Three

This is a trick! I panicked, my body reacting and I scrambled backwards, instinctively kicking my leg out to push the large one back, but his large hand snapped, his fingers wrapping around my ankle and stopped it instantly.

His eyes scanned my leg, narrowing for a moment on my thigh. His grip tightened a fraction with anger and fear rattled me, worried he'd react violently.

Worried he'd break it.

Jordan had enough strength — Bear Shifters were twice as strong as Wolves.

"I'm sorry!" I whispered, tears shaking my voice as they welled, though I knew in the face of anger, it did little to stop what was to come. "I-I didn't mean to—"

His focus snapped to me, as if I'd broken him out of a trance and his expression turned incredibly soft, almost regretful as a tear spilled down my cheek.

"Oh, my sweet little mate." He released my leg, moving to his knees and he gently grabbed my wrists. "Come here, my sweet girl." He whispered so tenderly, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pulled me into a hug.

"You were scared, it's alright." He soothed, rubbing my back and kissed my shoulder.

I shook with a sob, his touch and understanding shattering my restraint and I gripped him, hugging him tightly.

"I'm still really sorry," I whispered, hearing him chuckle roughly.

"It's okay, baby girl," he said softly, finally releasing me enough to step back.

I kept my head down, unsure what to do — how to handle the emotions that twisted my stomach.

I shuffled to the edge of the table I was still seated on, my legs dangling and I felt incredibly small compared to the three sentinels who stood before me.

One of them spoke, "What's your name, little one?" A voice, low and curious, asked.

I raised my head, meeting the emerald eyes and raven hair of the Wolf.

He frowned when our gazes met, my answer choking off in worry as he stepped forward and I froze on instinct, looking away to bare my neck.

His hands cupped my cheeks, guiding my head up to meet his eyes before his thumbs swiped across them to wipe my tears away.

"Much better," he muttered, almost to himself, his closeness making everything in my mind go hazy at his soft command. "I want you to look at me when we speak, little one."

He didn't release me, his fingers tracing gently, and I was lost to the warmth, the gentleness of his touch.

To the restrained dominance that radiated from his emerald eyes.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, wanting to kiss him, seeing his Wolf laid dormant and his aura almost undetectable, not pressing it against my mental barriers or letting his Shifter rise to force my answer.

He raised a brow when I stayed quiet a beat longer, warring with Annie silently.

"Rose....my name is Rose." I said finally, my voice low and submissive, almost a squeak.

"That's my good girl." He smirked at me, my heart hammering in my chest from the praise.

"I'm your Dane," he said roughly, stroking my cheeks again.

"My Dane?" I whispered back in another squeak.

His lip quirked again, devilish and heartstopping before he leaned in, going to kiss me without hesitation.

I locked up for a second in fear, Annie stopping me from pushing him away.

His lips pressed against mine, not soft and testing, but possessive — claiming.

He gripped my face, holding me as if it was his right, and no one could deny him.

But I know if I pulled away, he'd let me go.

Not yet, Annie urged, sinking into the sensation as he guided my lips, a clear restraint as if he knew I was inexperienced.

Trust him...them. Annie soothed, her voice dropping with an edge of desperation. I promise, it'll be okay. Just... Trust them, Rose...please?

Hesitantly, I did.

I pushed a little against Dane's lips, moving my mouth to try and follow his rhythm.

I felt him smile against me, his fingers tightening in a triumphant grip and moving through my hair, tugging me just slightly more towards him.

I was lost to the command delicately laced with care that exuded from his touch, like I was a fragile piece of glass he couldn't bare to not handle.

Sparks, tingles and desire shook me, my body warming with an odd sensation in my stomach.

A need growing and my panties suddenly felt damp.

Dane inhaled sharply, catching the same sweet scent I did, and a low growl of pleasure rolled through him, the noise running my spine like a ghostly touch of desire and a small whimper escaped me.

He pulled back, looking across my face at my dazed expression and smirked wickedly as I realised the sweet smell in the air...was me.

I blushed, not thinking a single kiss could make me so aroused.

My large mate grinned, my Bear Shifter, his arms crossing over his chest in a silent victory, my Lion Shifter's lip twitching with a smile he tried to hide.

I blushed a little at my own possessive thoughts, but Annie didn't allow me to push them away.

Not yet at least...

"This is Xavier and Theo." Dane pointed to my- the Bear, and then the Lion.

I swallowed another lump in my throat. "A-And you're..." I trailed off in a whisper, my words catching as if my own tongue couldn't imagine me saying the rest of the words.

"We're your mates, Rose." Theo finished for me, stepping towards me and grabbed my hand gently, pulling me off the table and into his arms.

My heart faltered and fluttered at his words, my body sinking into his comforting hold.

They found us. Annie sighed, sounding like she wanted to cry.

I shook slightly, trying to force away fears that crept up, Theo's arms around me acting like a shield and soon, those thoughts became a distant memory.

"My mates," I whispered, dreamy and forgetful.

He glanced down at me with such a sweetness it shattered my heart.

"Can I kiss you?" He stroked my hair, deftly pulling it free from my now-messy ponytail to run his hands through it.

"Kiss me?" I murumed shyly,

"Yes, princess," He purred gently as my head tilted back, enjoying the feeling of his strong fingers against my scalp.

Our eyes met, the topaz shining like stars and I couldn't stop myself from reaching up on my toes to press my lips to his.

His kiss was different.

Effortlessly soft and kind, he held me gently, like I'd break under his touch, letting me take my time to feel and adjust.

After a breathless moment, he pulled back slowly, like he didn't want to end the kiss.

"You taste better than I could have ever dreamed," he whispered only to me, making me blush from the intimacy of his voice.

His nose brushed mine then, his breath ragged and I blinked, realising he was nuzzling me. An endearing act done to those you...

I'd never been...

I leaned in and nuzzled him back almost instantly, a small purr escaping my lips as our foreheads rubbed.

I heard Dane and Xavier chuckle softly.

I blushed at them, releasing Theo as he stepped back to rejoin them.

"Such a pretty little mate." Xavier smiled down at me, reddening my chest. His eyes scanned my body, seeing my braless chest beneath my shirt, his brows tightened a fraction.

Before he could say anything, a loud buzzer sounded, my memory hitting me like a freight train.

My eyes widened with panic. "Oh! I was suppose to go back when I got tagged!" I remembered, stepping forward to run from the room.

I squeaked in surprise, thinking Xavier was stepping aside to let me through, only for his massive arm to hook around my waist, avoiding every bruise as if he knew, and I was suddenly on his shoulder.

"Not so fast, my little Rose." His hand glided, playfully teasing the bottom off my shorts to make me squirm. "We're not done yet."