"Breathe, doll."

It was easier said than done. I tried to suck air into my lungs as he slowly worked his fingers in my ass. In and out. Twist and turn. It was torture, but it felt so good. I was sure my pussy—as they liked to call it—was soaked. My head dropped against his thigh. I gripped the material of his slacks tightly. He was panting just like me. Was this affecting him as much as it was me? Judging by the bulge digging into my hip, it was.

"I wish Devon was here to see this beautiful ass," he muttered. "Relax. I'm going to insert the butt plug now."

Fear washed through me, making me tense. He shifted slightly. My body jerked when something cool hit my asshole. His finger circled the tight bud again before something else replaced it. It was wet and cool too but hard. My hold on his pants tightened.

"Relax for me, doll. When I tell you to, I want you to suck in a deep breath."

I nodded and squeezed my eyes closed. And then I finally forced my body to relax. The fact that he was rubbing the skin at my hip was helping a little. It had hurt slightly when he had pushed his finger inside me the first time; there was a slight burn and a feeling of strangeness before it faded only to be replaced by pleasure.

"Okay, take a nice deep breath," he ordered softly.

I did as he ordered. I felt the butt plug slip inside me in agonizing slowness. It was a little bigger than his fingers and it stretched me more. I moaned when he moved it in and out a few times before leaving it nestled inside my ass. I bit my lip as his hand slid a little lower. He rubbed my pussy lips before slowly sliding a finger inside me. My muscles clenched around the thick digit.

"So wet. Did you enjoy that, pet?"

I nodded, unable to utter a single word. One finger slid down to rub against my clit. I thought he was going to make me fall apart, but he didn't. David instantly pulled his hand away again and pushed my feet to the ground. Disappointment flashed through me when he helped me up on shaky legs. He gave me a small smile.

"Go get dressed."

"What?"

He chuckled. "We're going to be late. Go get dressed. Don't let it slip out."

"You're serious?" I asked.

He chuckled and stood. Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around my waist and tugged my naked body against his fully clothed one. I tilted my head up when his lowered. My lips were eagerly waiting for his to brush against them, but he turned away at the last minute and brushed his lips against my jaw. I groaned in disappointment which made him chuckled.

His lips moved to my ear. "I promise you that the wait will be worth it. Now get going, doll."

***

"Merry Christmas."

"Congratulations on your mating, Alpha."

"May you have a long and happy mated life."

The words were being repeated as we walked through the crowd. It had thinned considerably since we arrived this morning. Most of the members had only stopped by to congratulate us before heading home.

Someone had decorated the square with small but bright fairy lights. One table off to the stage contained presents wrapped in a white paper. Two long tables were set up to the side with a self-serving buffet. Someone had cleared the ground right in front of the stage too great a dance floor. Off to one side, some pack members were playing musical instruments.

"Welcome to our pack," a young girl said as she smiled up at me. "I'm happy that we will now have someone to talk about womanly stuff."

"Thank you." I gave her a genuine smile. "Just let me know when you want to talk."

"Great." Colour flooded her cheeks.

She suddenly held a flower out to me. The moment I took it from her, she darted off and disappeared into the crowd. I raised the flower to my nose and sniffed. It smelt good. Where had she gotten the flower from? Somewhere along the line, I had lost the men, but I knew they were somewhere close by.

Devon had commented on my smell when we had joined him. It was hard not to be turned on with the butt plug moving around inside me when I moved a certain way. It was torture. I couldn't wait for the day to be over already. Curiosity was a constant emotion. What were they planning for tonight?

I was snapped from my thoughts when I heard my name. Glancing around, my eyes fell on a group of women a few feet away. One of them pointed towards me which made them all turn. I smiled, expecting them to smile back, but they sneered. I stumbled backward when one of them flashed her teeth at me.

"She doesn't deserve him," someone said loud enough for me to hear.

"I wonder what Kelsey will do when she returns," another muttered.

Who the hell is Kelsey? Was the first thought to flash through my mind as I walked away from them. I knew I didn't deserve them, but I was going to try my damn hardest to make sure that both of them were happy with me. I slipped away and hid behind a tree to clear my head. I was still there when Devon appeared next to me. I jumped when I glanced up to mind him standing in front of me.

"Are you okay?" he instantly questioned.

I nodded and reached out to place my hands on his chest. "Yeah. I just needed a few minutes alone. Why were you looking for me?"

"It's time for the markings." His hawk-like eyes trailed over my face. "Are you sure that you're okay?"

"I'm fine, I promise."

His lips twitched but he didn't smile. Devon gripped my hand and led me back towards the stage. I sucked in a deep breath and slowly blew it out as we climbed the steps. Devon's father was already waiting there for us. We stopped next to David who instantly took my other hand. I clung to them as they each said a few words. The women who had taught me the dance this morning had also given me a lecture on what to do when it was time for us to be marked.

When Devon's father turned towards us, I caught his eyes for a second. He was beyond angry at his son for mating me. He hated me and he was making no effort to hide it. A tug on my hand made me look back to my feet. Devon squeezed my hand before stepping forward. He took off his shirt and kneeled. A man carrying a hot iron walked onto the stage. My heartbeat increased when the iron was wrapped around his left arm. I squeezed David's hand tighter. A few seconds passed before the iron was removed from his arm.

Tribal markings were burned into his skin from his wrist up to his shoulder. Devon stood and stumbled slightly before he regained his balance. He turned and walked back towards us. David repeated his actions before returning to my side. Nausea made my stomach turn. I was going to get branded by their mark. Devon helped me pull off my jacket. The dress I wore was sleeveless. I was thankful that it wasn't expected of me to be bare in front of the whole pack.

"It will be okay," David muttered from next to me. "Just breathe through the pain."

I nodded and stepped away from them. The cold made goose bumps appear over my bare shoulders and arms. Kneeling next to his father, I watched from the corner of my eyes as the man carrying the iron walked onto it. Another man walked onto the stage behind him. I glanced over my shoulder at them in question.

"Since you will be taking two men as your mates, you will be carrying two marks," Devon's father spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Father," Devon growled. "We did not talk about this."

"I spoke to the elders and they agreed with me." Cold eyes snapped down to me. "If you do not carry both marks, you cannot take both men as your mates."

I heard them growl from behind me. The thought of only being allowed to mate one of them filled me with dread. Devon's father wanted everyone to see how weak I was. They all knew that I was only a half-breed. If I refused no one would ever accept me. I glanced back at them.

"Val, you don't have to agree to this."

But I knew I had to. "I'll take both marks."

Silence hung over the crowd as the men moved into position on either side of me. I forced myself to breathe when they stepped closer and wrapped the iron around my arms. Searing pain shot through me.

Breathe through the pain.

I sucked air into my lungs and slowly blew it out. In and out. The iron tightened on my arms before it was slowly removed. They were there the moment the men stepped away. I stood on shaky legs and allowed them to lead me back. Spots suddenly appeared in my line of vision. Heat flooded me, making sweat bead on my upper lip. Bile rose.

"Val?"

I opened my eyes and blinked up at Devon. "I just need to sit down," I whispered.

He nodded. His arm around my waist tightened as he led me down the steps. We disappeared between the trees. Tears suddenly filled my eyes. A sob fell past my dry lips. I had no clue why I was crying. There was just so much pain.

A glass was pressed against my lips. I drank the cool water and then leaned my head against his shoulder. David was kneeling in front of me, looking at me with concern. I tried to give him a brave smile but it slipped from my face almost immediately. Devon moved, brushing against my arm. I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Fuck," he breathed. "I'm sorry, Val."

His lips brushed my cheek.

"I'll ask Ali for something that we can give her for the pain." David stood and hurried off in another direction.

"He'll be back soon, and then we will give you something for the pain. We will take care of you." His arm around my waist tightened. "I'm so sorry. If I knew he was going to do this, I would never have allowed you to go through with it."

"I. . .needed. . .too," I breathed. "Wanted to. For you."

"We know that you were made for us, Val. We don't need a mark to prove it." He pressed his lip against my cheek again. "If you had walked away, I would have understood why you did it."

I shook my head before pressing my cheek against his chest. Words failed me. It was hard to concentrate. I pressed myself closer against his chest. The heat had faded and coldness seeped into my skin.

"Val?" his voice drifted towards me from far away. "Val? Come on, baby open your eyes for me."

I needed to.