The Game of Quadruplet Mates

Chapter 3

I have dozed off three times and each time I opened my eyes, there was nothing to see but trees and more trees. From the position of the sun, I would say it’s about ten in the morning— we left five hours ago.

We were driving through unclaimed territories, carefully avoiding any of the other pack’s land, which made the journey even longer than needed. There was another car in front of us, a long black car- a limousine the Alpha told us, and from where we were, we could hear their drunken shouts of glee and the vibration of a party song playing.

The smell of liquor hung in the air despite the distance between the cars. A couple of minutes passed and beautiful women and men in bejeweled clothes holding bottles and bottles of liquour and chocolate strawberries sprang from the top of the limousine.

It didn’t take long for them to turn their attention to us, barely keeping up with them and obviously very cramped. They all laughed, pointing fingers and grinning widely.

“Our omegas have a better ride than that!” They cackled, noses turned up.

Pete stiffens from beside me and I hear the Alpha start to growl, having heard them too. “Stuck up city packs.”

“See you at the games, losers!” After making a bunch of faces, the limousine sped away before our Alpha could do anything.

Though I doubt he could do anything.

The last thing we want is to get into a fight with a bigger and more powerful pack.

“Prepare yourselves. That won’t be the last time you hear those words.” The Alpha warns us, face turned away to stare into the trees. “It gets worse when the Assembly starts.”

My stomach sunk low as I swallowed another wave of anxiousness. It’s easy to say that I’m not bothered by other people’s treatment towards us, but that would be a lie.

Another hour went by in silence and first there were just thick trees for some time, but then, like magic, a massive black gilded gate came into view as if growing out of the thick trees. I held my breath, leaning closer to see better, as did everyone.

The gate is tall and daunting, made from thick steel with vines crawling on the sides. There were no guards, no, nothing to signify anything but the door automatically opened when our car drove close, the sinister creek of the gate making me swallow.

What’s behind the gate is what takes my breath away.

For it is a white stone mansion— a palace, no, a paradise so massive and enchanting, I lose my breath just staring at it. There was something castle like about the mansion with its pointed towers of blue and white walls that gleamed with the sun. The mansion is so big that it could probably house around a thousand people or more. It’s decorated beautifully for the occasion with florals and beautiful colored fabrics twisted around arches. We set off for it, the long driveway the only thing between us. Driving slowly, I looked out the window to see on either side was freshly cut grass and long bushes of pretty flowers of every kind.

How could something so beautiful exist?

As we approached the white brick mansion, it's as if a piano or violin was playing in the background with the mansion growing bigger and bigger as I stared at it. There’s a sort of untouchable, enchanting vibration coming from this place, like only the best and the beautiful are allowed here.

Large, rectangular windows peppered the house, all lit and showing brief glances at what’s inside. From what I could see, there were golden chandeliers and crystal decoratives. I blew out a breath. These great alabaster pillars, inlaid with what seemed to be precious gems, these painted glass windows that ran from polished marble and carpeted floors to domed glass ceilings— it was all majestic and beautiful and worlds apart from our home.

Simply put, there was nothing simple or humble about this paradise. Everything about it screamed unparalleled luxury and importance, the residence of Kings and Emperors… and very wealthy Alphas.

“How many acres is this?” Someone asked— I couldn’t tell who or was it me?

“About a hundred acres.” Our Alpha answered quietly. “The estate is bigger than our lands.”

“Who pays for all this?” Larissa whispers, leaning against the window to see better. “This can’t be cheap.”

A faraway look goes through the Alpha and I can almost physically feel just how hard he worked for all of us. “Every year, Alphas pay a certain amount to be able to attend the Assembly.”

“But attendance is a must.” I said, slightly confused. “What if we can’t pay?”

The Alpha shrugs, the exhausted lines on his face more visible than ever. “We have to pay. There is no can’t in these things.”

I understood then that these are one of the things needed to be a legitimized pack. Paying these dues and other things. Land wasn’t enough anymore.

Our car circles a massive five tier fountain spewing crystal blue water and stops right in front of the entrance where a small table is set up. Behind the table is a smiling older woman in a posh suit with a neat stack of papers on her side. If I squint, I can see past her, towards the mansion and through the thick doors where beautifully dressed men and women fluttered about like butterflies.

There were so many scents happening all around me, scents of foreign wolves, scents of other packs, scents of wolves that belonged nowhere. They brought with them the smell of their lands— the congested city, the icy mountains, fresh smelling rivers and blossoming spring flowers that I had never smelled before.

“Be on your best behavior. We don’t need anymore attention on us.” Our Alpha warned through gritted teeth. “This is not a place you want to be singled out. Stay together as much as possible.”

I was always told everything here was a paradise, the best of life, the one thing you want to relive and although it’s every bit as beautiful as I was told… it didn’t feel like that right now.

One by one we slid out of the car, the ancient thing almost tipping out of balance with every passenger that exited.

My legs were asleep from the long drive, the feeling slowly coming back to me as I shuffled around nervously. I was a werewolf, a deadly predator, yet why did I feel like the prey here?

Through the loud panic happening inside my head, I could hear the echoing laughter coming from inside the house and as I squinted through the glass windows, I could see people inside. With bright smiles on their faces and clothes better than what I could ever imagine, they mingled and networked as if all of this was normal for them. They chatted and giggled while drinking from a long glass that had sparkling golden liquid in them. Thinking about it now, I have never spoken to anyone outside our pack. There was no life outside of our lands.

How do I even talk to these people?

And how do they make it look so easy?

How was I even supposed to ‘sell’ myself?

A bang like clap brought me out of the prolonged stare only to face the woman dressed in a posh suit, a clipboard in hand. “You’re finally here! You’re the last pack to arrive.”

The last..?

The fury and embarrassment that emitted from the Alpha was instantaneous. “Apologies. It won’t happen again.”

A fake smile swept through the woman’s face. “Oh, I’m sure it won’t. We wouldn’t want to break any rules, Alpha.”

The sarcasm dripped with every word she said.

I can almost read the Alpha’s thoughts. He was an Alpha being berated in front of his pack by a city pack woman who was obviously lower in rank than him.

She looked at the list in her hands before glancing back at us, her lips pursed with judgement. “Is this all of you? You didn’t bring any help?”

“Help?” Pete asks from behind me. “What help?”

A haughty, better than everyone expression goes through her pretty face. “Servants, of course. People that will help you get ready and such. For makeup and,” Her eyes went to Larissa and I. “Hair.”

Pete scrunches his nose, clueless of the woman’s mocking tone. “We do that on our own.”

She smiled as this amused her. “Ah, a pity.”

“Indeed.” Larissa snarked back viciously. “Can we move on now?”

Rolling her eyes, she goes back to the list. “Very well. Identification please.”

The Alpha reached into his pockets, producing a thick pile of folded papers which he handed to the woman.

“Form a line.” She instructed, eyes scanning the papers. “Name?”

I blinked, not realizing I was the first in line. “Uh, June. June Valentine.”

She nods, flipping through the papers in a rush. I watched the woman’s eyes skim through the list and she looked up again with a frown. She must have already seen— if she hadn’t already smelled that my blood is of that poor quality the city pack hates so much. The woman takes her time looking between my identification provided by the Alpha and her clipboard with my details on it.

There’s a reason why the Assembly was made. First, werewolves are at constant war with other creatures and themselves. As strong as we are, we die quite early in life. Second, with so many deaths and at such a young age, we aren’t able to repopulate enough— or at all. Third, werewolf soulmates have been long since extinct due to the many deaths and the lack of meeting anyone outside their own packs.

So many werewolves have died out that long before I was born, people couldn’t find their mates since they were most probably already dead. It came to the point that no one could find mates anymore. No mate meant not many babies. No babies meant we were a dying race.

Eventually, the Assembly— or most commonly known as the Games, was made. Flourish aside, the Assembly is basically a large wedding for young werewolves to marry all at once. It encourages early marriage and mating as young as we become adults in hopes that we can strengthen our numbers again. It also allowed the packs to meet easily and without the danger of being harmed.

“Twenty. A bolt of silk. No rank. No blood line. You’re a one.” She reads out loud for all to hear.

“A one?” I hate how I sounded so hopeful.

“The lowest quality. The last to be called during the Assembly.” Her tone is monotonous and unfeeling, but I guess that’s better than her mocking me.

I don’t know what to say. “Oh.”

The woman attached a bracelet to my arm. My identifier. By the color and smell of it, it told onlookers that I was in fact a one, the poorest quality of blood there is without needing to talk to me.

Speed dating done right.

She shoos me away from the entrance and into a small cobblestone pathway towards the back. With all of my pack members still having their identifications checked, I’m left to walk alone into the famous Games. The walk was a short one as I followed both the laughter and the pathway towards the back of the mansion where a beautiful crystal lake shimmered right next to the fairytale mansion.

For the first time, I felt a hint of excitement enter my system.

The mansion’s garden is the welcoming area for the games. It’s even more beautiful now that I’m here inside with everyone else. Garlands of falling flowers decorated the area with ancient stone carved statues, tall elegant fountains and beautiful gazebos everywhere.

It was so breathtaking that it didn’t even hurt when most of the werewolves instantly avoided me at first sight.

“She’s so… dull?” They whispered quietly, staring right at me.

A laugh leaves their lips. “I mean, where did she come from?”

“Somewhere far and duller than her.” They joked.

“Poor thing. She would be running home crying.” Her words were sweet and empathetic but her curl of her lips and the sour expression on her face said otherwise: a disappointment.

These girls are beautiful. They’re all beautiful. All strong, pretty and coming from wealthy families. They would find good homes and powerful mates.

It wasn’t like I was contagious, but my identifier did its job. All the gorgeously dressed attendees stayed as far away as they could. I didn’t even look twice when I realized just how differently they were dressed, with their colorful bejeweled outfits fluttering about and their hair defying gravity.

Captivated by other things, I continued to glance around, enjoying how the white mansion looked with the crystal blue lake nearly surrounding it. Upon close inspection, there were small wooden boats on the shore, tied to trees. I let my fingers trace the oars, the handles etched with small scratches from the many hands that used them to row.

I wondered then if they let us swim? Would there be any time for that? Without needing to touch the shimmering water, I could tell it was the right kind of cool for this slight warm temperature.

A quiet conversation happening a few feet away takes me out of my thoughts of the tempting water.

“Do you know how many Betas or Alphas are coming?” A hushed whisper asked.

An equally inconspicuous voice responds. “You know they’re not allowed to release that information.”

“Still…” The first voice egged on.

A small laugh came from the second voice. “Of course I know.”

The two girls come into view then, pulling each other behind a big tree. They were dressed like city pack girls, all glamorous and beautiful, sparkling with every movement. These girls were born stars… breathtaking.

“They say there are two Betas coming and at least two Alphas.” The whispering continued but with big smiles on their faces.

As if on cue, they both turned towards the side where large pointed tents were erected. Soft fabric prevented me from seeing inside— a sort of area for important people that no one else was allowed to enter. “Well. Cora is already here. That makes one. Let’s hope the other Alpha bloodline is a man.”

The two girls rolled their eyes in unison. “You know Alphas. They follow their own schedules. They aren’t required to come at twenty or any age. They come whenever they want.”

It’s rare for an unmated Alpha to come to these things. In fact, no unmated Alphas usually come.

They’re only a few of them and when they do come they usually already have someone in mind and it is not one of us. It’s never one of us. Alphas want Alphas or someone close to perfection. They want the strongest, the prettiest, the richest.

“My parents say they’ll disown me if I mate below my rank, or worse, mate someone from the farm lands.” They shuddered, looking sick at the mention of my home. “I mean my dowry is a piece of land and a hundred million allowance a year. I hope that can get me at least a Beta.”

The other girl shakes her head and drops her voice in a quiet whisper— almost making me miss her next words. “Not when Cora’s here. She’ll take the best one. You know what she is. She’s the Alpha of the richest city pack’s only child. Her dowry is her entire land, all of their pack members and ten billion a year.”

A defeated sigh left her lips. “Who could ever win with her? She’s beautiful, rich and powerful.”

I glanced towards the closed tent, wondering if I would be able to see this Cora. From the way they’re describing her, it’s like she’s the brightest star and, of course, she is.

She’s to inherit the biggest and wealthiest pack in the world. Her family is illustrious even to us who live hundreds and hundreds of miles away from them.

“I’m just glad I’m not like the farm pack.” They giggled, making faces of disgust. “I heard some of them are offering a piece of cloth and a sack of vegetables as dowry.”

“It’s no wonder they’re the lowest when it comes to the mating rate. No one wants that garbage.” Their words make me cringe back so hard I almost fell into the water. “Who could possibly want what they offer?”

Painful but true.

Hearing this now, from them, of lands and millions and billions in allowances, there really wasn’t any competition. I am destined to come home unmated, unchosen, but then again… there’s Pete who promised to claim me.

There was hope.

As small as it was.

It was something.

“Enough of this depressing talk. Let’s dance, feast and flirt our way through this weekend.” The girls started pulling each other towards the party once more, excited as they patted down their hair to perfection.

I watch them go, staring at the big smiles on their faces, their dresses fluttering behind them.

That’s when I hear it:

“June!” It was Pete. He was standing in front of a long table full of refreshments and other delicious smelling things, his face on every single food he could get his hands on. “Come quick! It’s unlimited!”

Larissa was standing next to him, giving him her best glare. “Keep it down. Don’t shout so loudly. The Alpha said not to attract any unwanted attention.”

But it was already too late, the majority of the people in the garden were already laughing and pointing at Pete and his face stuffed full of everything. They can’t blame him. This is the first time we can eat until we’re full.

I join them, smiling widely like the girls from before. Like they said, this weekend is about dancing and feasting and… maybe flirting. Feeling a little brave, I took a tall crystal flute filled with golden sparkling liquid and took a sip.

Oh my...

I finished the entire thing right away. The taste was mild. Sweet and slightly citrusy but with a kick of something bubbling on my tongue.

“That’s champagne.” Larissa quietly tells me. “At least that’s what I heard the others call it. Is it good?”

“The best thing I’ve ever had.” I gushed, giving her a glass of her own. “Try it.”

Like me, she takes a hesitant sip before tipping it over like she had just tasted heaven. “F u c k, that’s too good.”

We turn to give one to Pete but my heart sinks in my stomach when I see him grinning down at another girl. By the smell of her and the identifier on her wrist, she’s from another farm pack. Pretty and petite and smiling widely at him, she fluttered her eyelashes like her life depended on it.

“Pete is a handsome name.” She whispered in a low voice. “Handsome like you.”

I could see the reddening of Pete’s cheeks and hear the beating of his heart that was going crazy.

“You’re pretty too. A little too pretty.” He whispered back to her in a tone I had never heard from him before. As he says this, his hands reach over to touch the collar of her dress… silk and pretty just like her. It wasn’t hard to see that he was staring at her breasts.

Foolishness dried my throat. I shouldn’t have expected.

I knew this was going to happen.

A soft reassuring hand reached for mine and when I turned back, Larissa was offering me a small smile. “He wasn’t worth it to begin with.”

“It’s not like I have many options.” I say with a dry laugh inching away from Pete, who had completely forgotten about us.

She gave me another glass of champagne. “Maybe because you’re not looking.”

I tip my head back and drink it like it’s water, enjoying the feeling of the bubbling in my mouth. “I’m worried.”

Larissa shrugs, and the way she does it makes it seem like nothing was ever too frightening. “You don’t have to be. You will be chosen by someone and if you’re not. It’s okay.”

I shook my head, taking another glass to drink and it was around this time that I started to feel a little hot. “It’s not okay. I have to be chosen. Hopefully. It’s the least I can do for my father. He’s old. He’s getting sick— werewolves aren’t supposed to get sick. You know a portion of the wealth of whoever chooses me goes to him. It’s important that I give him something to ease his life.”

“I understand, but I don’t think your father cares too much about that.” She reminds me. “He’s a good man who doesn’t expect anything from you.”

I hiccuped as I drank another glass. My stomach rumbles as I speak. “Exactly. He’s too good to pressure me about these kinds of things even when he needs it.”

“These things aren’t your control. It never is for us. Your father understands this.” The sad smile on her face makes me want to cry all of a sudden. “There’s a reason why they call this ‘The Games’. The men control everything. We’re only here to be chosen like sheep.”

The sight of Pete in the corner of my eye holding hands with this girl he’s barely known for five minutes only solidifies Larissa’s words and it hurts even more.

Because as much as I tried not to, I hoped, I felt a little relieved to know he was there…

Not anymore.

It was my mistake to even believe him. To believe anyone.

My own mother left me.

Of course he will too. Promises to hell and such.

I should have already learned my lesson.

Risking a glance, I knew I shouldn’t, I saw the girl leaning forward, her hands on his chest, eyes closing as her lips pucker— and I’m confused, I’m hurt, I’m angry, they’re about to kiss…

The garden suddenly quieted and for a second I thought it was because of the very public display Pete was doing, but it wasn’t. Not at all, because everyone was looking ahead, towards the entrance with their faces in shock. The smell of crisp pine and lush woodlands, of rivers and snow topped mountains came.

And then I saw them.

A group of them, of roughly forty strong, tall and bulky men and women, all proud and daunting and fierce faced. They’re not from here. They’re not from anywhere.

I swear a choir was singing and drums were beating at their entrance, a crescendo of intensity unlike anything as they walked almost in slow motion. This pack…

It’s them.

It’s the pack everyone is talking about. Not the rich city pack. Not the poor farm pack.

But them.

The monsters of monsters.

The Nameless ones.

And at the very front of them was a man with hair so blonde and eyes so blue that I lost my breath, my lips parting in awe. I thought I was staring at an Alpha at first— he looked like one, but the whispers of his name, ‘Beta Jeremy’, made me realize I was wrong. The Beta had an unimpressed look on his face, his frown deep and eyes nearly rolling from all the attention he was getting and that was a lot of it. He was as gorgeous as he was strong, arms thick and his face stunning.

Bored eyes swept through the garden and when his blue eyes landed on me, his uninterested exterior melted, a small smile playing on his lips and when he passed me, his shoulder brushed against mine, his eyes on me the entire time.

I lose my breath all over again.