AVAI wasn’t sure what, but something was telling me that I needed to run back to the pack house. So I did.What I didn’t expect to see was two almost identical wolves staring back at me. “Oscar,” I whispered through the link. “You’re stunning.”Both Oscar and Callum were sandy brown wolves with bright green eyes, there were just subtle differences. Oscar’s fur was speckled with darker brown hairs, much like his hair in his human form, and Callum was very slightly taller. Callum’s wolf eyes had a blue ring around the irises, just like his human did.Artemis sat down on her haunches, a little confused. There was a bond there with Oscar too. When she closed her eyes and we just felt for it, it felt like I had two gold threads, one running to Callum, one running to Oscar.I shifted back, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Oscar’s wolf trotted over to me, and lay his massive head down in my lap. I reassuringly ran my fingers through his fur, revelling in how soft he is.“Oscar, can you sh
AVAThe three of us ran together, jumping over and into each other, all laughing over the mind link. We slowed to a stop when we reached the pack house and saw Callum and Oscar on the stairs.Once we stopped, the three of us shifted back, but not by choice. It was like something yanked Artemis back, leaving me (and Theo and Noah) face down in the mud.“Fuck,” I swore, rolling over and wiping the mud off my face.“Ava!” Callum shouted. “Are you okay?” He ran towards me, pulling me up to stand.I nodded, and when we touched, it was like a jolt of power moved through me into him. His eyes immediately flared gold, and he fell to his knees. “Ares is trying to shift,” he growled, fighting it.“Callum, don’t fight it, let it happen, baby.” I fell to my knees in front of him whilst everyone watched the display. Even Jacob and Alex were on the steps of the pack house now.He shifted, and he had completely changed. His wolf was now midnight black, the same colour as mine, his eyes gold, and on
AVAAfter dinner, my new King Consorts joined me in my parents’ living room with tea and cake. Mum and dad looked nervous, really nervous.I put my plate back on the coffee table, cake half eaten.“Mum, dad,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”“Ava… I’m sorry we kept things from you… but I promise, we’ll tell you everything now.” Mum was almost crying as she spoke.When they felt my aura start to suffocate the room, Oscar and Callum took my hands, calming me instantly.I took a deep breath, before sitting back and nodding for her to start.“The first thing, sweetie, is your name. When you came here, we started using a shortened version of your name to make it easier to keep you safe. You go by Ava Wright, but you were born Avelina Wroblewski.”“I knew that,” I whispered. “Artemis told me.”They didn’t need to say anything for me to know that my eyes were shining gold.“How long have you known?” Mum’s voice was quiet.“Since I was ten.”“Ten?! You didn’t get Artemis until you were thirtee
AVAThe faces of my Kings were all stoic, uncertain. “The Moon Goddess, Ava?” Noah asked.I nodded. “The short story is that I need to have mated and marked the four of you by the full moon, which is only a week away.”“Why that soon?”“Because that’s when the rogues will come for me, and if they do before I’ve got all the four marks, they’ll win.”“But we don’t have time? If we have to wait in between each one and we don’t know how long we need to wait, seven days isn’t really enough time?”“I will know when Ava is ready for the next mark, Noah,” Artemis said. “Ava is strong. I am strong.”I took back over from Artemis. “She’s right, Noah.”He sighed, nodding. “So how do we do this?”“In the order you came to me, so Callum, Oscar, you, then Theo.”“Don’t look so smug, Callum,” Theo growled, his aura flowing. Of course Callum’s flowed back, and as the two boys stood off against each other, their respective twins came to stand behind them, also growling.I stood in between them, lettin
CALLUMWe lay there attempting to catch our breath, and I could safely say, I had never felt better.Where my skin was in contact with Ava’s, it felt like sparks were flying along my skin. Her voice was almost musical, her laugh hypnotic, her smell intoxicating. I could lose myself in her body, stay there forever, and die a very happy man.It was at that point when a searing hot pain shot through my body, leaving me dripping in sweat and in unbelievable agony. It was like a first shift, but so much worse.“Callum, we need to shift,” Ares said, his voice sounding strained too. “I don’t know what’s happening, but not shifting feels like it’s tearing me apart.”I let go of my control, letting Ares take over and shift.Ava gasped when I completed the shift, and ran her hand along my wolf’s face. “Ares, Callum,” she whispered. “I think our marking unlocked some kind of magic.”Huh?I shifted back, confused. “What do you mean?”“It was like something tingling and shimmering around your body
AVAI shifted straight back when I got to the clearing in front of the pack house, not even paying attention to the crowd that had gathered, or caring about the fact I was as naked as the day I was born.Callum pulled me into a hug, pressing his lips to my forehead, before checking me over for injuries. He didn’t find any, and instead turned his attention to his mark on my neck. Gone was the bite mark, and in its place was a delicate pattern of the Aries constellation.“Beautiful,” he whispered as he teased his fingertips over the still sensitive flesh.I tiptoed in front of him, reaching up to admire my own mark on his neck. Gone were the teeth and in its place was a delicate tattoo of my wolf staring up at the moon.I pressed a gentle kiss to the mark, enjoying how his body shivered in pleasure at the feel of my lips on his skin. He groaned when my tongue teased over the mark, his hands ending up intertwined around my back.Artemis reminding me that the rogues were a very real threa
OSCARThe feel of Ava beneath me was something I’d never take for granted. She was all soft curves, passion and fire; and it was like every inch of her was designed specifically to drive me crazy with need.I wasn’t sure why I’d been blessed with someone quite like her for a mate, but I’d never take her for granted, and I’d always treat her like the Queen she is and deserves to be.At the first touch of my lips on hers, she moaned contentedly, melting into the kiss. She tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me on top of her, gasping at the feel of my cock pressing against her core.I tilted my hips, rubbing my tip across her opening and clit, leaving her moaning with every touch.She broke the kiss to catch her breath, tilting her head to give me access to her neck. I obliged immediately, focusing on the spot above Callum’s mark where I’d be marking her. I teased the spot with teeth and tongue, and slid my right hand in between us, searching for her clit.Her eyes rolled back at th
AVAOnce we were sure neither Oscar or I were having any kind of immediate negative reaction to our mating, the three of us headed back to the pack house. As we ran, I thought I saw something in the woods; someone watching us. I slowed to more of a trot, Callum slowing down to match my speed.“Ava, you okay?” Callum’s voice through the mindlink was concerned.“I thought I saw someone,” I replied. “Someone watching us.”“Let me check it out.”“Not on your own, Callum.”“I’m literally your destined protector, Ava, I’ve got this.”“I told you that I will not let you shove me away from danger forever, Callum. I’m not hiding behind a tree.”Artemis hid our scent, and we crept forward into the woods, listening and looking out for trouble. There was the faint smell of a wood fire and meat cooking… Someone had set up a camp here recently. But they’d gone.Then… the smell hit me.“Rogues,” I growled through the mind link. “They know.”“Know what?!” Callum’s voice was frantic.“That I marked y
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