Page 31 of The Alpha's Mates

“If only.”

We shared a look. My heart nearly broke in my chest, wondering how happy Mom would have been here. She’d never gotten the chance to know a place like this. People like these. I caught Vera alone for a few moments this morning and she said my mother had never come to the Venat Pack’s territory. I wasn’t sure who Mom got her information from about alpha females, but she’d never made it here.

Movement caught my eye and I grinned as four alphas approached.

“We’ll take those over to the pack leader’s home for you,” the leader said, voice gruff.

“That’s okay,” Emma snapped, making my brows shoot up. “We’ve got it.”

“Nope,” A blonde who had a mirror version of himself standing next to him said with a smile. He took the clothes out of my hands before Emma could object again.

I frowned at the twins, trying to figure them out. It took me far longer than I cared before I realized. “You’re betas.”

Emma’s gasp and pointed look made me blush in embarrassment.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “There’s nothing wrong with betas…”

“You’re just not used to seeing us in a cadre with two alphas,” the second twin said with a huge grin. “Don’t worry. We’re used to the scrutiny.”

“Still,” I insisted, “It was rude of me.”

“I’m sure if anyone is used to scrutiny, it’s you, my lady,” the first twin said.

“Oh jeez. Don’t call me that. I’m Reese,” I said, sticking my hand out to shake theirs.

“I’m Reign.”

“And Bane.”

I blinked at the blonde hunks with honey golden eyes as I took in their names. “Nice to meet you.”

“This is Holden,” they said in unison, pointing at the quiet alpha watching everything unfold.

“And Griff,” Reign told me, pointing at the black-haired grump who’d first approached us.

Griff nodded politely to me, but his piercing blue eyes were watching Emma closely.

“Okay! Thanks. The girls will be thrilled to get those clothes,” Emma said, waving them off. As soon as the men left, though it was clearly reluctant on their part, she whirled to face me. “They won’t leave me alone.”

I couldn’t bite back the laughter that bubbled up. “What?”

“That asshole Griff came right up to me and said he was claiming me as his cadre’s mate. Now they won’t leave me alone.”

Pursing my lips, I considered the situation. “Any reason you don’t want them as mates?”

She gave me a pained look.

Nodding my head, I told her, “I get it. Neither of us really thought that we’d have mates.”

“At the most I figured I’d eventually marry a beta man. Maybe have a couple pups, but alphas? What am I supposed to do with two alphas and two betas?” she asked, worry and hope mixing in her eyes. She wanted this, she was just scared. I knew exactly how she felt. “Unnatural, that’s what it is,” she muttered.

I laughed and smacked her in the shoulder. “You’ve been best friends with an alpha female almost all your life. You should know better than anyone that the Goddess does what she wants. She makes creatures like me and she matches souls as she sees fit. Obviously those four men are meant to be together. Our Goddess doesn't make mistakes.” At least not if we were to believe what my mother always said, rather than my father.

Emma let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, well, we’ll put that aside for now.”

I gave her a snarky grin because I knew those males weren’t going to let her get away with that for long. Not if they were like mine. The smile slipped off my face as I thought about what was coming up. “I don’t know how long we’re going to be gone, Em. Will you take care of them?”

Shock filled her expression. “Take care of who?”

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