AVAThe last thing I wanted to do the morning after an incredibly uncomfortable dinner was to delve into my history and that of my predecessors’ history with Michael, but apparently I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.After a breakfast of croissants, fruit, salmon and cheeses, the five of us made our way to Michael’s office. I stopped in the doorway having noticed the mountain of books on Michael’s desk. They really had been busy…“Please, sit, my Queen, my Kings,” Michael gave a small smile as he motioned for us all to sit around the table. “What do you have for us, Michael?” I jumped straight into it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this forthcoming history lesson… gut feeling said it would be uncomfortable, to put it politely.“I’ll start from the beginning, my Queen, with the prophecy. We’ve discovered that the prophecy we all know today isn’t the original version, it changed a few centuries ago. The original prophecy is very vague about the number of mates that the Alph
AVAAfter that delightful history lesson, I really needed to unwind, and fortunately, the perfect opportunity came in the form of Theo.We never got to have time alone before when we marked each other like I did with the others, and that was something I wanted to make up for.That evening, we left Noah, Callum and Oscar to have a few drinks and relax, and we headed out into the meadow with a picnic in tow. Of course we had a full Queen’s Guard with us, so we’d never be truly alone… but at least Jeremiah and the others would be discreet, as far away as possible without compromising my safety, and wouldn’t even consider running around telling everyone what they see me getting up to.Theo spread out a beautiful, fluffy picnic blanket when we reached the clearing, finding another ready to pull over us if we got chilly.It was a clear night, fortunately, because the plan was to watch the stars. A meteor shower was predicted, and watching that would be the perfect date night for Theo and I.
AVAI was still floating on a post-orgasm cloud the next morning to the point that I was practically bouncing as I walked. Theo and I needed that time together last night, and badly.“You’re in a good mood this morning, Theo,” Noah smirked when we all sat down for breakfast in the private dining room in our suite. I’d insisted on a room being set up so the five of us could eat in private if we so desired, and Michael had more than delivered on that.Theo pressed a kiss to my forehead, grinning at Noah. I shook my head at the pair of them, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face, before walking around the table, saying good morning to and giving each of the others a kiss. When I reached Oscar, he wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me into his lap so I straddled him where he sat. This is why when we chose chairs, the boys all insisted on ones without arms.“Good morning, little one,” he whispered against my ear, his breath sending a shiver do
AVAI did not want to get up the next morning.Saturday had come around too quickly, which meant tonight, the five of us would be paraded around in front of all of Eclipse Mountain, the leaders of every pack and since it was our home pack, most of Blood Moon.I was not looking forward to this, and my nervousness was bleeding through the matelink to my Kings.For once, I agreed to have someone do my hair and makeup for me. Not for appearances, but more because I have a habit of getting a bit… red faced if I’m angry, and there will be a lot of people that will get on my bad side, especially since the fact I stripped Minister Byron of his position and locked him up pending trial.Of course, there was also the concern that my Kings
AVA Just about within the two hour deadline, I was ready, courtesy of my makeup artist. She’d even managed to tame my hair into tidy curls and used a lot of hair pins to keep the curls bunched on the back of my head (excluding a couple she let frame my face), and keep the crown in place too. The boys hadn’t seen me getting ready, I’d been in my dressing room the entire time. When I walked out finally, they all stopped to stare at me, mouths open. I’d picked a dark green dress that had a lace bodice and glitter detail in emerald green to match the crown. It was a floor length Princess-style gown so you couldn’t see the stunning black heels I’d chosen, but I knew they were there. My mum was the first to react, running over and pulling me into a hug, tears in her eyes. “You look so beautiful, Ava,” she wept. “You look every bit the future Queen tonight.” I smiled against her hair, before kissing her forehead. By that point, everyone else had reacted, and both Amy and Izzie had joi
CALLUMI was beyond grateful that I didn’t have to give a speech.Ava didn’t even expect us to stand behind her, she knew the four of us were really uncomfortable with the whole thing. As soon as Michael finished his speech and Ava stepped forwards to give hers, the faces of the crowd were… varied. A lot of people were looking forward to hearing what she had to say, but there were definitely a few that still weren’t best impressed that she would be taking the throne.And those faces that already weren’t happy looked like they’d been slapped when she announced some of the laws she was planning to revoke to better protect young girls who were in similar situations to the one she was in, but didn’t have the chance to get out of it.The younger audience
AVAThat moment I kicked off my heels when we got back to our suite was one of pure elation. I hadn’t realised just how uptight I was until I made it back to our happy place.I made a beeline straight for my dressing room, needing, more than anything, to get out of the dress and crown. They both seemed to have gotten really heavy over the last hour.Noah followed me in, standing behind me, my back against his chest whilst he teased what felt like hundreds of hair pins out of my hair, until finally, it tumbled down my back in much more defined curls than I would normally go for.I let my head fall back against his ch
OSCARWhen I woke up the next morning, the five of us tangled together in a pile of sated limbs, I felt content. Yes, things were a bit crazy, and yes, in five weeks time, someone would be putting a crown on my head… but I was happy. The five of us were happy.Even my dad and Alpha Jacob pulling knowing faces at us over breakfast because of the noise last night couldn’t put a dampener on my mood. I didn’t think anything could.Right up until something did.Ava’s eyes glazed over as someone linked her, her expression moving through various degrees of shock before settling on anger. When she met our eyes again, Artemis was staring back at us.“We were right,” she hissed, voice low. Fortunately we were in our priv
CALLUMThe aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of pine from the surrounding forest. I watched as Ava cradled her mug, her green eyes sparkling with a lightness I haven't seen in weeks. The weight of her crown seemed to have lifted, if only temporarily."I can't believe we have to leave today," Ava sighed, her curly brown hair still tousled from sleep. "This getaway has been exactly what we needed."I nodded, feeling a pang of regret that our time here is coming to an end. "It has. You needed this, little one. A chance to just be Ava, not Queen Avelina."Oscar chimed in, his tone playful. "Yeah, no royal duties, no political manoeuvring. Just us, the beach, and s'mores by the campfire."Theo snorted, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Don't forget the skinny dipping."Noah nearly choked on his coffee, laughing. "How could we forget? I still have sand in places I'd rather not mention.
AVAI dug my toes into the warm sand, relishing the sensation as I looked out over the sparkling ocean. The rhythmic crash of waves provided a soothing backdrop to our little beach paradise. Noah's strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close."Penny for your thoughts, my queen?" he murmured, his breath tickling my ear.I leaned into him, savouring his warmth. "Just thinking how perfect this moment is. All of us together, away from the pressures of the Kingdom."Theo approached, his blue eyes twinkling as he handed me a fruity cocktail. "Careful, or you might get used to this life of leisure."I laughed, taking a sip. The sweet, tangy flavor danced on my tongue. "Don't tempt me. I might just abdicate and become a beach bum."Oscar's voice rang out from where he and Callum were setting up a volleyball net. "As if you could ever abandon your duty, Ava. It's too ingrained in you."His words, though teasing, held
AVAThe flames of our bonfire danced against the night sky, casting shadows across the sand. I leaned back, feeling the warmth of Callum and Theo supporting me as Noah and Oscar stretched out across my legs. The ocean's rhythmic waves provided a soothing backdrop to our quiet evening."Look, a shooting star!" I exclaimed, pointing upward.As the streak of light arced across the heavens, I closed my eyes and made a silent wish. Please, let there be a way for me to have a child of my own. To have a family with these four incredible men I love."What did you wish for, love?" Noah asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.I opened my eyes and smiled mysteriously. "You know I can't tell you that. It won't come true."
AVAThe sizzle of bacon filled the air as I stood over the hob, wielding a spatula like a scepter. It had been a long time since I'd cooked anything myself, and the familiar domesticity warms me more than the heat from the stove."How's it coming along, love?" Noah's deep voice rumbled against my ear as his arms encircled my waist. His lips brushed my neck, sending a delightful shiver down my spine.I leaned into his embrace, savouring the moment. "Mmm, perfectly crispy. Though I might burn it if you keep distracting me like that."Noah chuckled, his chest vibrating against my back. "We can't have that, can we?" He gave me a final squeeze before moving away to pour coffee.I returned my focus to the bacon, flipping each strip with practiced ease. The aroma was intoxicating, reminding me of lazy Sunday mornings from my childhood. Before my world expanded to include four incredible mates and an entire kingdom."I vote we make this a weekly tradition," Theo piped up, sliding past me with
AVAI stared at my four mates in disbelief, my mind struggling to process their words. "A week away? But I can't possibly…"Callum's warm eyes met mine, gold flecks shimmering as he stepped closer. "Ava, love, we've arranged everything. Michael's agreed to cover your duties.""But the kingdom…" I protested weakly, even as a part of me yearned for escape.Oscar's playful smirk cut through my objections. "It’s sorted, I promise. Jeremiah and the Queen's Guard are on board too. They'll be coming along to keep us safe and sound."I felt a gentle brush against my mind;Theo, working to reassure me. His deep voice rumbled, "We've packed your things. You don't need to worry about anything."
THEOThe weight of silence hung heavy in Callum's office, broken only by the occasional creak of leather as we shifted in our seats. My eyes drifted from face to face; Callum's furrowed brow, Noah's clenched jaw, and Oscar's distant gaze. The air was thick with unspoken worry, all of us grappling with the same gut-wrenching concern.Ava."We can't go on like this," I finally said, my voice rough with emotion. "Ava's struggling, and we're all feeling it. We need to do something."Noah leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Agreed. But what? We've tried everything the healers suggested."I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. We're supposed to protect her, to make everything right. But how do we shield her from h
AVAThe empty cot loomed before us, a stark reminder of my failure. Noah's hand trembled as he reached for a tiny onesie, his blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. Oscar stood frozen, his usual warmth replaced by a hollow emptiness. Theo's jaw clenched, his protective instincts rendered useless. And Callum... Callum's anguish hit me like a physical blow through our mental link.I wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all. But my voice was trapped, suffocated by the weight of our grief. The nursery, once a symbol of hope, now mocked us with its cheerful yellows and greens. Stuffed animals looked back at us with lifeless button eyes, their plushy arms forever waiting for the embrace of children who would never exist."Ava! Ava, wake up!"Callum's voice cut through the nightmare, dragging me back to consciousness. I bolted upright, gasping for air, my cheeks wet with tears. His strong arms encircled me, his scent grounding me in reality."Shh, it's okay," he murmured,
Two Weeks Ago…AVAI gazed out over the balcony, the cool night breeze ruffling my curls as I took in the twinkling lights of the city below. So much had changed in just a few months."Quite a view, isn't it?" Noah's voice came from behind me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against his solid chest, savouring his warmth."It's breathtaking," I murmured. "I still can't believe this is real sometimes."Theo appeared at my other side, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Believe it, my queen. We've all worked hard to get here. You especially."I reached out to squeeze his hand, feeling a surge of pride and affection. "We certainly have."
Note from Katherine JaynaraWelcome back to the My Four Mates universe <3 Four Kings for Christmas is a festive short set a couple of months after the end of Bullied By My Four Mates. We see Ava and her mates deal with new problems in the Kingdom whilst maneuvering around the issue of Ava's infertility.Much love from me to you this festive season.CHAPTER 1: GROWING PAINSTwo Months Ago…AVAMy heart pounded like a war drum as I stood in the council chamber, my crown feeling heavy. The advisors' voices blend into a cacophony of worry, each word hammering home the gravity of the situation the Kingdom was in."The northern region grows restless, Your Majesty," Lord Falkirk says, his face creased with concern. "Reports of dissent are spreading like wildfire."I force my expression to stay neutral, even a