One: Fire Starter
I ran for my life, my feet pounding against the earth.
I could hear the movement behind me and feel the hatred that had pursued me for six months.
I'd hidden for four years with the humans who I was raised by and with.
I didn't know I was a Werewolf, not until I turned eighteen and transformed, managing to conceal myself before anyone saw, but I hadn't been careful enough... I'd made a mistake.
Now, half the town hunted me like I was an animal, tracking me across the country, never letting me stop.
I was so exhausted, I did the last thing I told myself I wouldn't. With a final sharp inhale, I smelt the alteration in scents, telling me I found what I was looking for.
I didn't know much about Werewolves, but I'd learnt how to smell Pack lands and learned small things.
The main thing was - Never enter a Pack territory without permission. Especially if you're a 'Rouge' Werewolf. Something they called the Wolves who didn't have a Pack.
A human raised like me.
But I had no choice. I was dead either way.
A familiar crack sounded behind me, and my heart raced. I screamed, diving behind trees as another crack of gunfire sounded.
"s**t, s**t, s**t," I muttered, trying to weave and run faster.
A scent hit me, and my head snapped around to find it as I bolted through a large bush.
It was strong.....powerful...
Fuck!
I suddenly collided with a solid wall of muscle.
I fell hard, dazed and disoriented, and looked up from the ground.
I saw piercing light blue eyes staring back at me.
He was beautiful, with a sharp jawline, marked with what I knew as a Lycan tattoo of an Alpha across his cheek, short black hair and a tattoo down his muscular left arm.
I scrambled back, a noise of fear ripping from me involuntarily.
"What the?" he growled in a deep voice that made me shiver.
We stared at each other for a moment, my heart slamming into my chest, my stomach twisting at the sight of him.
I wanted to move closer...I wanted to smell him...
He went to reach for me, and instinct kicked in, making me cower into a ball, whimpering in submission instead of saying anything.
He stopped and stared at me intensely, inhaling.
I held my breath, unsure if he intended to kill me or-
"Hey!" A human voice I knew shouted, making my eyes snap to the tree lines, seeing the group of human hunters - one of them pointing their gun at me.
He fired, making me scream and react quickly, trying to move away from the Alpha.
The bullet barely missed me, bouncing in the spot I'd been lying, the smell of silver in the air.
The Alpha's eyes flashed with anger, smelling the toxic scent and he snarled at them, canines extending and talons bared.
The humans backed up a step, shouting in surprise and calling him a monster.
I flinched at the word, a small cry leaving me.
The Wolf hesitated, his eyes glancing to me and he moved, crouching in front of me.... to protect me.
I sobbed. "Thank you. I'm sorry-"
Another figure appeared, grabbing a hold of me and scooping me up in their arms, hearing him shout. "I've got her, Jaxon. Go!"
Jaxon glared at the one held me for a moment. "Jace..."
"Go, I'll keep her safe!" The man who held me, Jace, assured.
Jaxon hesitated, glancing at me for a moment before he turned, attacking and dodging the gunfire with ease.
I struggled, but Jace held me tight.
"Don't worry, I've got you." He hushed. He looked almost identical to Jaxon, but his hair was longer, bound back with a tie and his eyes greyer, another Alpha tattoo marking his perfectly tanned cheek. I ducked his eyes when he looked at me, hearing him inhale.
He suddenly held me closer, limiting my movements and overpowering me easily, he took a sharp inhale of my scent again, his heart thrumming loudly against me.
He was so warm, his touch spent sparks and tingled across my skin. I didn't understand it. I fought against my desire to melt into his hold.
I had to run.
To escape.
But this Alpha seemed intent on keeping me close.
As Jaxon fought, his body a blur of claws and speed, I saw blood spray and into Jace, unable to handle seeing the violence, shaking and crying.
His chest vibrated beneath me with a growl, making my sob fearful and I tried to move against him.
He stopped suddenly, his hands tightening. "I'm sorry, little one. I didn't meant to scare you," he whispered, his voice like gravel as he pressed his nose to my temple. I froze, something in me singing like electricity at his voice, his touch became overwhelmingly inciting and warm; my eyes snapped to his.
Something jolted through me, recognition and need flooding my heart, I found myself relaxing into his hands, my fear slipping away.
He smiled at me, the sight catching my breath, and I blushed when he leaned forward, rubbing his nose across mine. "Mine," he purred, moving to kiss me.
I froze, not sure I could deny him and felt myself relax, tilting my head to meet his lips.
A vicious snarl ripped through the air. "Kiss my mate, Jace and I'll kill you."
Jace and I looked up, seeing Jaxon glaring at us with hatred and jealousy as he pulled off his blood soaked shirt, wiping his hands on the fabric before he tossed it.
His eyes locked with mine and the feeling fired again, recognition and need - he growled a single word. "Mine."
I felt a twist in my stomach, something aching and my body ignited with fire.
I groaned in pain and need, turning into Jace's chest and gripped him, filled with a fire only his touch seemed soothed.
"W-what's happening." I shuddered against him in a whimper, his shirt fisted in my hands as he crouched, cradling me against him.
Jace's nose pressed against my ear. "It's okay, baby, I got you." He breathed, his hands caressing my skin gently like he was trying to warm me. I sighed against him, the ache and pain mixing, settling and I shuddered again feeling his warmth.
"Get your hands-" Jaxon's snarl was cut on as I looked at him.
The fire intensified and I whimpered, overwhelmed with emotions again.
His expression softened, crouching in front of me to cup my cheek. "My little Luna," he whispered.
I shook, my mind spinning and my body writhed against Jace, whimpering and gasping as his hands tried to move, soothing me. I struggled, arching towards Jaxon like a magnet being pulled.
"Shit...She's our mate," Jace whispered.
Jaxon's eyes watched me. His large hand cupped the side of my cheek with ease, a whimper leaving me at his touch as he run his thumb against my skin.
"Impossible." Jaxon breath, his eyes snapping to Jace. "We share a mate?" His eyes narrowed as they returned to me, feeling the same sparks I did as I whimpered, nuzzling into his hand weakly.
Jace gave a small smile. "I guess so,"
Their touches soothed the fire inside, but my legs tightened, my core aching.
I groaned, arching slightly and pressed into both of them as best I could, my only relief. "Please, help." I whimpered, trying to be loud enough they could hear me.
Jace nodded, rising to his feet with Jaxon. "We will." He handed me to Jaxon, my arms curling around his neck and he sighed, contently as I fit into his large arms and squeezed me, tenderly.
"Are you okay?" Jaxon asked in a whisper against me, his voice rough with emotion as he inhaled my scent, smelling for blood.
"Pain." I whimpered.
Jaxon pressed me further in to hold. "We're sorry,"
I arched in pain, his arms anchoring me against him. "Why?" I sobbed.
"It's your Heat, baby." His voice was pained. I didn't understand, only that his touch was soothing my pain.
Jace pressed against the exposed side of me and I sighed, his warmth and touch easing my pain.
"What's your name, baby girl?" He nuzzled into my cheek, his hand stroking my arm and his unsettled breathing matching my own as he inhaled my scent, even covered in a layer of dirt - I could smell my own arousal.
Jaxon dipped his head, pressing his nose into the side of my neck.
A low rumbled started in his chest, primal and lustful.
I pressed my neck against his nose, moving my cheek to nuzzle Jace as I answered. "Melody Chance." I sighed, wanting to pull them closer.
"Melody." Jaxon raised his head, giving me a small smile.
Jace stroked my hair with a loving pat, making me arch and whimper as their touches pushed the ache in my core to pulse. "Ugh!" I cried, my skin on fire and my clothing suffocating me.
Jaxon's hands tightened on me. "We need to get her out of scent range." He growled, tucking me easily into his muscular chest.
Jace nodded once, seeming to have stopped breathing. "She smells so strong and with the young unmated..."
Another rumble vibrated as I nuzzled into Jaxon, feeling him move. "Baby, don't." He said through gritted teeth.
I whimpered, hating he wanted me to stop. I needed his touch, his love.
His reject hurt, stinging my heart like a lash of a whip.
His hands squeezed me gently, almost like he was trying to reassure me.
Jace headed into the forest. "Let's get our Melody to the den, clean her up, and soothed."
Jaxon shot him a glare. "Hands off her until she's comfortable and warm!"
Jace grinned. "My mate deserves nothing less." He stated, glancing at me and winking.
I blushed, my core throbbing with need.