~Landon~
“Portia…..Portia Colby.” She sighs and looks down at her ankle, inspecting the damage.
“Tia.”
“What?”
“I said, it’s Tia.” She sighs again and tries to get up. I quickly move to her side, grabbing her hand. She pulls away at first but then places her hand in mine, and the sparks fly. My body shivers at the contact, and I have to take a deep breath to stay focused. I place my other hand on her elbow and help her off of the ground. She leans into me, trying to keep pressure off of her ankle. I know it will heal pretty soon, but it looks kind of bad right now.
“Why ‘Tia’?” She turns her head to me and raises an eyebrow.
“Huh?”
“Why do you go by Tia?” She chuckles a bit, but there is no humor in her voice.
“Do you know what the name Portia means?” I shake my head. Truth be told, I never really thought about what people’s names mean. “It means, well, in many circles, it means pig or hog. Shakespeare meant it in a different way, but that wasn’t the intended meaning when the name was given to me.” Now I wonder how the hell she knows all of that. “And how do I know that you wonder? My father told me so. He named me Portia specifically because of its meaning. So I go by Tia.” Damn, that’s just fucked up. Why would a parent do that to a child, and why tell them that they did that?
Son, what the hell is going on? Everyone is confused and waiting for you two. Both of us? I look around, but Lincoln is nowhere to be found. I wonder where he went.
Dad, it’s a bit complicated, but……..we found our mate. Please postpone things for us. I will explain everything later.
Say no more. Take your time, and we will talk tomorrow.
“Who was that you were talking to?” I look down at Tia.
“Just my dad. He will have to postpone the ceremony. We…..we should talk.” Tia sighs and looks down at her feet. She nods slightly before looking back up at me. She is fucking gorgeous. She has big, light brown eyes with long, natural lashes. Her lips are thick and pouty. She has flawless brown skin, and her hairstyle is cute on her goddess braids in a brown/blonde color. The coloring suits her skin tone very well. She is about 5’7 with a body to die for. She has a nice round ass and a big-sized chest, though not too big. Everything looks well proportioned with her toned body. You can tell that she still works out even though she has been away. My body is starting to respond to hers, though now is not the time for all of that.
We start to walk back toward the packhouse, and I notice Tia limping. I quickly pick her up bridal style, making her gasp. “Hey, I can walk, you know.”
“You can, that’s true, but you’re limping. You need to give your ankle time to heal. I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t try to help you along.” I wink at her and notice a bit of a blush appear on her cheeks. She looks away and timidly wraps her arms around my neck. I take a deep breath, trying to savor her scent without being a creep about it.
“Where is your brother? I assume I’m fated to you both, correct?”
“I’m not sure where he is, but I’d imagine he’ll be along at some point.” We continue to head back to the packhouse.
~Lincoln~
I don’t know how long I’ve been running. I stripped off my coat and tie along the way. I put up my mind block and took off. I wish I could shift, but if I shift, I will end up right where I don’t want to be. I end up at the lake we have in the back of our territory. It is a beautiful lake that not a lot of people frequent. It is the perfect place to have a quiet moment.
I kick my shoes off and let my feet breathe. Running in dress shoes wasn’t the smartest idea, but it’s too late now. I sit close to the lake's edge and place my head on my knees. What am I going to do? If I accept Portia as my mate, that means that my brother and I will have to share her. I’m not sure that I’m strong enough for that. I don’t want to get jealous or angry with my brother. Choosing the twins would have been perfect, and I’m sure that eventually, the bond would be strong there.
Truth be told, I have always had a bit of a crush on Portia; I just never told anyone, not even my brother. She is gorgeous and such a fierce fighter. I would say she may be better than her sisters. Where they have been coddled, she has pushed herself to the limits of her skills. She would be an amazing Luna.
As I sit and look out over the lake, I hear a twig snap behind me. I pretend that I don’t hear anything and wait a bit. Sure enough, the scent of the person hits me, informing me of exactly who it is. “What are you doing here?”
“You and your brother left so abruptly. Your parents wouldn’t tell us what’s going on, just that the ceremony is postponed.” The intruder sits next to me and places a hand on my arm. In the past, this would please me, this personal contact. Today, it just feels so wrong. It feels as if I’m cheating on my mate. I sigh and turn to Aida. I take in her perfect coif and her manicured nails. Her makeup is always done to perfection, but she uses too much around the eyes. Her perfume is always loud and piled on. Her dark brown eyes bore into me, imploring me to make her feel better. I just can’t seem to do that.
“Everything is fine. It’s just that something came up, and we have to deal with it.”
“Something came up? What could have possibly come up just as you were about to be sworn in as Alpha?” I close my eyes. I know this will keep going until the truth is out. Aida has never been known to let things be. Then, if she gets information that is too much for her, she is devastated.
“It’s just……..just something. Please, we don’t need to do this now.” I open my eyes and see the tears start to form in her eyes. She is always emotional though I would imagine half of the time, it’s fake.
“Why don’t you just tell her what she wants to know? There is no point in hiding it. We are to be the Lunas of this pack, are we not?” Ah, Adela. I should have known that she wasn’t far behind. Wherever one is, the other is close by. I put my head back down to rest on my knees. I didn’t come out here to be interrogated. I just wanted to be left alone so that I can think.
“Please, baby. Tell us what’s going on.” Aida softly kisses the top of my earlobe, which pisses Brutus off. He wants to rip her tongue out for touching me with it. I struggle to keep him at bay. They don’t deserve the punishment. It isn’t like any of us knew that this was going to happen.
This may not be the best way to do this or the best time, but the truth needs to come out. I stand up and look between Aida and Adela, who is standing behind her. I run my hand across my jaw, sighing deeply. “We…….we seem to have found our mate.” Adela looks pissed, and Aida looks heartbroken. Fuck, this is too much to take in right now. I have so much to consider.
“You two are rejecting her, right? You love us and told us we would stand next to you. She is going to be rejected. RIGHT?!” Always straight to the point, that Adela. What am I supposed to say? I can’t tell them yes because I know for a fact that Landon will not be rejecting her. I can’t tell them no because that would create a shitstorm that no one wants to deal with right now.
“Things will……..work out. Just give us time to get there.” I turn and walk away, unable to take the looks anymore. I can hear Aida sob, and Adela comforts her. I slowly walk away from the pair, heading back into the forest. I still need time to think and figure out what I’m going to do.
~Adela~
What. The. Fuck. This can’t be happening. Who the fuck is their mate? It has to be someone who was at the ceremony, but who? It can’t be someone in our pack. They have been back from their training for about a year now. When they returned, we started to see each other again, and they told us that they planned to make us their chosen. Dad was ecstatic when we told him the news. He always said that we were meant for greater things. He is proud to be a warrior, but his princesses deserve better. And we do deserve better. We are smart and amazing warriors. Dad trained us personally, and there isn’t really anyone who can defeat us.
Aida lays her head on my shoulder and cries softly. She has had this dream for a long time of being mated to Lincoln. She has always had a crush on him and dared to call it love. I always thought the twins were attractive but wondered if I were to be mated to someone in my own pack. There is never that guarantee. I prefer to be the Luna here since I know everyone and vice versa.
Truth be told, we found our mates while the twins were off training. Aida and I were in a neutral territory shopping together. We met two best friends at the mall and immediately knew they were our mates. After speaking to them, we realized they were warriors in their pack but not head warriors or even up for any promotions. They didn’t even want more. They were content in their position, seeing no need to get more. That didn’t work for me; it wasn’t enough. Aida couldn’t handle the fact that Lincoln wasn’t hers. We rejected the two and left the mall. We only ever told our dad, and he told us that we did the right thing. There is no one else for us other than the Alphas. We have to make this work.
Dad?
Yes, Honey? Are you and Honeybun okay? Do you know what’s going on?
Lincoln told us. We have a problem.
Just tell Daddy what it is, and he will fix it.
Lincoln said…….they found their mate. My father growls through the mindlink, causing me to shudder.
You two get home. I will handle it.
“Come, Aida. Let’s go home.” She lifts her head and looks at me with damp eyes.
“But what about them? What do we do?”
“Nothing. We do nothing. Dad said he will take care of it.” That perks Aida up, and I help her to her feet. We walk home, hand in hand.
~Landon~I make it to the packhouse with Tia in my arms. I take her up to my room and set her on the bed. I watch her look around the room, taking in all the details. I have a king-sized bed in the room against the back wall. A big screen television is mounted on the opposite wall, big enough that I can see it from several different locations. There is a small eating area in the room with a love seat and a small, two-seater table. I have a huge 4-door armoire with matching end tables on each side of the bed. My room has a walk-in closet as well as a luxury bathroom. My brother’s room is pretty much the same, though with different color schemes. Actually, there is a door that leads right to his room from mine.I place Tia against the headboard and prop her foot up on the pillows. I know she will heal soon, but this should ensure that she heals properly. “Hang on, and I will get you an ice pack.” Tia grabs my arm, and I look at her. “You really don’t need to go through the trouble.” I
~Landon~I feel the bed next to me, but it’s empty. I open my eyes and come face to face with the eyes of my brother. Tia isn’t there. I sit up and look around the room, but there is nothing to see. Lincoln heads to the restroom but comes back quickly and shakes his head. I have no idea where she went or how long she has been gone. Trent?Yes, Alpha Landon.I need you to find someone. Find Portia Colby. See where she is. Check with her family if need be.Yes sir.“Trent is going to look for her.” Lincoln nods and sits on the edge of the bed.“Thank you.” “For?”“For talking to me last night. I really needed that. I don’t want to lose out on our mate.” I reach over and pat Lincoln on the back. I head into the restroom to shower and get dressed. I throw on some jeans, a long-sleeved v-neck sweater and a pair of Timberlands. When I come out of the closet dressed, Lincoln is sitting on the bed, having changed as well. He has on a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt with Air Forces.
~Adela~That ugly bitch! I hate her; I hate her; I HATE HER! How dare she interfere in our lives like this? Why didn’t she just stay gone? How could Lincoln or Landon even consider taking her as a mate? She is weak and useless; she always has been. Landon and Lincoln belong with myself and Aida. We are stronger, smarter, and will make better Lunas. This pack knows us and will support us over Portia any day. I watch her drive off, contemplating going after her. I figure there would be no point. Soon, I’m sure, either she will do what Daddy said, or the boys will reject her for us. Either way, Aida and I will take our rightful spots as the Lunas of the Emerald Lake Pack. I couldn’t believe it when Luna Kimberly told us that the twins had not only found their fated mate, but she believed that it was our sister. Smelling her on them and her silence this morning was the confirmation needed. This must be some sick joke, but I’m not laughing. While training, I see Trent approach Daddy. I a
~Tia~I swear I cried the entire way back to my apartment. The four-hour drive was filled with sniffling and wailing. I have no idea what went through the minds of anyone who noticed me while I was driving. I can’t say that I’m surprised at what happened. I could have guessed the outcome would have been something like that. My dad only wants the best for his amazing daughters, and here I am, just getting in the way of that. I’d imagine that I will get a rejection letter or something in the next day or two. Let’s face facts. There is nothing I can offer the Alphas that my sisters couldn’t provide tenfold. Times like this, with high stress and anxiety, I usually shift into Andricia and let nature bring me back to a more manageable state. There is no way I can do that today because if I shift into Andricia, she will just hightail it right back home to the pack. She has been whining for her mates since I got on the road, and it has taken everything in me to fight the urge to turn back.
~Tia~*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK**KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK**KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*At first, I thought it was a part of my dream, this annoying knocking. I turned over multiple times, hoping it would go away. It was the knock on my bedroom wall that got me moving. ‘WOULD YOU ANSWER THE DAMN DOOR?!’“So….sorry,” I swear, sometimes I hate living in an apartment, and I hate living around so many humans. Don’t get me wrong; I have no issue with humans at all. It’s just we are different creatures, and some of the things that irritate them are small and petty, in my opinion. I throw the covers back and try to put my feet into my teddy bear slippers. I’m groggy and still sleepy. There is too much on my mind to be able to sleep soundly. I make my way to the door, the knocking getting louder with each step. I have no idea who the hell would be at my door. Maybe it’s my dad, and he will sit here and force me to reject the twins. Maybe it’s the Alpha and Luna, and they will demand that I reject their sons. I r
~Lincoln~I step toward my mate, wanting to grab her and show her exactly how I feel about her. I want to prove to her what I can really do, what I can make happen. How could she tell us apart?I have no idea, L, but I guess that’s a good thing.“How could you tell it was me and not Landon?” Tia seems surprised by my question. I know it doesn’t pertain to our discussion, but I’m curious. “It’s simple, really. Your scents give you away.” Landon and I look at each other, confused. Tia chuckles. “Both of you have a strong peppermint scent. Lincoln, yours is mixed with grapefruit, while Landon’s is mixed with lemon.” Tia shrugs her shoulders as if the explanation is obvious, and maybe it is to her.“That’s a weird combination, but it doesn’t matter. We are here to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us. We have been waiting for you, and we won’t let you go. Linc is right; anyone who doesn’t approve can leave the pack.” Tia looks over to Landon and back at me. Her stomach gru
~Landon~I’m surprised, yet not surprised, by Tia’s thoughts. I should have seen that she would be worried about the pack’s reaction to her being Luna. Her concerns are valid, but Lincoln and I agree. If the pack can’t support the fact that Tia is our mate, then they can leave. Neither of us will tolerate our mate being treated poorly or with disrespect. Besides, if they do treat her poorly, it won’t be because she is a horrible person. It will be due to the gossip that would fly around the pack about her, gossip that would be false. We spend the rest of the meal trying to get to know each other. It’s something that we didn’t do growing up. Even though my brother and I have always had eyes on Tia, we never took the time to really see who she is. She is incredible, and I feel more blessed with each passing minute. We head back to Tia’s place after a filling meal. It was hard to keep my hands to myself while we were out. I tried to remain respectful since we are in a human town. They
~Landon~I can’t be surprised that Tia asks that question; I guess I just hoped it wouldn’t come. She has every right to wonder if we have slept with her sisters. It is honestly something we should have discussed before we went this far, but how much longer was I expected to keep away from my mate?I clear my throat, and Tia looks at me. “I’m sure you know how Adela is: very practical and prudent. We discussed things and decided that it would be better if we waited.” I sigh. “Truth be told, I was still hoping to meet my fated mate, so I had no trouble deciding to leave things at just kissing.” Tia nods in response, and I let out a breath I was silently holding in. I was scared that she would be upset or not believe me. This entire situation is not the norm, and it will take a lot of sensitivity to navigate it. Lincoln is still silent, and I wonder what’s going through his head. I’m not aware that anything had happened between him and Aida, but I’m not with him 24/7. “And you?” Tia do