Her Forbidden Alpha Mates

Chapter Four--First Shift

* * * Kira * * *

Hours passed slowly in my room. No one bothered me as I awaited my change. It was nearing midnight, and I knew that I would have to go outside at some point. I heard movement outside of my door as I contemplated my next move.

"Kira? It's Bex. May I enter?"

It was actually the last thing that I wanted. No, that wasn't true. I wasn't sure what the last was, but Xavier and his sons were certainly competing for the spot.

"Yes, come in," I said. I didn't want to see her, but I also had questions that perhaps she could answer.

She entered wearing silk lounge wear. She seemed ready for bed.

Bex gave me a warm smile and gestured to a spot on the bed. I nodded and she made herself comfortable, crossing one long leg over the other at the ankle.

"I know this is probably not what you envisioned for your first shift," She began.

"Yeah, not at all," I snapped. Bex didn't let it affect her. She continued to radiate the same warmth. Her expression was one of concern. She genuinely seemed to want to be kind to me.

"I know. But I also wanted to give you the opportunity for counsel. If you wanted it," She added quickly. "I don't want you to think that you have to share anything with me. I just want you to know that we don't want you to feel isolated here. We want you to be part of our pack, our family. If there is anything in our power to make you more comfortable, we are willing to do it. Within reason, of course. You must remember that this is a delicate situation. We're looking at peace for both of our packs for the first time in ten years. And we want you to know how thankful we are for it."

How could she say these things as if they hadn't started the war? The animosity was their fault. It shouldn't be our burden to correct their wrongs.

"I just don't understand how you have anything to be thankful for. My pack didn't start this."

"I know that, too," Bex pursed her lips. "There's something I've been wanting to discuss with you. About your mother--"

"Don't ever talk about my mother," I hissed.

I felt it then. Something in me seemed to click, change, grow without my having to do anything about it. A warmth began in my belly and seemed to spread across my entire body. I was aware of something--someone else within me: another presence.

"I see it's too late for my counsel. We must get you outside," Bex said, a touch of concern evident in her voice.

I was vaguely aware that we were moving--fast--out of the room and down the hallway. My limbs were on fire. It was taking over me--I felt my muscles begin to stretch in a way they never had before. A burning pain had begun throughout my body. My senses were on fire. I couldn't even concentrate on just one of them as they all enveloped me.

"Maximus, get her outside before she shifts!" I heard Bex scream. I couldn't even protest against the strong arms that scooped me up. The wind rushed past me as we burst into the chilly air of the night on the Cold Moon packlands.

I am here, Kira.

The voice of my wolf had finally come to me. I am Osseya. Let me take over. I will guide us through this. A mate is near, as well.

No, no, no. I couldn't allow this. There was nothing I could do. Resistance was futile. I heard the crack as my bones began to break and the pain shot through me like hot blades. Arms and legs became the forearms and hindlegs of my wolf--bristling with silvery hair. I was somewhere within myself as Osseya took over, and Maximus was nearby. He had transformed into a coal black wolf with streaks of silver all over his massive body. Osseya was no small wolf herself, but Maximus was absolutely enormous.

She was immediately drawn to his wolf. They nuzzled one another, chased after one another, ran together in synchronation. I could not deny her that even though I desperately wanted to.

Only moments had passed when two other wolves emerged from the shadows, and I could feel Osseya's joy. They were identical to Maximus's, and all three were rolling around, nipping at each other in playful teases beneath the light of the half moon.

Change back; I'm begging you. I pleaded this to Osseya.

You don't want them as your mates? She seemed genuinely confused by this. Their wolves are perfect. How can you not want them?

Perhaps you have not yet felt the connection in this form? You will change your mind when you take on your human body again.

I had serious doubts about that.

Osseya, however, consented. The change back was easier than the intial shift. She took me behind a grove of trees where I shifted back. I was naked, and the cold had settled in.

"Kira!" The sound of my name in that voice...I couldn't deny its power. My legs were weak, but was that from the first shift or from the voice?

"Kira!" A second voice. I was even weaker. It could've brought me to my knees had I not steadied myself against the tree. Three scents intermingled together in an intoxicating aroma. It was as if I were drugged--again--only this time, I enjoyed it.

"Kira, where are you?!" The third voice was like the final nail in my coffin. I buckled against the tree, and then the darkness surrounded me.

* * * Kira cont. * * *

I was aware of another presence near me before my eyes opened. When they finally did open, I realized it was not one, but three. The triplets stood before me--naked--and staring down at me. I was slumped against the tree I had previously used for support. Their nakedness shocked me and my hand shot up to my eyes to cover them. The feeling within me was undeniable: desire. A fire burned within my stomach, and I could feel the slickness between my legs. I knew they would be able to smell it, and I crossed my legs and tightened the muscles in my thighs.

One of them chuckled. I couldn't remember who was who, so it was impossible to know which one it was.

"There's no sense in hiding from us. We're mates, after all. It's normal," One of them said. I swallowed hard and shook my head.

"I don't even know you," I murmured. Suddenly aware of my own nakedness, my other arm quickly covered my full breasts in embarrassment.

One of the triplets knelt down beside me.

"Hey, please don't feel embarrassed. You're absolutely stunning. You're perfect. Let us take you inside. You must be exhausted. The first shift is the most difficult."

I moved my hand to the side so that the two still standing were out of view. The one before me was mostly covered in his kneeling position. His eyes were soft and a dazzling green color--just like his father's. He smiled, revealing perfectly straight, white teeth. His dark hair was longer than the other two, nearly to his shoulders. Soft waves rippled throughout it.

"I'm Daxiel. You can call me Dax if you want to," He said softly. He held out his hand, but I was terrified to touch him. The feelings within me were so new. I had never felt this level of desire in my life; I feared if I touched him I would give in to anything he said.

"I...I can follow you back, but I don't want you to look at me like this," I choked out.

In fact, I felt humiliated. We were wolves; nudity was natural. I had seen naked men and women many times, but there was something about being here before my enemies in this vulnerable state that made me feel lower than low. As if it wasn't bad enough that I was taken from my home, now I was here before the very ones that would rule this place. And I was so exposed.

"That's okay, too. I can tell them to go ahead. Can I stay back a little bit? I don't have to walk with you--I'd stay just ahead."

His eyes pleaded with me, and I could sense that he wanted to touch me, too. He was holding himself back.

He is the softest one, Osseya told me. Let him prove himself, Kira. Let them show you they can be good mates to you.

If there was anyone I could trust in my situation, it had to be Osseya.

"Okay," I breathed. "Okay, I can do that."

Daxiel's smile was radiant as it widened.

"Guys, go ahead. I'm going to hang back a little and lead her back to the packhouse."

"Are you serious? She's our mate, too," One of them said.

"I'm not your mate," I hissed. Osseya whined within me. She yearned for the wolves of these men, but she did not understand the pain that came with this bond.

Daxiel's smile waned, but it did not disappear.

"I truly hope that you'll change your mind," He whispered. He reached out to touch my face, but I shrunk back from him. His smile faded a little more. "Its okay. All we can do is prove ourselves."

With that, his brothers shifted and bounded toward the pack house.

Daxiel stood and turned his back.

"Do you want me to shift and you can ride back? I know you're tired, Kira." My name on his lips was intoxicating. I could feel the slickness between my legs intensifying, and the thought of riding on his back lit a fire inside of me that I shrank away from.

"No, I'll walk," I put as much ice into my voice as I could, but I could tell he didn't believe it.

"As you wish. Just follow me," He sighed. And I did.