it comes to my heart. A part of me believes I should hold back until I'm certain Steve would approve.
Still, Luna feels so fucking good against me, and I don't think I can wait another second. Her scent fills my nose; more potent now that I've tasted every delicious inch of her. My erection feels like hot steel, waiting to spear her warm, slick center and give us both what we crave.
I slide my hand along her soft skin, grabbing her leg and wrapping it around my waist. It’s instinct now. The wolf inside me is pacing like the hungry animal it is, wanting to connect with my mate.
No matter how close to me she lies, she’s never close enough.
She's warm, wet, and ready for me, but guilt fills me. Should I even be doing this? She's legally married to Steve but spiritually bound to both of us. I didn't think I'd be this confused, yet here I am holding back from making love to my own wife because I'm worried about what her other husband will think when he gets home later.
I’ve never been a romantic man. I like sex and I’ve enjoyed more than my share of women over the years: human, wolf, and most recently a hateful red-headed vampire who I plan on killing the next time I see her.
I never engaged in any relationship that required a commitment longer than a night or two and a box of condoms. I avoided romance because I’ve seen relationships become very messy over the years, and I never wanted to experience something like that.
Maybe somewhere deep inside me, I knew that nothing and no one would compare to what I would experience when I found my mate. I always believed she’d be the only person who could bring me to my knees so I could worship her in every way.
Marriage changes wolves much differently than it changes humans. How could anyone compare wolf bonding to a traditional human union? They’re nothing alike. Humans can fall out of love, cheat, get a divorce. Date. Marry. Rinse. Repeat.
Wolves bond for life. Fated mates are especially attached to one another. They share a physical, emotional, empathic, and telepathic bond that survives even after one mate dies. We love unconditionally. Even men like me turn into people we no longer recognize because our hearts are marked forever by one person.
For me, that’s (y/n). She’s my Luna. I’m her Alpha. One of the reasons I resisted our bond was that I felt it would make me weak. Strength is necessary when you are a wolf. Especially in an Alpha Triad. You must be strong to help the other Alpha survive, take over in his absence, and most of all - protect the pack.
I worried that would happen to me, but I gotta say that my wife makes me stronger in ways it’s hard to quantify. I know that whenever I think of someone harming her, my mind goes to a dark, primal place.
I want to enjoy this private moment with her.
Steve, Luna and I get just a few days of seclusion because the threat of a vampire attack looms over the entire pack. I get it. We need to prepare. We’ve received a warning, so the rest of the bonding will wait until later.
It’s not enough time for any of us to learn about each other inside and outside of the bedroom. It’s not enough time for us to truly test the telepathic bond that Steve and I share with Luna. It’s not enough time to figure out where we all fit in this relationship.
Triad couples aren’t rare in our pack, but being a part of The Alpha Triad comes with certain responsibilities and expectations that effect on the North Pointe family. Steve and I will always be on protection duty, but we’ll also need to support our Luna in being a new leading voice in our pack. The fact that she’s not a wolf complicates things, but I doubt that anyone will openly question her place as Alpha female. At least, I hope no one questions it.
I try to push these thoughts from my mind and focus on more important things.
First, our vampire enemies need to die.
Natasha signed her death warrant the moment she threatened Luna. Michael is a dead man, too.
Natasha is apparently the leader of this vampire clan. I should have known that something was off with that chick, but I paid more attention to my dick than I did my brain and look where that got us.
She seduced me, which is ironic since vampires think wolves are lower life forms and refuse to befriend them, much less bed them. The same day we met (y/n), I woke up naked in Natasha’s bed, her perfume all over me. I felt sated. We must have had sex, right? Still, it doesn’t make sense. Why would she have sex with someone who disgusted her?
All I know is that she’s coming after my family, therefore she needs to die, and I’ll take pleasure in killing her.
My Mate brings me back to the present as she wraps herself around me. I refuse to wake her. She looks too peaceful and too beautiful as she sleeps beside me. I never liked cuddling before (y/n.) She’s all soft curves, sweet skin, and sexy lips. Her hair spills out in tightly curled coils on the pillow. Holding her feels better than I thought it would. I used to think being married would feel like being chained, weighed down by the moniker of husband.
This, this feels like heaven.
“Bucky,” she whispers to what I assume is the dream version of me.
Her eyelids flicker a bit. It’s nice to know she thinks of me when she sleeps.
Luna didn’t get much rest last night. It’s our fault. Steve and I spent all night making love to her.
From what little I do know about bonded mates, we should be able to see into each other’s dreams, read each other’s thoughts, sense each other’s emotions … things like that.
I close my eyes and try to see into Luna’s mind. I’m met with a few brief images which look like memories of last night. When I focus harder, I see more clearly. They come in little flashes; disjointed, but still vivid – at least in my mind. I’m seeing through her eyes; the sensations she’s feeling almost steal my breath. It’s intense, so I try to back out of her mind and concentrate on the present.
I’m happy she’s thinking of our night together and not the threat that hovers over our entire pack. She’s a storm of emotions, some of them mixing with my own. She’s worried for our pack. She doesn’t understand where she fits into her new family.
I pull myself from her mind.
Right now, I need to get control of my urges and think about how we will prepare for the upcoming vampire war.
I keep telling myself to concentrate; that my mind needs to focus on my pack instead of having sex with my wife, but you can’t tell that to a certain part of my anatomy, nor can you tell that to my wolf. It’s pacing back and forth in the back of my mind, raging against the human logic trying to keep in it check.
My thoughts race.
I didn’t wanted this. I don’t know if I can do this. What’s wrong with me?
Then urge to kiss Luna overwhelms me. I’m not sure where it comes from, but it’s intense. I do my best to keep my actions fairly innocent for now; pressing my lips to the skin between her jawline and her neck. She smells amazing, although I can’t place the scent. Whatever it is, it smells heavenly and keeping my hands off her quickly becomes impossible.
I want her.
Again.
I’m not tired at all.
Before I know it, she’s pinned beneath me and I’m slipping into her slick, welcoming heat. Her moans fill my ears, as I fill her channel. I slide in and out of her, my rod getting harder, thicker, and longer with each stroke.
Her channel clutches onto me as if she doesn’t want me to let her go. I avoid looking into her eyes. I want to, but I don’t. I worry I’ll never leave this bed if I do, so keeping my focus on the physical pleasure should allow me to maintain some semblance of control.
Do I want control? No. I want to lose myself in her. I want to fully claim my wife and let the day-to-day business of running the pack go away. I want to be able to fall asleep with her and dream about our children and building a life where Steve and I could enjoy our family with her.
We won’t have that luxury though. All we have is this brief vacation before all hell breaks loose.
Luna grabs my face and forces me to look in her eyes.
“Where are you?” she asks.
My movement slows a bit.
“Here. I’m right here,” I say.
She stops moving with me and I miss it.
“No you’re not,” she insists, “I can’t sense all of you.”
She’s right. I haven’t let her all the way in, which I know is wrong. I put walls up around my heart. Doing it for my brain is a different story.
She must see it in my expression, but I thought our mutual pleasure masked it.
“I’m here, Doll,” I say, cradling her face between my hands and staring at her.
She places her small hand in the center of my chest and I close my eyes. I feel her everywhere around me.
“Let me in,” she pleads.
I shake my head.
“I’m with you. We’re together,” I answer.
Her face flashes a bit of disappointment at first, but she quickly recovers and strokes the stubble on my chin.
“I heard you,” (y/n) said, “In your mind. You said: ‘I didn’t want this. I don’t know if I can do this! What the fuck is wrong with me?!’ That’s what I heard, Bucky!”
Damn it, Luna!
She shoves me off her and gets off the bed, pulling the sheet off and wrapping it around her exposed flesh. The sad expression on her face like a giant flashing billboard: Anger, sadness, disappointment, and … betrayal.
“Luna, it’s not what you think,” I attempt to explain.
She backs away from me while shaking her head.
“Don’t lie to me,” she yells.
My wolf decides to speak through me, its anger apparent in my human voice.
“Damn it, Luna! Get your ass back over here!”
“I’m not going to bring my ass anywhere near you right now!” She bites back.
Yeah: I’m pissed off right now, but damn - I love her fire. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was a wolf. She’s human, though, so I gotta be careful with both her body and soul.
I take a deep breath before I speak again.
“I’m with you as much as I can be right now,” I tell her with a certainty that I don’t really feel.
“Stop lying, Buck. What I feel coming from Steve versus what I sense coming from you are two totally different things. Steve doesn’t hold back. I hear everything. I feel everything. You put up walls around yourself. You cling to them like you are desperate to keep me out,” Luna explains.
I can’t answer her yet. She’s right. She knows it.
“The feelings that slip do through come across like you’re disgusted by the very idea of being married to me,” she says while tears start to trickle down her cheeks.
A sharp pain stabs me in the chest.
“Luna, please,” I beg, getting out of bed and pulling on a pair of sweatpants.
She holds up a hand and I stop moving.
“Don’t call me, Luna! Luna is what you call your mate. You never wanted to be mated. You don’t want to be with me, so you don’t get to call me that! My name is (y/n)!” She shouts.
Luna’s fully clothed now. She stepped in her hiking boots and a sudden wave of panic sets in deep.
This isn’t how our morning was supposed to go. This isn’t how our honeymoon is supposed to go.
I can’t let her leave.
“Luna, if I open up all the way, we’re vulnerable to our enemies,” I add with a certainty that I don’t feel.
She turns to me, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt.
“I SAID DON’T CALL ME LUNA,” she demands, and begins running upstairs.
I chase after her. She’s pretty quick on her feet, but I easily keep up with her.
She runs to our master bedroom, reaching in the closet and grabbing suitcase. Luna tosses it on the bed and yanks open her dresser.
No fucking way is she leaving.
“Lu-,” I start to stay, then pause, “(Y/N) where do you think you’re going?!”
“I don’t know!”
“Then don’t leave!”
“What difference does it make to you?”
“Everything?”
“Yeah, everything!”
“Bullshit!” she yells back.
“Bullshit?”
“Yes. I call bullshit, Bucky. I’m going to give you what you want, and that’s not me. We can just sleep in different rooms. Lead different lives. The pack won’t know the truth. I imagine a Luna being rejected by her mate would make for a pretty weak pack leader,” explains Luna.
My wolf takes over. I slam my right fist into the dresser, splitting it in half and sending wooden pieces flying into the air; one of which hits Luna in the forehead. It landed with enough force to cause a small cut.
“Damn it!” we both say in unison.
I walk toward her, but she holds up a finger in warning. For the first time since I met her, I feel fear… and it’s not coming from any telepathic bond. I’m scared of myself. I’m scared of losing her.
Honestly, I’m a little scared of her because she looks ready to kill.
“Don’t.”
It was a warning.
One word. That’s all she said. One word. It was all she needed to say.
She doesn’t trust me, and in this moment, I don’t blame her.

Y/N

I place my hand over the scratch on my face. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s the thought of how it happened that bothers me more than anything.
Bucky lost control of his wolf and smashed a piece of furniture with such force, that it splintered and cut my face. While I know his frustration wasn’t directed as an attack on me personally, the fact that he lost control in the first place gives me pause.
I don’t fear him. I just don’t like anyone losing control of themselves around me; especially someone who is supposed to love me. He said he loved me not too long ago and I don’t think he lied. Still, that emotion could have come from my fated bond with him, not any feeling he would welcome absent the supernatural destiny we share.
I shut myself in the bathroom and lean against the door. I close my eyes for a second, then look in the mirror to examine my face. A small scrape, no longer than a centimeter, appears on my forehead. It’s not bleeding much, so I tear off a piece of toilet paper and press it to the tiny wound.
I hear Bucky mumbling angrily to himself in the next room, but I can’t tell what he’s saying and I won’t access our telepathic bond to find out. I can’t deal with his emotions right now because I’m too busy managing my own.
Vampires threaten the North Pointe Pack, and the only way to keep everyone safe is for me to leave. There’s no point in waiting any longer. I’ll pack my things, but I won’t flee to the Black Mountain stronghold.
I have something else in mind.
Bucky knocks on the bathroom door. I remain quiet.
“I know you hear me, (y/n). You don’t need to say anything. Just listen. Please,” he begs.
I remain quiet, leaning against the door then sliding down and sitting on the cold tile.
He continues, his voice seeming closer than it actually is.
“I was raised to be a Beta. I’m second in command and that comes with the same responsibilities as the Alpha, yet none of the freedoms. I can’t have a backup plan because I am the backup plan for the entire pack. I can’t lose control. The pack depends on me to always be there to support Steve,” explains Bucky.
I keep my mouth shut as he continues.
“Steve can lose his shit. He can be pissy, charming, funny. He can do whatever he wants and people will forgive him because he’s the Alpha. He’s their leader, and even if he loses control, he can be forgiven,” he adds, “Heavy is the crown - I guess.”
I want to say something, but I wait. Bucky keeps going.
“Before, on the rare chance Steve lost his cool, he could turn to me. I’d give him a break. I calmed him down; helped him through it. The pack stayed united. I handled pack business for as long as necessary. That was it. Now, all Steve needs to do is look at you and he calms down,” he explains.
“What’s wrong with that?” I ask, confused as to the problem. “Isn’t that what a spouse does?”
“(Y/N) You don’t calm me, down. You stir me up. I can’t think sometimes. I can’t sleep. You distract me, and no one taught me how to deal with that,” answers Bucky.
“Well … Sorry I can’t accommodate you,” I tell him, wounded.
“Open the door, Luna,” he says.
“No,” I say, “And I told you not to call me that.”
I feel the sensation of a hand pressing against my back, which makes no sense because he’s on the other side of the door. My will to fight weakens.
“Luna, please open the door for me.”
I stand and pull it open. I look up into his blue eyes and my heart races - reacting to a flood of emotions the second I see him; bare-chested, his sweatpants hanging low on his hips. I back away to let him in the room.
“I don’t want you to call me, Luna,” I remind him.
“I can’t help it, doll. You’re my wife,” he states.
“I’m someone you don’t want! I heard it. I felt it. You said you never wanted this!” I tell him.
“You’re right, I never wanted this! I never wanted to care. I was fine. Our Alpha is the most reliable man on the planet. I could pretty much do whatever and whoever I wanted. Then one day Steve sees you in a coffee shop and …,” he pauses, seemingly not wanting to say it.
“Finish your sentence,” I plead.
“Luna,” he says.
“Finish it. Say what you want to say. I can take it.”
His voice is barely above a whisper, but he says it as if the words burned as they roll off his tongue.
“That day changed everything,” Bucky says, “For all of us.”
I give it a few seconds before I respond.
“That’s a very diplomatic way for you to say that I screwed up your life. You can’t fuck who you want. You can’t sleep. You can’t calm down or have any peace of mind. If you didn’t want me, why did you bother bonding with me? Why did you claim me?” I ask.
He starts to answer, but I press my hand against his mouth to silence him. I don’t want to hear his answer.
“One of the things I read about the telepathic bond between mates, is that if one partner closes themselves off, you only hear fragments of thoughts. Snippets of emotions. Everything I get from you comes out as angry or frustrated. I knew from the beginning; no matter what you said. You’re not done fighting it. If you can’t give me all of you, then why should you get any of me?” I mutter.
Bucky lifts my chin, then strokes my left cheek with the back of his hand.
“If you saw into my head, really saw all of it, you’d understand.”
“I’ve seen enough. I disgust you.”
Bucky pushes me deeper into the bathroom and shuts the door. I’m not afraid of him. The thoughts and emotions I get from him are filled with something I can’t fully interpret. It’s wild, warm, and …inviting.
“I have no control when it comes to you. I walk around with a constant hard-on when you walk in the room. Yes, I want to be buried, balls-deep inside you all the time,” he presses his cock into my abdomen. “How could you think I don’t want you, when being with you - this way - and in every other way - is all I want?”
I groan. I’m so turned on right now. My body responds to his words, his closeness.
“But - ” I pant, as he leans forward.
He presses his cheek to mine and whispers in my ear.
“You want me to let you all the way in my mind and heart?”
He strips the clothes from my body, pushes me into the wall, and lifts my left leg. He doesn’t ask permission. He knows he already has it.
My mate slides his hot cock into my wet channel, hissing loudly as if he’s a man dying of thirst who finally found his oasis. My mind floods with a series of images, emotions, and sensations, making me dizzy.
“This,” he hisses as he slides in and out of me, “This is heaven. And what if I don’t deserve heaven? What if I’ve wasted every good part of me? What if I slept with too many bad women to deserve a good one - the best one? What if someone like you makes me feel guilty for being anything less than Steve Rogers.”
He pumps lazily in and out of me. Speechless, my eyes roll back into my head. I can’t help what he does to me. I grab ahold of his shoulders and he takes this as a cue to wrap my legs around his waist, and pummel deeper into me. I cry out so loudly, I’m sure the walls shook.
God knows how many people just heard me scream and know that sound wasn’t fear, but ecstasy.
Bucky presses his forehead against mine. He lets me all the way … into his mind. The walls crumble and I see the man. I see the wolf. I see all that he is and who he wants to be.
“I want this, all the time. I want you all the time. I don’t have the strength to manage it like Steve can. I thought the only way for me to do my job as second in command was to push you away,” Bucky explains.
I pull him closer, placing a bruising kiss on his lips. He returns everything I give him with the same amount of enthusiasm. Our bodies mingle and mash together, seeking the release both of us need. It’s both primal and romantic. We need this. We deserve this precious time alone. My mind and heart continue to expand, allowing Bucky to touch every piece of me, in and out.
I forgive him. I love him, and for the first time, I know he loves me.
For the moment, this precious moment, the danger we face seem far away.

Steve

An urgent phone call woke me from my marital bed early this morning. Normally, I don’t mind early morning calls. They’re common when you’re the Alpha of a pack. This time, I allowed it to go to voicemail while I left Luna and Bucky sleeping in bed.
I dressed as quickly as I could and returned the call from one of my lieutenants, Sam. Next to Bucky, Sam is my closest friend and he handles much of the tactical operations of the pack. He’s been updating me from time to time on the preparations for our move to the Black Mountain Stronghold. It’s off the grid. The vampires can’t find it.
Sam calling me on my honeymoon means it’s trouble.
Instead of staying in the house, I throw on a jacket and get into my SUV, turning on the engine.
I call him back, and he answers instantly.
“Steve, you need to come down to the East Border - now. There’s something you gotta see,” Sam announces, his normally jovial voice now sounding fatally serious.
I take a deep breath before I speak.
“What’s wrong?”
“The sheriff found something at the edge of the property. It’s … it’s bad, man. Never seen anything like it. I don’t want to say to much over the phone. How fast can you get here?” he asks.
“Gimme a couple of minutes,” I tell him.
My truck speeds to the coordinates Sam texted to my cell. One of our friends from law enforcement stands there taking pictures of the area with his cell phone.
I park at the isolated area, jumping out and running over to the group of men and women, my security team, standing in a circle around something I can’t yet see.
My footsteps slow as the scene comes into focus. Something is anchored to the ground with rusted railroad spikes. I see ripped clothing and a few traces of blood as I get closer. Traces of blood are surround the holes where the spikes pierce the clothing; only it isn’t just clothing.
The horror that awaits me is worse than that: a body, staked to the ground, eviscerated and bloodless.
No identification. Face too battered to identify.
Pinned to the body is a note scrawled in what smells like dried blood.
It reads:
This wolf is just first to fall
Surrender your Luna
Or you’ll lose them all