Mates, p.1
Mates, page 1
part #1 of Five Fangs Series
Mates
Posy: Book One
Mary Ann Weir
Copyright © 2023 Mary Ann Weir
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Art Painter
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Prologue: Alone
1: Rescued
2: By Father’s Command
3: Introductions
4: Meeting Lark
5: Saying Goodbye
6: A New Home
7: Brothers and Teammates
8: Seeking Sanctuary
9: Going Shopping
10: What a Mess
11: Quartz the Comforter
12: Apologies
13: New Life, Rough Start
14: Dinner with Friends
15: Sleepover
16: Waking Nightmare
17: Meeting the Betas
18: The King Arrives
19: Diner Disaster
20: Aftermath
21: Kinds of Strength
22: My Mate is Who?!
23: Getting Comfortable
24: Leaving Her Mark
25: Ticklish Matters
26: Running with Wolves
27: Morning Mating
28: Learning Curve
29: Slaughter All
30: Getting Schooled
31: First Kiss
32: Get Well Soon
33: Ice Pops and Party Planning
34: Interrogations
35: Plan of Attack
End of Book One
Books By This Author
Prologue: Alone
Posy
I turned eighteen years old alone in a dark room, whimpering from the pain that racked my whole body.
I’d displeased my father again, and his punishment had been brutal.
They always were.
While Mom was still alive, it hadn’t been so bad. Father and I didn’t have much interaction. He kept his distance and Mom cautioned me to let him. I remembered being jealous of watching him play with my two older brothers, and always wondered why he disliked me more day by day.
Six years ago, a disease swept through shifter communities around the world. It attacked indiscriminately - young and old, alpha and omega, male and female. Almost a year passed before our doctors developed a cure. By then, thousands had died, my mother among them.
With her gone, there was no barrier between my father and me, and his dislike turned to outright hatred.
I asked myself over and over what was so wrong with me. Had I done something as a child I couldn’t remember? What could have set him against me so much?
I tried to make things right. I was on my best behavior at all times and followed his rules, yet nothing was ever enough. There was something about me that infuriated him.
Same with my brothers.
I missed James and Aiden so much, it made my heart hurt. We’d had nothing but fun together growing up. Then, one day out of the blue, they turned against me, and all those happy memories became ashes. They even convinced Father that I didn’t need to go to school, trapping me in this house with him.
Most of the time, I was locked in this small, dark room. It didn’t even have a window or a closet. The only positive was the tiny attached bathroom, just a sink and a toilet, but enough to make do. Once a week, Father permitted me to take a shower in the guest bedroom. I wasn’t allowed warm water or more than ten minutes, but it was still heavenly to wash the grime and blood away.
When he’d first ordered me into this dark hole, he’d watched as I’d moved in my clothes, shoes, and pillow, then said that was all I needed. Over time, I snuck in a few comforts. Mr. Nibbles, my stuffed bunny, who I managed to keep hidden from him by some miracle. A blanket. A yoga mat to sleep on. Once, I tried to smuggle in a small lamp, but he caught me. That punishment took two full weeks for my wolf to heal.
Each day, Father let me out for a few hours to clean, cook, and do the laundry. Despite the chores, I savored that time away from my room. At least it gave me the chance to look out the windows. No matter what the weather was doing, I found the view perfect. It was the only joy in my life.
I couldn’t remember the last time I went outside. The last time I breathed fresh air or ran through the forest and smelled the goodness of dirt and growing things. Felt the breeze on my face. Laid in the grass. Enjoyed the sun’s warmth.
Simple things all denied to me for a reason I couldn’t guess. Simple things I yearned for with all my heart.
Especially whenever my wolf slept.
I hadn’t felt Lark stir in weeks, not since the last dose of wolfsbane Father had administered. The aconite put a shifter’s inner wolf to sleep, although too much could be lethal. I’d built up a tolerance to it, and Father had to constantly adjust how much to give Lark to keep her docile, but still able to heal me.
The last dose, though, had been part of a punishment after we’d tried to escape. He hadn’t killed my wolf, but he’d come close. Very close. I’d tried to find some nightshade or foxglove to counter the wolfsbane, but hadn’t been that lucky. Weeks later, she was still in a coma.
Poor Lark. I pitied her for being stuck with me. She was so strong and had hung in there long after most wolves would have gone insane or faded back to the Goddess. She kept herself going with two hopes: being free of Father and finding our mate.
I didn't crush her optimism, even though I knew neither would ever happen. Father would never let us out from under his thumb and even if we did meet our mate, he would reject me in a heartbeat. Father had guaranteed that.
I had scars on scars and bruises on bruises. My hands shook all the time and my vision was narrow and dark around the edges. Having been denied food for weeks at a stretch, I was skeletal and weak, and the world spun with every step I took.
The plain truth was that I doubted I’d make it to see another birthday, let alone gain my freedom or find my mate.
But what did it matter? Who would care? I had no pack. No family. No mate. Not even my wolf at the moment.
I was alone in the dark, and death was the only escape I could hope for.
1: Rescued
Posy
The click of the lock opening woke me. Instantly, my eyes darted to the widening sliver of light that came from the door swinging in.
Is it Father? His beta? Or one of my brothers?
"Get up, Posy."
Beta Roy.
Father only ever called me runt, and I hadn’t seen the boys in months. After they’d moved out three years ago, they rarely came around, and certainly never to see me.
Beta Roy wasn’t as bad as Father, but was unpredictable. Kind one moment and cruel the next.
I scrambled to my feet, careful to keep my head down and my bruised, swollen face hidden in the curtains of my grimy hair.
"Guests are coming. Alpha wants brunch ready in an hour. Five visitors, myself, Gamma Alex, and alpha, but make enough for ten in case your brothers come. I’ll set the table. You just worry about the food."
His offer was a godsend. Even if it was only for the moment, I’d take it. I needed all the help I could get after my midnight beating.
The ribs on my right side were badly bruised, and I suspected at least one was broken. Something was wrong with my head, too. It ached terribly, and the sunlight streaming in from the windows stabbed my eyes like toothpicks. On top of that, my shirt stuck to the raw wounds on my back. I hoped that none of them opened too much as I worked. There was nothing worse than a blood-soaked waistband to gall your skin.
I followed Beta Roy into the kitchen, washed my hands, and got right to work. Since it was brunch, I knew Father would want both sweet and savory items. I decided to start with fruit and cheese plates. I could get everything cut up and plated, then into the fridge while I worked on the rest.
As I sliced a block of cheddar, I tried to think of what else to make, but my brain wasn’t up to the task. I could barely focus on the cutting board and knife in front of me.
Get these made first, I told myself. If you don’t cut off any fingers, we’ll go from there.
It wasn’t easy, but I did it. Covering the plates in plastic wrap, I stuck them in the fridge.
A glance at the clock showed me I was down to thirty minutes. Did it really take that long to cut up fruit and cheese?
Frantic now, I rummaged in the fridge and found three packs of bacon. I could bake it in the ovens, which would free me up to make other dishes. Running over, I flipped two ovens on, then laid parchment paper out on four big pans. It took a few minutes to open the packages and arrange all those strips, but the ovens were still preheating when I finished.
Thinking as quickly as I could, I organized some jellies, jams, and butters into little dishes and popped some ready-made rolls and scones into bread baskets, then covered them with a cloth. By then, the ovens were ready for the bacon.
"Table’s set." Beta Roy came into the kitchen. "Are these ready to go out?"
He ge stured to the bread baskets and things, and I nodded. He started carrying them into the dining room, which made me feel both guilty and grateful. It wasn’t his job, and Father wouldn’t like to know he’d helped me. I would do something nice for him the next time I had a chance.
Behind Father’s back, of course.
I started the coffee pot and looked at the clock again. Fifteen minutes left. What else could I make? I stuck my head back in the fridge.
Eggs! Perfect!
Getting out the biggest skillet, I melted butter, then added a dozen eggs. I was super careful not to break the yolks since Father liked sunny side up. Soon they were sizzling away.
Phew. Good.
The timer went off on the ovens, and I ran over to pull out the bacon. Patting off the grease and getting it plated took a few minutes, and by then the eggs were cooked, too.
"Hurry, Posy!" Beta Roy hissed. "Alpha’s almost here! Let me take those, then I need to meet him outside."
Nodding, I handed him the platters of eggs and bacon and whirled to the fridge one last time to grab the fruit and cheese trays. I hustled them out to the dining room before I ran back to the kitchen to finish up the coffee tray and fix some pitchers of orange and apple juice.
I’d just finished filling the sugar bowl when several delightful scents filtered into the room. They worked in harmony, yet each one was a distinct note in the bouquet: campfire, pine, maple syrup, roses, and vanilla. All my favorites.
The smells were addictive and I inhaled as much as my lungs could hold, ignoring my ribs as they screamed in protest.
Where is that coming from?
Then my father stalked into the kitchen, and all my attention diverted to him. Glancing at his face to gauge his mood, my heart sank. He was fuming.
Twisting his hand in my hair, he yanked my head back hard, hurting my neck. With a whimper, I dropped to my knees to try and relieve the pressure.
"Where are the waffles?" he shouted. "Can’t you do anything right, runt?"
I didn’t answer. I’d be punished if I spoke and I’d be punished if I didn’t. Either way, I was done for.
Beta Roy didn’t say anything about waffles. Did he set me up to fail? But why? Especially with guests here?
With one hand still tangled in my hair, Father punched me full-force in the face, and a loud crack! echoed through the room. Blood and saliva splattered on the floor as I screamed in agony, knowing my jaw was broken.
Suddenly, tell-tale electricity raised the hair on my arms as someone shifted into their wolf, frightening me to death. Had Father finally lost his mind enough to sic Basalt on me?
"What do you think you’re doing?!" roared a stranger’s voice.
"How dare you harm our mate?!" bellowed another.
"Mate?" my father sneered. "This pathetic runt? She’s a worthless whore. A useless slut. Take my advice, boys. Reject her quick and take a chosen mate."
Everything rattled as two thunderous growls shook the room. Alpha power flared in rich waves, stronger than I’d ever felt from anyone, and Father released his hold on my hair. I slumped to the floor and curled into a protective ball, my hands covering my head.
Fierce snarls soon erupted all around me. Beta Roy scooped me up and carried me to the far corner of the kitchen. He set me on the floor, then crouched in front of me in a defensive pose.
"Don’t watch, Posy," he muttered.
I couldn’t have even if I’d wanted to. I was too hurt to keep my eyes open any longer. The vicious sounds of wolves fighting kept me conscious, though, and questions whirled through my mind. Were the guests attacking my father? Was I next? And why was Beta Roy guarding me instead of aiding my father?
It wasn’t a long fight, and it ended with the loud snap! of a neck breaking. I couldn’t bring myself to care who won. If my father had, nothing would change; if someone else had, everything would. Either way, I would have to deal with the aftermath.
But not right now, I thought weakly. Right now I am going to lie here and melt into the pain, and the world will have to spin on without me for a while.
Loud, upset voices surrounded me, startling me from my daze.
"Are you okay?"
"She’s obviously not, idiot!"
"Why isn’t her wolf healing her?"
"I can’t even feel her wolf. Can any of you?"
"What do we do?"
"Let’s get her off the floor to start with. Beta, get the pack doctor."
Hands slid under me and scooped me against a hard chest. The smell of pine engulfed me, and I felt myself being lifted up just as a door slammed open.
"What’s going on here?"
I recognized that voice. It was my oldest brother, James.
"Posy!" And that was my other brother, Aiden.
"Posy? Is that her name?" asked the one holding me.
"What’s it matter to you?" James barked. "Give her here! How dare you touch her!"
"I dare because she’s ours! Our mate!"
"Mate!" James yelped.
Mate?
The word bloomed in my heart like a flower.
"To whom? Not … not all five of you?" Aiden faltered.
I forced my eyelids up half way and stared blearily at the faces surrounding me. Only two were familiar.
I have … mates?
That’s when I gave up and faded into the darkness.
2: By Father’s Command
Posy
I woke up in a bed. A real one, not a yoga mat with a thin blanket.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, and I turned my face toward it, loving the feel of it on my skin.
I didn’t know where I was or how I’d gotten here, but I was going to enjoy the sun for as long as I was allowed to.
I wish I could bottle it, I thought wistfully, and take it with me when I’m forced back into the dark room.
"Posy? You awake, little girl?"
Beta Roy? What was he doing here, wherever here was?
I nodded, despite my confusion, and turned my head to see him getting up from the chair in the corner.
"Thank the Goddess," he muttered. "I linked your brothers that you’re up. They’re so worried about you. We've been walking on eggshells around here. Dealing with so many agitated alphas hasn’t been fun."
I nodded again. I wondered who he meant by alphas, plural, but couldn’t ask since he didn’t give me permission to speak.
And, truthfully, I was in too much pain to care. My aching jaw had a deep thrumming solo in the symphony of aches, and my ribs hit all the high notes anytime I moved. If only Lark would wake up, she could help. Without her, I healed as slow as a human.
Lost in my thoughts, I nearly jumped out of my skin when the door burst open and people poured into the room. I scrambled to sit up against the headboard and bared my neck in submission, being very careful to keep my eyes down.
I recognized two of the scents as my brothers. The other five were the same scents as the delectable ones I’d smelled earlier in the kitchen.
Mates? my heart whispered. We have mates?
As with the sunshine, I knew it wouldn’t last. All I could do was savor the gift for as long as possible.
My brother James came over and sat on the edge of the bed. I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, trying to be as small as possible.
"How are you feeling, Posy? You’ve been asleep a long time. Are you in pain?"
Scared of him and all his questions, I curled up in a tighter ball to hide how I was shaking.
I know this trick. Father does it all the time. If I say no, he’ll punish me for lying. If I say yes, he’ll punish me for being weak.
Staying silent was always my best option. Sometimes, Father would still punish me for being insolent, but other times he saw it as submission and let me go with only a few slaps or kicks.
"Hey, it’s okay. We won’t hurt you. You can talk to us," James sounded like he was pleading. "You don’t need to follow Father’s stupid rules anymore. He’s gone."
My head flew up and my eyes went right to James’ dark blue ones.
"He’s dead, Posy," James said and waved a hand at the five men standing behind him. "These alphas put him down this morning."
Five alphas? And I’m their mate? Oh, Moon Goddess, what were you thinking?
The strangers stayed silent, and James didn’t tell me their names. I knew I wasn’t worth an introduction, and they probably didn’t see the point. After all, it wasn’t like they were going to keep me.
