The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
More of Konstantin

Cora chooses this exact time to show herself, making sure her entrance was as perfectly choreographed as possible. She loved being the star and as she glided towards Jeremy, I found myself pitying the fool. No doubt Cora was about to turn on her devilish persona and knowing that Jeremy is the key to contacting his elusive Alpha, she was about to become even more unbearable. June stays back, smartly avoiding Cora's wrath and just as I'm about to go to her, our Alpha calls for me. I pressed my lips together, taking a deep breath before approaching him.

"That mutt won't come." He tells me, his politician's mask dropped and showing his real self- his deadly self. "He has ignored all warnings and will not attend for Cora."

When he was like this, it was best to quickly get it over with. "It seems so."

His resemblance to his daughter was truly uncanny. He lifted an eyebrow in challenge, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Then you know what to do."

Mate with his daughter.

"Or do I have to repeat it for you?" His jaw was set tight but he smiled like nothing was wrong. To anyone looking at us, he was just a supportive Alpha teaching a young Beta and not a man that was trying to intimidate his subordinate. "I can take your position as easily as I gave it. After all, you're only half the man that half breed traitor ever was."

Jeremy. Again.

It was like a shot to the heart.

A punch to the balls.

His smile had turned into a smirk, facing away from everyone so no one would see what he really was. "You will serve my daughter and keep her reputation. No matter the cost."

I bite my tongue, tasting blood. "Yes, Alpha."

"Enjoy your last Games, Konstantin." With a smile, he was suddenly on the stage, the perfect Alpha, his mask now present and wooing everyone with his fake personality. He spoke of the Assembly so beautifully as if he wasn't just threatening me to be with his daughter seconds ago.

Dread creeped up my veins as he spoke about his Godly praise for his wife who he almost always leaves every night for someone younger. It was all lies. There is no love in the Games.

There is only pleasure for the high and mighty, and then entrapment for the lower ones. I suppose I'm a lower one too.

Everyone but him and his daughter were low in their eyes.

Like a beacon, my eyes saw June in the crowd and almost felt lighter as I saw her disbelieving expression. She didn't buy it either.

Unlike the rest of the crowd, she stared at the Alpha like he was a load of bullshit- which he was- and I think I admired her even more for that. Looking at June now, in a crowd of hundreds, with her lips pulled down and eyes ever so cautious, I couldn't help but praise her beauty. It wasn't like how the other girls looked, it was simple but striking, like I could look at her all day and I would never lose interest.

I'm even more surprised that I'm not lusting over June. I'm interested, very interested and would gladly bed her for as long as I'm able, but for the first time in my life it wasn't my priority. I wanted to know her more, understand how that little mind of her works and... to learn how to help her.

The farm life can't be easy for such a small girl and, from what I heard, everyone there works, the women particularly stuck with most of the physical chores. I couldn't picture her ever working.

When the bullshit was over, I followed her and her friend to the room assignments. Unable to resist, I took her hand, feeling the calluses of hard work in them. I should have been repulsed, but it only made me more curious, more interested. "June, hey."

She doesn't respond, still surprised to see me.

"Can we walk to the clearing together? I plan on participating, you see, and I would love it if you were there." Translation. I wanted to show off. I wanted to impress her as well.

I'm rewarded by a blush, the tint of pink on her cheeks. It was heart stompingly adorable.

Wanting to be as close as possible, to claim her in front of all of them, I offered her my arm to take. Holding hands might be a little too much for her right now. The arm would have to do.

Behind us, I saw Jeremy eyeing me with those same sharp blue eyes. I could taste his protectiveness and this only made me hold June tighter.

Annoyed, I tell her exactly what Jeremy is. I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help myself. He was trying to ruin my last Games. This is all I had. June was all I would have and even this he tried to take from me.

June listened through all of this but I can tell she wasn't convinced. She was too smart to believe gossip, but at least she listened. That was enough.

We make it to the clearing and I start to pump myself up. This was my only chance to show her what I could do. I had to do my best.

In all my other feats of strength I wore Cora's identifier, carrying her honor as I won every single time. It was a claim, a way to tell everyone that we were both the most wanted and the most powerful. The very best attendees. But this year, this year would be about June for me.

Cora can have the rest of me my entire life, but this weekend would be about myself, about what I want and that's June.

I step in front, breaking away from June and hear the screams of excitement and praise. That is before Jeremy destroyed it all over again by walking forward. The shouts were immediately louder for him.

June was already staring at Jeremy, half n a k e d and effortless as he made his way to me. He was larger than me. He always has been and when he smiles at me, I want to kill him.

I was going to lose.

I've never won against him.

Like the Alpha said, I was only half the man Jeremy ever was.

But I don't backdown, not in front of June.

"Choose your lady to represent." The elder hollered, making all the girls jump and squeal, offering their wrists to us until they quieted as both Jeremy and I stared at one person: June.

I could feel Cora's gaze on me, expecting me to call her just like always, but I stepped toward June, watching her eyes go wide. "June Valentine, may I have your bracelet?"

And just like every single time in my life, Jeremy steps towards her as well, his hand on her wrist, thumbing her identifier. "I would also like your bracelet, June."

I nearly lost it.

This wasn't to irk me anymore.

He was doing this for something else but I didn't know what.

Jeremy, with all his pretty boy glory, would never do this. He kept quiet, he never purposely let himself get near the center of attention. Jeremy had a different agenda and I hated the fact that I didn't know why. He hated showing off.

He already knows he's the best.

This was beneath him.

So what is it?

Why is he taking away everything?

I didn't even care that Cora was literally seething from her little special corner. All I wanted right at that moment was for June to pick me, to have me, to choose me first before him.

But that has never happened before.

And it was not happening now.

"Jeremy," June says in a small voice after the chaos that ensued. "I chose Jeremy."

It stung.

It really did.

But I didn't back down easily. I would never back down easily. Especially not for her.

Jeremy looked stunned at being chosen as well, his eyes wide before his face broke into a genuine smile.

He liked her.

He really liked her.

That's my answer. He wasn't doing this to make me mad. He wasn't doing any of this for anyone but her because he liked her.

The one time we take an interest in a girl, and it was the same one.

"That's my June." He says to her, blue eyes so bright and happy that it hurt all over again.

The elder urges me to choose another and I know this is my chance to choose Cora, but I curse, shoving the elder away. "No, dimwit. I'm not choosing anyone else." Never.

No one else but June.

If Jeremy likes her, I just have to prove that I like her even more.

Jeremy collects his prize, the sight of it burning something inside me before I force him to face me. "Come here, pretty boy!"

Jeremy touches his wrist where her identifier is and I swear his eyes fluttered close just a little bit. Fuck. He really liked her. Fuck it all.

The fight... it did not end in my favor.

I honestly didn't expect it to, but I tried my best. I tried to honor June even if only in spirit, but even that I didn't win. Losing badly, my wolf takes over in an automatic response to protect me and, in that way, I have dishonored the feats of strength, dishonoring June in the process.

The nameless pack came for me as I was free game. Anyone that shifts in these lands is punishable by death and I know Cora will not save me. She was so enraged with my disrespect for not choosing her that she'll let them all kill me.

But Jeremy, always the honorable one, waves his men away to embarrass me even more.

He should have just killed me.

"And you call yourself a Beta." He tells me, frowning.

I know what that meant. I know what he really meant. He was supposed to be me. My rank was his, it was always supposed to be his.

He just proved everyone right today.

I tried to replace June in the crowd but she was no more. Jeremy was right. I am just a constant s h it.

The crowd in clearing disperses, the people leaving for other events and I'm left staring at the ground. Cora is waiting for me in her tent. I can hear her pacing and waiting to unleash her wrath on me.

I took my time to walk back, swallowing and preparing for the worst and when I entered her tent, what greeted me was a slap in the face that nearly threw me to the floor.

"What the fuck?!" She shrills through her teeth. "Are you happy with yourself?"

I suppose it could be worse. It could have been her father.

And then I was punched in the stomach. This time I slammed to the floor, the air knocking out of me. "Yes, Konstantin, are you happy with yourself?"

It was him.

I didn't have to look up to know that the Alpha had broken the rules and had been hiding in Cora's tent.

"I should have you killed." No more was the politician's mask. In its place was the real monster, a heartless demon that feeds on the life of the weak. "I should have known you weren't worth the effort. The lengths I had to go to even get people to know who you are. You're pathetic. We were better off with a half breed traitor as a Beta."

I tuned them out, their words and their kicks that came for me like a tornado that only targeted me.

Over and over.

Until they stopped, only because they had other plans now. I had taken up too much of their time already.

I stood with shaking legs as I dusted myself off in the empty tent and tried to look as presentable as possible. No one can know this happened.

My eyes glanced at the clock to check the time and realized it was almost time for dinner. Trying to stop myself from limping, I called a guard. "Get me one of the servants."

He hurried away as I walked to the mansion, gritting my teeth and willing myself to look like nothing had happened.

A girl appeared before me, wearing the city pack colors. "What can I help you with Beta?"

"There's a girl. Her name is June. I want you to help her get ready." My eyes drifted to the farm girls walking about, noticing their less than appealing dresses. They all looked like their dresses didn't fit well, like the dress wasn't specially made for them. Though June carried hers better, I want her to wear something better, something she'll love. "Show me the dresses we've brought for the Games."

By the time I made it to the room, the servants had already lined the dresses in rows and rows. I mindlessly looked through them, picturing June until I found the perfect one.

"This," I told the servant. "If she doesn't like it, give her this and this and this."

I piled the dresses high on the servants' arms.

"Make sure she's enjoying herself. Treat her like a princess. That's what the Games are for." To feel like you're royalty and I want to make sure June feels all of that and more.

The servant nods, collecting everything before running to where June probably was.

I get myself ready, waiting for my chest to heal from its bruises. Since it was inflicted by an Alpha, it took longer and was more painful than it should be.

When it was time, I walked down the stairs and waited for June at the end of it. Girls stopped in front of me as I waited, showing off their dresses and their bright smiles, but women never looked so dull before today. Normally I would entertain them, enjoy all the attention, but all I could think about was June and that I hoped she was on her way down.

And suddenly, a flash of glittering red and a nervous smile caught my attention over all the rest. I couldn't help but smile back at June, feeling the pain in my chest lighten.

She bows at me. "Beta,"

"You look absolutely gorgeous." I replace myself whispering like a love sick puppy, because she was the most beautiful of the thousands that have come tonight. She wore the dress like it was made for her, tight in the right places and beautiful in all the rest. She... she made it almost a priority for me to bed her then. I was almost desperate for it, but this was June.

And I shouldn't treat her like all the rest.

So I calmed myself down, willing my crotch to stop throbbing. This is the longest I've ever gone without fucking and I barely even noticed it.

As we walked to dinner, I imagined what it would be like to claim June. To have her as my mate. To spoil her rotten. To have her in my bed... to have her at every meal.

It sounded so impossible even in my mind.

But if I could, if this is the only thing I can do for her, I'll do whatever I can to make this the best weekend of her life. She will eat the best food and have the best dresses and have the best man in her arms.

A Princess.

That's what she'll be.

With that in mind, I tug her to my table where the food is better, where the servants will give her whatever she wants on a platter. She deserves at least this much.

I introduce her to the wealthiest, wanting her to know the best of us, but they snub her, completely ignoring June like she was a mere fling. Just as I'm about to tell them all to leave the table, the man beside me whispers in my ear. "What are you doing? Do you want to die? Cora will kill you if she sees you bringing this girl along."

“Let her kill me then." I say tiredly, holding my chest and feeling the bones snap back together. "I'm already spending the rest of my life under her shoe. I might as well have this one thing."

He continues to berate me, reminding me of my place.

I barely noticed when June asked for different food, the food of the peasants, and I couldn't help but laugh at how adorable she was.

"We don't eat those." I tried to laugh to lighten the mood. Didn't she understand that I wanted her to eat the best food possible? "We brought our own delicacies and chef."

She shrank in her seat and I was about to comfort her when the man besides me continued to scold me about my life choices.

And then they had to bring it up. "Where's Cora, Beta?"

Hopefully drowning in her own piss. "She's eating with her father."

But they wouldn't stop. "Won't you choose her, Konstantin?"

The familiar feeling of dread washes over me. "Who knows at this point?"

"But it's your responsibility." They pushed, grinning. "You're supposed to mate with her when no one will."

"I suppose it is." I said, unable to meet June's stare.

She looked so lost, so horribly used and I couldn't explain. I didn't know what to say.

June stands from her seat, excusing herself, but I try to get to her, willing myself to explain what was happening, what I was trying to do, but nothing sounded right.

How do I explain that I was stuck? That I had no escape? If things were different, if I had a choice, it would be her.

But she's running from me, breaking my heart in the process.

I was left staring after her and almost had a heart attack when I saw who she had bumped into in her escape. Taller than all of us, stronger than even a God, he stood over June in a way that his shadow nearly swallowed her. The monstrous Alpha Ajax.

He came.

He came for Cora.

I couldn't believe it. This, this was my escape.

Too excited to check on June, to care that the monstrous Alpha was sniffing her, I ran to where Cora was and was clearly interrupting their exclusive dinner as I entered.

"What is it, Konstant s h i t?" Cora asks with a roll of her eyes.

"He's here! Alpha Ajax is here!" I was shouting, almost jumping with excitement. "He's here for you!"

Cora let out a squeal, taking her father's hand. "I knew it! I knew it! You did it daddy! He's here for me."

"I'm free?" I couldn't help but ask. "I don't have to mate with you? I can reject all of this now?"

"Of course, i di o t! Who would want you?" Cora grinned, holding her face in her hands. "I have to... I have to get ready. There's so much to do!"

I was just about to leave them when the Alpha's voice cut through Cora's loud planning. "Stay, Konstantin."

"But," My heart dropped. "Alpha?"

"You're not mating with that one." He says, having read through my plans. "You will stay in my room for the remainder of the night. Just to be sure."

No.

But June was waiting for me.

I had to explain.

"You will not go back to the Games until morning." He orders, and I feel it is an order. Something I could not break even if I tried.

I bowed my head, distraught. "Understood."

For the rest of the night I stared out the window, listening to the loud party going on in the mansion. I just couldn't wait for the morning when I could finally talk to June. This time I will explain everything.

The next morning, when I was finally allowed to leave the Alpha's lodgings, I was met with a rush of women running towards me.

"Beta! I heard you're free of Cora now!" The girls smiled, happy and excited. "Who are you going to choose?"

I cut them off coldly, making them cry as I tried to replace June, but each time I looked around, another girl came in front of me. They dictate family, dowry and bloodlines as if it mattered.

Right as I'm rejecting yet another girl, I see June walking into the gardens. She's yawning, looking a little hungover.

Did she drink too much?

Is she okay?

I gave her a smile and a wave.

She waved back almost shyly and I wanted nothing more than to rush to her, but every time I tried, another girl and then another girl came up to me.

Hurrying a girl to finish what she's saying, I'm loudly smacked in the face. This girl that I don't even remember but claims I slept with her a few weeks back demands I choose her and I all but pray this ends so I can go get June already.

I counted down the minutes, the seconds until I cannot help it anymore and walked away, heading towards June who was eating with her pack members.

Praying quietly that she wasn't angry anymore, I asked her for a walk and I was surprised she said yes.

Faraway from breakfast and everything else, I try to gather my thoughts. Speaking like this with anyone was not my strong point and I started it horribly by saying,

"I saw you with Jeremy last night." I didn't. I was stuck in the Alpha's lodgings but Cora told me and so did the rest of the attendees. They even said he left her on the dance floor. "Are you choosing him?"

The talk quickly went sour and before I knew it, I was barely holding on to the conversation. June had a way of looking at me that made all my words jumble horribly.

She's walking away again before I can stop her and it's all my fault. I left for the woods, shifting when I was far enough and running my wolf ragged to calm myself for the ceremony.

When I was done, I prepared for the ceremony. After showering and making sure everything was perfect for June, I headed for the ceremony grounds. I was one of the first to arrive, my eyes on the floor.

I didn't even care when Jeremy sat beside me, his own expression sullen.

Cora was near us, having a fit, but I couldn't really focus on her. I kept looking behind me, to the last seat where June was supposed to sit and just as it was about to begin, she appeared, skittish and scared as she sat down.

She barely looked at me but I didn't stop looking at her.

It was Cora that grabbed my attention. "He's still not here."

I stared at her in confusion. "What?"

"He's. Not. Here." She growled, grabbing an elder by the collar. "Where is he?"

"He refuses to leave his room-"

No.

No. No. No.

That means.

"You're not to choose anyone until he comes. Do you understand?" Cora breathes down my neck, her eyes have never been sharper. "You will choose me if he doesn't come. I am ordering you, Konstantin."

No.

The ceremony starts and Cora is up first, as is tradition. Her eyes were on me but I was numb, staring back at her. Just when I thought she could melt me with her stare, I shook my head.

I refuse.

I will not be choosing her.

Cora had morphed into her father at that moment, purple faced and so very angry. It didn't help that everyone was talking, whispering and judging her.

They suggest she goes last, to wait for her Alpha, but I am rooted in my spot. Jeremy briefly glances at me and I think he actually smiled, not to make fun, but out of respect.

Cora starts her tantrum, a hissy fit that brings even more attention to her horrible attitude. Knowing her best, Jeremy and I shared a look before glancing away in understanding.

After the elders calmed my Alpha down, the ceremony starts again. I barely paid attention to each girl that came up the stage, some even glancing at Jeremy and I with hope. We did not give them the time of day.

It took so long. Hours, several hours maybe until we even made it to the farm pack. I knew something was happening when Jeremy suddenly stiffened in his seat, we were so close I could hear his breathing stop. And then, the Alpha came.

He was a force to be reckoned with, his presence sucking all the air from our lungs, and when he stood behind June, I felt my stomach turn.

Jeremy was still as stone.

I should have known by his reaction alone that something was going to happen, something out of this world, but maybe I was just too eager, for when June was finally called to the front, I couldn't contain myself. They announced her bolt of silk and she was so scared. I wanted to save her but just as they open her to be claimed, Cora stares down at me.

"Don't." She mouthed towards me. "Do not do it. I'm ordering you."

My body froze and time was ticking. They were going to send her back to her seat if I didn't speak now.

But Cora was my Alpha and I was physically fighting against a direct order. The words didn't even want to come, my body stopped me but I pushed and I pushed and I pushed until I felt as though I might actually s hit myself. Jeremy stood beside me but I couldn't be too sure as I battled with myself and then I was standing as well, walking to the front where June was, my lips moving until I could make a sound.

"I claim June of the farm pack."

My voice was solid and clear but I was physically in pain as I said it, as I broke my vows to Cora.

Even then, it didn't matter.

Because, like always, I wasn't the only option nor was I the first option.

"June Valentine is mine."

A voice that shook the entire area spoke and I knew then that I had truly lost.

For June was chosen by the monster.