The Four Mates of Freya Rivers

It's A Great Morning

Four weeks earlier

Freya



There’s nothing like feeling the early morning breeze in your hair.

It’s the best way to start the day – pushing my legs to go faster and my lungs to the brink of burning. I run past the park, waving to the groundskeeper as he gets to work. I run towards the intersection that leads to the town proper before turning down the road to the lake, seeing people sip their morning coffees as they drive to work. Then I run around the lake, and I just listen to the sound of my pack waking up with me.

There’s definitely nothing better than this. It makes me feel alive.

And today, it sort of also serves as a retreat. That’s why I try to prolong it as much as possible.

So maybe let’s do another lap around the lake. And probably another one after that.

See, our beautiful pack house at the top of the hill is too buzzing with excitement for my taste. Everybody is preparing for the Summer Solstice that my father, Alpha Marcus of the Blackmane pack, has decided to host. And apparently, he has invited every neighbouring pack in the state.

Why, you ask? Because it also falls on my 21st birthday. The day when I, just like any other werewolf, will finally gain the ability to sense my true mate.

Am I excited? Not really. At least not like the other she wolves who would be waiting for the day with hearts in their eyes. My feelings about it are a little more complicated.

“Freya!” I hear my name from an all too familiar voice, and I smirk as I tried to run faster. “Damn it! Slowdown will ya?” He calls out and a laugh just comes out of me. He’ll catch up, he always does. But just to make things interesting…

“Last one to the pier does 50 deadman burpees!” I yell back, already pushing my legs faster. We both hate those training drills with a passion which is why I know Jax will use everything in him not to lose this race. I also know for that he’s faster than me, but given my advantage right now, we’re probably neck and neck.

I hear him curse as he runs faster, closing the distance between us, just as I set my sights on the tiny dock that we call the pier. My lungs were practically screaming but I couldn’t stop now. Not even when I see my stud of a best friend catching up to me in my peripheral vision.

His lightly tanned skin was glistening with sweat as his luscious blonde hair bounced with every step. No doubt making every girl around swoon at the sight of him. There’s a serious glint in his blue eyes, but a smirk played around on his lips as he ran. Taunting but determined to avoid those burpees at all costs.

“You slacking out already?” He flashed his classic surfer-dude smile as he overtook me.

Like hell am I gonna give up that easy. So I put all of my energy into running faster. I could feel that my wolf is in it too, pushing all of her energy out just to win us this race. And boy was it close. I just narrowly stepped onto the dock a split second before he did.

Jax and I stumble onto the pier at the exact same time, slowing down to halt and catching our ragged breaths.

I smiled as I turn to him. “I’ll expect those burpees at training today.”

“Ah, I think you’re mistaken, Frey. I obviously won that one.” He places his hands on his hips as he tries to catch his breath, his whole torso on display under the bright morning sunlight. Jeez, of course he’s shirtless. He almost always is during our runs. “But since it’s your birthday tomorrow, I’ll give you a pass.”

“Nice try, idiot.” I laughed. “But you’re not getting out of this one.”

Jax nodded as he faced the light. “Okay, I obviously won. But guess what?” He smiled. “I’ll still do the 50 burpees for you. Consider it an early birthday gift.”

I laughed as I pushed pass him onto the soil. Anything but admit to losing.

Jax and I start walking back towards the pack house. He falls into step beside me, as we take the shortcut through the woods. I have to face the preparations sometime.

“Where were you this morning?” I asked. “I went by your place and you weren’t there.” It’s very rare for him to miss our morning run. But this morning when we were supposed to meet up, he wasn’t there. And by the scent of his place, it seemed like he hadn’t been there the entire night either.

A fleeting thought that he might have spent the night at some random girl’s place entered my head. But that’s not really his style. Jax is too much of a romantic to engage in the hook up culture of the people our age. He’s been on a couple of dates through the years. But it wouldn’t take too long until he finds me and complain about how terrible or boring or off-vibe the girl was.

“I went on patrol.” He answers as he runs his hand through his hair, making his biceps bulge more than it has to. “The guys picked up on a scent of a rogue on the edge of territory. Seemed like it kept lingering around. But we traced it all night and couldn’t find it. The scent disappeared over by the falls.”

Rogues on our territory was a quite a common occurrence. But it’s been happening a lot more recently that it’s piqued my father’s attention. It’s nothing to be considered a big concern just yet, but I understand that we’re just taking precautions.

“It might have been just a rogue who got lost hunting.” I hummed.

“Yeah, possibly.” He says. “You ready to face the music up there?” He nods towards the pack house that was slowly coming into view.

“I’m going to pop into training first before I help with the preparations. A bunch of alphas and their officers are staying over so everything has to be perfect.” I say with quotes in the air.

“Oh relax, Frey.” He smiles, putting an arm around my shoulder. “You’re turning 21! It’s gonna be one hell of a party.”

I just smile at the ground as we walk. Not really wanting to get into my feelings on the matter.

“You’re nervous about finding your mate?” His voice softens. I could feel his stare on me, warm and comforting. I sigh knowing that when I could never really hide anything from him. Jax can read me like it was second nature to him. He rubs my arm trying to get me to relax. “Don’t be. I’m sure the moon goddess has great plans.”

We share a look for a few steps. Just looking into his cool blue eyes could make me calmer. But today the nerves are a little more uncontrollable.

I’m the Alpha’s eldest child, his only daughter, and the only offspring of him and his true mate, my mother, Maria. I’m the first in line to take over as head of this pack when my father retires, assuming nobody challenges me for it. And not to sound arrogant, but I honestly believe no one will even want to. Because I love the pack and the pack loves me. I’ve been working my ass off before I even knew how to read – learning and doing everything in my power to be a worthy leader. I trained earlier and harder than the other children, took every class that could help me run our pack and every business dealings we have outside, and I’ve put my personal life on the down low. My priority has always been preparing for that day when my father steps down and give the title of Alpha to me.

Just imagine it, the first female Alpha of the Blackmane pack after more than a century.

So when the day that I’ll be able to find my true mate comes around, I’m suddenly thrown into a spin. Suddenly, there’s so many different roads my life could turn and I have no control over any of it.

I mean, what if I wake up tomorrow and find my mate among our pack? Should I expect a mate’s mark by sundown? Then what if one of those alphas my father has invited is my mate? Will I be forced to move and swear my loyalty to a new pack?

Or what if I don’t find my mate at all? What then?

We get to the pack house sooner than I would’ve wanted, narrowly avoiding getting hit by somebody carrying a large pot of flowers. “Woah there.” Jax swerves us to the right, turning towards the side entry to the kitchen, and casually avoiding all of the chaos in the house. We laugh as we are greeted by the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes, the perfect breakfast after torturing our bodies with a run that long.

Jax pours me a cup of coffee as I start towards the stack of pancakes. Just as I was grabbing a plate, ready to stuff them down before training, the ever so bubbly (sarcasm) Chase turns around the corner with the same stern face he’s known for. You’d think that the guy would be smiling a little in the morning but no. It’s always that slightly irritated, unreadable poker face. Sometimes Jax and I would make bets trying to decipher his mood. It stopped being fun when we found out he’s almost always in a twist.

Chase is the Beta’s son, one of the best warriors in the pack, and likely to be one of my officers when I take over for my father. He might be a righteous jerk half of the time, and then a sadistic trainer the other half, but there’s no doubt he’d be a great advisor and officer when I take the title.

He approaches us with his arms crossed over his chest, that tick in his sharp jaw ever so present as he eyes me and Jax with those hazel of eyes of his. His soft auburn hair that’s got that long on top short on the side style is a little loose, like he just woke up and combed through it with his hands before throwing on his tight black shirt and training shorts. And with the light scruff on his face, it also seems like he didn’t bother shaving today.

“Freya. Jax.” He greets, stopping in front of me as I pause from placing food on my plate. “Good run today?” He asks holding my gaze.

“We did. Actually, took a few laps around the lake.” I beamed, because we have large lake. It’s at the top list of largest in the state for crying out loud, so it’s quite a great feat. “Jax also now owes 50 deadman burpees.”

“I’ll make sure to count it out later.” His lips purse as he glances to Jax who hands me my coffee. “You’re going to be late for training.”

“We’re just grabbing a quick bite. Besides, it’s still early.” Jax breathes, beaming at him as well. That fact that Chase is a few years our senior has long lost its intimidation. We’ve gotten use to his grumpy face.

“We’ll be there on time, Chase.” I add. “I’ll just freshen up a bit upstairs.”

“You’re excused from training today.” He points to me first, making me pause with my mug to my lips, then he turns to Jax. “And if you’re any later than you already are, I’m making it 150 burpees.”

“Seriously?” Jax asks with a mouthful of pancakes he’d stuffed in.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” He doesn’t. He never looks like he’s joking, or like he’d enjoy a nice laugh.

“Goddess, fine.” Jax curses, pouring his coffee in a to-go cup before grabbing an apple from the centre of the island. “I’ll catch up with you later, Freya.” He gives my shoulder a squeeze as he passes me and headed for the door. “See you at the grounds, Chase!”

“I’m excused?” I said, grabbing a stool and starting on my pancakes. Poor Jax didn’t even get to enjoy his.

“Yes. Per your father’s request. I understand he’d want your assistance for the celebrations tomorrow.” He plants his palms on the counter island as he leans a little closer towards me, drawing my attention back to him. His voice gets a little lower when an annoying little smirk plays around his lips. “I also understand that you need to prepare and look pretty for your many suitors arriving tomorrow, princess.”

“Oh shut up, Chase. They’re not suitors. They’re guests!” I say. Although I might be trying to convince myself more than him.

Chase stands back up and makes his way towards the door. “My sister is looking for you in your room. She’s offered her assistance in that department.” He tosses one last look over his shoulder. “I’d wish you luck, but you won’t need it.”

What the hell does he mean with that?

How I’d love to shove his annoying face down his throat. I don’t really know how to physically do that, but I’d settle for kicking his ass in the ring. Or at least try my damn hardest to (I could never get the upper hand on him when we train). But since I’m excused today, I’d have to try some other day. So for now, I guess I’d have to focus on the task at hand.

I finish my breakfast and make my way upstairs to our family’s residential wing. All of my father’s officers and a lot of our chief warriors live in the pack house with us. And tomorrow, our guests would be staying at the other wing.

“Good morning, Frey!” My younger half-brother, Lucas, greets me as we pass in the hall. He’s up and ready for training, no doubt rushing not to be late.

“Good morning.” I greet back. “Is Victoria here yet?” I ask about my stepmother. She had gone to the city a week back to handle a few business dealings. See, my father ran everything around our pack like a proud town mayor – ensuring the peace, enforcing the rules, and taking care of the pack. Meanwhile, our Luna takes pride in managing and representing our LLC in the business world – one of our pack’s biggest sources of income.

“She’ll be back later tonight.” He pauses to give me a peck on the cheek. “I’m running off to training. I’m due to face off with Chase in the ring today. Have to show him some things that they don’t teach you around here.” He smiles his cocky ass as he heads for the stairs.

My brother is 17 years old. And up until this year, his mother had sent him off to a special boarding school for werewolves in New Zealand. I don’t know what they teach them at that special school of his, but he left here as a sweet little 12 year old boy and now he’s back as a grown man who could match up with his seniors like Chase.

I round the corner to my bedroom and am greeted my other best friend rummaging around in my walk-in closet.

“Good morning, Cora!” I greeted as I slammed my door close, making her yelp and jump around.

“You scared the s**t out of me!” She said while holding one of my fancy dress shirts to her chest.

“What are you doing in my closet?” I laughed.

“Apparently, mourning my best friend’s taste in clothes!” She cries, throwing the shirt down to the pile on the floor and turning around to dig through my hangers again. . “All you have here are tank tops and joggers and khakis and flannel! How the hell are we going to put together a nice look for you with these things? I will not allow my best friend to meet her mate looking like this!”

She gives up on the hunt as I plopped down on the hanging wicker chair in the corner. “I already have a dressed picked out for tomorrow night. It’s the strappy blue one at the end.”

She turns around, her eyebrows almost reaching her hairline in utmost shock and disgust. “The dress you wore to prom? Three years ago?”

“Uh… yes?”

“Uh-uh.” She shakes her head as she heads toward her purse on my bed. “Nope. We’re going to town and get you some new clothes.” I roll my eyes. “Stop rolling your eyes at me Frey! This is a big deal. You’re finding your mate tomorrow, I’m sure of it!”

I just sighed as I leaned back in my seat. Cora notices my face and settles down on the bed across from me, suddenly getting a little serious.

“What’s wrong?” She asks.

“It’s nothing.” I start, but she just looks at me with those imploring eyes and I could not hold it back. “Fine. I’m just… not excited about it okay? I just don’t feel like it should be a big deal. I might find my mate, so what? I’m still the Alpha’s daughter. After tomorrow, I’ll still be focused on preparing to be the next great female leader of our pack. I’m one for the history books! So tomorrow shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s not going to change anything, it’s not supposed to.”

Cora nervously looks at me, knowing for a fact that I’m not only unexcited but also scared shitless. Because what if it does change everything? My life has been in a constant determined state, so tomorrow is starting to look like more of a cyclone headed to destroy it. And all I could do is pray to the Moon Goddess that it just passes by.

“I’ll tell you what.” Cora says, standing up and leaning down to grab my shoulders. “Why don’t we go into town, grab a few milkshakes and just… forget about the mate thing for now. Let’s think about it like, finding the perfect badass dress that’ll show these other Alphas that a woman is about to step into their ranks.”

I smile at that. I have the bestest friends. “Alright. Let me just shower real quick.”

Her screech of success and excitement is what I hear as I close my bathroom door.