Tripartite Mate || 18+

Chapter 4

I gaped at the beauty of the pack as we strolled past the houses. Every single building looked like it had been plucked straight out of a fairy tale.

Instead of the usual boring modern suburban look, this pack had these incredible traditional homes that still felt fresh and new. They used massive floor to ceiling glass panels and sleek decor to bridge the gap between old world charm and modern luxury.

"This pack is stunning, Aunt Jennifer. I have never seen anything like this. I mean, I haven't been to many other packs, but this is way beyond anything I imagined," I said, my eyes wide with genuine awe.

"I told you, didn't I? There is no place like Storm Forest. This pack is absolutely breathtaking," she replied, her voice thick with pride.

"Oh, this is just the tip of the iceberg, Vi. You should see the Alphas' house. That place is a dream. It is total chef's kiss material, I'm serious," Lola sighed.

"Now you've really got me curious," I chuckled.

"I will literally beg them to give us a tour. You have to see it before you die. I’m willing to bet it’s the best house in existence," she insisted.

"I highly doubt that, but okay. I’ll judge for myself if it’s really the best of the best," I teased.

"You’ll be eating those words once you see it," she promised. I nodded and turned my attention back to the houses that had me so enthralled.

Back home, our houses are built in a large, flat clearing surrounded by the forest. You might find a stray tree here or there, but that’s it. These people did the opposite. They didn't clear out a big space; instead, they built the pack right into the heart of the forest. From what I could see, they only cleared enough space for the actual foundations, leaving the homes completely surrounded by ancient trees. They even strategically placed the houses where the sunlight filtered through the leaves the most.

The buildings weren't sprawling. Instead, they were compact but incredibly tall. Every house had at least four storeys. It was impressive how much they respected nature, and honestly, it was a refreshing change of pace.

A sudden clatter in the distance caught my attention. A group of enormous, neck breakingly big beasts were standing together, talking in their guttural Lycan voices. Seeing them reminded me exactly why this pack is considered one of the strongest despite having a smaller population. Any one of those guys could probably wreck an entire werewolf pack on their own. Together, they were a force of nature. Even my pack, which is massive with over two thousand wolves, would stand no chance against two hundred and fifty Lycans of this pack.

"So, this is our place. What do you think?" Aunt Jennifer made a grand gesture with her hands toward a magnificent structure, waiting for my reaction.

"It’s beautiful," I breathed, giving her my honest opinion. It was hard to count the floors from the ground, but it looked expertly crafted and massive compared to the others we had passed.

"Oh, the others are just as big. What you saw was just the front. Most houses here use the front stairs to hide the true scale," she explained.

I didn't quite get what she meant by that, but looking at her house, I was mesmerized. It was like a luxury treehouse combined with a high end hotel. All the stairs were built on the outside, connecting various cabin-like structures floor by floor. The ground cabin opened onto a spacious terrace, and from there, stairs led to the first floor. That level had two separate cabins divided by another big terrace. The stairs then split to lead to the second floor, which had a terrace on the back side. Finally, a single set of stairs led to the very top floor, which consisted of a lone cabin.

"Can I see the inside?" I asked, my feet practically itching to explore.

"Lola at your service, ma'am!" Lola puffed out her chest and pulled me through the door.

The second we entered the living room, my mouth hit the floor. "Heavens," I whispered. It was a book lover’s paradise. They had dedicated an entire wall to books, complete with a rolling ladder that led to a tiny reading nook at the top that overlooked the woods. There was a plush L-shaped sofa near a glass wall and a perfectly organized kitchen with high chairs at a sleek countertop.

We explored the porch, which was overflowing with flowers and plants, then moved to the first floor. Lola pointed to one cabin and said, "That’s my parents' area. Want to look inside?"

"No, thank you," I said, wrinkling my nose. Aunt Jennifer is a notoriously messy person, and I had zero desire to accidentally see something inappropriate or messy.

"Smart choice," Lola snorted. "Let's go to that one instead." She pointed to the opposite cabin. "This is the guest room, but you won't be staying here."

"What? Why?" I laughed at her dramatic pose. She was standing with her arms wide like she was presenting a palace.

"Because you're staying in the cabin closest to mine," she explained, pointing to the second floor. It was the cabin right beneath the lone one on the third floor where she clearly lived.

"Let's drop your bags and then head to my room," she said, dragging me along.

She slammed the door open to my temporary bedroom and I squealed. It was perfect. The walls were all glass, offering a panoramic view of the forest. There was a queen sized bed that looked like a giant, fluffy cloud.

"This is so cute!" I yelled, flopping face first onto the mattress. I sank into the softness and let out a content moan.

"You like it?" Lola asked, sounding a bit nervous.

"I love it so much," I assured her. As I turned my head, I noticed the bathroom. It was a work of art, covered in lush greenery for a calming, spa-like vibe. It was also made of glass, facing the forest. It was technically exposed, but since it faced away from the pack, it felt private enough.

"Let's see my room now," Lola announced.

Her room was a stunning mix of leather, dark wood, and plants. It even had a loft! The lower level held her sleeping area and a study, while the loft was a cozy lounge area with a leather couch and plenty of candles.

"Girl, can we please swap rooms?" I sighed, absolutely in love with the space.

"Nope," she said flatly. "Enough of the tour. Go settle in and for the love of the Goddess, take a shower. You smell like a wet dog, Viola. I can't take you around the pack smelling like a total mutt."

It was offensive, but she was right. Since I’d shifted and run in the rain and mud, the smell was definitely clinging to my fur and skin. "Fine, I’m going to go scrub myself until I'm raw," I muttered, wincing as I finally caught a whiff of myself.

"Yes! Go! Scrub!" she laughed, shooing me out and leaving her own door open to air out the scent of my arrival.

I headed down to my room, stripping off my travel worn clothes. I dug through my duffel bag and found the lingerie my mom had packed. I usually wasn't this bold, but the black lace set was calling my name. I paired it with a beige button down shirt, a brown tube top, and a white satin skirt. It was my favorite look: elegant, yet a little bit flirty.

I was excited, and honestly, a little nervous. There was a tiny part of me hoping I might run into my mate here, and I wanted to be prepared for anything. I wanted to leave a lasting impression.

I grabbed the lemongrass body scrub Lola had left for me and stepped into the glass shower. I spent forever scrubbing every inch of my skin until I smelled like a citrus dream. I even took the time to shave everything until I was silky smooth. As I was enjoying the feeling of the warm water, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye.

I froze. Through the glass and into the distance, I saw a man in a neighboring house. He was shirtless and working out, his muscular back rippling with every move. Thanks to my wolf vision, I could see every single twitch of his muscles. I stood there, mesmerized, until he suddenly turned around.

My breath hitched as my eyes trailed down to the sharp V-line disappearing into his sweatpants. He seemed to sense someone watching because his eyes snapped toward my window.

Panic flared in my chest. If I could see him, he could definitely see me! I reached out and yanked the shower curtain shut, my face burning with a level of embarrassment I didn't think was possible.

I got dressed in a blur and bolted out of the room. I sneakily headed up to Lola's room to avoid any chance of seeing that man again. I used some of her makeup and borrowed a pair of cute pearl studs that perfectly matched my outfit. Once I felt sufficiently dolled up, I headed down to the living room.

Uncle Luke was lounging on the sofa with a book, while Lola and Aunt Jennifer were busy in the kitchen.

"What's for dinner, Aunt Jenny?" I asked, trying to peek over her shoulder. It was useless; she was way too tall. Back home, my height earned me the nickname "Shorty," and it was times like this that I really felt it. I was definitely the shortest person in the pack.

"Meatballs, rice, mashed potatoes, and garlic noodles," she said, her voice warm.

My mouth watered. Aunt Jennifer was the best cook I knew. I went to sit at the kitchen table, but Lola stopped me, explaining that the pack has a tradition of eating together in a central area to strengthen their bonds.

"Everyone is finished! Let's get to the dining area!" Aunt Jennifer called out.

Lola grabbed my hand and led me toward the center of the pack. I was expecting a cafeteria, but what I saw was a massive, beautiful clearing. An impossibly long wooden table was decorated with fairy lights, lanterns, and candles. It looked like a scene from a high budget wedding.

The pack members greeted me with sweet smiles, and I felt a pang of guilt for judging them so harshly before I arrived. Just because they were powerful Lycans didn't mean they weren't kind.

"Viola, over here!" Lola pointed to an empty chair beside her. I sat down and noticed four distinct, empty chairs at the head of the table.

"Who are those for?" I whispered.

"That’s for the Alpha and the two Betas," she whispered back.

"And the fourth one?"

"That's for the Luna," she said with a small smile.

"But I thought they were unmated?" I asked.

"They are," she nodded.

Before I could ask anything else, the air suddenly changed. Three distinct, powerful scents hit me all at once, making my knees feel weak. The first was the smell of damp earth and fresh rain. The second was a rich, woodsy scent of pine and sandalwood. The third was spicy, with a heavy note of leather. They were all intoxicating, and each one seemed to pull at my soul.

I whipped my head around to see three men walking toward the table. My eyes landed on the first one, and my wolf let out a thunderous howl in my mind. "Mate!"

My gaze shifted to the second man, and again, my wolf screamed, "Mate!"

I was reeling, my brain struggling to process what was happening, but then my eyes landed on the third man. For the third time, my wolf shouted the same thing.

I took a sharp, gasping breath. My vision began to swim. I blinked once, then twice, and then the world started to tilt. Just before everything went black and I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard three powerful, simultaneous growls rip through the air.

“Mine!”

~•~