Page 12

Rachel

I f someone had told me a month ago that in just a few weeks I would not only be away from my father’s house, but also going to college and potentially gaining my freedom, I would have been ecstatic. However, if they’d also told me it would take less than two weeks of being on campus before I found not one, but two of my four mates, I wonder if I would have even come. That thought alone is enough to nearly break my heart. I may have never wanted mates but now that I have two of them, the thought of losing them makes my chest feel heavy and my stomach flip.

Could I actually want my mates?

No, that’s a dangerous thought. I can’t even protect myself from my father. How am I supposed to protect them too? My swirling thoughts overwhelm my system as I sprint for the treeline. As soon as I’m beyond the trees, I let the shift take over. Once in fox form, I curl up in the back of our shared mind and let her take over for now.

Try as I might to relax and forget about everything going on as I give up control of my body, my brain just won’t shut up. As we run, I catch sight of my tails. Only two of my fox tails remain the same. My once-uniform auburn tails now clash against the newest one, banded in bold black stripes over vivid orange fur. The one I’ve already seen matches Lucas’s wolf, so this second one obviously matches Bastian’s tiger.

Well, Father always wanted me to be a tiger. Now I have a tiger tail. That has to count for something, right?

Would Father forgive me if he knew one of my mates is a tiger?

Unlikely. Besides, if he did, I’m sure it would have strings. He may say I could keep my tiger if I rejected all my other mates.

That thought is worse than losing all of them. Having to choose one of my mates over the others would surely kill me. I already feel an undeniable pull to Lucas and we’ve barely spent any time together. I can’t imagine breaking our bond. There’s no scenario in which that ends well for me.

I had hoped I could avoid this very situation by never finding my mates. But even as vigilant as I’ve been, it appears destiny wouldn’t allow it. It was silly to think my luck would hold out forever. I should’ve known it was only a matter of time before fate stepped in.

I always thought finding my mates would be awful. A death sentence for all of us. And I’ve allowed that fear to dictate my actions since I was a little girl. But whenever I’m in their presence, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of peace. It’s stupid, but I can’t help but wonder what life would be like if I could have them. We don’t even know each other, but the little time I’ve spent with each of them in private has made me feel things I’ve only read about.

When Bas asked me to go on a date with them I was shocked, but with him standing so close, it was hard to remember all the threats my father has hurled at me over the years. I wanted so badly to say yes. But then Father’s voice filled my ears.

“You do not want to accidentally discover any of your mates. You will not like the consequences.”

Bastian wants me to go against years of conditioning and I don’t think I have it in me. I’m not strong enough to go against Father’s wishes. He’s already stopped by the academy unannounced once. He caught me in between classes and I don’t know how he knew but he was convinced I was hiding something from him. At least my mark from Lucas is easily covered. I’m not sure what he would’ve done if he’d known I found my first mate. What if the next time he finds out about Lucas and Bastian? I haven’t even seen the mark Bastian left. Based on Lucas’s, I can only imagine how noticeable it is.

That thought spurs me into action. It is time to head back to my room and come clean with the girls. Maybe they can help me figure out how to cover this mark and deal with my mates. Coming back to the forefront of our shared mind, I stand and jump out of the pile of leaves we were rolling in and make my way back towards the dorms.

I shift back as the edge of the tree line comes into view. I’m becoming addicted to these runs. I’ve let my fox free more since I moved here than I have in all my years at the manor. For the first time in my life, I actually feel safe to do so.

“There you are,” Trent’s smarmy voice startles me and he laughs when I jump at his unexpected arrival. “I’ve been waiting for you to come out of hiding. You’ve gotten good at avoiding me, sneaky little fox. But after what I heard at practice the other night, I’ve decided this little cat and mouse game is tiring. It’s past time I get my hands on you.” He reaches out to touch me with a wicked smile playing on his face.

I jump back, dodging and narrowly avoiding his touch.

“What are you talking about?” I stammer.

“You mate by touch. Means it’ll be easy to tell your mine.” He smirks and my stomach drops. “I see you’ve added another sucker to your harem. Such a slut.”

He tsks and shakes his head as he circles me like a shark. I cower slightly under his predatory gaze. When he’s standing in front of me again he stops facing me and cocks his head slightly.

“Hell, you don’t even need my mark. If you want another dick, I’m more than happy to show you mine’s better than theirs.” He moves faster than I expect as he leaps across the distance between us.

Suddenly a massive black wolf explodes from the trees, dark fur bristling, muscles rippling as he launches himself into Trent. I stagger back as Trent flies like a ragdoll, and the wolf plants himself in front of me, a low, rolling growl rattling in his chest. Scrambling to his feet, Trent scurries away, but not before shouting, “this isn’t over.”

Now that we’re alone, I stare at the wolf in front of me. He’s still growling at Trent’s retreating form with his hackles raised, but despite the seriousness of the situation, I can’t help but admire him. He’s strong, and terrifying, and for some reason, protective of me. No one has ever stood up for me the way he just did. I should thank him for running Trent off, but when he turns his head and pins me with crystal blue eyes, I lose all ability to speak.

So much is hidden in those haunted eyes. A wriggling feeling that I know the man behind this wolf nags at me. I don’t have time to consider all the possibilities before he shutters them and runs back into the forest. With him out of sight, I can finally breathe again.

Shaking my head, I run back to the dorm before either of them change their minds and come back for me. Unfortunately, the lobby isn’t empty. I feel eyes on me as I walk through to my elevator and fidget with my gloves. Before I get there, a girl stops me.

“I love your tiger tattoo! Where’d you get it done? Your artist is amazing! ”

“I- Uh…” I stammer as my hand flies to my neck, instinctively going to my new mark. “Sorry. I gotta go.”

She frowns as I run past her and stab the call button for the elevator.

When I burst through the front door of our dorm, three sets of eyes land on me.

“You guys have to help me cover this,” I blurt.

They all gasp as they get their first look at my tiger mate’s mark. Maya’s eyes fly wide, Aubree claps a hand over her mouth, and Dallas’s jaw drops in disbelief.

“What’s that?” Maya says.

“You get marks? That’s so unfair! I want marks!” Aubree whines.

“Why do you want to cover it, Rach?” Dallas asks.

Ugh. I knew I’d have to tell them eventually. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.

Sighing, I look to Maya first. “They’re mate marks. Apparently kitsunes get them when they bond with their mate. Something my father never bothered to tell me,” I mutter under my breath.

“Wait, they’re ? As in, you have more than one?” Aubree squeals.

Whining to myself, I plop down into the soft cushions of the couch.

“I have two,” I murmur.

“Lucas we know about. Who’s the new one?” Dallas asks as she leans over to get a better look at the mark on my neck. “Ohhh. A tiger. Do we know any tigers?”

She looks at Aubree and Maya, both of whom have shit-eating grins plastered on their faces.

“Oh, we definitely know a tiger,” Aubree smirks.

“Who?” Dallas whines, clearly displeased with being left out.

“Bastian,” Maya and Aubree say together.

“Hot guy from class that keeps trying to talk to her?”

“Yup.” Aubree says, popping her p.

“And captain of the baseball team,” Maya adds gleefully

“I hate you all,” I mumble.

“Okay, so you have two mates. They’re both hot and clearly into you. What’s the big deal?” Dallas questions.

Taking a deep breath, I prepare to reveal my inner shame. “The big deal is having four mates makes me a whore. My father-”

“Hold on a damn minute,” Dallas cuts me off. “Where the hell do you get that having four mates makes you a whore?”

She looks like she’s ready to kill the moment I give the word. Her fierceness eases the ache in my heart from my father’s coldness.

“My father is a very traditional man. He’s a tiger, and grew up believing one mate is the norm. Ever since I can remember, he’s looked down on anyone who’s had more than one mate. When he found out I have four, he started calling me a whore and a slut. Said my existence brought shame to his family name. That’s why I can’t let him see this. He can’t know I’ve found any of my mates. I don’t know what he’ll do to them, or me.”

I’ve never told a living soul. I never could have imagined how good it would feel to share that burden with another. My body feels lighter at the admission. As my friends look at me with a mix of cold fury and understanding, I thank the fates for putting them in my life.

“I need you to know your father’s wrong, Rachel. You’re not a slut or a whore,” Dallas all but snarls. “I can’t believe anyone would say that to their own daughter. What a piece of shit.”

“Dallas,” Aubree hisses.

“No, Aub. She needs to know,” Dallas snaps. “No one should ever talk to you like that. Let alone your flesh and blood. He better hope I never meet him.”

“I thought having multiple mates was normal?” Maya says.

“It is,” Dallas growls.

“It may be normal, but to my father it’s wrong. And he’s already showed up once unannounced so I have to cover this mark in case he comes back.” I shrug.

“Well, fuck him. Wait, since when were parents allowed to randomly roam campus? That was one of Mama Andi’s biggest complaints, she wouldn’t be able to ‘surprise’ us with lunch.” Dallas adds, rolling her eyes.

I can’t help the laugh that bursts free. “I wish I were as strong as you, Dallas, then maybe I wouldn’t be so afraid. My father is a shifter triad member for The Eternal Council, he gets to do whatever he wants.”

“Oh shit!” Aubree gasps. “You mean Ranger St. James is your dad? I should have put two and two together. If that’s the case this is an easy solution. Why don’t we just call the news stations and tell them how he’s been treating you.”

Cold fear runs through my veins, turning them to ice. “Absolutely not! You cannot tell anyone what I’ve told you. Please trust me it will only be bad for me and possibly for you. He gets what he wants when he wants and no one can stand up to him.”

“You only feel that way because you’ve been conditioned to be your father’s punching bag. But don’t worry, we won’t tell a soul and I’ll help you find the real you hidden beneath the good girl veneer.”

“We all will,” Maya says.

“Anything you need,” Aubree agrees.

“Even if it means helping me hide my mate marks?”

“I don’t like it,” Dallas grumbles. “But if it’ll make you feel better, yes. We can temporarily hide them. But mark my words, by the time I’m done with you, you’ll accept your mates and your marks. To hell with what your father says.”

“Thank you, Dallas.”

I have no doubt she’ll spend the rest of her life trying to convince me to give my mates a chance. If I’m honest with myself, I’d say yes today if it weren’t for my father.