Page 63 of Feral Mates
Whatever had created our connection, it was strong and growing more so with every passing hour. The sensations weren’t just carnal in nature, nor were they only primal. It was a bond forged in the very depths of our beings.
As if being unearthed from centuries of hibernation. That was the only way I could explain the possibility of being able to mate with them.
The crazy meter went off in my head.
“You should get some sleep, little mate,” Apollo directed, his features darker than before.
“Not until I know what’s on the flash drive I was given. Knowledge is power.” And I had a feeling we’d need every scrap of power possible.
“You’ll need your rest,” he insisted.
“I will after I take a look.”
As evidenced before, he wasn’t used to having anyone tell him no. Especially a human. His nostrils flared and when he took a step closer, I stood my ground. Exhausted or not, I wasn’t going to waste a single moment.
Even if having the three of them so close was making me lose my mind in an entirely different way.
My breath was caught in my throat, the flush I felt on my cheeks extending to my neck and chest. Even my arms were hot to the touch.
Reaching out, he curled his thick fingers, tracing his knuckles from one side of my jaw to the other. His entire body was shimmering with explosive energy and for a moment, I was certain he was electrified.
Blinking, I sucked in my breath and my actions seemed to amuse him, the corners of his upper lip twisting in a quiet smirk.
“As I told you before, little mate. You will need to obey us.”
“Just like the deer.”
“Just like every creature.”
A smile crossed my face. “Not this time, wolf man.” At least not yet. The thought still stimulating my mind, I backed away, breaking our connection. Then I turned abruptly, their heated gazes following me as I walked from the foyer into the shadows.
Only when I was in a completely different room could I breathe. Exhaling, I turned on the light to my father’s office, instantly taking comfort from being close to him. This was my father’s favorite room in the house. It was filled with books, hundreds of them meticulously placed on shelves, categorized as if done by a librarian.
My father was that way, something he’d been trained to do. Everything had its place. That’s why we’d maintained such a strong relationship. We were like two peas in a pod. At least according to my mother.
As I walked toward one of two walls holding his collection of literature, I had a deep longing to call him. He’d know what to do. He always had answers. No matter the question or concern. Nothing had been off limits. Only this time, not only couldn’t he help me, he also would be concerned for my mental stability.
After running my fingers across the edges of half a dozen books, I took a seat at his desk, switching on the desk lamp. The amber glow emitted was almost exactly the same as those of the wolves’ eyes when in their natural form. The reflection created spots in my father’s favorite window. Like three pairs of eyes watching me instead of the other way around. The massive pane of glass looked out on the garden my mother had created with her loving hands the year they’d moved in,
How many times had I caught my father doing nothing but watching her in her straw hat, pruning shears in her hand? He’d called it his personal reflective time. He’d be lost without her. They adored each other even more after being married for thirty-five years.
That’s the kind of love and devotion I wanted.
Ugh. Why did my thoughts immediately drift to the three incredible, godlike men? Because they weren’t men, not really. Or at least they shouldn’t be. Sighing, I forced myself to look away. There was no sense in daydreaming, wanting something I couldn’t have.
I grabbed the two flash drives. I’d shoved both into my jeans pocket, determined not to lose or have them taken from me. After some sleep, I’d make sense of everything, taking a few notes so I could attempt to piece everything together. With my hands shaking, I turned on his computer, waiting for it to come to life. As I sat back, I turned my head back toward the window.
It suddenly felt as if someone really was out there, only this time watching over me instead if meaning harm.
Half laughing, when the welcome screen flashed in front of my eyes, I crossed my fingers my father hadn’t changed his passcode before leaving for Italy. He’d given me the code only a few weeks before they’d left. As always, just in case something happened.
My fingers were shaking as I typed in the code from memory, something he’d made me do. Never write down passcodes anywhere, he’d told me.
The computer seemed sluggish and I thought for certain I’d be locked out.
But it worked. Thank God.
“Thank you for being you, Daddy.”
