The Lace-Marked Wolf

~ GENNY ~ The rustling of the leaves nearby let me know they were here, but I ignored them and kept my eyes closed. This branch on our tree has always been my favorite. It's comfortable and almost too high for them to reach. "Hey, Monkey! We know you're up there!" Reid's voice from below finally disturbed my peace. Looking down at the Ashcroft quadruplets, I didn't hide my annoyance. "What do you guys want? Can't you see I'm trying to take a nap?" "Come on, Pixie, we want to talk to you about something. Please come down here?" Alexander asked. "Why don't you guys come up here instead?" I asked. "Angel, you know that we aren't as fast as you are at getting up there. It's faster for you to come down here. It's important." Wow. Damien thinks this is important. Now I'm really interested. "Fine! Watch your heads." Without hesitation, I leapt from branch to branch, occasionally pausing to swing and gain momentum to make my next leap. I finished with a flip before landing flat on my feet. Applause and cheers erupted as I smiled and took a dramatic bow toward the four identical boys seated at the base of the old oak tree the five of us have claimed as our home base. "That was great, Gigi!" Rowan smiled up at me. "Thanks! So what did you guys want to talk about?" I asked. Their smiles faded as they looked away from me. Slowly, each one stood up, looking very nervous. Alexander lightly cleared his throat before asking, "So, Genny, what did you think of today's special class?" His eyes darted around, as if he was afraid to look me in the eye. "You mean the class about mates and the mate bond?" I countered with a question of my own. Reid rubbed the back of his neck, his ears slightly red. "Umm. Yeah. The one about mates." I shrugged casually before responding, "I mean, it's not like we don't already know about it. Our parents have told us about it before. I heard that this class is more of an introduction for everyone our age. "My mom told me that every wolf gets this class after turning fourteen. It's kind of in preparation for next year's class, which everyone is required to take and lasts all year." Rowan looked at me, confused. "What do you mean 'preparation'?" "Mom said that the year-long class about mates and the mate bond is much more detailed and involved. We will all have to choose partners for the year. They are probably going to announce that tomorrow," I said confidently. Damien looked panicked as he glanced between his brothers and me. I had no idea what was going on, so I asked, "Damien, are you okay?" He snapped his head toward me, his eyes wide open as his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but he didn't say a word. Then he closed his eyes and took a calming breath before blurting out, "Genny, will you be our partner for the class next year?" My jaw dropped in shock as I looked at each one of them. "Wh-what? Why me?" Alexander shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at me sheepishly before replying, "You're our best friend and we don't want to partner with anyone else." "Besides, if we have to kiss in class, it won't be a big deal since all four of us have already kissed you." Rowan added with a small shrug, his cheeks lightly flushed. I felt heat rise in my face. Crossing my arms over my chest and looking away, I said, "W-we were twelve. A-and my brothers dared you!" Reid slowly raised his hands, palms facing me as if in surrender. "You don't have to decide right now, Monkey. We have all summer to figure it out." I knew that, as identical multiples, they would share a mate. So it made sense that they would want to share a partner for the class. My brothers were doing the same thing. The three of them were identical, so they would share a mate and had decided to share a partner for the mate bond class. I slowly looked at each of them as they held their breath waiting for my reply. Watching Damien shift from foot to foot, a mischievous smile slowly grew on my face. "Okay." I paused as I watched relief cross their faces before continuing, "if..." "If what?" Damien questioned, a hint of panic raising his voice an octave. I let a full smile engulf my face, lowered my arms, and shifted slightly onto my left leg. "If you can catch me!" I turned and ran into the forest toward my pack house. Stunned into silence, all four boys were frozen in place before realization dawned on them, and I heard their running footsteps behind me. Joyous laughter echoed through the trees as I leapt over fallen logs and dodged low-hanging branches. Sunlight peeking through the leaves guided me through the forest like a beacon to my destination. Slowly, the light faded and the forest darkened. The laughter transformed and was now filled with taunts of a chase. My joy was replaced by fear and I was no longer fourteen. Instead, I was eighteen, running for my life in a torn wine-red lace gown. Growls and yells could be heard behind me, growing louder and closer. My terror spiked as I was grabbed by four pairs of hands, restrained, and held down. Four male voices filled with malice cheered and congratulated each other. "You're ours now, b***h!" * * * A terrified scream escaped my throat as I thrashed around, tangled in my blankets. The bang of the door being forced open jolted me upright as tears streamed down my face and my breathing grew heavy. Strong arms wrapped around me, one hand cradling my head and the other rubbing up and down my back. I buried my head against his chest, clutching his shirt as I sobbed uncontrollably. "Shh. Shh. It's okay. Let it all out, sweetheart. We've got you. You're safe here. Can you tell me where here is, Genny?" Benedict's soothing voice calmed me down. I slowly pulled back as my crying faded and looked into the eyes of my friend before nodding, "I think so." I slowly looked around to take in my surroundings and turned back to him, "This is my hotel room at Oak Lodge." I paused and took a deep breath. "We are in Serenity Falls to open a new boutique. I am safe. I am loved. I am successful. No one can hurt me." Another rough, but gentle hand wiped the tears from my face as his deep voice added, "That's right, princess. Was it the same dream?" Turning to face him, I nodded. Benedict released me, allowing me to crawl into his partner's arms. "Gavin, will you hold me?" I asked, my voice vulnerable. "Of course, princess." As Gavin pulled me closer to lie down, Benedict squealed at an impossibly high pitch from a six-foot-seven tall man built like a bear and shouted, "Cuddle party!" and Gavin chuckled. After fixing the blankets around Gavin and me, Benedict crawled in and spooned me from behind. He draped his arm over me to grab Gavin by the hip. Gavin adjusted himself so he could reach farther around me to grab Benedict by the waist. "Are you nervous about the ball, sweetheart?" Benedict whispered into my ear. "It's been six years, Benny. How can I not be nervous?" Gavin hummed before responding, "You won't be alone, princess. You have us, your parents, your brothers, Charlie, and the whole pack. But if you don't want to do this, just say the word." "No. I need to do this, Gav. They need to be punished. And I think it's the only way the nightmares will end. Is everything arranged?" I looked between them both. "Yes, ma'am," they said in unison, making me smile. The three of us lay there quietly, deep in thought before Benedict added, "Your mother called after you fell asleep." I turned slightly so that I was lying on my back between them before asking, "Is everything okay?" "It depends. Did you still want to be there before the special guests arrive?" Benedict asked. I couldn't help the groan of frustration that slipped out. "What happened?" Gavin laced his fingers with the hand Benedict had on his hip before rolling onto his back and answering, "Apparently the Ashcroft quads decided to arrive early after finding out you were going to be there." Benedict allowed me a moment to absorb this information before adding, "We've already spoken with the pilot. We're flying out tomorrow morning." I couldn't help but smile. These two always know how to anticipate and adjust to what I need. I rarely even need to ask. "Okay, good. I imagine my mother wants the veil in place before everyone arrives. She doesn't want anyone to get around the rules." They nodded in agreement before Gavin said, "Yeah. I'm glad that we aren't the only ones that suspect some of the guests are trying to bypass the rules." I scoffed. "We all know some will do anything to rise to a rank they don't deserve. Just look at what happened to me." Benedict glared at me. "Genny, that wasn't your fault. You didn't ask for that to happen." "I know, but it doesn't mean that I have to ignore that it ever happened." Gavin's lips curled up into a sinister smirk. "No, you don't have to ignore it. But you can take revenge." Benedict and I mirrored his smirk as we settled in. Six years ago they thought I was weak. Six years ago they thought I could be cast aside. Six years ago they thought I would just disappear. Little do they know that they will soon see who I truly am. And then they will be begging me for mercy.