Chapter 131

Anila’s POV

“This competition is going to be a tough one,” Damien warned. “But I think you have it handled.”

“Of course she does,” Zach said, leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded across his chest. “She’s going to kick ass.”

I couldn’t help the smile that tipped the corner of my lips as Zach stepped into the spellcasting room. In less than a day, the competition would be starting. This could determine my future and my nerves were bubbling in my chest. I needed a break from all this practice and Zach posed as the perfect distraction because he was all about taking breaks.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, the smile still on my face.

He shrugged.

“Though you could use a break,” he said, mimicking my thoughts.

Before I could respond, another presence appeared at the doorway.

“I brought lunch,” Harley said, holding up a giant bag and it smelled delicious. My mouth immediately watered. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten today. I was so focused on my studies and training that I completely forgot to care for my basic needs. “Thought we could have a picnic. All of us.”

He glanced at Damien and nodded at him, telling him without using words that he wanted to include him as well.

“You read my stomach,” I said, walking towards the bag of food.

“Room for another?” Another voice asked at the doorway.

Xaden stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the scene around him before landing on me. My heart swelled at the sight of him; I was so glad that he was okay, and he was back. Though, whenever I thought about his wellbeing, I thought about Jaxon and his role in saving Xaden’s life. Then, I’d get sad because I hadn’t heard from Jaxon in almost a week. I was worried about him, and I kept trying to link with him through our sealed mate bond… but he was blocking me for some reason.

“There’s always room for you,” I told him, stepping into his open arms and letting him hug me tightly.

With our bonds sealed, they can all feel my emotions and they knew I was sad because of Jaxon. None of them asked me about it though… they knew it wasn’t something I wanted to talk about just yet.

“How about we go into the woods?” Harley suggested. “We can grab a blanket and have a real picnic.”

“I think that’s exactly what Anila needs,” Xaden said with a nod. Before I knew what was happening, Xadne was lifting me off the ground and throwing me over his shoulder fireman style. I squealed at the sudden movement and laughed as he sauntered over to the door. “Let’s go!”

The others shook their heads at us, which made me laugh even more. I’ve noticed with our mate bonds sealed, the jealousy and rivalry between them had lessened. It was as if they had an understanding between them now that they didn’t need to be jealous of one another because I enjoyed all of them. I was falling in love with each of them in their own ways.

I loved Zach’s rugged bad boy persona, Harley’s heart, Damien’s brain, and Xaden’s personality. They were all so different and they were all mine. It took a while for me to come to terms with the fact that I have 5 mates… but now I wouldn’t want it any other way. They were all mine, and I wasn’t giving them up for anything.

By the time we reached the woods, Xaden finally let me walk on my own. I swatted at his chest, laughing as I held my stomach, trying not to fall over.

He grinned from ear to ear listening to me laugh.

Harley got to work at spreading the picnic and making the area nice for us while Xaden helped him. Once they were done, we sat on the blanket and passed around the food, piling it on the paper plates Harley had brought.

“You’ll need to make sure you get plenty of rest before the competition tomorrow night,” Damien told me as he took a bite of his food.

I nodded in agreement; I was already exhausted. It wouldn’t be long before the sun started to rise, indicating a new day. Which meant it was almost time for us to get ready for bed. I looked around at my mates who were focused on their food, a smile tipping the corner of my lips.

They were all so endearing in their own ways and it was nice having them around me. If only I had my last mate with me as well then I would feel complete. Though both my wolf and bear were content, there was still a part of me that felt I wasn’t whole. I wondered if they could feel it too.

I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed when Zach stuck his finger in the mashed potatoes and then smeared it onto my face, halting the ongoing conversation between Harley and Xaden.

I stared at Zach, my mouth hanging open and he had a smirk on his lips.

I narrowed my eyes at him without warning, I grabbed a handful of mash potatoes and dumped it on his head.

“Hey!” He growled. “I only got a little on you!”

I smirked at him, shrugging my shoulders as I continued to eat.

He grabbed the bowl of potatoes and dumped it on me before I could even comprehend what had happened.

“Zach!” I hissed, lunging at him without much more warning.

He caught me with ease, and we both rolled onto the ground, me on top of him. He belted out laughing as potatoes dripped off my face. Harley, Xaden, and Damien were watching us with amused looks on their faces.

Harley tried his best to clean up the mess, but we didn’t make it easy for him because we were now full-on wrestling and rolling around the ground, knocking over even more food.

“You’re ruining the blanket!” Harley scolded, but he was smiling.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me when I saw that Zach was covered in food. I finally got the best of him I ended up straddling his lap, pinning him to the ground fully.

“Beat you,” I teased.

“I don’t think he’s complaining,” Xaden chuckled, shaking his head at his brother's grinning face.

That’s when I felt his hardness, pressing between my legs through his pants. He was turned on by this?

I raised my brows at Zach; I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Zach reached up and started to tickle my sides, sending me into a frenzy of giggles as I doubled over, making him noticeably harder as I rubbed against him.

“Zach, stop!” I squealed.

He sat up, taking me with him, wrapping his arms around my waist and allowing me to settle into him as I fought to control my laughter.

“You’re beautiful when you smile,” he said softly as he studied my face.

My cheeks flushed at his compliment.

It wasn’t often he complimented me like this, but I appreciated it. He leaned in and brushed his lips across mine, giving me a chaste kiss before pulling back slightly, a question in his eyes that I wanted to answer… so I did.

I leaned into him and pressed my lips against him, taking in the feeling of his mouth against mine and how our lips moved in harmony together. His hold around my hips tightened and I felt him pressing firmly against my core, his erection begging for some attention. My heart skipped a beat at the feel of him and suddenly, it felt as if I couldn’t get close enough.

His tongue swiped across my bottom lip, asking for permission to enter my mouth… permission I granted with ease. As I parted my lips, I felt his warm tongue sliding into my mouth, making a home for itself and tasting everything I had to offer.

He nipped at my bottom lip, drawing it further into his mouth, sucking on it like it was a piece of candy that he would go crazy without. A low growl escaped his throat as he pulled me tighter against him, leaving me no room for wiggle as his fingers roamed beneath my shirt and trailed up my backside, leaving goosebumps in its path.

The others watched and I was widely aware of their eyes on me as Zach continued to suck my bottom lip and grope my back with his fingers, pulling me closer to him.

Though I loved taking what I needed from Zach, I needed more.

For tonight, I needed to just forget about everything and enjoy my mates.

I felt a strong hand on my back, and I knew it didn’t belong to Zach. Without even looking, I knew it was Harley who was near me now. I pulled my lips away from Zach who frowned in protest. Looking up at Harley I saw that his eyes were glowing as his wolf fought to take control.

I nibbled my lower lip as I continued to grind against Zach, making him even harder. His erection pressed against my center, begging for entrance.

Harley leaned in and brushed his lips against mine, a low growl on his lips, hardly able to contain himself any longer.

I didn’t want him to contain myself, so I wrapped an arm around Harley’s head and pulled him even closer to me, deepening the kiss.

“Take off your pants,” I whispered to him.