The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
Chapter 18

The first thing I noticed as we got off the plane was how perfect the weather was. It was neither too cold nor too warm, it was just... perfect.

Maybe we really were in heaven. The clouds were close enough to touch if I was just a little taller and the grass was in this shade of green that was never possible where I lived before. Everything was brighter, scents were better and clearer, and the air- I had never smelled it this fresh before. "Alpha, do you want to debrief now or-"

"I'm going straight home." The Alpha immediately cut off before the man who was unloading the plane could continue what he was saying. "You're all dismissed for the night."

They all blinked like this had never happened before.

Without another word to them, Ajax takes my hand and presses a long kiss on the back of it before he pulls me forward to face the view of his unearthly lands. In a voice so low and so deep, he says: "This is all yours now, June." "How is this all possible?" I gasped, looking around. "Magic?"

With thick, green forests, gushing waterfalls and a shimmering winding river, this is possibly the most beautiful place on earth. At the heart of the valley was a cluster of wooden houses snaking all the way up to the cliffs. The sun soaked slopes and the beautiful wilderness casted the entire village in an orange glow. The meadow in front of the wooden houses was blooming with flowers, patches of yellow, pink and violet sprinkled all over.

I spotted a few people that had gathered in the meadows, sitting around and sharing food while watching the sunset. In front of them were a number of others bathing in the river and splashing water everywhere. Young ones are also out and running around, their high pitched giggles echoing in the quiet valley. If I look really hard towards the lush pine forests, I can make out the shadows of wolves amongst the trees.

His hand gently tightens around mine. "Hard work."

That's right.

This was his and his alone.

Most packs are ancient, years and years old, founded by the fathers of our fathers, of our fathers. The nameless pack is the nameless pack because they emerged from nothing and suddenly they're a powerhouse. A pack formed just recently but dominating everything.

And it's all because of the man holding my hand.

"Let me show you around." He says, pulling me forward.

Surprising me with his patience and gentleness, Ajax takes me to see the town. Despite the distance from the rest of the world, the houses are modern and all similar looking with the wooden logs, the cabin like structure and with a uniform of colors used; hues of brown for the walls and black tiles for the roof. Ajax explains that every house had a working chimney and almost everything used in the building of the houses is from the valley, reusing wood for tables and chairs and never wasting any material. "Our construction team is small but efficient." He explains to me in a curt and serious tone, but I can also hear the pride in it. "When we get to our house," Our house.

It made me shiver.

"You could survey our furniture and fixtures. If it doesn't please you, let me know and I'll have the construction team come. Ask them anything and they'll make it for you." Ajax says this in such a casual way, like he wasn't just talking about giving me free reign of his house that he worked so hard on. It was so different too, because in my old pack, furniture wasn't the main priority. It was a luxury. We barely even had a bed to sleep on, much less fixtures and such. "Whatever you want, alright? You can have everything. Don't think about the money. We have more than enough."

I've never been told that before.

Ajax doesn't notice how astonished I am, continuing our tour as if he had always planned to give me a home. My own home.

The entire town is connected by a small path cutting through the houses and other establishments with street lamps lighting the way. They have electricity too, a great commodity that we never had on the farm lands, but they seem to have an unlimited supply with how every house is lit like a Christmas tree.

We don't pass by many people and the few that we saw bowed their heads so low, I wasn't able to see them properly.

"Most of the people are at a mandatory training session in the woods." Ajax tells me, gesturing to the far corner of the valley where the trees are thickest. "They won't be back until dinner." Mandatory training?

I can't imagine what they could be doing. I've heard many packs do training but I just... I just don't know exactly what happens there. Combat, surely, but I can't seem to wrap my head around it. The most training I've ever gotten was how to properly do my chores without losing too much energy.

"After you've settled down and had a good night's rest, I want to introduce you and announce your position to the pack." He says proudly, gripping my hand affectionately. "I don't want to wait long for them to know you. The pack must know they have a Luna now." Nervous was an understatement as I began to sweat profusely.

"Don't fret, my little mate." He says, rubbing circles on my back. "It will go smoothly."

Anxiousness crawled up my spine but I tried my best to hide it, smiling widely until my face hurt. I am... I am Luna now and Ajax deserves a strong Luna. I have to do my best as to not embarrass him about his choice of me. That's the least I can do.

"The weather here is mostly like today; a gentle breeze and warm sun but alternating with soft rain from time to time." Ajax stops, facing me with a look of concern on his face. "If you ever feel unwell, we have multiple doctors that can see to your-" His expression constricts as if he's in pain and I can tell he's fighting with himself about something.

"Do your jealous mate a favor as he would greatly appreciate it if you chose a female doctor." He tries to hide his possessiveness by looking away to hide his face, but it's just impossible.

And I replace this so adorable.

A man like him, big and tall and powerful, asking his mate to choose a female doctor for his sanity? I feel like the Gods are playing tricks on me, giving me a mate like him.

What have I even done to be this fortunate? I have only asked for my father to be taken care of and Ajax has done that and more... he's taking care of me too.

He took me by the shoulders then, pulling my back flush against his chest. Arms around me, I feel his lips on my ear, his breath fanning my cheek. "Do you see that, over there?"

I followed where he pointed to and saw a house near the cliffs that stood out among the rest. It was still made of wood like everything else, the same colors too, but this one had stone exteriors. Larger than all the other houses, the walls, the pillars were all made from thick stone. "I see it." "That's our home." Ajax softly whispers.

My heart does a leap as I stare at this... this house that's supposed to be my home for the rest of my days. It didn't feel real and yet it was happening.

This was happening.

It was actually happening.

Deep inside my horrible, doubtful mind, I wonder if this is all a joke or a dream... if it was, I hope I never wake up.

"What's wrong?" Ajax asked, twisting around to face me when I didn't move.

I feel myself smile, my eyes prickling with tears. "I suppose, I suppose I'm just happy."

He frowned, his thumb caressing my cheek. "Then why the tears?"

"Happy tears." Sheepish from how emotional I was being, I bowed my head to hide my face but Ajax just put my chin up to stare into his eyes.

"You may have everything and anything that you want, June. You're my mate and I want you happy every day." The weight of his words sent a warmth through me. "Just ask."

I could only nod, rendered mute by his kindness.

Satisfied and looking quite happy himself, he took my hand again, interlacing our fingers together and giving the back of my hand a lingering kiss. I suck in a breath, the action so utterly tender and... something more. Thorough.

He would be very thorough with me.

Yet another blush crept up my neck, all the way to my cheeks as I walked up to this rustic stone house.

As we get closer, I am able to see just how beautiful my new home is. With the combination of the golden sky and the dark stone structure, it couldn't have looked more perfect.

The house stood tall and quite wide, about three stories high and went as far as a lake. It's designed with wooden detailings and thick stone walls, creating an intimidating look because of the sheer size but also having the tiny details like a stone fire pit outside the lawn, twinkling lights from beautiful lamps, makes the house cozy and snug.

The windows and doors are all glass to welcome the sunlight but equipped with thick curtains for privacy. Thick wooden beams keep the roof up but also double as a gigantic balcony that goes all around the outside of the house. If I didn't know any better, Ajax had this made purposely so he could have a three hundred sixty view of his lands.

All the lights were on, making the house shine brighter against the lush trees that surround it. A welcome sight, I continued to walk ahead, my hand squeezing Ajax's.

Walking up the stone steps, I could only gawk openly at the large house. Part of me still couldn't believe I was going to sleep here every night. "Do other pack members live here too?"

He shakes his head, looking adamant about this. "No. Just us. Sometimes I'll have a select few come for meetings but they won't bother you and in the mornings several people will come in to clean and cook us food."

I couldn't help but laugh. "But I can do that."

Ajax pulls me to him, his arms circled around me. "June, you've done enough of that these past few years. I want you to rest first."

Taken by surprise, I gaped at him like a fish.

How does he know that?

Or does everyone know how the farm pack lives?

How we wake up at three in the morning to start chores and sleep at midnight to finish them? How money and food is so scarce that every second counts and sleeping in, even for an extra minute, means hunger for the family? And now he's taken that pressure away from me so that I will not worry about it again. It's like a thorn in my heart is removed as I feel calmed.

Before we made it to the front doors, I noticed how there were so many lounge chairs and seats all around the entrance, the veranda. For some reason, I didn't peg Ajax to be the sitting for hours type. Neither are his people.

He notices me looking and I swear I see a faint tint of pink on his cheeks. "I thought you would like to sit and enjoy the view as much as possible."

I certainly did not need twenty chairs in one spot to do that but I didn't say this out loud, only smiling at him happily. "Thank you. I would love that."

Ajax's stiff shoulders loosen up in relief. "I'm glad I thought of it then. I was told that fifty lounge chairs was too many and that I should only get five at the least, but I knew they were wrong. I know my mate best."

"You only had this fixed today?" I asked, looking around in wonder. Looking closer at the potted plants that decorated the entrance, the soil was all fresh... like it was done only hours ago. Even the floors and the walls were newly polished. I could smell a faint hint of cleaning chemicals on it.

He nods, his expression proud. "The house was livable, of course, but I wanted it to be perfect for you."

Perfect did not even sum up what it looked like inside once Ajax pushed open the front doors. The interior is remarkable, made completely of detailed wood. Everything was carefully thought out; the wooden arches of the halls, the wooden staircase that twisted to the side, the beams all conjoining at the middle to make a dome like structure at the top where a chandelier was hung. Cute white lamps lit the house and the floors were all covered in thick fur.

The foyer- which had a good number of comfy chairs again- connects to a vast living room, housing large leather couches with thick blankets draped over them. The couches nearly took up the entire place, but it was cozy and invitingly warm and very much like the home I could only dream about.

Windows surrounded the entire room, bringing in golden light from the outside, and the stone fireplace in front only cast an even better glow around us. A big television was mounted on one of the walls. It was already showing a movie of some sorts. I'm not familiar. But the moving pictures intrigued me and I made a mental note to get back to that once I'm settled.

The place he takes me to next is the wide dining room with a window the size of a wall overlooking the waterfall behind that house. In front of the window is a long table that could fit at least thirty people. With only Ajax and I living here, it was a bit too big but he looked very proud of it, saying I could sit wherever I wanted and he would follow.

He touched the cushioned seats, they were embroidered with bronze, making the seats gleam in the light. "Remember, if you want anything changed, just let me know I'll have something new brought in immediately. Whatever you want."

I don't know why he's trying so hard.

He knows where I'm from.

He knows what I've lived through.

I would be happy with absolutely anything.

I would be happy with nothing.

"It's perfect the way it is." Tip toeing, I attempt to place a kiss on his cheek but I'm too small and can only reach his bearded chin.

Apparently, that was enough for him because his eyes turned black. "Best show the bedroom now."

He doesn't allow me to walk, leaning down to carry me with one arm supporting my back and the other under my knees. I was truly so tiny, nearly lifted six feet up in the air, an additional two feet off the ground than my height. I let out a yelp which he chuckled at. "Hold on, my little mate."

With Ajax's long strides, it took half a minute to go up the multiple flights of stairs, all the while his nose was buried in my neck. He goes through a few empty halls before making it to his destination: a thick double door.

He kicks it open to reveal a bedroom with its walls made completely of glass as it faced the beautiful waterfall and lush tree tops. Yet again, Ajax supplies me with a number of fluffy couches, all more comfortable than the last.

The bed is wide and big enough for five people, but as I'm sharing with Ajax, it was perfect for us. An abundance of soft, plush pillows occupies the majority of the mattress. I admired how the covers are perfectly tucked and folded, thick and extra fluffy to keep the cold at bay.

Speaking of keeping the cold at bay, another stone fireplace is to the left of the bed, a pile of wood perfectly stacked on the side. I can tell that Ajax planned all of this, the house, the furniture, the numerous blankets, the endless amount of chairs and the multiple fireplaces to be focused solely on my comfort. He wants me to be happy and at ease here and it shows.

Maybe he knows that I'm always cold back at my old pack.

We didn't have that much wood for a fire there. All of the allocated wood went to the old, the young and, of course, for building a fire for cooking.

"You're real, right?" I whispered, unable to believe that this was all happening to me. "You're not just a dream?"

I'm suddenly back on my feet with Ajax looking down at me. His eyes had widened, those beautiful amber eyes like melted honey boring into mine. "Oh, June."

He kisses me on the forehead then, tender and gentle.

"I'm real and I'm here. Forever." His hands are on my face then, long fingers caressing my cheeks. "I'm never leaving you. Not ever."

I don't know why but I felt like crying.

And when my tears start to fall, Ajax is quick to wipe them away. "Happy tears?"

His question was so innocent, so impossible for a man of his size, but there it was. "Yes, happy tears."

"Those will be the only kind of tears you'll spill, alright?" Ajax was serious now, very serious. "I'll make sure of that."

He didn't say it, but his eyes were murderous.

Like he will kill anyone that will change that.

He presses our foreheads together, his eyes closing as he takes a deep breath. "Nothing will harm you. Nothing."

I felt his quiet oath in my soul, his words embedding into me like a marking.