Chapter Eight: Changes & Rules
Tuesday Early Morning
Sam POV:
"Ezekiel, LET HER GO! You're scaring her!” yelled Hannah, as soon as Ezekiel had pinned my baby under him on the bed.
I was to her right, while Zeke and Azrael stood to her left. We were all hanging by a thread. I could feel my eyes black and canines bared. Nevertheless, she did not have a choice, she would have to accept us.
I could see the tears rolling down my baby's face. It broke my heart. As soon as I tried to wipe them away, she let out a little whimper, which did not help my already shattering heart. I could see Hannah coming toward us, but Luca pulled her back and told her to stay put sternly. He knew that provoking four angry Alphas right now could lead to someone potentially getting harmed. He took a step forward and said,
"With all due respect, Alphas, maybe we should hear what Emerald…,” before he could finish, we snarled at him for calling our mate by her name, he shuddered a bit, bared his neck and continued,
"I apologize, Alphas. I meant that maybe you should hear the future Luna out about why she denies the bond." Before any of us could reply or before Ezekiel could let go of my baby, Hannah scoffed and said,
"Em isn't eighteen until another twelve days, if you all would have listened to me when I was about to tell you why she might not recognize you as her mates back in the hall before you guys ran off to scare her. She can't feel the mate-bond yet." We all paled, and Ezekiel let go of my baby immediately.
"Is this true, baby?" I asked her.
Her eyes shot up, and she blushed a little. I could see the residue of her tears on the edge of her eyes. My heart broke; how could we hurt our mate without evening knowing the whole thing.
She just nodded her head and looked down again. I could hear Ezekiel cursing under his breath. He seemed guilty as f**k. Before any of us could say anything, my baby spoke herself in a timid voice,
"I apologize, Alphas…,” we let out a low growl upon her calling us by our titles and not names, she stiffened but continued anyway,
"…before I could explain why I don't feel the mate-bond, you four had already assumed I was rejecting you. I am not sure if you all are my mates or not, because I don't feel anything different from the knowledge I have of how one is supposed to feel around a potential mate, it is absent for me,” she finished, trying to be as respectful and formal as she could, while she kept fidgeting under our watchful eyes. I could see my baby was getting anxious, and was probably harbouring a headache as she kept pressing the side of her temple with her thumb and index finger.
I could feel the frustration, hurt and even anger rolling off my brothers, but if we wanted to make sure my baby accepted us, we had to go about this accordingly until she felt the mate-bond.
I sighed.
This was not how I expected my night to end after finding my baby.
Azrael POV:
My love was afraid of us, her own mates. She wasn't letting any of us come near her. I could feel my heartbreak, and Lex was howling in sadness in my mind. I had to remind him that she wasn't rejecting us, and when the time comes on her eighteenth or maybe a few days before her birthday, she would start feeling the bond. We had to go at a slower pace; my love was already scared, and having four intimidating Alphas present was not helping our case. I mind-linked my brothers,
‘She's going to have a breakdown, guys. Let her sleep for tonight, and we can talk about this in the morning when she isn't overwhelmed and has a clear head.’
‘I don't want to be without her tonight, Scar is already pissed as hell that she keeps rejecting our touch. I don't think I'll be able to control him if I separate him from Emerald right now,’ replied Sam in our mind-link.
‘Rowco is pretty much like Scar, and honestly, I don't want to leave my angel when she's so scared,’ replied Zeke.
I sighed, I was in the same boat as my brothers. Lex kept on snarling at me for suggesting we leave or mate alone when she needed her mate's comfort.
‘As much as I hate this, Azrael is right, we have to let her calm down, four intimidating Alphas hovering over her isn't helping. She's probably not even feeling the mate-bond towards us because of how scared she is, and she's had a lot to drink. That could also be blocking her instincts,’ says Ezekiel in the link.
We all give the nod and sigh. This is going to be one torturous night, knowing my love is in the same house and not being able to sleep next to her has Lex howling in pain, and me. We all turn to her, and Ezekiel starts to say,
"Little Luna, there is no doubt you're our mate. We have no need to make it up, and you should be aware of that. We don't lack she-wolves….,” Emerald slightly winced to that; hope sparked in all of us that maybe she does feel the bond, but her senses were blocking it. Ezekiel slightly stiffened to her wincing and immediately continued,
"…what I mean, my Luna, is that we know you belong to us, and we think you can't sense it because of your state currently. So for now, we'll let you be for the night and can discuss things tomorrow,” we all waited for my love to reply. She seemed to be contemplating something, probably how to approach us without us exploding again. She looked towards Hannah; they were perhaps mind-linking.
"Alpha….,” she began, but we all snarled in unison. She quickly recovered and continued,
"E...Ezekiel…,” stuttered my love, I could see Ezekiel visibly stiffen when Emerald called out his name.
"…thank you. I would like to get some rest as well."
Emerald POV:
What have I gotten myself into, if I only had turned down Hannah's offer to come to the packhouse. I didn't believe I was the quads’ mate, but Alpha Ezekiel was right; why would they claim me when they have herds of she-wolves coming on to them, and by the smell of it, my supposed mates were harbouring other she-wolves scents on them right now. I felt a tinge of jealousy, but I was pretty sure that was because I was suffering a massive hangover, my boyfriend had left me to mate another, and I was a tad horny because of the alcohol, and these four Adonises weren't helping. When I had called Alpha Ezekiel by his name, I saw that he visibly stiffened. He was probably trying to control his wolf. I had agreed to talk in the morning, but staying at the packhouse with my so-called mates scares me. I wanted to go back to my quarters at the academy, I doubt they would let me, but I still had to try. I sighed. Maybe if I asked nicely, they'd let me. I looked up, making eye contact with four sets of grey eyes that were drilling holes into me,
"However, I would like to go back to my quarters at the academy. As….,” before I could finish, they all growled menacingly,
"NO!"
"Listen and listen well, my little Luna, you do not want to test our patience. You are to stay at the packhouse. If you feel the mate-bond or not, as of right now we know you are our mate, and a Luna’s place is next to her Alpha,” said Alpha Ezekiel.
I don't know what snapped inside of me, but instead of submitting, I glared at him and the others and said,
"I DO NOT FEEL ANY MATE-BOND; THEREFORE, I AM NOT YOURS TO COMMAND OR BOSS AROUND! I have classes tomorrow as well, and I want to go back to my quarters. I will come back after all my classes are finished to talk about whatever you're supposed to talk about, but I will be leaving, and you won't stop me!" I looked towards Hannah, and I saw her pale, and by the tension in the air, I knew the quads were far from pleased.
I blinked and saw that I was boxed into the wall, with four Alphas towering over me by more than a foot. They were all easily six-foot-six of pure Alpha male muscle, with their auburn hair falling at their shoulders, high cheekbones and flawless features. Their once grey eyes replaced with pitch black as they looked down at me. Their muscles were twitching, probably their wolves trying to surface. I gulped, and I instantly regretted losing it on them.
Before blinking my eyes, I was hauled onto someone's shoulder. Unfortunately, my dress didn't help cover my bum in this position. I squirmed and started banging my fist against Alpha Samael's back, but I felt a sharp smack on my bum before I could say anything.
He had spanked me.
I lost it then, I kept kicking and banging my fist on his back, but he couldn't feel anything judging by his lack of reaction. I saw the other three Alphas following us down the hallway. I could also see a worried Hannah running behind us with Luca following her. Before registering where Alpha Samael was taking me, I was thrown on a large bed and winced when I hit my hand across the headboard.
"Shit, I'm sorry! Baby, are you okay?" asked Alpha Samael, trying to hold on to my hand. I yanked it back and moved towards the headboard with my knees to my chest. He sighed and got up to stand with his brothers.
"As much as we would love to spank that little ass of yours and put that mouth to better use than yelling at your Alphas, you are hungover, and I would like to believe that is the cause of your defiance. You should have respect for your Alphas and mates!" said Alpha Azrael, and here I thought he was the gentle one, but guess I was wrong.
"You are to stay here, angel; you will not be returning to the academy where many unmated males are,” said Alpha Zaqeil, and how he said it made my blood boil.
How dare they dictate my life?
Even if I was their mate, I had yet to accept them. Therefore, they had no right to control me.
"I would advise whatever is cooking in that tiny, cute head of yours, little Luna, you don't act on it. Causing more trouble will not help your situation,” said Alpha Ezekiel, with a bit of smirk on his face.
If looks could kill, my so-called mates would be dead by now. I looked toward Hannah, standing with Luca in the doorway, and silently pleaded for help. She sighed and came forward.
"Maybe you guys are overreacting. Keeping her here against her will won't help your relationship with her. I think you should let her do what she wants…,” before Hannah could finish, Ezekiel yelled,
"ENOUGH! Hannah stay out of this, we know she's your friend, but she is our mate and Luna, and we are to decide how to deal with things. Luca, please take Hannah to your room." I saw Hannah cower back a bit at her brother's behaviour and nod. Luca held her hand and was about to lead her towards their room. She looked back at me and gave me a small smile, probably telling me I'll be okay.
Like hell I would be, while I had four pissed-off Alphas breathing down my neck.
As soon as Hannah and Luca left, the quads faced me again. They looked at one another, a little dazed, they were probably mind-linking. I saw Alpha Azrael sigh, leave the room, and come back with aspirin, a muffin, and water. He put everything down on the nightstand and turned to me and said,
"My love, there's no easier way to say this. If you had felt the mate-bond, you would know why we are doing all this, but we cannot let you leave, our wolves won't let us. It’s a matter of a few days, once you are eighteen, your wolf will recognize us as your mates, and all this confusion will be cleared up." I just stared at him without saying anything.
"If you weren't so defiant, we would have saved all of this for tomorrow, but I feel if we don't clear some stuff up right now, we'll be having a repeat of this in the morning,” said Alpha Ezekiel, and then looked at his brothers. They all nodded and turned to me with a severe look.
"You are not going back to the academy quarters, little Luna, you will be moving into the packhouse with us. We will not force you into anything until you are ready, but you will stay here,” said Alpha Ezekiel. My eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets. They couldn't do this to me. I didn't want to live here, and with them much the less. Before I could say anything, Alpha Azrael put up his palm to stop me and said,
"We are not asking you to leave the academy, my love, you will continue your senior year, but will be picked up and dropped off by our chauffeur. You are to stay with your mates, and there are too many unmated males in the quarters for our liking."
Nah-uhh, I'm not going to stand for this. They can't keep me caged here.
"As much of a sexy vixen you look right now, baby, you can't go out in clothes like these without us present. You are only ours, and the thought of horny unmated males gawking at you doesn't sit right with us. So, if you don't want some horny teenager getting beaten up, think before you dress,” added Alpha Samael.
At this point, I was just staring at them as if they had lost their minds or something. Before I could even voice my concern about their mental health, Alpha Zaqeil spoke,
"Angel, Hannah mentioned you were upset, that's why you drank so much…,” he paused to gauge my reaction. I stiffened; I know Hannah didn't mention Eli, otherwise this conversation we were having would be completely different right now, just by the look of how possessive they’re acting. Wolves were usually very protective of their mates, and being an Alpha only quadruples that feeling. Yup, I was doomed. What would they do if they found out about Eli and I? I was royally f****d. I was brought back from my thoughts when Alpha Zaqeil continued,
"...we know you'll eventually tell us what the reason was. We'll always protect you, know that." Yup, like I said, royally f****d!
"With that, we expect you to drink reasonably next time. Although we would prefer you only drink when we are around, we won't take that from you," Alpha Zaqeil finished.
Oh, how generous of them. I internally rolled my eyes.
Was I dreaming or something?
First, my boyfriend mates with one of my best friends. I'm claimed by the Alpha quadruplets as their mate, which I don't feel the mate-bond, and now I was practically stripped of my freedom. If I knew my senior year could start off like this, I wouldn't have returned to the academy.
I sighed.
This was very overwhelming, and the fact my head was pounding was not helping. I didn't really have much choice about leaving, and arguing with the quads about their supposed rules right now would only make matters worse. I looked up, meeting their eyes, and said,
"Alphas...,” I could see their disapproving looks, but I was exhausted, I didn't care.
"… I'll stay the night here, but I want to sleep alone. I need time to think about everything you've said, but I would still like to attend my classes in the morning as it's the first week." I made sure to keep my voice steady and not show any emotions. I could tell they didn't like the idea of me wanting to sleep alone, but I wasn't going to give them a choice.
"Alright, little Luna, as you wish. Regarding your classes, we will take you in the morning. We want to ensure that the male wolves know that you are ours and stay clear of you,” Ezekiel said in a no-nonsense tone that meant not arguing back.
I sighed and nodded.
They seemed pleased with my submissive attitude, before they came near me and pecked my forehead or cheeks, saying goodnight and leaving.
I practically flew to the door and locked it as soon as they left. I went back into bed and looked towards the aspirin and muffin. I downed the medicine with the glass of water and nibbled on the muffin. I had no clothes here, I didn't want to ask my mates, and Hannah already seemed to have her hands full with Luca. So I just pulled the covers over me and slept. I'll deal with everything in the morning.