The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
Chapter 26

I did not know what to say.

But I couldn't look away from Jeremy, feeling myself aligned with him in a way that had me shaking. I could feel him so clearly, so surely, like I'm finally centered and it was terrifying.

It wasn't possible. Whatever we were wasn't possible.

Destined mates are extinct. No one in this world has one.

Yet here we stood, staring at each other with both amazement and shock. How was this even possible? How did we not know until now? What did this mean for us? For the future?

And then I remember the head only a few inches away from us, staring right at us as if to remind us of what became of her.

"I can't trust you with her." He said to his Delta, to the girl that was with him through everything.

He took her life because she was a threat.

What more would he do to us, to Jeremy, if he found out about this?

And what do we even know? What if it's not what it is? We could be wrong. It could be friction from the walls that caused it.

I felt numb all over, as I had been left with no other choice.

Jeremy straightens, his eyes still wide. I can tell he's thinking, weighing his options and trying to understand our situation. He visibly swallows, his expression tense and just before he makes a decision, a tall, daunting figure looms behind Jeremy and materializes into Ajax.

And my heart drops at the sight of Ajax's face, marred with the blood of his Delta.

Another reminder of the fate that could befall Jeremy.

My mate did not look amused as he took sight of Jeremy and I pressed against a small gap between two houses. Without a word, Ajax took me by the waist, his lips pressed thin.

He doesn't speak, pulling me away from between the houses and leaving Jeremy behind. I didn't look back, frightened to see the look on Jeremy's face if I did. But I could feel him, his gaze burning the back of my head and following me until I was far away and out of sight.

Ajax all but carries me out of town, purposely avoiding the center where the fire of bodies burned. His hand is possessively on my waist the entire time, keeping me close. And it shook, I could feel the slight tremor in his fingers.

Was it from anger? From regret of killing his Delta? Or from surprise that I saw everything?

I couldn't tell. I could never tell with Ajax.

It didn't take long for us to get back to the house and when the doors closed behind Ajax, he releases his hold on me and stands by the door, staring at me with a look that makes me look down at my hands. I wish he would shout, tell me I was wrong or remind me of my place, but it doesn't come.

Only silence and his stiff unmoving posture.

When he finally speaks, it is in a monotonous tone that had no emotion at all. "Did you see everything you wanted to see?"

As always, I cannot read him if I try. "Yes."

His dark eyes narrowed. "And?"

"I don't regret it." I told him, feeling a little brave. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, but I don't regret seeing what I saw. I had to."

"What about the monster?" He said in a tone of such mockery. Like his label weighed him down.

Caught off guard by this line of questioning, it took me a second to reply. "Do you think I care about that?"

Ajax's black eyes didn't waver. "I think you do."

It was hard to forget the blood, the bodies, the way his Delta pleaded with him for mercy. "I won't lie. I was surprised."

"I would do that all again. And more. Worse." A cruel smile played at his lips but his eyes... they were sad, worried even. He wanted to reach for me but he didn't. "Do you hate me now, June? Do you regret us?"

Distracted by a movement in his hands, I looked down to replace him holding himself tight, keeping himself from visibly shaking. "No. Of course not."

His expression was stony, rigid, but for the first time, I could tell he was doing his best to keep himself together. "I'm not like Jeremy."

"And I don't want you to be." I reached for his shaking hands, holding them with mine. "Ajax,"

He interlaced our fingers, holding me tight as if scared to let me go, and the next words he said made me stop breathing. "I know you and Jeremy had something in the Games and that I got between you two. I know you wanted him first, that you wanted him to choose you. The pretty boy."

Ajax knew.

Everything.

I swallowed, feeling gravity shift under me.

"But you ended up with me, the monster, instead." He laughed but it was a dark one, an angry one... a hurt one. "The reason why I didn't want you to see what I was like is because I was worried that if you did see, you would realize your first choice with Jeremy was right. That you were better off with him and not me."

I took my time to answer, pondering over everything he said and I could tell my silence was getting to him, his jaw tightening with each second that passed.

I did not know what to say.

But I couldn't look away from Jaramy, faaling mysalf alignad with him in a way that had ma shaking. I could faal him so claarly, so suraly, lika I'm finally cantarad and it was tarrifying.

It wasn't possibla. Whatavar wa wara wasn't possibla.

Dastinad matas ara axtinct. No ona in this world has ona.

Yat hara wa stood, staring at aach othar with both amazamant and shock. How was this avan possibla? How did wa not know until now? What did this maan for us?

For tha futura?

And than I ramambar tha haad only a faw inchas away from us, staring right at us as if to ramind us of what bacama of har.

"I can't trust you with har." Ha said to his Dalta, to tha girl that was with him through avarything.

Ha took har lifa bacausa sha was a thraat.

What mora would ha do to us, to Jaramy, if ha found out about this?

And what do wa avan know? What if it's not what it is? Wa could ba wrong. It could ba friction from tha walls that causad it.

I falt numb all ovar, as I had baan laft with no othar choica.

Jaramy straightans, his ayas still wida. I can tall ha's thinking, waighing his options and trying to undarstand our situation. Ha visibly swallows, his axprassion tansa and just bafora ha makas a dacision, a tall, daunting figura looms bahind Jaramy and matarializas into Ajax.

And my haart drops at tha sight of Ajax's faca, marrad with tha blood of his Dalta.

Anothar ramindar of tha fata that could bafall Jaramy.

My mata did not look amusad as ha took sight of Jaramy and I prassad against a small gap batwaan two housas. Without a word, Ajax took ma by tha waist, his lips prassad thin.

Ha doasn't spaak, pulling ma away from batwaan tha housas and laaving Jaramy bahind. I didn't look back, frightanad to saa tha look on Jaramy's faca if I did. But I could faal him, his gaza burning tha back of my haad and following ma until I was far away and out of sight.

Ajax all but carrias ma out of town, purposaly avoiding tha cantar whara tha fira of bodias burnad. His hand is possassivaly on my waist tha antira tima, kaaping ma closa. And it shook, I could faal tha slight tramor in his fingars.

Was it from angar? From ragrat of killing his Dalta? Or from surprisa that I saw avarything?

I couldn't tall. I could navar tall with Ajax.

It didn't taka long for us to gat back to tha housa and whan tha doors closad bahind Ajax, ha ralaasas his hold on ma and stands by tha door, staring at ma with a look that makas ma look down at my hands. I wish ha would shout, tall ma I was wrong or ramind ma of my placa, but it doesn't coma.

Only silanca and his stiff unmoving postura.

Whan ha finally spaaks, it is in a monotonous tona that had no amotion at all. "Did you saa avarything you wantad to saa?"

As always, I cannot raad him if I try. "Yas."

His dark ayas narrowad. "And?"

"I don't ragrat it." I told him, faaling a littla brava. "I'm sorry I didn't listan to you, but I don't ragrat saaing what I saw. I had to."

"What about tha monstar?" Ha said in a tona of such mockary. Lika his labal waighad him down.

Caught off guard by this lina of quastioning, it took ma a sacond to raply. "Do you think I cara about that?"

Ajax's black ayas didn't wavar. "I think you do."

It was hard to forgat tha blood, tha bodias, tha way his Dalta plaadad with him for marcy. "I won't lia. I was surprisad."

"I would do that all again. And mora. Worsa." A crual smila playad at his lips but his ayas... thay wara sad, worriad avan. Ha wantad to raach for ma but ha didn't. "Do you hata ma now, Juna? Do you ragrat us?"

Distractad by a movamant in his hands, I lookad down to replace him holding himsalf tight, kaaping himsalf from visibly shaking. "No. Of coursa not."

His axprassion was stony, rigid, but for tha first tima, I could tall ha was doing his bast to kaap himsalf togathar. "I'm not lika Jaramy."

"And I don't want you to ba." I raachad for his shaking hands, holding tham with mina. "Ajax,"

Ha intarlacad our fingars, holding ma tight as if scarad to lat ma go, and tha naxt words ha said mada ma stop braathing. "I know you and Jaramy had somathing in tha Gamas and that I got batwaan you two. I know you wantad him first, that you wantad him to choosa you. Tha pratty boy."

Ajax knaw.

Evarything.

I swallowad, faaling gravity shift undar ma.

"But you andad up with ma, tha monstar, instaad." Ha laughad but it was a dark ona, an angry ona... a hurt ona. "Tha raason why I didn't want you to saa what I was lika is bacausa I was worriad that if you did saa, you would raaliza your first choica with Jaramy was right. That you wara battar off with him and not ma."

I took my tima to answar, pondaring ovar avarything ha said and I could tall my silanca was gatting to him, his jaw tightaning with aach sacond that passad.

With my free hand, I reached up and touched his cheek, feeling the soft skin and the rough beard. I stared into his eyes, hoping he could see the genuine affection I had for him.

Understanding everything as best as I can, I believe that things happen for a reason and what happened these past few days was designed to happen. The bad, the brutal, the good. Call it destiny or fate or whatever it is. Ajax, Jeremy and I all made our decision at the end of it and I wouldn't change anything.

We were in a very difficult situation. We really were and if what Jeremy and I learned today was real, it would only make things more complicated.

But looking at Ajax now, the man who has always chosen me, who has done everything for me, I know that I cannot let Jeremy and whatever we were break it. Jeremy and I- it was over.

"I don't regret being with you. I don't regret being chosen by you. I don't regret any of it. I never will. If I could do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing." I whispered, feeling breathless. "Ajax, I'm sorry about Jeremy and I'm sorry that you worry about him, but you're my mate."

My mark burned as I say this, as I feel myself completely open to Ajax.

And not Jeremy.

"My only mate. And that's never going to change." My words felt final, absolute, and the pain that shoots from my mark almost makes me stagger back. "I will do better. I'll prove to you that the Games are over, that whatever happened with Jeremy was left there." Ajax's hard exterior breaks and his expression softens considerably with relief, the amber of his eyes are back as his hands cup my cheeks, bringing me close as he leaned down. His lips were soft against mine, tender and oh so devotional. It was feather light, his kisses like the fluttering of butterfly wings. It pulled the breath from me a moment.

He held me like I was a wisp of smoke that would blow away from him.

And I held on to him like he was my anchor.

"I am not perfect, June. I am what they have all called me. I am a monster and I am cruel when I need to be. That's what I am and that's what I always will be... to them. Never on you and if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life loving you and protecting you." Ajax whispered in my ear, his words so full of emotion. He loved me so fiercely, so greatly that I don't think I'll ever know the entirety of it. "There won't be anyone else but you."

"I'm not scared of you." I said, tracing the lines of his scars until I made it to his solid chest, right over his heart. It was beating like crazy, thumping wildly. "What you're doing and how you're doing it, you have your reasons and you have your own ways. I won't question that because I know what you really are."

He takes a deep breath, a low growl leaving his throat. "What's that?"

I teasingly smiled. "You're a bear, a soft teddy bear."

"My little mate, I'm an Alpha. How can I possibly be-" Ajax doesn't get to finish as I press a kiss on his lips. "Fine. You win, June. I'm whatever you want me to be."

A warmth in my chest spreads all over my body and my knees feel weak just by being this close to him, being able to smell him and hold him. I know just how privileged this was, to be able to touch and hear these words from the Alpha they call a monster. I understand now that I am the only one to see this side of him.

The tender and gentle side that holds his mate close, the side of him that breathes me in like he can't believe I'm really with him and how fiercely he fights to let me know every time that it's us.

Just us.

"You've had a long day." He whispered in my ear, brushing my hair back. "Why don't we stay in?" "Okay." I said, breathless and feeling like I was floating.

Without removing his arms around me, he walks us towards the living room and sits us down on a couch in front of the television. He pulls me into his lap until I'm sitting on him and takes a fluffy blanket from the back of the couch to wrap it around me. Cuddled up on his chest and in a blanket, I was very comfortable and felt much too spoiled, but I didn't complain as I watched Ajax operate the big television on the wall.

He sees me looking. "Do you want to learn how to open it?"

I thought about lying to save face; that, of course, I knew how to open this futuristic contraption, but Ajax was looking so patiently at me that I felt myself nod. "Yes please."

Ajax hands me the remote and, for the next few minutes, helps me operate the thing. Not before long, I found a channel that I like; cartoons about Princesses and castles.

It was only when I was half way through the movie and the Princess was in a beautiful dress did I realize that Ajax might not want to watch this. Except when I look back at him to change the channel, I see him watching me, a small smile on his lips.

With my free hand, I reached up and touched his cheek, feeling the soft skin and the rough beard. I stared into his eyes, hoping he could see the genuine affection I had for him.

He presses a kiss on my cheek ever so lovingly and gestures forward. "You're missing your movie."

He presses a kiss on my cheek ever so lovingly and gestures forward. "You're missing your movie."

Blushing and feeling warm all over, I faced away from Ajax, but not before leaning against him, my head under his chin.

Half a dozen movies and at least three platters of food went by when I realized I had fallen asleep and, in my dream, it was cold and there were voices. My eyes fluttered open. Blinking away the sleepiness, I looked around, a little confused about where I was. At first, I couldn't see anything. It was dark outside and all the lights were closed except for the one in the foyer.

I was still on the couch, lying down on my side and wrapped in blankets, but Ajax was gone and the television was closed.

How long have I been asleep?

Catching movement in the hallway leading to the entrance of the house, I twisted around to see two shadows.

The bigger of the two shadows, stood still as he spoke. "Jeremy, it's late. Can't this wait until tomorrow? June is sleeping."

I held my breath.

Jeremy was here? In the house? Was he going to tell him?

Was Jeremy going to tell Ajax what I think he was going to say?

No.

He can't.

The other shadow bows his head. "I'm sorry, Alpha, but I've been out there all day and I think it's important that we do something about this quickly."

I hate how the mere sound of his voice burns my mark.

How Jeremy's proximity to me, despite being a room apart, has my heart aching.

The sound of Ajax grinding his teeth together pulls me out of my inner battle. "Then spit it out."

"Your execution in town." Jeremy began, hesitating. "It's caused a stir."

Stir?

What stir?

As much as I felt relief that he didn't come here to say what I dreaded, his words made me even more worried.

"She deserved it, Jeremy." Ajax says unapologetically. "If I simply banished her, she would only come back for June and do worse."

"I know. I would have done the same with Moira." The Beta reassures, head down.

Ever impatient, Ajax cuts right to the chase. "Then what's this about?"

"The pack likes June, they really do and they know Moira deserves it too. We've executed people for less and you did announce punishment for anyone that disrespects your mate." Jeremy was trailing off, over explaining from anxiousness. "Get to it, Jeremy. You're stalling." Ajax says, catching Jeremy in his babbling.

Jeremy sighs tiredly, his shadow running a hand down his face. "Most of the town heard what Moira said, how June is... how June was supposed to be my mate and now she's yours."

Ajax went even more still, his body rigid. "What do they care?"

Jeremy was careful with his words as he spoke next. "It just put June in a bad light and I think you should take her out more. Show her to the people. Bring her to training."

Ajax's shadow turns toward the couch a little. "I told June she could rest."

"And she can." Jeremy agreed with a nod. "But what's an hour a day?"

"Enough." Ajax ordered, squaring his shoulders.

"I'm just concerned." His Beta reasons, head bowed low. "I don't want them to see June as an enemy. She's already had a bad time at the Games. I don't want her to feel awful in her own home either."

"I don't need to be reminded of the Games nor do I need your opinion on how to take care of my mate." The bite in Ajax's words made me realize how much the mention of the Games stung him deep.

For my time in the Games were of Jeremy and I.

Of chocolates and lakes.

Alone and swearing that there would be a 'soon' that never came.

Jeremy pedals back, realizing this too. "Alpha, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to overstep here. I know she's your mate and your responsibility." He sucked in a breath as he said this. "I would never do anything to ruin that for you. I'm just trying to be your Beta and give you my advice."

"And you gave it." Ajax's reply was unreadable, a stone wall.

"I just want what's best for both of you." Jeremy tried again.

"You've done more than enough, Jeremy." The cold dismissive tone of the Alpha spoke through. "I'll handle it."

Jeremy let out a defeated breath. "Understood, Alpha."

"I trust you with her, Jeremy." Ajax says just as Jeremy turns to leave, his tone softer. "More than anyone else. I hope that doesn't change."

Jeremy doesn't speak, his silence deafening.

Ajax doesn't wait for a response and closes the door. I don't think there would be any even if he waited.