The Four Mates of Freya Rivers

No Hesitation

Freya

My nails look incredibly interesting now that I sit in a room with all three of them. Jax, Chase and Archer.

I can’t even believe Archer was here right now. The memory of his retreating image as we left that summer camp years ago keeps replaying over and over in my head. My heart quaked, remembering the pain I felt when I gave up hope that he’ll call me back. That boy is a far cry from this man sitting across from me, staring at me with such intense eyes filled so much want and heat. This is a man in front of me – chiselled jaw, think dark eyebrows, black wavy hair that was so long it curled just below his ears. And those striking grey eyes – the prettiest eyes I’d ever seen.

Chase sat right beside me on the couch, his eyes still sending daggers to Archer. He was so close that the entirety of our legs were touching, hand wrapped around my back, fingers splayed on my hip and playing with the fabric of my dress. He felt so territorial right now it felt like the only thing left to do is for him to pull me into his arms and sit me on his lap. I don’t really want to bring it up. The asshole just might do it.

Meanwhile, Jax was burning a hole into the carpet. He’s been walking back and forth in front of the fireplace the moment we set foot in my father’s office. His hands were fisted and shaking with anger. The murderous look in his eyes has stayed there since he realized who exactly Archer was.

My father stayed back for a while, probably placating the party guests and Victoria. Any second now he’s going to walk through those doors and start asking questions. Questions I don’t know how to answer exactly yet. I’m still not excited about trying to explain the fact that I have two – nope, three mates. All of whom are in this very room.

Goddess, please bury me now.

I stare at the door in question, hoping and praying that something else happens outside and we can delay this conversation. Maybe the Alphas start fighting over territory lines – that’s plausible. Maybe a meteor could strike and kill us all – probably a little more impossible, but it wouldn’t hurt to hope.

Or maybe I could just run out those doors. Now that’s more doable. I can just bunch up my skirt and take off into the woods – to where? I don’t really know yet, nor do I care. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. But right now, I just need to get out of this room ASAP.

“No running.” Chase suddenly says, somehow pulling me even closer into his side. For the first time since we walked into this room his eyes leave Archer and turns to me, leaning in and placing his forehead against mine. “I’m right here.”

A wave of comfort engulfs me, letting me take a deep breath as I breathe in his scent and close my eyes. Archer growls across from us, snapping me out of the moment. I meet his eyes again for a split second, once again getting surprised by the mate bond between us, before looking back down to my lap.

“Sit down, lover boy.” Chase says, leaning back into the couch and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You’re going to make me dizzy walking around in circles.”

Jax does stop, this time his livid eyes directed at Chase. He was about to say something, probably an insult to Chase, but I cut in.

“Jax, please.” A small smile lined my lips, trying to placate him as much as I can. They can’t start fighting in here. I’m going to lose my mind if they do. “Sit here.” I patted the spot next to me, still looking at him pleading eyes.

Jax takes a deep breath, his eyes marginally more calm as he held my gaze. With one final grind of his teeth and a small nod, he takes the other spot beside me. Like Chase, he sat so close we looked conjoined. But unlike Chase, he placed his hand right on the knee of my exposed leg. This garnered another growl from Archer, but apparently, Jax likes taunting the beast because his fingers started moving in comforting circles up and inside my inner thigh.

The angry look in his eyes have been replaced by a smug one as he looked at a growling Archer whose nails are now carving crescents into my father’s chair. I would’ve scolded him for it, but apparently I was too busy gasping and trying to catch my breath.

With Jax’s hand on my thigh and Chase’s hand now moving up to my back and waist, my senses were on overload. My hands shoot out to grab both legs beside me, my nails digging into their fabric clad thighs as a shaky breath escapes me.

Oh Goddess.

Every stroke of their fingers felt like a stroke of blue flame, lighting up every nerve ending in my body and sending a direct strike of lightning to my core. I wanted to close my legs to suppress the frustrating pulse, to hide the pool of heat that was now flooding my panties, but I ended up opening my legs and inch wider when Jax’s fingers start to tease the edge of my underwear.

Chase chuckles a deep and rumbling sound when a whimper comes out of me. My eyes involuntarily close as he plants a feather light kiss on my bare shoulder as he started playing around the edges of my fabric dress, delving inside and grabbing bare skin – a breath’s width away from grabbing my ass.

I don’t know what the hell Archer was doing, but I think I heard him mutter under his breath. It was along the lines of “I will rip both of your f*****g throats out.” Or something…

The words keep going and please don’t stop was at the edge of my tongue but then my father bursts through the doors. My mates beside me replaced their hands on more PG places, Jax’s on my knee and Chase’s on the back of the couch. I sat upright so quick, shaking myself out of the fog and fixing my dress. Jax exhaled a rugged breath as he fixed his posture, while Chase chuckled once again as he rubbed his bottom lip with his index finger.

When my eyes focused, I inhaled a shaky breath as I met Archer’s eyes. He was fuming, there was no doubt about that, with the way his brows were drawn down, his jaw locked, and his mouth in a thin line. But he was hot too. And bothered probably.

Goddess, please bury me now. Seriously.

Dad closes the door again, locking it behind him before rushing towards his liquor bar on the opposite side of the room and pouring himself some whiskey. He downed it in one gulp. And after pouring himself another glass, this time choosing to sip, he faces us – he faces me.

“Can you please explain what just happened out there?” He asks.

I took a steadying breath, making sure that my voice won’t falter when I speak. I raise my chin and avoid the eyes of the three other men in the room.

“They’re my mates.” I say simply.

“Who?”

“Jax and Chase.” I say. And then I make the mistake of looking over at Chase again, because until now I’m still surprised at the whiplash of our mate bond. “And Archer.” I add, my voice slightly lower.

Jax curses beside me. Can’t blame, I wanna curse too. I mean, how evil is the Goddess for making the one boy who broke my heart years ago as my mate. One of my mates.

“WHAT?” My father shakes his head, his arm raising to scratch the top of it. “Three mates? Why would you… I mean, how…” He starts and fails numerous times. So to save him the effort, I speak and tell him the story of how it all happened. How I woke up and instantly found Jax and Chase. How I ran into Medora and finding out it wasn’t such a weird thing. How it wasn’t a disgusting thing at all – this one I made a little more emphasis on.

Meanwhile, my father had descended down onto the lounge chair by the fire. His gaze was far and his brows were scrunched up. I don’t even want to ask what’s going on in that head of is.

When I finish with telling him that I felt the mate bond snap in place for Archer, avoiding telling the story behind the two of us, Dad was already done with his glass of whiskey. I wondered for a while if I could ask him to pour me a glass too.

“Well at least you’ve already talked to Medora.” He says, nodding to himself. Then his eyes focused on me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Maybe I felt embarrassed about having three mates, but now, looking at my father’s crestfallen face, I definitely feel more embarrassed that I hid something as big as this from him. He’s always been my person. There has never been a thing that I haven’t told him.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” I say, starting to fidget with my fingers again. “I just… I had a hard time reeling it in myself I didn’t even think to tell you.”

My Dad leans back in his chair with a deep sigh, setting his glass down on the table beside him. It takes him a long minute of staring at nothing. Thinking to himself. Before he forces a smile onto his face.

“I was lucky enough to be given one true mate.” He says, holding my gaze. “All I’ve wanted for you was to have that too – that one person in your corner, no matter what. So I’m happy and thankful that you have three.”

Tears rush to my eyes. I feel Jax grab my hand while Chase replaced his on my back. Dad and I share a moment of understanding. In that look, I felt his support, his love. Three mates or none, I’m still his daughter.

“But I must ask, Alpha Archer.” He carries on after a few more moments. “My daughter is the next Alpha in line. I know you serve a pack of your own – a pack that is already quite far. I hope you understand that that’s quite a conflict.”

My eyes shift back to Archer who remains incredibly still, his eyes never veering away from my face. That’s right, he’s the Alpha of the pack from out of state. I remember Lucas saying something about that. He was the one my father was waving me over to meet.

“I don’t plan on uprooting her from her pack, Alpha Marcus.” Archer says, his deep velvety voice washing over me like a warm blanket. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

What does he mean by that though? We can’t possibly join the two packs, they’re too far apart. And neither of us can abandon our responsibilities. Wait. Does he mean to reject me? That’s the only probable solution I can see and I don’t… I don’t know exactly feel about it yet.

Rejected bonds are rare but they do happen. From what I know, both wolves would eventually move on. But it’s not after months, maybe even years, of great longing and pain.

Archer has already broken my heart once. I don’t know what I’ll do if it ever happens again.

And staring at him, now having a hard time separating the man in front of me from the boy who ate skittles with me under the stars, I suddenly cannot breathe.

“Well that’s good to hear.” My father says, but his voice was overpowered by the sound of my blood rushing to my head. “How exactly do you-“

I stood up suddenly, surprising both Jax and Chase. Dad was getting ready to ask him how he planned on ensuring that, but I wasn’t ready to hear the answer. Uh-uh. Nope. I had just been forced to admit to my Dad about this whole three mates business, but I’m not ready to hear the answer to that question yet.

I just found out that Archer is my mate – one of my mates – less than an hour ago. Not to mention the surprise of being face to face with the boy who broke my heart. And now he’s about to reject me. I can’t do go through that. That’s too much, too fast.

“Excuse me.” I say, my voice firm but breathy. “I’m feeling a little tired. I think I should go rest now.”

My father was surprised. “Oh of course, dear.” He said. “I’ll tell the people outside you’re feeling under the weather. I understand.”

I nodded and thanked him. Then, while avoiding everyone else’s eyes, I darted out the door. I could hear them calling my name, but I was already rushing past the hallway, avoiding the foyer and deciding to go through the stairwell by the kitchen.

That probably wasn’t the best action to do – running away from the conversation – but I didn’t think I had it in me to face that particular music right now.

I was about to reach my door when a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me right into a hard chest.

“Frey.” Jax said, and I looked up to his hazel eyes. “Are you okay?” His voice was soft and comforting, making me melt into his chest. One look over his shoulder and I saw that Chase wasn’t that far behind him.

And I don’t think Archer is anywhere after them.

“I’m fine.” I say, laying my forehead on his chest.

“The offer to rip his head off is still on the table, Frey.” Jax says as his arms wrap around me.

“Why are we ripping his head off?” Chase asks beside us, seeming to have formed some sort of partnership with me and Jax. Goddess, in a way he already has. “Not that it’s going to be a problem or anything, but I at least like to know why before I kill an Alpha.”

I turn my head towards him, and he was looking straight at me with the gentlest eyes. It looked weird on his face – I wanted the grumpy look back. We shared a smile for a long moment.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I finally say. I actually do feel tired already. “Not right now, guys.”

For a long moment they share a look over my head. I could tell Chase wanted to ask further questions. But whatever communication went through them, whether it was through mind link or just their eyes, they reached some sort of understanding.

Chase nods while Jax plants a kiss on top of my head.

“You should rest.” Jax says, letting me go and taking a step forward.

“You want some company while you rest?” Chase says, smirking devilishly as he pulls me by the waist. “I could be your company.”

“f**k off, man.” Jax says at the same time that I laughed and tried to push Chase away. Key word, tried. The man is built like a wall of bricks. A very attractive wall of bricks at that.

“I’m going to sleep.” I huffed. “And nobody is coming into my room with me, much more my bed, mate or not.”

Chase hummed as his hand grabbed the back of my head, tilting my face up and breathing so close to my lips it sent shivers all over my body. It seriously made me question the last sentence I’d just said. “Alright, baby. But I’m only giving you space right now because I know you need it.”

And before I could even draw up some witty response, he kisses me. Not sweet like a good night kiss should be, oh no, it was hungry and hot. Chase was consuming me with a kiss, his tongue delving into my mouth, teeth biting my lips. I was lucky to be breathing at all when he let me go.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, baby.” And with one final peck on my lips, he smirks and turns around heading for the stairs. But not before turning to give Jax a pointed look that says, we need to talk. About what? I didn’t really care. My knees were still weak from that kiss and I was very close to teetering over when Jax grabs me.

“Baby?” he laughs, mocking the nickname Chase has given me.

I laughed too. “I think I might need to punch it out of him.” I smile.

We share a laugh again, but then when it died down, I couldn’t help but feel like this is so much better than him just being my best friend. I remembered how he talked to me earlier, how he almost kissed me, how he reassured me about all of this.

There was no trace of awkwardness between us. This felt real.

His eyes were searing as he held mine, subtly glancing down to my lips.

“Kiss me goodnight, Jax.” I said finally. And after one breath, he didn’t hesitate to do so.

Jax kisses me like I was cherished treasure he’d finally acquired, like an art piece he handled with delicate touches. His hands moved to grip my jaw, tilting my head back as he softly pushed me against the hallway wall. Our breathings weren’t erratic or hectic, it was full and sensual – like he was trying to breathe in every breath I took.

His hands leave my face, grabs my legs and lifts me, making me wrap my legs around him. My wet heated core was pressed right against the hardness in his slacks, making me moan. His hands explored my skin, leaving sparks all over my body and fireworks behind my eyes. His lips started roaming to the spot behind my ear, down my neck and my cleavage. And when I involuntarily ground my hips against his, that soft gentle demeanour snapped and he growled, thrusting hard against me.

My chest felt so full when he suddenly pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. I couldn’t hear anything over the loud beating of my heart.

And now I really want to recant my statement about nobody entering my room. Maybe I could pull Jax inside, and maybe we could call Chase to come back? I don’t really know. The only thing I do know is that Jax just left me breathless and Chase had left me frustrated and hot.

“Go to bed, Frey.” He smirks, placing me down and making sure I’ve regained my footing. “Go into your room and lock the door behind you.”

I take several long breaths before I nod absentmindedly. Jax turns me by his hands on my waist, pushing me towards my room and urging me inside. I don’t even know how I manage to walk, much more open the door and turn around towards him. My knees felt like jell-o.

“Good night, Freya.” Jax smiles, grabbing the door frame and leaning down – as if he was trying his hardest not to come in after me.

And as much as I want him to come in, maybe that’s not the best idea right now. I needed to clear my head of the fog and think about the other situation, namely an Alpha named Archer, before I ran off and slept with my other two mates. I mean, that’s the most respectful thing to do, right? So that’s what we’re doing.

“Good night, Jax.” I breathe, smiling at him one final time before closing the door.

I even locked it for good measure. Either it was to keep them from entering or convincing myself they shouldn’t enter, that’s still up for debate.