The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 12

I didn't get far.

A hand with a vice grip took mine, holding it tight and pulling me back until I was pressed against a bare chest. "Where are you off to?"

I could smell him even with the bracelet on. Not really, but I could imagine it... I could sense that it's there even if it's masked. I think I could probably smell him even if I didn't have a nose. I just knew that it was him. I just knew." 0,"R

He looked me over, noticing my distress. The playfulness leaves him instantly. "Who is it? Give me a name." He didn't ask me what happened, immediately coming to defend his pack member without ever needing a reason. "The name, X-" He nearly said my name but he didn't even look scared about it.

He would have said it too if I hadn't squeezed his hand.

Rules be dam ne d.

Disqualification his as s.

His father's wrath was an afterthought- if that.

He didn't care. He never cared about those things.

"I don't give two f***s." He says in a voice so serious and calm, it was more frightening than anger. "Who is it?"

I didn't answer, making him swivel around to look back from where I came from.

He laughed, but it wasn't the funny kind. It was the kind that promised pain without caring for any of the consequences. "That fu c ker? Does he think he can do something to you with me here?" "Please, let's just go." I begged quietly. "Please."

There was something in my voice.

Something that made him stop, but his face was still contorted

O takes my face in both of his hands, the tips of his fingers pressing against me tightly but not enough to hurt. He sucks in a breath, tired eyes closing before bringing his forehead to mine. "Fine."

I sagged into his body in relief, putting all my weight on him. "Thank you."

"But you have to drag me out of here." He whispered gruffly, his breathing still uneven. "Because I'm not leaving him breathing willingly."

Knowing just how serious he was, I took the hands he had on either side of my face and tugged him forward. He doesn't come easily, but after a few more tugs, he gives in.

We don't say anything more to each other until we get inside the mansion, the sight knocking my breath out of my lungs as if it's the first time I've seen it all over again. It was literally glowing, the candles and lanterns lighting everything so magically. The fresh flowers decorating the stairs only brought more life to this beautiful paradise.

"You love it." He says. It wasn't a question. He knew I loved it.

My gaze flickers at him. "You don't?"

He wasn't even looking at the magical world surrounding us. He was only looking at me. "My affections aren't really focused on pretty mansions and gardens."

"Eh? What are you focused on then?" I questioned, not believing him for a second. "The unlimited drinks that they keep giving us? Maybe the food that never ends? Or is it the pretty girls in equally pretty dresses?"

He doesn't answer, only continues to stare at me.

It made me swallow.

My nerves were making me sweat.

"My father certainly did well." He tells me, running his hand down the back of my dress and feeling the fabric. "You're the prettiest girl here. As per usual."

"Your father did this?" I knew the Alpha would never allow this unless he was pushed into it.

O doesn't exactly confirm, merely shrugging. "He maybe did a little something something. Who knows?"

"You know." I pressed with a pout. "You always know.

He orily smiled, taking my hand in his yet again and taking us towards the direction of my room. The halls are quiet with everyone having dinner and drinks. It was just us.

And it didn't take that long to make it to our destination. I wasn't all that surprised that 0 knew where it was 100.

I was waiting for him to ask for my permission to enter my room but of course he didn't. He never asked for permission to do anything.

He opens my door so casually as if it was his and closes the door, leaving our guards behind as they stared after us.

My guard in particular had a stone cold expression on his face, his lips pressed thin.

Before I could read into it further, the door is shut and I am left alone with 0.

He kicks his shoes off, looking around my room and seeing the golden wreath almost instantly. I saw him make a face, rolling his eyes before walking out to my balcony.

I removed my shoes too, following behind him and taking hold of the railing as we looked on.

"Are you a little impressed now? Has this magnificent view stirred your affections?" I found myself whispering playfully.

He only turns to look at me.

"That's not what will make me

like this place."

I didn't know what to say, my breath caught in my throat. "1, uhm, can you help me out of this dress?"

The smirk on his lips says it all. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

I shoved him. Hard. "Don't be weird. This is just a very uncomfortable dress and I'd like to be out of it now."

With 0, I didn't have to worry about whether he would do anything to me.

Or maybe I should be.

I could not remember anymore as I turned around and swept my hair to the side. The night's chill blew against my back, making me shiver but not as much as I did when O stepped close, impossibly close, to gently place his hands on my back. I hear the zipper pull, my back free of the itchy fabric but his hands... his hot skin slowly graze me and I gasp.

Blinking away thoughts that were too impure, I pulled away and said a quiet; "Thank you."

And left without looking at him.

Safely inside my bathroom, I wiggled out of the dress and turned towards the closet. There were a few nightgowns for me to wear, all in silks or lace. All very revealing.

Especially with him out there.

I chose a soft pink one, the most covered out of them all, and slipped it on myself. Making sure that everything was in its right place, I stepped out of the bathroom to replace O sitting on the edge of my bed, already waiting for me.

He said nothing but his eyes said it all.

I could see him thinking, see his mind working as his breathing went uneven again.

He spreads his arms for me and I know I shouldn't.

Everything in me said no, warning me of the blurred lines we were crossing, but I still came to him, stepping into his embrace until there was only him and I

This time, with me in his arms, nearly sitting on his lap... he had stopped breathing altogether.

We know this is wrong.

Because it was.

Because I've been warned.

And he had been warned.

We weren't right.

We were never right.

But why did it feel right?

Was it because no one else was here? Was it because his parents, his family, weren't here to tell us no? To stop us from making this terrible mistake?

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered, breathless and desperate for something to stop us.

He nods, his hair falling over his eyes. "Anything."

I was going to ask it. Ask us to break things. To ignore the rules. To take advantage.

But I've always been a good girl.

So I don't.

I smiled, despite how painful it was to resist. "Is it true that you got disqualified in your first year because you shifted into your wolf and started humping n a ke d statues of girls?"

He did not expect this question. He was ready to break things as he always does. He was just waiting for me but he was gentleman enough to ignore this and smile back at me. "Is that what they said?

I licked my lips, trying to focus on everything except the hands on my bare skin. "So is it?"

"I'm afraid it wasn't as exciting as that." He mused, his fingers tracing circles on my skin... on my leg.

I didn't mean to, but I pressed close, his hair tickling my neck. "What then?"

He thought about his answer for a while, his hands on me tighter. "I was really angry those days-"

"Those days?" I questioned with a laugh, knowing full well he still had those tantrums in him. "Just those days?"

He pinched my thigh like it was fried chicken. "Do you want to hear the story or not?"

I squealed a little, moving away from his hands only to press even closer to him. "I do, I do. I'll behave."

He let out a quiet curse, closing his eyes shut at the fact that our chests were pressed together and I knew that he knew I didn't have anything underneath my nightgown.

His hands around me tighten even more to the point that it hurts.

I can hear him grinding his teeth together and just as I stand to give us a little space, he pulls me back down with a huff, keeping me in the exact same place as before.

He continued like nothing happened. "I was being dramatic and I didn't want to be in the Games because I knew I wasn't going to choose anyone. So right at the gates, right before it even started, I shouted my name, my title and my position. Along with my pack's name, my father's position, just for good measure, and I shifted right in front of everyone."

I stilled, gaping at him. "Very dramatic but you're right. Not as exciting as the humping of statues."

"I told you." He grinned, unashamed and proud of himself.

My arm was around him now, fingers playing with his hair.

It was so soft. "O,"

"I just didn't see the point, you know. Especially when..." He trailed off, looking at me for a long time.

He didn't finish what he was saying.

He didn't have to.

Because I knew.

How could I forget?

We were never supposed to be in the Games together. I would have missed him by a year.

Funny how things work out.

yawned, my free hand that wasn't playing with his hair covering my mouth. I was exhausted, leaving early for the Games and the nerves that were just on me the entire day.

All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep.

"Hey" He whispered, his lips so close I felt them on my cheek.

"What?" I murmured, already dreaming.

"Don't sleep." He urged, his hands on me again. "There's something we have to do first." My eyes fought to stay open. "Huh?"

I felt him stand up, his arms still around me before placing me tenderly on the bed.

Just as I thought it was over, long fingers started tickling the side of my ribs and I started kicking, rolling away and shouting at him. "No! No. Don't!"

"Wake up or I'll tickle you until you pee." O threatened, his fingers tickling me harder until I was gasping for breath.

"Okay, okay. I give." I whimpered, opening my eyes to see him smiling down at me. "I'll do what you want."

"We have a party to go to, cutie." He teased, taking my hand again and pulling me to sit up.

"What are we doing?" I asked, taking a second for me to understand his words.

"They said there's no party

tonight."

He takes off his cloak, revealing his muscles and chest hair. "Not here."

As much as I would like to say that his mention of a party woke me completely, it wasn't the reason. "What?"

He places a hand on the back of my neck to keep me from lying back down.

"We're going to the woods."

I didn't tell that I was already wide awake. "But-"

"To run." He says, leaning closer to me. "To drink. To party and lose our minds.

"What?" I repeated with a frown. It was getting hard to understand things when he was this close.

"In the woods." He explains patiently. "They do it every first night."

"But I thought shifting wasn't allowed." I didn't just think it wasn't allowed. I know it wasn't. I've memorized the rules so well, I can almost see the words written in my invitation when my eyes are closed. "We'll get sent home and we'll be banned for five years." He shook his head, pulling me up to my feet and when I didn't budge, he only smirked, squatting low to wrap his arms around me and carrying me out of bed. "Don't be silly. We're not shifting but we are leaving the mansion grounds."

I let out a yelp as he carried me away from my bed. "Isn't that against the rules still?"

He tugs the end of my nightgown, pulling the fabric all the way down to cover my butt. "Tell me, X. Have you ever broken the rules before?"

I didn't have to think. "No."

"Ah, a good girl." He teased like he didn't already know." Well, good girl, I'm about to teach you how to have fun and I will show you the best night of your life."

I hesitated, not as quick to risk everything for a mere run in the woods. "Uh,"

"Let's do something bad for you." He urged, tickling me on my side again. "You can't always follow the rules or live in fear of breaking them. You'll miss the best parts of life that way."

I swatted his hand away, trying to weigh my options. "I don't know,"

He placed me down then, his eyes staring into mine. "Do it for me?"

This time, I didn't hesitate. "Okay."

The smile on his lips was so broad. "Let's go."

"Let me just get dressed first," I said, making my way to the bathroom.

He takes my hand and pulls me to his chest yet again. "No need. You're perfect the way you are."

"You mean barely dressed?" I argued, showing him how inappropriate looked

He only points to himself. "All of us are barely dressed."

When we made it to my door, I stopped him. "What about my guard?"

"He doesn't stand outside your door all night."

How wrong he was.