Theirs ☾mates☽

Chapter 27: Alabama

ᑕαяѕσи

A nightmare is what woke me that night.

I stared at the wall over Ryder's head, holding him tightly against my body, trying to calm my breathing so I didn't wake him. We were dealing with so much shit right now, too much to shit to be dealing with something as small as my nightmares.

But they woke me almost every night, my past chasing after me much like how Aspen's and Ryder's were. Between the wolf council harassing Ryder and the rogues haunting Aspen, we didn't need to add to it.

I could still feel their hands on me, like ghost hands, but they were there. Just the thought made me shudder, but abandoned as a child and sold to vampires, I had been put in a position I would never put anyone in.

In my dreams, the vamps are there, treating me as a pet to please their every need, from thirst for blood to sex. They usually wanted both and unfortunately for me, I had been one of the favorites. A shudder worked its way down my body and I buried my face in Ryder's soft hair, wanting to escape from the memories.

The bed rustled as Aspen stirred, her face scrunching up as she smiled slightly and took a deep breath, scenting us in the room before relaxing once more. I held my breath as one of her eyes popped open, slightly dazed from sleep but filled with a soft glow. Slowly her eyes drifted to Ryder, she pulled his hand to her chin and nuzzled her face into his palm, meeting my eyes through his fingers.

She froze, lowering Ry's hand and leaning up to put her hand on my cheek, her brow scrunched in confusion and worry. "Why are you up? It's like five am." she rasped, rubbing her thumb on my cheek.

I smiled slightly, turning my head to press a kiss to her palm, "It's nothing Snowflake, I just love watching you two sleep." I wolfishly grinned into her hand, nipping at the skin on her wrist.

She flushed, her cheeks turning a pretty rosy red, "That's nice," She murmured, "But I know you're lying." she frowned, "Something is wrong, why would you lie to me?" she wondered, her brow pinched in concern.

I dropped my head back on the pillow, silently cursing our growing bond. My emotions had to be rushing through the bond that's probably why she woke up in the first place. "I just had a nightmare, Snowflake, I'm sorry if that woke you up." I sighed, rubbing my hands anxiously on Ryder's leg. He scooted back, rubbing his butt into my stomach making me smile, but Aspen was not as affected.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, her brown/purple eyes boring into mine.

I shook my head and smiled reassuringly, "I'm okay, I promise Aspen, let's just go back to bed." I mumbled. We both knew I was lying, but I wasn't in the mood to dig up my shit history and I knew Aspen was tired, our sleeping schedule had been a mess and the dark circles under her eyes proved my point. We all needed sleep.

Slowly she nodded, not pushing me for answers she knew I wasn't ready to give. Something seemed to dawn on her as she grabbed one of my hands in hers and laid back down, tucking her head under Ryder's chin. How he managed to sleep through this whole thing was beyond me, but he was so fucking adorable I was thankful he remained in the sweet oblivion of sleep.

I squeezed Aspen's hand as she slowly closed her eyes, she kissed Ryder's chest, "I love you guys." She murmured so quietly I was sure I imagined it. But the small smile on Ry's lips told me he had been awake and heard it too. My wolf howled in my mind, as I relaxed against Ryder with Aspen clutching my hand, her words bouncing around in my mind and guiding me to a fitful sleep.

❄︎☾❄︎☾❄︎

The smell of coffee wafted through the house, and I couldn't help but grin at my mates who were both perched on the counter. Aspen wore Ryder's sweatshirt which was at least three sizes too big and looked like a fucking parachute on her while Ryder wore one of mine that looked a bit oversized and reached the end of his butt. Ry and I just weren't built with the same muscle, he had a nice tone, but my body was structured.

"Noooooo!" Aspen whined as Ryder plucked the book she was reading out of her hands. She was leaning against his chest, drinking iced coffee out of a sippy cup while Ryder sneakily read her novel over her head, "I was reading that!" She tried to snatch it back but Ryder laughed and held it above her and smirked. "Babyyy." she whined again.

He tsked loudly and sent me a side look that had me putting down my cereal and sliding across the counter to be closer.

"Carson, Babe, look at what our not-so-innocent mate was reading..." he handed me the book while Aspen's cheeks flushed bright red. She tried to snatch the book once more but Ryder laughed loudly and shook his head, holding her against him in a giant bear hug as I cleared my throat.

I could feel my eyes gleam and a cocky smirk takes over my face, "The knife he held to my throat burned my body down to my core and I couldn't help the want that burst through the burning hate in my body," I paused, looking at Aspen over the cover of the book. Her face was tomato red and buried in Ryder's chest, trying to hide as I continued, "Slowly, his free hand ran down my body as the knife broke the skin and a moan burst from my unwilling mouth- Snowflake?" I raised my eyebrows curiously, "Are you into knife play?" I asked.

Ryder's mouth all but fell open as he looked down at the bundle in his arms, even her ears were red, "Are you kinky, Snowflake?" He wondered.

Turning her head slightly she glared at me, "Just because I like to read stuff like that doesn't mean I am into it, I'm not a knife play and sex kinda girl." she grumbled and pushed off of Ryder's chest, thoroughly annoyed with us now.

What was new?

She hopped off the counter but Ryder was right behind her, "But you are kinky right?" He said, his voice sounding somewhat hopeful as he watched her with doe eyes, "I know that your little brain has some kinky fantasies in there." He smiled as he bopped a finger on her temple.

"Fuck you, Ryder!" she hissed, "Do you have some kinky fantasies in your brain? Do you fantasize about shit in your head?" she snapped right back at him.

"I do!" Ryder said loudly.

"I do too," I added, setting the book down on the counter and eyeing both my mates as they shuffled their feet. "And they will come true," I murmured, excitement stirring in my stomach at the thought of the plans I have for my mates, "They will happen, and you bet your cute asses they are kinky as fuck!" I barked.

Somehow, both my mates were bright red but I didn't care as I stepped forward, scooping Ryder into my arms and nipping at my mark on his neck making him release a moan, despite the anxious feelings buzzing off him. Aspen's eyes bounced from Ryder and me to somewhere behind us, but her face hardened as she stepped up and pressed a kiss to my lips.

A voice cleared behind us and I spun around, both my mates clinging to me as Aiden stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Asher and I are kinky too," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes tierdly, "We have sex," he added as if an afterthought.

"Fucking hell," A voice cursed behind him, "I'm going to kill your dumbass." Asher hissed.

A giggle burst from Ryder's chest as Aspen blinked a few times, she clung to my back as she looked down at Ryder, "Do they mean with each other? They have sex with each other?" She asked him quietly.

The cursing twins in the background answered the question, and I couldn't help myself, "Sweet Home Alabama."