Mated to Four

Instincts Awakened

Adonis

As I hurried down the corridor, I spotted Phoenix. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his face looked tense. He flinched when he saw me coming, quickly pressing himself against the wall to give me space to pass.

“Oh, Phoenix! Have you seen Zion? Damn it! Is he causing trouble?” My words tumbled out, laced with panic. I’d just seen a small packet of white powder in Zion's room, and there was no way I could tell Hayden; he’d just report it to Coach.

“He’s in the front lounge with Finley. He looked irritated and was speaking sluggishly. What’s going on with him?”

“I’ll explain later. This could ruin the team. I need your help to get him back to his room before he causes a scene.”

Phoenix followed me toward the lounge, where I saw Finley gripping Zion's arm, holding him back as they glared at each other. Finley’s low growl was enough to propel me forward.

I grabbed Zion, pulling him away from Finley. “Let him go, Zion. Don’t let Hayden see you like this.” I struggled to separate them.

“What’s up with him, Adonis? Zion’s never acted like this before,” Finley’s voice rose as I finally pried Zion’s hand from his jacket.

Zion muttered incoherently, and I wasn’t in the mood to listen to his rambling. I wrapped one arm around Zion’s shoulder and nodded to Phoenix, who helped me guide him back to his room.

“I want hazelnut chocolate. You’re mine, Phoenix,” Zion mumbled, leaning toward Phoenix. I quickly turned his head down to keep him focused.

“Finley, make sure Hayden doesn’t come into Zion’s room. He’s been looking for us, but Coach Copper called him to the training room.”

When we got Zion back to his room, I dragged him to the bathroom and turned on the shower, setting it to warm. I aimed to splash him until he snapped out of it.

“You should shower Phoenix, too. Let’s all bathe together,” Zion murmured like a child, his hands reaching clumsily for Phoenix, who stood rigid at the door. This was a mess—he thought Phoenix was a girl.

“Hey, wake up, Zion! He’s a guy, and you keep calling him a girl,” I barked, irritated by his behavior.

“Phoenix is a girl. You’re an i***t, Adonis; just look at him. And that smell—I want to devour him.”

“Quiet, Zion! I’m trying to help you sober up.” I tapped his head with the showerhead. He was talking nonsense, but luckily, after a few minutes under the water, he calmed down.

Leaving Zion drenched and sitting on the bathroom floor, I glanced at Phoenix, who remained by the door, blinking repeatedly, clearly trying to process the situation.

I walked over to the nightstand and picked up the small, nearly empty packet of white powder. Some of it had spilled onto the floor. Holding it up, I showed it to Phoenix.

“I need you to keep this a secret. I trust you because you won’t stir up trouble with Hayden. Zion’s been inhaling this stuff, which is why he’s like that now. I don’t know where he got it, but it might contain wolfsbane.”

“By the Moon Goddess, Zion’s using drugs?” Phoenix rubbed his temples, moving closer to the window.

“Not really. He’s only smoked weed a few times, and all of us know that, except Hayden. Someone probably gave him this on purpose.”

“But when Finley first opened the door, Zion was still talking normally. He even said Hayden was looking for us…” Phoenix’s voice trailed off as Zion began to stand up in the bathroom. “Is he going to be okay?”

“The cocaine hasn’t fully kicked in. He must have just taken it before meeting you in the lounge. There’s usually a delay before it takes full effect. It shouldn’t impact a werewolf, especially in small amounts.”

My attention drifted when Zion staggered out of the bathroom and headed to his bed, collapsing onto it, completely indifferent to our conversation. It seemed like he’d regained some clarity.

I wasn’t particularly close to him. We only shared a strategy class, both of us being Alpha descendants, but I was more drawn to studying science, which aligned with my mother’s work at the National Narcotics Agency. It felt more independent and challenging than pack duties.

While thinking of myself and Zion, something sweet caught my nose—a scent so alluring it heightened my senses, stirring me and Rocco, my wolf, who nudged at my instincts.

[Your mate. She’s Persephone. I want to mark her.]

Confused, I looked around, trying to find the mate Rocco was referring to. I moved closer to the window, the scent of cherries growing stronger. It was coming from Phoenix. To be sure, I placed my hand on his shoulder as he stared out the window.

[Mark her, Adonis!]

“He’s a man, Rocco.”

[No, she’s a girl. Use your brain, i***t, or I’ll take over!]

“Don’t call me an i***t! I’ll check for myself.”

Taking a steadying breath, I closed the space between us, slipped off my glasses, and locked my gaze onto his with an intensity I rarely allowed myself to show. Feeling a rush of boldness, I slid an arm around his waist, drawing him against me.

“What game are you playing with me, Cherry?” I murmured, the question carrying a hint of challenge.

“What are you doing, Adonis? And what are you even talking about? Let go of me,” Phoenix snapped, confusion and a touch of fear coloring his tone.

“Oh, we’ll see…” I brushed my fingers along his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin. “Should I mark you here? I want to see who you really are.”

“No! Have you lost your mind? I said, let go of me!” Phoenix’s voice rose, unexpectedly high-pitched, wavering with an urgency that made me pause.

I froze, the realization hitting me. My fingers lingered on the soft curve of his waist, tracing the smooth line of his skin. And then… I felt it—Phoenix’s chest, the unmistakable softness beneath his shirt. Rocco had been right all along. Phoenix was a girl. Her deep brown eyes, wide with surprise, pulled me in, drawing my face closer to hers. I could feel her trembling under my touch, and instinct urged me to hold her tighter.

Ignoring her faint protests, I leaned in and whispered, “Girl, I love your scent. I’ll remember this moment… so get ready.”

I tightened my hold around her waist, breathing in her intoxicating aroma as I pressed my nose to the curve of her neck, savoring the sweetness there. My lips hovered just above her skin, tracing along her neck as I drank in every subtle detail, needing to explore her in a way that felt raw and undeniable.

Just as my lips hovered an inch from his, a knock at the door and a voice interrupted us. “Adonis, are you still in there? Why’s the door locked?” My jaw clenched.

Finley.