Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Were Love Conquers All [Were Trilogy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (15 page)

“I think a good ass spanking may be inevitable, brothers,” Dante added, taking a step closer to their mate.

They watched Charity’s chest rise and fall as she attempted to control her breathing.

Dante rubbed a hand along her hip to her backside then squeezed.

She stirred under their gazes. They sniffed the air, and all three wolves smirked.

“I think our mate might even like a good spanking,” Luther teased, but then someone knocked on the door again, interrupting them.

“We’ll discuss this more tonight after the hunt.” Maximus then rubbed his thumb against her chin before kissing her softly.

Chapter 8

The Alphas remained in meetings, trying to figure out who was after Zagoran and his mate. They were making connections to some of the attacks throughout the state.

“Some of our investigators said that the two men were rogue wolves. They don’t belong to any particular pack,” Delta stated.

“Charity connected some of our investigators with one of her main operators at Caliber. He was really helpful. I think we might get some leads from him by tonight,” Dante added to the conversation.

“Really? That woman, Charity, seems more apt at running Caliber than that man, Val, who is the owner,” Delta said with a smile.

“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if it turned out that she actually runs the company. That happens a lot when you are the owner’s personal assistant. Personally, it doesn’t matter to me. She saved my mate,” Zagoran stated.

“Well, we might as well call it a wrap on this meeting for now. There’s not much more we can do. I am looking forward to the run and releasing some of this extra stress. My wolf has been antsy for weeks now,” Dante confessed, and everyone agreed as Maximus rose and ended the meeting.

* * * *

“I can’t wait to see Charity. It’s outrageous how much I feel lost without her nearby. Do you think she will come willingly tonight?” Luther asked his brothers as they walked down the hallway.

“She has no choice but to come to us when we call,” Maximus replied straight-faced.

“You were a little tough on her today in the library,” Luther added.

Maximus stopped in mid stride.

“I was tough? I am an Alpha, just like you are, Dante. No woman, no mate of mine, will interfere in my leadership. If we allow her too much control, she won’t learn her place as Alpha female, never mind as royalty.”

“All I’m saying is that you could be a little less abrupt. She was concerned about you. She saw your picture in the library and saw sadness in your expression,” Luther offered.

“Sadness?” he questioned, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise.

“Maybe she’s just in tune to your emotions and your character as a good mate should be,” Dante added.

“Well, I know one thing for sure. Her body is in tune to our touch. She’s never been with a man before, and we will be her first and only. The thought that no other has ever or will ever make love to her drives my wolf wild with possessiveness.” They both looked at Luther and agreed.

“Let’s prepare for the hunt. Tonight we’ll take full possession of what is ours,” Maximus replied and then continued to walk away from the meeting room.

* * * *

Charity had taken a long, hot bath and tried to get the Alphas out of her mind. It was becoming difficult to be apart from them. Their touch had such an effect on her body that even now, after a long, hot bath, just the thought of their touch made every erogenous zone hum with desire. At this rate, she was liable to jump them herself. The thought made her cheeks warm.

The hunt was tonight, and she still wasn’t certain which form the spirits would want her to take. Sometimes it was annoying to have to wait for their command. Other times, when she just allowed herself to react without their provocation, things turned out the way they were supposed to. Kind of like today with Luther in the library. As a princess she was supposed to act with discretion and not give into selfish desires. But she couldn’t resist temptation or the hungry feeling that seemed to deepen in the presence of the Alphas. She was beginning to believe that they were indeed meant to be her mates. It made sense after all. They were royalty and she was a princess. She couldn’t help but wonder if she were meant to take on the form of a feast for the brothers. The thought brought on a surge of heat through her body. They had only been separated for a couple of hours, yet she couldn’t stop thinking about them.

She was still a bit angry at Maximus for hypnotizing Val. The poor man was nauseated even after she used some of her powers to calm his sickness. He had continued to pretend serious illness to the Alphas and the other guests to not attract questions or attention. It gave Val more time to investigate the incident at the café in the beginning of the week and also the connection to the random attacks. Maximus proved that his reputation as an authoritative and powerful Alpha was warranted. His ability to hypnotize in an instant was bestowed upon him by the Goddesses. They had yet to feel that he overused that privileged power or that he abused it. However, seeing that Val had experienced it firsthand bothered Charity. His temper was a bit questionable in her book. However, she did provoke him at the meeting and forget her role as assistant. That being said, his form of punishment for her would make any sane woman act out on purpose. The way he grabbed her around the waist, lifted her easily onto the table, and then kissed her breathless was invigorating. Then of course, she provoked Maximus again in the library today. His threat of punishment both angered her and made her body warm with desire for his command. It was insane. She was a leader, not a follower. How could a relationship with such demanding Alpha males work out?

Brushing her hair as she watched her reflection in the vanity mirror, she couldn’t help but desire the brothers’ touch again. It was amazing, but she felt a connection. Praying to the spirits for some kind of sign or indication that she was to continue the love affair with the triplets had caused the spirits to act. They had condoned the attraction, and it appeared that they wanted her to be their mate. The brothers had professed the same information. This came as a complete surprise to Charity. She recalled the Goddess Bethany’s words.

“The spirits have answered your prayers, my princess. It seems that through the years your assignment as protector to the Venificus royal family was in part to secure your mating. It has been proven by the three brothers’ actions, words, and inner desires that they have chosen you to stand beside them as ruler. You will need the combined strength of their love for you and your love for them to fight the battles set before you. Embrace the time together with them. You will be challenged by their unique, strong, and determined personalities as well as their need to control and possess all of you. Do not be afraid. Follow your heart for you have the ultimate power of sensing emotion, desire, and true intent. You will know what to do.”

She thought she would spend eternity alone. As the Chosen One, she had too much responsibility and allegiance to protect both this realm and all others when the spirits called upon her. How could she possibly be allowed to fall in love?

The words caused an ache in her belly and a knot in her throat. The tears filled her eyes, and instantly she thought of her mother.

To lose her parents as a baby was the beginning of a lonely path set up for her by the gods. Rationalizing their intentions led her to believe it was all to make her stronger. The fight against Devlon and her escape through the use of her unknown powers at the time was all part of her destiny. Through the heartache, the pain of not having her blood family to aid her or to simply love her, Charity developed a wall of protection around her heart.

Here she was, capable and willing to offer goodness and love to those souls she knew and sensed were forthright, yet she had no one to love her back. There had been no one to hold her and make her feel protected instead of being the protector. That was until meeting the triplet Alphas. They had truly touched her heart and her soul.

She thought that she was destined to fight the battle of all time and to be alone with her gifts, her powers, and her dedication to the gods. She had been wrong, and now she was seeing the bigger picture here. She thought about Maximus, Luther, and Dante and felt the tightness in her chest and the deep emotion in her heart.

Could it be that she was already in love with them?

The knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she wondered who it could be.

“Celeste, how are you?” Charity asked, motioning for the older woman to enter the room.

Celeste wore a black velvet jumpsuit, and Charity couldn’t help but wonder if the woman was planning on joining the hunt.

“I came to check on you.”

“That was very nice of you—”

Charity began to walk to the chair by the vanity again when Celeste stopped her.

Touching her arm, Charity locked gazes with Celeste.

“You are feeling confused, my princess.”

Charity exhaled and was worried about sharing her emotions with Celeste. As if sensing it, Celeste spoke.

“The spirits have sent me to you. They feel I can be of service, and I am honored. You know that I loved your parents very much. Pasarra had dreamt of having a daughter someday, but she knew the risks.”

“I wish she were still alive, and my father, too.” Charity sat down on the chair.

“It is understandable.”

Celeste stood beside Charity and gently caressed her hair.

“You are not alone anymore, Charity. The spirits have sent you on this journey with much purpose. I can feel something growing within you. A deeper power, a weapon perhaps for the evil you must destroy.”

Charity locked gazes with Celeste and laid her palm against her heart.

“I feel it, too. I feel it even more when I am with—”

Charity paused, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“When you are with my sons.” Celeste smiled knowingly.

“Yes. I feel a connection to them, a need to be around them all the time. For twenty-two years I have been alone. There has been camaraderie and friendship, but never love.” Charity blushed at the confession.

Celeste smiled.

“That is not something to be ashamed of, Charity. A princess should not act with indiscretion. I am certain it is part of the appeal my sons feel for you. I told you that you could not simply pass as an assistant,” Celeste joked, and Charity smiled.

“Celeste.” Charity cleared her throat and held the woman’s gaze. “Your sons, Maximus, Luther, and Dante, have been chosen by the gods to be my mates.”

Celeste smiled, the tears instantly forming in her eyes.

She bowed before Charity.

“It is such an honor, and I am certain you can handle them.”

She embraced Charity then chuckled as she pulled away.

Wiping her tears, Celeste appeared to be gleaming with joy.

“They are quite the handful, with each more determined and stubborn than the next. The qualities of each of them together make the perfect mate for a princess. Do not fear. I have much faith in you.”

Charity smiled, but deep inside she felt a sense of anxiety. Could she truly give all of herself to these three men?

“It is quite interesting how the spirits work to ensure that the good continue to destroy the evil.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was pregnant with the triplets before you were conceived. Pasarra had difficulty getting pregnant. It was years later when she finally conceived you. We were so thrilled. The triplets were just turning twelve, and I used to joke around about joining our families. What if she had girls and they were mates to my three sons? We were very good friends, as you know. Pasarra became pregnant with you, and we hoped for our little fantasy would come true. We had a huge celebration when you were conceived.”

“You mean your boys met me when I was just an infant?”

Celeste nodded.

“They were young, and I’m not sure if they remember meeting you. It was a happy time.”

“That is amazing, and it makes me happy that you shared such a fond memory. Do your sons know or remember?”

“I am not certain. I suppose one day we will bring it up and tell them. Are you going to let them know that you are the Princess?”

Charity sighed as if thinking about it.

“I want to tell them, but I feel that the time is not right. I don’t know why exactly but my instincts are telling me to wait a bit longer.”

Celeste smiled then placed her hand on Charity’s shoulder. “Do not fret my dear, when the time is right you will know, and then we can celebrate.”

Celeste smiled just as the sound of someone knocking on the door interrupted them. “I will meet you outside for the hunt.”

Charity nodded her head and rose from the chair as Celeste opened the door.

* * * *

Dante nearly fainted at the sight of his mother in Charity’s room. A mix of emotions ran through him. First, he was worried that Charity had told his mother about hypnotizing Val. Second, he thought about what he and his brothers had done to their goddess virgin, and the heat hit his cheeks.