CALLUM
I woke up dripping with sweat and in agony to the sound of another voice in my head. It was awful, uncomfortable, and just really unpleasant. If Ava hadn’t been there to help me through it, I don’t know what would have happened.
When I shifted, it was like there was a string tying me to Ava. I didn’t want to be away from her. I don’t think it was a mate bond, we were both too young to recognise our mates. But… there was definitely something there. I planned to talk to my dad in the now I could through the mindlink.
When Ares told me he wanted to hunt for Artemis, I wasn’t sure what to think, and I definitely didn’t think he’d go for a deer. Artemis insisted on sharing the deer with him, and he practically melted, rolling around in my head with happiness.
Ava and I made love as the sun rose, before shifting back to run to the training ground.
I wanted to meet Lloyd.
Somehow, despite our distractions, Ava and I beat my dad and Alpha Jacob to the training ground, so we settled down in the middle of the field, our wolves wrapped around each other for a nap.
I jolted awake when Ava licked my face, and Ares happily returned that lick before jumping into her side. Our wolves wrestled for a while, with Ava always coming out on top.
Ares loved it.
He loved that Artemis was strong.
The last time Artemis pinned Ares, he suddenly gave me control back so I was on the ground underneath her. Artemis suddenly gave Ava back control, so we ended with her straddling my hips, both of us laughing.
AVA
We were in our own little world. It was amazing, really something else.
Unfortunately we were jolted out of our own little world by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us. Alex. Because of course it was. Of course Alex would appear behind us whilst I was straddling his son. Because why wouldn’t he?
“Morning Alex, Jacob,” I laughed, my cheeks slightly pink. I had nothing on Callum though who ended up very pink. I got up, pulling him up to stand. He stood behind me, pressed up against my back, his arms around my waist. I worked out why he’d chosen this position the second I felt his erection pressed against my back.
“Smooth,” I giggled through the mind link.
“Callum, it’s good to see you, son, but why are you here?” Jacob asked.
I stepped away from Callum, turning to look at him, giving him a small smile. “We’ve got someone for you to meet, Jacob.” Alex’s voice was proud.
Callum shifted, revealing Ares. “This, Jacob, is Ares.”
He bowed his head in Jacob’s direction, and when I shifted, he did the same to me.
“Don’t bow to me, please, Callum,” I implored. “We literally just had sex, it’s weird if you bow.”
“It’s great to meet you, Ares. I’m so proud of you, Callum. You’re doing very well.”
Artemis walked over towards him, nudging his head with hers like she was agreeing with Jacob. Alex shifted into Kieran, and finally Jacob shifted into Lloyd, letting Ares meet his Alpha properly.
Once everyone was acquainted, we all ran off into the woods.
“Ava…” Alex asked through a private link. “Are you Callum’s mate?”
“I don’t know, it’s weird. Maybe? I wanted to talk to you and Jacob about it later.”
“Alright. We need to chat about rogues, so we can talk about that too then.”
“Sounds like a plan. After breakfast when Callum goes to workout with Oscar?”
I felt Alex nod through the link.
“Jacob,” I added him to my link with Alex. “After breakfast when Callum goes to train with Oscar, I need to talk to you and Alex about something. And we need to talk about the rogues, of course.”
“I have a feeling I know where this is going Ava. He’s your mate, isn’t he?”
I chuckled. “I don’t know, that’s more the problem.”
“Ahh. Okay. You’ll have to explain after breakfast.”
We ran for a while longer before finally retiring to the pack house for breakfast.
We were joined by Oscar, Theo and Noah on the steps to the pack house. Alex shifted back first, before introducing Ares to the boys. They were shocked, but then gave massive smiles when Callum shifted back. The four of us threw clothes on, and we all walked into the dining room for breakfast.
Callum was protective and possessive of me over breakfast. He didn’t want his brother or the Alpha twins touching me; which is a problem when really it was all four of them in our ‘relationship’.
“I’ll see you soon, little one,” he whispered in my ear, kissing my forehead when he headed out for training with Oscar, Theo and Noah. Oscar went to hug me, and Callum, well, Ares, actually growled. Theo and Noah didn’t even try after that.
“Alex, Jacob. Shall we head upstairs and talk strategy?” My voice was tense, everyone would be able to tell.
They both nodded, watching Callum as he left.
Feeling our eyes on him, he turned back to face me, winked, and then carried on.
Once we all sat down in Jacob’s office, he got straight to the elephant in the room. “How are you not sure if Callum is your mate?”
I chuckled, nervously. “Artemis didn’t recognise Callum straight out as her mate, she’s just as confused as I am. But there is very definitely a bond there, that both of us can feel. Callum and Ares definitely can too; they caught Artemis a deer.”
“Did this start before or after you had sex with him by the lake?” Jacob asked. Alex’s eyes were wide.
My eyes were wide. “How…”
“Everyone knows, Ava. Everyone apart from Alex, apparently. The warriors saw you.”
I gave Alex an apologetic look. Talking about his son’s sex life couldn’t be pleasant.
“It was before, anyway. We went to the lake after the deer.”
“Alex, sorry in advance about this line of questioning,” Jacob chuckled in his old friend’s direction. “Did Artemis want to mark him?”
I nodded. “I had to fight her not to.”
We all sat there, deep in thought.
“Is it possible that, since we both have our wolves, they are recognising the connection, even if Callum isn’t 18 yet? But because he’s not 18, they can’t truly recognise a mate bond? Is it different because I’m Lycan?”
“There’s definitely more questions than answers here, Ava.” Jacob’s voice was low, like he didn’t want to be heard.
“Ava!” Callum shouted through the mind link. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“You feel stressed, Ares says Artemis is too.”
I felt my mouth fall open in shock. “I’m just talking to your dad and Jacob about security, I’m all good, I promise.” I paused for a moment. “Have a good workout, I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Alright.” Ares suddenly took over. “I love you.”
I closed the link, slightly in shock. So Ares and Callum couldn’t feel anything else, I slammed a block down on my emotions. Before I could say anything, Alex’s eyes glazed over as someone linked him.
Once his conversation was done, I went to speak, but I was a little in shock.
“Was that Callum, Ava?” Alex asked.
I nodded, my eyebrows furrowed, face tense.
“Callum could feel my emotions. He could feel my stress, and Ares felt Artemis’.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “That wasn’t all that happened, was it?”
I raised one eyebrow.
“Callum sounded freaked out, he wants to talk to me about you once we’re done here.”
I bit my lip. “Ares said he loves me.”