Mates?

14

*Grant’s POV*

Something felt off with me. I wanted to be around my mate. She hadn’t shifted since that terrifying night. She hadn’t even left the house. I know this because I’ve been watching her home very closely. I’ve seen her “master” around a few times. I have learned that she is a pet as well. That fact infuriates me to the bone. I still have yet to see her face or hear her name. Part of me yearns to know that information but another part wants it to be a surprise for when I can finally meet her. It was currently night time but the ruthless rogues know better than to mess with me. I jumped when I heard footsteps beside me. 

“Hello?” I asked to no one in particular. I mentally slapped myself. How dumb can I get? Hello? Come on, Grant, act like an individual with some intelligence. I peeked around the bush beside me to see Winter. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Winter! You can’t sneak up on me like that! I could’ve hurt you!”

“Sorry, I actually didn’t mean to. I just wasn’t sure if it was you or not.” She dismissed, a smile on her face.

“Why are you out here with me anyways? Won’t Ash try to kill me or something?” I laughed nervously.

“He won’t try to kill you, I promise. I just need to talk to you about something that I need your help with.” She explained.

“Okay, what is it?” 

“So, me and a… friend of mine… want to help all the pets escape-”

That sentence caught my attention and I cut her off.

“I’m in. What do I have to do?” I smiled, wating my mate in my arms as soon as possible.

“You just need to help us get them to another pack and out of these borders.” She explained.

“Winter, my mate is a pet.” I confessed.

“I’m glad you finally have a legit mate.” Winter smiled. 

She winced a little and grabbed her stomach. She held onto a tree for stability. My smile fell when I realized what was wrong with her.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” She whispered, seemingly ashamed.

“Bet Ash is excited to have a little hybrid running around.” I commented, trying to make it seem like I didn’t care.  

“It’s not his.” She admitted, giving me a guilty look. “I ran away not too long ago and I met that friend of mine. I went into heat and he helped me. I’m pregnant with an Alpha’s child.” 

I stared at her in disbelief. 

“What did Ash say about all this?” I inquired, curious about his reaction.

“He was understanding. He’s changed a lot. He really has.” 

“Enough to let the pets go?” I pointed out.

She sat in silence for a second, seeming to think it over.

“Possibly.” She muttered. “I have to go.” 

Before I could respond, she ran off to wherever she came from. 

*Winter’s POV* 

I hurriedly ran to the castle before Ash noticed I was gone. He can’t know about me conniving to set the pets free. Now, to test to see how much he has changed. I made it to the castle and sprinted for our room. I passed a few people on the way but they didn’t give me a second glance. Everyone is pretty much used to me by now. Making it to our room, I opened the door to see Ash already in bed, asleep with the light on. I stared at him for a few moments, adoring my glorious mate before grabbing a large shirt of his and going to shower.

I took a quick shower, and when I got out I glanced at the large tub and I remembered the note Ash left the first night I was here. He was so sweet before he made me show him my body. I frowned thinking about that incident. I finished drying off with a towel. I pulled on the Ash’s shirt I had brought with me and I smiled when I caught his scent on it. I yawned, feeling tired. Opening the door, I noticed Ash making a bed on the loveseat.

“You don’t have to do that.” I laughed, stepping in front of him.

“I’d do anything to make sure you’re comfortable here after I did what I did.” 

“But what if me being comfortable means sharing a bed with my mate?” I asked, looping my arms around his neck. His hands landed enjoyably on my hips. 

“If you insist…” He smiled, leading us toward the bed. He got in on one side and I got in on the other. He snuggled in close with me. “Is this better?” Ash mumbled, nibbling my earlobe.

I hummed in satisfaction and laid my head on his chest.

“You’re so beautiful.” He commented, bringing me closer.

“What happened last night?” I questioned, ignoring what he had said.

“Can we talk about that in the morning? I really just want to cuddle you right now.” He whined. 

“I guess, but I have a really important question to ask you tomorrow.”

“Yes, let save all the important stuff for tomorrow.” He started peppering kisses on my neck, jawline, and cheek. “Right now, there’s no camp responsibilities, no royalty drama, and most definitely no arguments. It’s just you and me, cuddling in the same bed like normal mates do.”

“We’re far from normal mates, Ash.” I chuckled quietly.

“Don’t remind me.” He whimpered and buried his face in my neck.

It was odd; seeing Ash vulnerable enough to whimper. I ran my fingers through his hair, wanting him to be comfortable. 

“Earlier was quite funny, you know?” I smiled.

“More like quite embarrassing.” He groaned.

“I’m your mate. You shouldn’t be embarrassed around me. And I understand, you’re a vampire. You have a lust for blood.” 

Ash sighed happily and stared into my eyes.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in Ash’s arms. 

“Morning gorgeous.”

“Morning.” I smiled.

He kissed me deeply and I kissed back. Spontaneously, an idea crossed my mind. A dangerous idea at that. I pulled away and decided to be spontaneous for once.

"Ash?"

"Yes baby girl?"

I decided to just come out and ask the question. 

“Can you let the pets go?” I asked desperately.

He sighed heavily. 

“Winter, I know you don’t like it but it keeps our townsfolk happy, and if they’re happy, less problems for us.” Ash frowned. 

“I guess you’re right.” I shrugged. 

He gave me a surprised look, he was confused as to why I had given up so easily. Little did he know, I hadn’t.

*Dylan’s POV*

After everything had calmed down, Joey, Cole, and Declan left. I was now being dragged down to the basement by my hair. I didn’t dare make a sound. I wasn’t going to be let off easy. 

“Who is it?! Tell me who it is!" Liam yelled in my face at the top of the staircase.

"I swear, I don't know." I wailed.

Liam didn't like that answer. Before I could react, I was tumbling down the stairs. He had thrown me down into the basement. I hit the ground with a thud and I groaned and sobbed in pain. He came down the stairs and tied me to the wall with silver chains. I hissed when the silver came in contact with my skin… it really hurt. I begged him to stop over and over.

"I'll never complain about anything again, and I'll do anything you want me to, even sexually. Please, just stop." I pleaded.

He gripped my throat in his hand and squeezed. His eyes were dark and angry. This was the most scared I had ever been. He eventually knocked me out from not having enough oxygen.

*Winter’s POV* 

“He’s coming soon Winter, I know it, just be ready.” Declan told me in a whisper while walking down the hall with me. 

I simply nodded and continued to walk to the dining room where Ash and the others were located. Declan left from beside me when I passed his hallway to his room. I reached the dining room doors and opened them. I took in the sight of everyone at the table. I felt my heart melt when Ash’s face lit up when his gaze met mine. Man, he was sexy. I quickly scolded myself for that thought and refocused when I heard Ash’s voice.

“Baby, come sit!” He eagerly exclaimed to me. 

Now, he has gotten me an actual chair to sit in and not his lap. Something inside me felt off, like I felt more bold than usual. So, instead of sitting in the chair, I sat in his lap like the first time I had been here. He gave me a quizzical look, but didn’t verbalize his thoughts.

“Looks like you two have made up.” Cole commented, drinking his blood from the glass. 

His comment fell to deaf ears and we all continued with our small talk. I couldn’t quite focus because of the thoughts racing through my mind and the feeling in the pit of my stomach. It didn’t seem like a bad feeling, and the thoughts were mostly memories of Ash. I had the urge to be as close as possible to him. 

“It’s a full moon tonight, Ash, and you know what that means, wolves go crazy.” Cole smirked and caught Ash’s eye. 

“What do you mean man?” Ash chuckled.

“You don’t know? Wolves' s****l instincts come out on nights of a full moon.” 

Is that what’s happening to me? My mind started to race and my palms became sweaty. Then I realized; maybe this was the universe’s way of telling me it was time. I relaxed and accepted it. Ash has proved to me he has changed, so why not? Apparently they had carried on talking and Ash noticed I was abnormally silent.

“Hey, you okay?” He inquired, whispering in my ear.

“Can we talk?” I asked quietly.

He nodded and excused us from the table. We walked out the dining room and back to our room in silence. Once we made it, I shut and locked the door behind us.

“What’s wrong Winter?” 

“Nothing’s wrong, I just wanted to tell you something.” I admitted, eyes trained on the floor. 

“Which is?”

“I- I- uhm, I want you to mate me and mark me.” A tear fell down my cheek from nervousness. “I know it’s probably too soon but I really feel like it’s time.”

I felt his rough hand wipe away my tear and bring my head up. Ash had a small smile on his face.

“Are you sure? Because if you are, I’ll be more than happy to fulfill your wishes.” He smirked.

I nodded giddily, looking up at him expectantly. He bent down and picked me up into his arms and laid me on the bed. We started out with normal kissing, then he started to kiss down my neck. He sucked and licked and sometimes nibbled at my skin, taking his time.

"Are you gonna mark me?" I quietly asked.

"Patience, sweetheart. Just relax. I'm here to make you feel good, just focus on that." He smiled at me.

I did notice I was rather tense so I took a deep breath and relaxed my muscles. He continued his assault on my neck and I whimpered when he bit a certain spot. He smirked against my skin and started sucking there. I moaned at his antics quietly. He stopped and tugged at the bottom of my shirt, asking my permission silently.

"Yours first." I responded.

He quickly removed his shirt and threw it across the room. He then proceeded to take mine off. His eyes darkened at the sight of my almost exposed chest. His hands came down to the cups of the bra.

"May I?" 

"Yes."

He started squeezing my breasts and my back arched off the bed. A smirk laid upon his face.

"Awe, is someone sensitive?" He cooed. "What if I…"He unclipped the back of my bra and slowly removed it. His hands went to them again but he didn't grab them. He took his middle finger and thumb and started flicking my n*****s. I started whining and he stopped. "Sorry baby. Just want to see how you would react."

I gave him a soft smile and he brought his face down to my chest and started sucking on my breasts. My hand went to his hair and pulled gently. I was holding back my moans so we wouldn't be too loud.

"Let me hear you. Don't worry about anyone else, it's just me and you right now baby." And with that, he continued his attack on my chest. His hand went down to my lower region and started rubbing me through my jeans. My back kept arching, this felt really good. He leaned back up to his sitting position and unbuttoned his pants. They pooled around his knees and he pulled them off. He kissed down my stomach and to my underwear. He gripped the lace with his teeth and gently pulled them off of me. I was completely exposed to him. “How lucky am I to be gifted with a mate as gorgeous as you?” 

I knew it was a rhetorical question, so I didn’t respond. I simply reached forward and tugged at the bottom of his briefs, and a smirk lighting up his face. He pulled them down in one swift motion and my eyes grew to the size of boulders. That thing was huge. Xavier had no chance against him. He leaned down next to my ear and planted small kisses.

“Something wrong baby?” He whispered.

“I-It’s gonna hurt.” 

“We can stop if you want.” Ash frowned.

“No, I want this, just, please, go easy.” I begged.

“Of course sweetheart. I was going to anyway.” He cooed. “I’ll be honest, it’ll probably hurt at first.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. Then I felt it start to slide in. I bit my lip and clenched my eyelids shut.

“Hey, baby, look at me.” He lovingly whispered. I hesitantly opened my eyes. “It’s alright, I know it hurts. Just breathe, okay?”

“Okay.” I breathed out. When My body relaxed again, he started moving slightly. My eyes almost popped out of my sockets. This felt phenomenal. I was panting and my body felt like it was on cloud nine.  “Can you please kiss me?” I whispered.

He smirked and connected our lips. This was sensual and loving, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. This continued for a few minutes and I felt this odd feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“A-Ash, I feel weird.” I confessed worriedly.

“Baby, that’s normal. Succumb to it, it’ll feel really good.”

I did as he said. I felt his fangs pierce my neck and my pleasure tripled. Next thing I knew, I blacked out.