Page 15

Derrick

E verything makes sense now. Why I’ve always felt so connected to Bas and the twins. Why Lucas’s mate’s sunny forest smell drove me wild. Why she seemed so important to me before I even met her. Why I’ve felt compelled to protect her like I have my boys from the moment we met. My dragon has known all along.

We’re pack .

I can’t keep my eyes off the dragon taking flight over my mate’s collar bone while I follow behind Bas and Lucas. I’m thankful for our height difference because even as they lead our mate to the movie theatre, I have a perfect view over her head to scan the room for any potential threats all while keeping her in my sight. When I spot Liam, I think he may have finally come to his senses but he locks eyes with me then hightails it the other way. I’m going to have to have a talk with him eventually. He’s part of this pack and I won’t have him hurting our mate with his stubbornness.

“You guys have a movie theatre? No fair,” our mate huffs adorably as she looks around the room.

“The girls’ dorm doesn’t have one? That’s lame,” Lucas says. “But if it gets you over here, can’t say I’m mad about it.” He smiles at her and she shakes her head. “Now, the real question is what’s your stance on the best seat in a theatre?”

By the expression on his face, you’d think this was a make it or break it answer. We all have different preferences so it’s rare we actually sit together during a movie. I wonder who she’ll agree with.

“Umm… I don’t know. I’ve actually never been to one before,” she murmurs.

“You’ve never-” Lucas starts before Bas cuts him off.

“I’m glad we get to experience this first with you. Pick a seat, Firefly. If you decide you want to sit somewhere else, we’ll move. We have the theatre to ourselves tonight. Don’t be shy about trying out different seats.”

She smiles at him and climbs the stairs about halfway before turning down a row and stopping in the middle. Bas follows her down the row and takes the seat beside her while Lucas runs up another row and leaps over the seat on her other side, making her jump.

I glare at him before continuing to my seat in the back row.

Rachel turns in her seat and watches as I ascend the stairs to the last row.

“You’re not sitting with us?” The hurt in her brilliant green eyes is enough to flay me where I stand. How could I ever cause her pain?

The words get stuck in my throat, but as always, I can count on Bastian helping me out.

“He has to sit in the back. No matter where we are, he can’t stand to sit with his back exposed. His beast won’t let him.”

“Yeah, he’s an overprotective asshole. But we love him,” Lucas chimes in.

“Why didn’t you say something?” My beautiful mate huffs before standing and shaking her head as she awkwardly climbs over Bastian’s legs and stomps up the stairs.

She turns down the aisle before mine and walks to the center, stopping right in front of me. She levels me with a serious expression that only makes her more adorable. A sprinkle of freckles cover her cheeks and I can barely resist reaching out to stroke them.

“If we’re on a date together, we sit together. Understood?”

Sassy. I like it.

“Yes, ma’am,” we all say together like we’re not three separate people, but one pack.

“Good.” She nods once before taking her seat.

I follow suit and can’t help the smile that stretches over my face as Bastian and Lucas reclaim their seats on either side of her. My Emerald doesn’t realize it, but she’s already got the three of us wrapped around her finger. I think we’d all sit in a lake of lava if she was the one asking us to.

“Now, what are we watching?”

“Oh, I can’t believe I forgot.” Lucas oozes his golden retriever energy at her and she seems to relax slightly. “We figured we could all use a laugh and went with a group favorite about a bunch of guys who go to Vegas for a bachelor’s trip. But we can totally change it up if you want to watch something else.”

“That sounds perfect.” She offers him a smile and they both settle in while the movie’s opening lights up on the screen.

I’ve seen this movie a thousand times, so instead, I watch her . I take in every reaction. Every twitch of her body as she relaxes between my brothers. The sudden soft inhalation when Lucas puts his hand on her knee and Bastian puts his arm around her shoulder in sync. Her sweet laughter as someone on screen launches himself from the trunk of a car. The feel of her contentment soaking through the bond. It’s new, but I can sense it.

I concentrate on that invisible tether, coaxing it to shine brighter. I want our connection to be so strong she can never deny I’m her mate.

She gasps as I caress our magical connection in my mind as if I was stroking her face before kissing her. When she looks over her shoulder at me, my heart soars. She feels it too.

“How’d you do that?” she whispers in awe.

“Do what?” Lucas asks, squeezing her knee.

“I don’t know. It felt… It almost felt like he was touching me. But that’s crazy.”

“It’s the bond,” Bas says with an easy smile.

“You feel it too?” she asks with wide eyes.

“Not his,” he chuckles. “I feel ours. You have three bonds, linking you to each of us. They’re all baby bonds though, so they’re not that strong. I’m surprised you can feel it that clearly.”

“He did something to it,” she accuses.

“My dad taught me about the mate bond from a young age,” I explain. “He always stressed how vital it is to build a strong bond from the start. It should be cherished. Our bond is the singular most important thing in my life now. You are my most important treasure, my Emerald. Nothing will ever come before you and our bond.”

“Tone it down a little, D. Don’t scare her off, man,” Lucas chuckles.

“No. I think that’s exactly what she needs to hear,” I argue, the movie long forgotten. “It wasn’t easy growing up with Ranger St. James as a father, was it?”

“You know who my father is?” she gasps.

“We met him the other day when he visited the school with my dad, Shifter Tribunal Leader Demetrius Ashford.”

Her eyes widen in understanding.

“He’s an asshole. It’s not hard to tell. He wasn’t a loving parent, was he?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows and shakes her head.

Lucas gasps.

“What?” Bas demands.

“In the woods that day. You said you were a slut for having four mates. Your father told you that, didn’t he?”

My dragon roars in my head.

He said that to our mate? We’ll kill him.

She doesn’t say anything, just nods as she sinks in on herself.

I can’t have that.

“No, Emerald. You don’t ever cower to anyone ever again. You are perfect. You are strong and beautiful. You are the cherished mate of a dragon. You are more than what your gutless father made you believe you are. There is nothing wrong with you. Do you hear me? Kitsunes always have multiple mates. It’s how fate intended you to be. There was never a chance of you only being with one person no matter what some bigoted tiger may want. You are meant for more. You are meant for greatness, my treasure. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

She sniffles and Bas wipes a tear from her cheek.

The sight almost breaks something inside me and my dragon roars again.

“How could you say that?” she hiccups.

“Because it’s true, my sweet. I can’t allow you to think less of yourself. You are my mate and if it takes til my dying day to convince you how priceless you are, I will happily spend my last breath reminding you.”

“But my father… He’ll never let us be together. When he finds out I’ve mated all three of you… I’m scared to find out what he’ll do.”

“Why? It doesn’t make sense to me. Everyone knows kitsunes have multiple mates. Surely your mother had other mates. Why is it such a big deal that you do?”

She looks at me like I’ve completely lost the plot.

“My mother only had one mate.”

“How do you know?”

She looks so lost I want to smack myself for asking but finally she stutters, “you mean… My father wasn’t her only mate?”

“It would be very unusual if he was,” I tell her gently.

“But… He never said anything.”

“What about your mom? She didn’t teach you about kitsunes?” Lucas asks innocently.

Rachel freezes and I worry she’s gonna clam up and run at the turn of events.

“I never knew my mom. She died giving birth to me… If she had more mates where are they? If he lied to me about that, what else is he lying about?”

“I’m so sorry, Emerald. I never meant to make you question your whole life. I just… I needed you to know having four mates doesn’t make you a slut or a whore. I may come from a two parent household, but that’s the minority in our society, not the majority.”

“It’s okay, Derrick. I just… Can we change the subject? We’ve been talking about me and my messed up family. It’s time you guys share some deep dark secrets,” she huffs a laugh and Lucas jumps all over it.

If anyone could turn this date back around and make our mate laugh again, it’s the golden retriever twin. He has a way of making people feel better. I have no doubt he’ll pull out all the tricks to get our mate to smile again.

“I’m the first born, and most handsomest of my parent’s sons.” He winks. “I have three dads, so I’ve seen what it’s like to share a mate with your friends. I’ve also always had to share everything with Liam, so I’m probably the best sharer in the world.” He shrugs and Rachel giggles. “I have thirteen brothers and sisters and we are all some sort of multiple. The next oldest are 17 and they are triplets, Alexandria, Lydia, and Nadia. Next comes three sets of twins, Kurt and Bishop, 13, Carrie and Stella, 11, and Brandon and Colt, 5. Finally, hopefully,” he mutters under his breath, “two year old triplets Sadie, Morgan, and Becca.”

“Holy crap! That’s a lot of kids!” Rachel’s eyes bug out and I huff a breath of smoke, relieved Lucas was able to take her mind off the implications of our previous conversation so quickly.

“Definitely a full house. One of the reasons Liam and I were so happy to get our acceptance letters to Eldergrove. I love my parents and my siblings but it’s good to have some freedom. Kids take a lot out of you. Especially when they’re not yours and you didn’t ask to be responsible for them.”

“So you don’t want kids?” she asks, catching us all off guard.

Lucas just stepped in a landmine.

“I do. Just not any time soon. I need a long enough break to forget how crazy they drive me.” He winks at her and she laughs.

“Oh thank fate! I was kind of worried you guys may want me to start popping out babies once we graduate and I’m just not ready for that. I’m not saying never just not soon. I want to be out from under my father’s control and experience the world a bit first. In fact, one of the first things I did when I got on campus was go get a five year birth control spell from the campus clinic.”

Whenever I thought of the future with my mate, I assumed I’d follow in my parents’ footsteps. But I see the appeal of pack life. I’ll always be able to count on my brothers to take care of our mate when I can’t.

“What about you? Any siblings?” Rachel looks between me and Bastian.

I shake my head. “Only child here. If I didn’t have Bas to bug growing up, who knows what would have happened to me. Probably be a junior tribunal aid by now.”

“You don’t want to follow your dad’s shoes?”

“Nah. Could you imagine this on the tribunal?” I arch a brow as I gesture to my clothing.

My style doesn’t exactly scream ‘responsible’. My go to black ripped jeans and leather jacket have never upset my father but I’ve gotten more than one side eye from his colleagues. Those side eyes quickly became open glares when I had my lower lip pierced last summer, I can only imagine how they’ll respond to my mark.

My dragon lets out a small warning growl in mind at that thought. No one will be able to disrespect our mate’s mark on us without him having something to say about it.

“I don’t know anyone else on the council, but if they’re all like my father, you probably have a good point.” She laughs.

“Precisely, I’m not exactly the clean-cut type. That’s Bas all day.”

“Yes, well, unlike your parents who want to see you happy, mine pressure me to be like them. Do you have any idea how tiring it is to always be ‘on’? Like the whole world is watching, waiting for you to fail so they can laugh at you?” Bas snarks back.

“Your parents aren’t that bad. Your mom adores you,” I scoff.

“You don’t get it. All they want is for me to be rich and successful like them. You know how mad Dad was when I told him I wouldn’t be studying to be a doctor or a lawyer like he wants? Thank fate my little sister wants to be a paralegal, I don’t think he ever would have crawled out of my ass otherwise.”

“I’m sure he expected it. Y’all have been having the same argument since high school.” I roll my eyes at his dramatics.

“So what are you going to school for? Or are you just going to be a ball player?” Rachel asks.

“That’s the dream. Play in the big leagues a few years then eventually own a team.”

“I can see that.” She smiles. “What about you Lucas? You never told me what you’re going to school for.”

“My degree is in sports management, but the goal is to go pro. Baseball has been my whole life outside of helping take care of the pups. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

“So you all are pretty serious about baseball, huh?”

“It’s in our blood. You’re coming to the game tomorrow, right?” Lucas practically begs her.

“I don’t know… Things didn’t go so well last time I went,” she mutters.

“I think they went amazing. It was by far the best game of my life,” Lucas argues.

“I’ll think about it,” she says with a laugh.

“Is your dad coming?” Bas asks me.

“I don’t know.” I shrug.

“Your dad comes to your games?” Rachel asks, her voice going up in pitch at the question.

“Sometimes. Not all of them. He tries, but the council keeps him busy.”

“But you said he was just here, right? When my dad was here? He can’t… He can’t know about us. You can’t tell your dad. If my father finds out…”

“Shhh. Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it, Firefly. We won’t let him find out. You’re safe with us. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The idea of anyone hurting my Emerald is enough to have my dragon breathing fire. I barely manage to keep it contained. I don’t want to scare our mate but I have to tell my father. He will know what to do about Ranger and he needs to know how Rachel has been treated.

“We’ll kill anyone who even thinks about harming you,” I snarl, smoke pluming from my nostrils.

Okay maybe I didn’t do as good a job as I thought at keeping our anger under lock and key.

“Easy, big guy. I’m okay. No one’s trying to hurt me… Not yet at least,” she whispers the last bit, but my dragon picks it up, no doubt Lucas and Bas hear it as well.

I don’t know what her piece of shit father did to her, but she’s clearly terrified of him. We’re going to have to have a serious talk about what to do with him because right now, my dragon wants to hunt him down and eviscerate him.

The lights come back up in the theatre room and I realize how late it is. Rachel stands and stretches out her arms before letting out a soft yawn. It doesn’t take us long to get cleaned up and then we are walking her down the path to the girls’ dorm.

“Thank you all for an amazing night,” she says softly as we arrive in front of the building. “And thank you Bastian, for inviting me.”

“Anytime, Firefly, and call me Bas please. Only my father calls me Bastian.”

She giggles in response as he plants a soft kiss on her cheek then turns her towards Lucas.

“You’ll think about the game tomorrow?” he asks.

She nods and he pulls her into a tight hug before kissing her forehead and sending her to me.

“Sorry if my dragon scared you, Emerald. I’ll do better,” I promise as I look into her gorgeous green eyes.

“He makes me feel safe,” she whispers into my chest as she wraps her arms around my middle. “You all make me feel safe.”

My chest warms and pride fills me. I can’t stop myself from planting two big kisses right on her cute little cheeks and she lets another musical laugh free. With one last goodnight and a quick wave, she disappears inside the dorm building. When she’s out of sight, I turn and level Bas and Lucas with a look.

“So what are we doing about Ranger St. James?”