Home.
That one word fills me with so much warmth, I feel as if I’m glowing. As we enter the village, I’m awestruck by how tidy and quaint everything looks. It’s a far cry from the massive apartment buildings everyone in Emerald calls home, the buildings of which are all nearly identical and rather sterile-looking, despite the scattering of flowerbeds and trimmed bushes outside that are maintained by the Workers.
But the landscaping in my techno-city seems fake compared to the greenery in the village. Almost as if it were part of a VR story. Here, there are colorful potted plants in wooden crates outside peeling painted doorways, flourishing garden beds, and vast flat areas with what I believe are cornstalks and other vegetables I can’t quite recognize. I don’t see many people outside, but at this late hour, I suppose most of the residents are enjoying dinner or perhaps getting ready for bed.
Nash pulls the truck to a stop in front of a beautiful, rustic log cabin. It’s straight out of an old book. I instantly love it and can’t wait to see the inside.
When two tall men emerge from the house, my stomach does a little flip. I’m about to meet Erik and Gage—the twins who will also be my daddies and my mates.
I gulp hard. Am I really ready for this?
Nash cuts the engine and exits the truck. Axel shoots me a comforting smile—he must realize I’m a bit nervous about meeting his younger brothers—and assists me in stepping out of the vehicle. The air is cool and fresh, with a hint of wood smoke and cooking meat. Several dogs bark, but I can’t see them from where we’re standing.
But dozens of houses—mostly cabins—are clustered together in this huge forest clearing. Through the trees, I’m still able to glimpse the silver of the water tower with the sun glinting off the curved side of it. I’m impressed by the ingenuity of the residents of this village. Just over a week ago, if someone had told me savages were real, I wouldn’t have pictured them living in what appears to be a relatively civilized village in the wildlands.
Axel and Nash move to either side of me, each of them grasping one hand. Their strength and their comfort resonate through me, but I still can’t help but wonder if something important is going to happen soon. Earlier today, Nash made it clear I needed my sleep for tonight, and although I don’t see many residents of the village out in the streets, a few have stepped outside their houses to stare at us in a strange, knowing manner. It’s as if there’s an air of expectation covering the mountainside, but I’m unsure of what everyone could possibly be expecting.
Women are rare in the wildlands. That’s why they’re looking at you. There’s no reason to feel so nervous.
Daddies Axel and Nash lead me up onto the front porch, guiding me to stand directly before their handsome and muscular younger brothers. Twins. They’re identical twins, I realize. I know from reading old books that twins, triplets, and so on could be naturally born, though sometimes they weren’t identical. In the techno-cities, large batches of identical-looking Workers are produced, though for all other professions, each person is given a unique appearance.
“Josie, I would like you to meet our younger brothers, Erik and Gage. Or, as you’ll call them, Daddy Erik and Daddy Gage. Erik and Gage, meet Josie, our future mate and our sweet little girl.”
All four brothers exchange a look and I take note of the increased eagerness in both the twins’ eyes. Unlike their brothers, they possess lighter features, with blond hair and light blue eyes that seem to see to the very depths of my soul. While they’re both staring at me, I can’t help but fidget in place and press my thighs together as sudden pulses of warmth affect my pussy. I flush and lower my head, feeling shy and embarrassed by my visceral reaction to the men I’ve only just met.
“Hello, little Josie,” one of the twins says. He reaches for me and I realize his hair is slightly longer than his brothers. “I’m Daddy Erik and I am pleased to meet you.”
“Hi, Da-Daddy Erik,” I stammer, flushing even hotter.
Daddies Axel and Nash drop my hands and I find myself being wrapped in Daddy Erik’s warm embrace. He smells like the woods, fresh and earthy with a spicy masculine undertone that makes my heart flutter.
The moment Daddy Erik releases me, Daddy Gage moves forward to take me into his arms. He hugs me tighter than his twin brother. His scent is similar, though perhaps woodsier than Daddy Erik’s. Still embracing me, he lifts me up until my feet leave the floor. I clutch onto him and giggle at his playfulness. After he sets me down, he strokes my cheek and holds my gaze again in the same soul-deep manner as he did earlier. I get the feeling the twins have been especially looking forward to having a mate.
“It’ll be dark in an hour,” Daddy Axel says.
A quick glance at all four brothers shows they’re all looking rather serious.
“What’s going to happen once it’s dark?” I ask, my worry from earlier returning.
“Let’s get you inside,” Daddy Nash says after a long pause, ignoring my question.
I’m ushered into the cabin, where a cozy fire is blazing in the hearth. The living room contains two large sofas upholstered with mismatched fabric, three huge windows with the curtains drawn, a rustic coffee table, and a colorful woven rug that takes up almost the entire space. A peek down a nearby hallway shows a small but tidy kitchen and a bedroom. On the other side of the living room, a set of winding stairs rests above a wide bookcase that’s built into the wall.
Home. This is home.
And I love it.