Troubled Freya

Chapter Five - Two Mates

✤ Freya ✤

 My silver eyes finally landed and connected with a pair of dark green eyes and I held my breath.

“Freya?” I could hear Ryder trying to grab my attention, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the wolf standing across the room.

“First off, I would like to thank each and every one of you for joining us on this very special day!” Noah’s voice boomed through the room and the green-eyed wolf broke the connection as he turned to pay attention to Noah’s speech.

“Freya?” Ryder once again whispered, and I glanced up at him. The feeling of guilt washed over me in waves as I tried to understand what was happening.

“I’m f-fine,” I finally managed to mumble out as we sat down, and I turned my attention to Noah.

“…and we are both so extremely grateful to both our packs but as Holly joins me not only as my mate but as my wife, I want to say – WELCOME!” he shouted out the last word and everyone jumped to their feet and cheered for the newly married couple. I clapped my hands absentmindedly as I thought about the wolf with the green eyes and the connection we had. Even now all I could smell was apples. Sweet, delicious smelling apples, and the urge to sink my teeth into him was so overwhelming that Ryder suddenly turned to me with raised brows.

“Freya…your scent…” he whispered out hoarsely and I tried to shake the feeling away, however, the heat was quite distracting, and I felt his hand on my thigh, gently caressing me. I glanced up and his eyes had gone dark with lust. He leaned in and I could feel his hot breath on my ear. “You are aroused,” he stated, and I shivered. Just as easy as that, my senses shifted, and Ryder became hot. I could smell his arousal and I lost all thought as I leaned into him, enjoying the way his touch sent sparks to ignite and burn me from the inside out. I had never experienced this type of need, a need so desperate that I abruptly stood up, grabbed Ryder's hand and pulled him out of the hall. Since everyone was inside, I felt no shame as I rounded the corner and pulled him to me. Our lips crashed together in a kiss so passionate that I felt my whole-body tremble just from that pleasure alone. Ryder slipped his tongue inside my mouth and the kiss deepened. I moaned out and the sound was muffled by our kiss. Ryder ripped himself away from me and stood back as he gazed at me with lust-filled eyes. He was panting heavily, and he slowly shook his head, as if trying to clear the haze from his vision. I gulped loudly as my desire didn’t go down but instead, I still wanted him. I wouldn’t admit out loud who exactly I was desiring. “Freya…” Ryder’s voice caught me off guard and I blinked, focusing on the wolf standing in front of me. I panicked then, here I was ready to give myself to my mate when there was someone else inside. Who is he? That’s when my wolf decided it was time to speak up and the single word, she whispered made my skin crawl and caused shivers to erupt.

“Mate,”

✤ Cole ✤

I watched as the female across the room leaned into the male beside her and the emotion called jealousy filled me to the core. I tried my hardest to tear my gaze away, but she was immediately addicting, and I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to rush over there, pull her away from that male, and claim her, completely. Suddenly she stood up and dragged the poor bastard out the door. When I couldn’t see her anymore, I breathed out heavily. What the hell was that? My wolf kept chanting happily, almost oblivious to the fact that our MATE was outside with another male. I stood up, ready to confront her, claim her probably but then Noah blocked my way.

“Cuzz! So glad you could make it!” he pulled me in for a hug and I tried to smile.

“Congrats man,” I said as we pulled away.

“Thanks, say, when did you get here?” he asked.

“Ah, just before the speech actually, sorry about missing your ceremony,”

“Nah, it’s cool, you’re here now. Come on let me introduce you to Holly,” he said as he started towards his bride. I followed him quietly, keeping my eyes on the ground. I was desperately trying to put that female out of my head. “Holly! This is my cousin, Cole,” I looked up when I heard Noah introducing me and I smiled at the pretty she-wolf in front of me.

“Hi!” she shouted out and I leaned forward and quickly kissed her cheek. I felt Noah tense up a bit so I moved back as quickly as I could.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” I said. Noah slapped his hand on my shoulder and grinned.

“Man, I am so glad you could make it,”

“Me too,” Holly said, and she smiled warmly at me. “Hey, have you seen Freya?” she suddenly turned to Noah and asked. Noah looked around for a moment and then shook his head.

“I don’t see her,” he said.

“Aw, I would’ve loved for you to meet her,” she said to me and I nodded, not really interested in meeting anyone other than my mate. Holly was pulled away by someone else and I took this moment to corner Noah.

“Man, my mate is here,” I whisper shouted in his ear.

“Woah! Really, where is she?” he asked, looking around. I wanted to pull him outside with me, but I hesitated.

“I don’t know, maybe I imagined it,” I laughed it off and Noah gave me a look before nodding, accepting my silly joke.

“Freya! Where is my girl at?!” I glanced over at Holly who was up on stage with a mic in her hand. Everyone started looking around. “Ah, there she is!” Holly shouted out as she pointed to someone behind me. I wanted to turn around, but the smell of oranges hit me, and I knew my mate had returned from outside. “Come on up here!” I rolled my eyes as I thought about how Holly was being silly. She was the bride and yet she was calling out for a friend? Or was it her sister? I wasn’t sure.

“Freya is her best friend and the Alpha’s daughter,” Noah whispered in my ear and I nodded, not really caring. I really wanted things to die down so I could corner my mate. “There she is,” Noah said as he pointed at the female standing next to Holly. It’s her. My mate. I took this moment to really look at her. She had pitch-black hair that was softly pulled to the one side and exposed her slender neck. Her silver eyes caught my attention as her full, plump lips parted in a silent ‘o’, she was small, lean and the word sexy popped into my mind. Holly pushed the mic into her hand and I noticed Freya blush.

“Um…” Freya hesitated and then smiled. I felt as if my heart had stopped. Her smile was so captivating. “I guess its time for me to do my speech huh?” her voice was soft and smooth and for a moment I could just hear her moans as she lay underneath me. I listened to the sound of her voice, not really registering what she was saying and all too soon, it was over, and she was heading down the stage. I started moving, following her and soon I found myself outside, around the corner with her back towards me. “Who are you?” she asked as she turned around.

“Cole,” I said, telling her my name and she nodded.

“Noah’s cousin,”

“Yeah…”

“How is this possible?” she asked but she wasn’t really asking me, it was more like she was asking herself and I frowned.

“What do you mean?” I questioned as I took a step closer to my mate.

“I have a mate,” she stated, looking up at me and I smiled. Oh, so she realized that I am her mate. “I mean, I already have a mate,” she added, and I froze, the smile disappearing.

“What?”

“Ryder is my mate,” she informed me, and I shook my head.

“What? Ryder is your mate but then…what the hell?” I wasn’t sure if she was playing a joke on me or what.

“Yeah, we met about two weeks ago and he is my mate, he moved into the packhouse just last week,” she explained.

“He hasn’t claimed you yet?” I asked and she shook her head.

“Ok, but you are my mate,” I said. This whole thing didn’t make any sense to me.

“Yeah, you are my mate but please,” she suddenly rushed towards me. “We can’t tell anyone until I can figure this out,” I nodded slowly as I took in her words. “How long are you staying for?” she asked.

“A couple of days, but now…well, maybe a bit longer,” I glanced at her and my heart started beating faster as my gaze fell to her lips. I wanted to kiss her so badly.

✤ ✤ ✤

The reception was over, and I had, in fact, learned that Freya had been honest. Ryder was, in fact, her mate. I rolled onto my side as I stared out the window across the room. The moon was high, and I turned away. I didn’t understand how it was possible. How could she have two mates? Did it have anything to do with the fact that she hadn’t mated with Ryder yet? Throughout the whole reception, I had to endure watching Ryder be all over my mate. It didn’t help that Freya allowed him and she too touched on him. It was beyond inappropriate especially since she knew I had been watching. I growled out angrily as I tossed and turned. Noah had picked up that something was wrong, but he hadn’t said a word and I was actually grateful for that. I closed my eyes, thinking about the missed opportunity that I had to kiss Freya. The one time we had been alone, and I had stormed away from her instead of just kissing her. Blade had welcomed me into his home and here I was thinking about his twin brother’s mate. MY mate. I forced myself to shut down all my thoughts and eventually I fell asleep.

✤ Freya ✤

“This is pathetic,” I said out loud as I continued to pace my room. I, Freya Payton, have two mates. How the hell is that even possible? I no longer just had questions about my past but now I had questions about my present and future. Was it because Ryder hadn’t marked me yet? I stopped pacing and made a quick decision. I quietly slipped from my room and tiptoed to Ryder’s bedroom down the hallway. I didn’t bother to knock as I slowly pushed open his door and closed it behind me. The room was in complete darkness except for the sliver of moonlight that shone through the small cracks of the blinds. Ryder was laying sprawled out across his bed in nothing but a pair of black briefs. His toned, muscular body was tempting, and I pulled off my nightdress and walked to the edge of the bed. Looking down at him, I smiled. Ryder is my mate and whatever sick and twisted game the gods were playing; I wouldn’t be playing along. I chose Ryder. End of story. I carefully climbed onto the bed and laid on my side facing Ryder. The soft snores that escaped were so cute and I leaned down and pressed my lips against his. He immediately pulled away, sitting straight up and glancing over at me.

“Freya?” his voice was hoarse with sleep and he blinked as he tried to focus. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and when he looked at me again, he groaned so loudly, I was afraid the whole house would hear. He got up and turned his back to me and I frowned. He must’ve spotted my nightdress on the floor and he hurriedly went to pick it up, throwing it in my general area. I caught it but I didn’t put it back on as I just held it against my naked body. “I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you today but please, put that on,” he said. I didn’t listen and I thought about all the things I had read in romance novels.

“You don’t want me?” I cried out softly. He turned to face me, and I could clearly see the lust in his eyes.

“Of course, I do,” he said.

“But then?”

“Freya, it is taking everything in me right now not to completely ravish you,” he ran his fingers through his hair as he let out a sigh of frustration. I quickly hid my smirk as I frowned.

“Why are you stopping yourself? Come over here and ravish me,” I said slowly, seductively. A part of me knew that what I was doing is wrong but another part of me just wanted him to claim me. Although I had no idea if it would make any difference. The last thing I wanted to do was tell Ryder that I had a second mate. I didn’t want to hurt him.

“Freya, please,” he begged, and I quickly pulled on my nightdress. Embarrassment and shame hit me all at once and I jumped off the bed and made a mad dash towards the door. He didn’t stop me, and I pulled the door open but before leaving, I looked at him over my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered before exiting the room and running back to my own. What the hell had I been thinking? I was not acting like myself and I hated it. Why had the gods decided to give me two mates? I locked my bedroom door and got into bed. I didn’t want anyone to know but in the same breath, I needed to find out what the hell was going on. And I needed to do it soon.

✤ ✤ ✤

“This is such a pleasant surprise,” my nana said as I sat down on the comfortable sofa.

“Nana, I have a question,” I said as I looked over at the elder female sitting on her rocking chair.

“Ask away, child,” she said with her eyes still closed.

“Have you ever heard about a wolf having two mates?” I questioned quickly. Nana didn’t open her eyes as she made a ‘tut, tut’ sound.

“A wolf with two mates, that is quite rare,” she eventually said.

“What does it mean though?” I pushed her for answers.

“It means the wolf has two mates,” finally nana opened her eyes and looked at me. “Are the twins both your mates?” she asked, immediately knowing I was talking about myself and not someone else. I shook my head.

“No, its Noah’s cousin, Cole,” I explained as I stood up and started pacing the room.

“Freya, there can be a number of reasons why the gods have fated you with two mates, it is not often heard about and rarely ends happily. You will need to decide for yourself if you will choose one or keep both,” Nana explained as she gently rocked herself back and forth.

“But what of them? What if they don’t accept my choice or whatever?” I asked curiously.

“Well, just as you are given a choice, so they too will have to make a choice. Have you mated with either wolf?” she asked, and I blushed, thinking of last night.

“N-no…”

“Oh, my child, listen to me…I know you are confused but I will give you the best advice I can think of right now. Get to know them both, decide which one you want and make a decision, but be warned, you should tell them about each other as soon as possible,” Nana closed her eyes again, continuing to rock the chair.

“Cole already knows about Ryder,” I said more to myself than to Nana. “And I honestly don’t think I would be able to hurt Ryder in such a way. Do you think I could just choose Ryder? Do you think he would ever find out about Cole if I just rejected him? Do you think it’s because I haven’t mated with Ryder that the gods threw Cole at me?”

“Shush child! All your questions are giving me a headache, I told you, talk to them, make a choice,” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me, and I quickly kissed her cheek. As I rushed out of her home, I bumped right into none other than Cole.

“Ah, just the one I was looking for,” he grabbed my hand and dragged me (Ok, I followed) to the woods. Once we were quite deep in the woods, he stopped and turned around. Our eyes met as we stared at each other for a solid minute. Cole reached out and pulled me against his chest, his heat warming me. I didn’t hesitate to kiss him back the moment I felt his lips touch mine. The explosive fire warmed me as the kiss turned from gentle and soft to passionate. It was so different from the kisses I had shared with Ryder. The sounds of our moans and our lips filled my ears as he reached down and grabbed my ass. Softly massaging my cheeks as he pulled me right up against him. I groaned out as he slowly moved from my hungry lips to my neck. Once he found that sweet spot, he licked and nipped at my skin.

“Cole!” I breathed out as I tilted my head back, my hands holding his arms tightly as I enjoyed the feeling, he created deep within me. I struggled to focus on anything other than him. s**t, what the hell I am going to do now?