AN: Hello to all my lovely readers who chose to stick it out when things got weird. This fic was always meant to have smut and it was always meant to grow and evolve around a relationship that, at least for the vampires, should not have been possible in the first place. Bella was always meant to be her usual bumbling self, but super queer, but I like to think the events of the last several chapters leading up to chapter 10 showed some growth of character.

That being said, my writing has evolved and my goals are different now than when I started this fic. The premise is still the same, but if you could see my 30+ unpublished WIPs, you'd get a better picture of who I am as a writer now. Lots of confident Bella, non-human Bella, lots of sexual situations involving multiple partners and introducing different kinks that fit with those stories. Three's Company is a good example of this, with the mall chapter really showing off how exhibitionism can be fun and exciting when all parties are on the same page.

I decided to explore more of the sexual side of Mated's story, hoping my comeback would be appreciated with Alice and Rosalie finally getting to claim their mate after teasing it for several chapters. The fact that Leah was involved came out of left field but I have chosen to continue this thought experiment in this chapter and let you all see what I thought made sense of her presence and allow the four women to explore boundaries. I wanted to show that there can be emotion in exploration of sexuality and this chapter goes a bit into pasts and gives our girls more to unite under besides mutual attraction. The following chapters will continue the story with their return to school so stick with me and my kinky devotion to Once Mated's evolution.

I will continue to take constructive criticism but I will not let any negative comments on my stories anymore. I've been stalked from ffnet to AO3, and even to my post on Reddit by one person who couldn't take the fact that I was not going to allow her hatred on my works. The negative feedback I received sent me into a spiral that luckily I was quick to recover from. Thanks again to all those continuing to support my writing and I appreciate your positivity and feedback.

Rosalie

I watched over my mate and the slumbering wolf with a strange sense of calm. I had lifted Alice carefully out of the bed a little while ago so she could go retrieve our school stuff, including changes of clothing and her Porsche, but also to get the boys to deliver a pair of surprises I had for the damn wolf. I wasn't kidding when I said I was going to beat her ass, I just never specified how.

Yesterday and last night were very big question marks for the four of us, I won't lie. Even as I watched Bella's naked body cuddled up into the warm body of the wolf (we had managed to sequester the human beneath a clean blanket during the night when she kept going from sweating to shivering depending on which of us she was closest to), I felt no jealousy. Right now the beautiful Native girl was giving comfort and protection to my mate without conscious thought, and even if Leah wasn't a part of our mate bond I felt none of the feelings of jealousy I would feel if it were any of those idiot boys of our family, or say Bella's friend Jacob for instance. It wasn't a vampire or wolf thing apparently. I'd hate to be an overbearing lesbian but the only thing I could think of was that Leah was a woman.

And not just any woman. She was powerful, not just physically but her will seemed strong enough to match my own. She was willing to give as good as she got, trading harsh words and going so far as to challenge me, Rosalie Hale, to a fight. The fact that she technically won that fight and got me topless in front of my mate was both annoying and arousing in an odd way. I didn't practice fighting like the others, but that was because I refused to show anyone my full hand. What most of the family didn't know was that I was technically stronger than Emmett and faster than Edward. As far as I knew, only Edward and Alice knew because of their various abilities, but so far they had kept it to themselves.

So the fact that Leah had not only pinned me but humiliated me with that dog-breath lick, I should have wanted her dead. I mean I didn't pull my punches when I sent her flying but the little shit had already healed by the time she returned to human form. However, Bella growing increasingly aroused at the fight had changed the entire situation from vicious battle to a conquest of another kind. The moment Alice and I had Bella pinned between us, we were very much aware of the wolf standing nearby watching with her own increasing interest. When Bella was made aware of Leah's presence and interest, the flood of her scent had set us on the path to include the wolf somehow.

"Are you done staring," came a whisper from said wolf, "or are we going to talk about whether last night was a weird mistake or a fun one-time thing that will never happen again?"

I smirked at the sassy wolf as her dark eyes flickered open, having already detected the subtle changes in her heart rate and breathing. She was talking low enough that there was no risk of waking Bella prematurely. "Last night, Alice and I got to claim our mate without worry of interference. Having you there was, we'll say, an added bonus-an acceptable one, I might even say. Alice and I have already decided that your friendship, regardless of any continued sexual aspects, is important to us. We only just met but like I said last night, you bring comfort to our mate. So long as that continues to be true, you're welcome in whatever capacity she wants. And, of course, if that's something you want."

She seemed to take a moment to really consider it, her features shifting between a mixture of emotions that ranged between confusion to concern. But then Bella shifted in her arms with a sleepy groan and that had Leah smiling beautifully down at the human as she gently brushed her fingers through my mate's hair until she settled. "I think I could see myself enjoying a friendship like this. I mean, I had a girlfriend before I met Sam but things didn't work out with her. I'm not asking you all out, don't get me wrong, but what we shared last night was kinda magical. I feel more comfortable around you three than I ever have with the Pack. I'm kinda glad I get to spend the rest of the school year at Forks."

Bella began to shift around again, only this time her heart rate began to rise and her breathing changed to indicate her imminent waking. It was a little early but she and Leah kinda did wear themselves out early yesterday afternoon. I was actually looking forward to her reaction when she realized whose arms she was in. I could just hear Alice arriving in her car, the sounds of two other motors cutting off nearby moments later before their occupants disappeared into the woods. I wondered if she'd been able to find something for Leah to wear, but then I realized she had been in close proximity to Edward and I almost laughed out loud at the horror he must be experiencing if he'd caught Alice's thoughts. This was going to be a fun day.

Bella

I groaned, my body aching in ways I'd never felt before but definitely couldn't wait to experience again. Dear gods, last night had been...indescribable. Finally being claimed by my mates was heaven, pleasure beyond compare. Having Leah involved was all the more comforting and just added to the entire experience, even if she wasn't physically involved. Having the visual display of her pleasure while she watched and joined in with verbal cues...I could still hear the husky pleasure in her smokey voice and it sent tingles down to my toes.

Then there was the pleasure of hearing my mates in the throes of passion. Dear gods, I think their screams of completion would be my lullaby for eons to come. The fact that they had gotten each other off for my sake was enough to have my body clenching already. If I wasn't wrapped up in pleasantly warm arms, I might worry about my blush giving me away-

My mates aren't warm. My mates weren't even close to being this warm! Fuzzy memories of the girls inviting Leah to stay the night swam through my head and I expected to hear growling and snarling any second but was only met by quiet laughter, both from in front of me and through my back from where I assumed I was cuddled - naked! - into Leah's glorious body.

"Don't go panicking now," Leah's voice rumbled into my ear, causing my entire body to lock up. Whether it was in fear or arousal could be decided after I figured out how the wolf was still alive and how much trouble I was in with my mates. "You're safe, and no one is in the metaphorical dog house yet."

"Speak for yourself," Rosalie replied, though her voice was light-hearted and teasing so I felt I could risk opening my eyes. Only that had me remembering that we all went to bed naked and dear gods how was I surrounded by such decadence?! "You sleeping over has made this whole room the dog house."

"Ha ha," Leah shot over my head, her chin coming to rest in the juncture between my shoulder and neck. "Need I remind you that it was a wolf that kicked your ass yesterday, not a dog?"

Shit, shit, shit, her breath was spreading heat across my neck and she didn't know that was a spot! Calm down, body, she's not doing it on purpose, don't make things awkward!

It was apparently too late as both women inhaled sharply as my body betrayed me once again. I couldn't help but whimper, shuddering in Leah's arms as they tightened ever so sightly around my waist. I was staring at Rosalie, an apology in my eyes and ready on my tongue when she smirked back at me with darkening eyes.

"Don't worry," Rosalie said through one of her rumbling chuckles. "We've been...discussing things while you were asleep, to see if we're on the same page. We're not exactly opening this up as a four-way between us all, but Alice and I agree that the wolf adds something special to our relationship. You finding comfort and even pleasure in her presence doesn't bother us, but we're still treading lightly because we don't know where the limits of our territorial nature's extend."

"I don't know," chimed Alice's dulcet voice from the doorway, drawing our gazes to find her standing there in all her pale, naked glory. "Watching Bella squirm in the wolf's arms while trying not to get turned on is quite the fetching sight. I kinda wanna see how far she-wolf can push our buttons before we need to stake our claims again."

I clenched my teeth but a strained whimper still slipped out at what Alice was implying. I also knew the little minx had been up and about and had chosen to undress before returning to my bedroom. And now Rosalie was humming in consideration and Leah's breasts were pressing heavily against my back as she gave a rumbling purr of a growl. Much like with my mates, the sound of her inhuman nature was enough to have my body clenching and that was just not fair! I was completely ignoring the fact that I had yet to move out of her arms, finding comfort and warmth that I couldn't quite get from my ice-cold mates.

Rosalie's eyes were narrowed in challenge over my head, her smirk firmly in place. "We have a little bit of time before you two need to get washed up for school. We can put this to the test if you're both comfortable."

Now she was looking at me and I realized they really had been talking things out. This wasn't just some spur of the moment decision, all the other women in the room were on the same page and I couldn't help the way my heart rate jumped in my chest, or the way my hips rolled against Leah's arm. When she brushed my hair away from my neck and directly exhaled on that spot behind my ear, I was done for. A trembling moan was all the answer they seemed to need as Leah's legs began tangling with mine, her lips and teeth leaving a trail of stinging bites and soothing kisses that had me panting and keening while keeping my eyes locked with those of my blonde mate.

Her eyes were darkening, but I couldn't tell if that was a negative response to Leah's actions, or perhaps to the sudden flood of arousal now wetting my inner thighs. The bed shifting behind Leah almost had me losing eye-contact with Rosalie but I was captured in her heated gaze. It was only as Leah hissed as her head was suddenly pulled away that I managed to look up to find Alice was kneeling behind the wolf's back, fingers clenched in ink-black hair.

"No marks, pup," Alice growled into her ear. "Not until we've left our own."

Leah growled as she turned to face the pixie vampire. "Should have thought of that last night when you had her pinned down on this very bed. But I suppose I can play nice, this is your game after all."

I wasn't quite ready to feel the arm around my waist shift until a warm hand was pressed just above my mound, pressing down without directly stimulating where I honestly wanted her touch. This was another strange shift in our friendship, but if my girls were willing to stay the course then I wasn't going to complain.

Then I think Alice surprised all of us when she replied simply, "Good girl," before leaning down to kiss those full lips. I didn't even bother suppressing the whimpering moan that slipped from my lips, my hips arching up into Leah's hand that had yet to move. I knew my mates were usually the jealous type, especially being what they are, but I'd been poly for as long as I'd been sexually active so the ever-deepening kiss my mate was sharing with the wolf was only serving to turn me on further until I was a writhing mess.

The next thing I knew, my left leg was hitched up over Leah's, her knee holding me open and exposed and oh so wet for everyone to see and smell. Three sets of growls went off and I couldn't resist mewling pathetically in response. Leah's heated body was doing things to my senses, clouding my ability to think while my mates' cold bodies seemed to only make me hyper aware of them. I blame this heat-induced euphoria for the screech of surprise I loosed into the air the moment a set of ice-cold fingers began teasing at my core. I knew without looking that it was Rosalie, my hips rolling forward into those long fingers as I panted my need.

I didn't think I was going to last long with my body surrounded by seduction and the juxtaposed heat and cold flooding my senses with a confused arousal. Then I heard Leah gasp and curse harsh under her breath, her own hips bucking forward into my ass. I could feel the slightest sensation of cold against my skin and when I managed to turn enough to look, I could see Alice's delicate fingers teasing between the wolf's legs, edging her along at the same pace as Rosalie. Gods, I wish I knew how they synced their movements so well, but that was a mystery for later because I could already feel myself peaking. All it took was for Leah's hand to leave my mound and turn my face to hers. This was a moment and we both knew it, a moment to test my mates' willingness to see this through and I practically begged for it with my eyes as her dark eyes asked permission.

Then her warm lips were on mine and Rosalie was pressing inside of me with two fingers, a curling motion proving to be my undoing as I screamed into my kiss with Leah just as she began trembling behind, a guttural groan vibrating into my mouth and across my tongue before we were forced to part in order to breathe. There was so much pleasure, so much intimacy. I could feel Leah's heart pounding away against my back as my own thundered in my chest, my body quaking as Rosalie slowed her motions until she gently withdrew from my core with one last shudder shared between the wolf and I.

Holy fucking shit! That was more than exhibitionism and voyeurism. We hadn't technically done much together but holy shit there was no way that wasn't considered 'inclusion' in some kind of way. When I finally managed to gather myself enough to hazard a look at my mates, they both wore matching feral grins that had an echo of pleasure shuddering through my oversexed body. Were they...okay with this? With how far we went?

Then Rosalie's wet fingers were being presented, not to myself or Alice, but to Leah, and in mirror action Alice was offering me her own fingers that had just been inside Leah. The wolf-girl and I just stared at the offerings with hesitation, sharing a confused yet excited look before we leaned in and took their proffered fingers between our lips.

I don't know which one of us moaned louder, but the message was the same: ambrosia! Gods, Leah tasted delicious, a tangy flavor that settled on my tongue like honey and hit my taste buds like an explosion of arousal. Add in the sweet taste of Alice's fingers and I was in heaven. The moment those fingers were pulled away I grabbed Rosalie and pulled her to me, my tongue thrusting aggressively between her lips as I groaned in ecstasy of another kind. I couldn't wait to taste my beautiful mates, though my body was currently screaming at me to give it a goddamn rest before certain parts of my anatomy went on strike.

I eventually fell back onto the bed when breathing became necessary, finding Leah in the same position next to my with both my mates grinning down at us. Again, their synchronicity would never cease to amaze me as they leaned down to either side of us warm-blooded bodies and immediately latched onto our necks, suckling harshly as their razor sharp teeth teased and grazed but never came close to breaking skin-yet. I was arching into Rosalie's cool body suddenly pinning me to the bed, tilting my neck to offer her free reign. If she turned me at that moment I would literally die a happy woman.

Leah was hissing, and I turned to find her head turned towards mine as my mates did their best to leave permanent marks. Leah's gaze looked to be a mixture of pleasure and pain, though, and I began to grow concerned until her hand slipped into mine. "Don't worry," she groaned, eyes closing as she growled out a vicious sound of pleasure. "This little minx is just cutting the skin a little in order to let some of her venom into my skin to stop the healing." She cried out as Alice shook her head side-to-side before suctioning the skin as her black eyes met mine with that darkness I'd only seen a time or two. When Alice finally pulled away, there was only a hint of blood on Leah's bronze skin, though the massive black and purple hickey was like a neon sign to anyone looking. Luckily Alice licked away the blood before I could get dizzy because I was way too turned on by the whole process to want it ruined by my aversion to blood.

Finally, yet far too soon for my liking, Rosalie pulled away from my neck with a pop. Judging by the pleasurable ache, I was now sporting a rather large hickey to match Leah's and just the thought of its presence had me grinning up at my blonde mate. The next thing I knew, a warm face was tucked into the opposite side of my neck and my breath stilled at the teasing nips of sharp teeth from the wolf.

"So," she rumbled into my neck, her gaze lifting as her tongue teased slick circles over that spot behind my ear, "does this satisfy the 'no marks' rule? Or do you two switch places now?"

Two humming growls met her question before I felt Leah's glorious body being pressed into mine by Alice as Rosalie slid in closer to my front, her voice a rumble of hunger that had my body clenching. "It was not what we had in mind, but I have never, nor will I ever, drink human blood, so I cannot mark you, wolf. That being said, I think it is Alice's decision since I've already marked our mate for the world to see."

Alice's growl tapered off into a purr as she somehow leaned her tiny dancer's frame across Leah to gaze directly into my eyes. "I won't be able to mark you today, my love. With Leah's blood on my tongue, I can't risk what having my lips on that delectable body of yours will do to my will. But we can't have you going out without a matching mark, that's just a fashion disaster waiting to happen!"

I couldn't help but giggle at my pixie mate even as she gave Leah the go-ahead. The moment Leah's warm lips returned to my neck, my laughter cut off on a gasp as soon as her teeth began scraping against my spot without remorse. Alice took this moment to flip over until she landed cross-legged at the end of the bed next to Rosalie's legs. With both of my mates watching with dark eyes and toothy grins that were just this side of vicious, I honestly didn't know if I would survive the morning. I didn't know if we were pushing it or if they were getting turned on by their own little permission play, but gods they both looked so glorious sitting there watching as Leah took her time running her tongue up and down my neck, a groan leaving her throat as she inhaled deeply.

"Gods, why do you all have to smell so fucking good?" she growled, her voice rumbling into my ear and down to my oversensitive clit, drawing a whimper from my throat as I tilted my head to the side to give her a better angle while still keeping my goddesses in my sight. Then the wolf was biting down, hard, and I couldn't hold back my scream, even as the pain morphed into a warm sort of pleasure that had my breath rushing from me in a wailing moan. Leah quickly alternated between using her teeth and lips to suction the side of my neck in several places. My body was trembling, arching into and simultaneously trying to flee the agonizing pleasure, my mind in shambles as if it couldn't decide whether to crave more or beg enough.

Eventually, Leah did pull away with several soothing licks across my bruises and battered neck. Gods, I felt like I'd just been mauled by an animal-then I realized I kinda had and would have laughed aloud if I had the brainpower to comprehend anything beyond the beautiful aches coming from either side of my neck. I had been thoroughly claimed the night before, woken up in the arms of another woman with my mates watching and encouraging our exploration. Then, not only had Rosalie brought me high again but Alice had pleasured Leah to orgasm as well and fed us each others' unique flavors. And now I bore not just my mate's mark, but our wolf's mark as well. I have no idea how so much had changed in such a short amount of time but I felt like I was in some sort of limbo and I worried things would come crashing down around us if we kept pressing boundaries.

Some of my worry must have shown on my face because Rosalie was suddenly leaning close even as Leah continued to gently nuzzle her mark. "Don't start panicking now, love, because we aren't. This has not weakened our mate-bonds, nor has it endangered our weird friendship with the wolf. We pushed limits and found the ones we expected to be there don't seem to exist for us. Trust me, I see what she did to your neck, and while we will be talking about your preferences on her technique in the future, we do not want to kill the wolf."

Alice's purr was a heavy hum of sound as she leaned forward, her beautiful body still on perfect display for all to see. "I may not want to kill her, but that little taste of her blood was a temptation I shouldn't have given in to because now I want more." The way she practically rolled the word off her tongue had my breath catching, the wolf's head finally perking up from my neck to grin at the seeress.

"As strange as this all is, I'm the first female wolf to exist in my tribe. So maybe I'm just built differently but damn, Sprite, I don't think I'd mind giving you another taste. Just so long as you can control your venom because I don't fancy having too many scars."

Alice's eyes shot straight to black as she stared the wolf down with a sudden and rabid hunger. "Do not tempt me so early in our friendship, pup, for I will not be held accountable for how deep those scars go if you offer so freely."

I could feel the tension rising, and while there was still a sexual component to it, I feared we were straying too far into dangerous territory. Luckily, my alarm clock chose that moment to start blaring its gods-awful screeching, startling all four of us into jumping. After Leah literal crushed the aged device into oblivion, we all sat there staring at one another before I burst out laughing, Leah eventually joining in along with Alice and Rosalie after sharing a look. There was still tension in the air and we would definitely need to talk it out later, but the hot and heavy seemed to have passed for now.

"Well, it seems it is time to clean and feed the beating hearts," Rosalie bemoaned, though her smile was loving as she looked down at me. I groaned, my body reminding me just how sore it was as I attempted to sit up while Leah did the same.

"Okay," I groaned, my muscles protesting my movements as I attempted to scoot to the edge of the bed. "Is it possible to call in 'oversexed' to school? My legs feel like Jell-O and my body aches in ways I didn't even know were possible."

Alice's giggle was adorable as she gently took my hands into hers and slowly hauled me to my feet. "I mean, I'm sure Carlisle could come up with some condition relating to sexual exhaustion, but do you really want him submitting that doctor's note to the school? I'd love to see you explain that one to Charlie."

Grumbling, I finally got my footing, my nude state not even a flicker on my awareness at this point. These three women had seen more of me than anyone else ever had, and still they looked at me with desire. Talk about a coincidence boost! "Alright, I call the upstairs shower. You three can argue over the downstairs.

Alice's tinkling laugh followed behind me as she appeared in front of me, holding out a pile of what looked suspiciously to be designer clothes. "Rosalie and I don't need to bathe since we don't produce biological waste. But I got you something special to wear today. It's a gift, and trust me, you'll love it!"

I frowned down at the clothes but could I really ever say no to the pixie. That also begged the question, "How could you know that with Leah being around? I thought you were blind to them?"

She just continued to grin as she leaned in until she was pressed up against me. "I've had the wolf's blood on my tongue, love. Whatever this bond is we have with her is making my visions clearer and clearer. Which is why I can't wait for you to answer your text."

My phone pinged at that exact moment and I just rolled my eyes as I grabbed my phone from the shredded remains of my pants, surprised to find it still had a charge.

Useless Lesbian: 'why didn't you tell me we were getting new kids from the Rez?! I hear there's only one girl transferring over. You and your dad spend time down there! You've gotta give me the deets! Do I even have a chance?!'

I coughed out a laugh as I looked up from my phone with a grin. "Hey Leah." Said wolf looked up from examining the clothes Alice had brought for her. "Wanna fuck with one of my bitch lesbian friends?"

The half smirk and raised eyebrow she shot me was far more excited than it should have been. "What did you have in mind?"

I walked up to her and grabbed her right arm and tossed it across my shoulders. "Girls, get under the blankets and pretend like you can sleep. This is gonna be hilarious." Alice had a permanent grin as she ushered Rosalie back under the blankets, perfectly situating themselves with Alice laying across Rosalie's chest with the blanket riding low enough to show just enough pale skin to indicate their state of undress.

I raised my camera at a high angle, cuddling up under Leah's chin, the angle close enough to show our own exposed upper chest areas without revealing anything intimate, while also 'accidentally' showing my mates in the background. This also had the perfect angle to show off our marks, which I realized were more like battle wounds than love bites. Luckily, I didn't need to take more than a single picture since all I had to do was wait for Alice to give me the signal. It was perfect.

"Thanks!" I giggled excitedly as I sent the picture, leaning up to press a quick kiss to Leah's lips-before my brain came to a screeching stop at the casually intimate gesture. I turned slowly to my mates, already flinching but their smiles were just as loving as before so I sighed heavily as tension drained out of me. "I keep feeling like this should all be so weird, that I'm going to push someone's buttons and this whole thing is going to come crashing around our shoulders. I don't want to hurt either of you or disappoint my mates, but this all feels kind of organic. We just fell into this weird friendship with a wolf-girl we hardly know and now there's this intimacy between us that feels so comfortable that it's scary."

Alice was up and in my arms in an instant, Rosalie following behind at a more sedate pace as Leah made room for them. I was suddenly surrounded by three gorgeous, naked women and this wasn't even the strangest thing that had happened in the last 24 hours. "Isabella," fuck, I was officially going to have to change my name because Rosalie using my full name in the husky register of hers was lethal. "We keep telling you that we're okay with everything that has happened so far. It is weird, that's true, and pretty much unheard of in vampire mates. But this bond we share with you is completely unique. We get to push boundaries others can't even contemplate and it's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. But at no point so far have we reached a moment of cessation. I think the only thing that could interrupt our development is if Leah finds her imprint."

A quiet sound from the wolf drew our gazes, realizing it had been a whimper. Seeing our concerned gazes, she sighed and kind of fell in on herself. "I don't think I'll have an imprint. The whole point of finding an imprint, according to the tribe, is to match a wolf with someone who would be most likely to carry on the shifter gene. I stopped aging the moment I shifted, and so did every reproductive function I had."

Rosalie was, surprisingly, the first to pull the woman into her arms in a comforting hug. "I, at least, can understand that. I had dreams of having a family and kids and a normal human life back before it was all taken from me. Now, I can't ovulate because we're frozen at the moment we were turned."

"Wait," I frowned between the two women. "What does that mean for Edward and Jacob imprinting? They can't reproduce, unless there's something about Jacob you forgot to mention?"

Leah sent me a ghost of a smile before sighing. "I was pulled aside by the tribe counsel and told that I was an anomaly and that since I couldn't breed then the spirits would likely not see fit to bless me with an imprint. With Edward and Jacob I can only guess that the spirits are willing to take into account a male wolf's gender preferences, even in the case of bisexuality. I'm just considered the freak of nature with no claim to anything within the tribe or Pack."

"Bullshit!" I'm not sure which of us was not surprised by my vehement denial, but I was enraged by what she was saying. "Those old fucks can go fuck their own geriatric asses for all I care! They were obviously wrong or lying about vampires being the wolves' enemies since Edward and Jacob imprinted, so who's to say they aren't wrong about you having an imprint?! To hell with that, you're going to have the most amazing imprint in the world and I'll take fucking bets on it right now!"

I suddenly found myself wrapped in a pair of warm arms, which also happened to put me face-to-tit with the taller girl but I wasn't going to complain when Leah's shoulders began to shake. I simply wrapped my arms around the wolf and hugged her tight, the cold embraces of my mates joining us on either side as our wolf quietly cried out her woes into my hair. She'd obviously been carrying this bit of pain around with her from the moment she shifted and learned she wouldn't be able to grow and change again. I couldn't imagine myself ever wanting children of my own, but both Leah and Rosalie had had that opportunity taken from them by immortality. I almost wanted to offer to be a surrogate but the thought of my child not being a part of my mates cut that thought off pretty quick.

"Just so we're clear," Leah murmured, face still buried in my hair, "I lost interest in having kids after the whole Sam incident, but being told that the spirits of my people wouldn't allow me the peace of having an imprint has been eating me up inside. And the Pack just glances over it anytime it comes up in packmind, like they can't be bothered to hear me out or give me any kind of comfort. I fucking hate being a part of their Pack. I want to go lone wolf so bad, I just don't know how to break that connection."

"If anyone can do it," Rosalie chuckled into our embrace as we began to pull away slowly, "it's you, pup. You have enough guts and willpower to take me on in a fight; breaking a pack bond should be no issue. And if they try to give you hell over it, they'll have to deal with us."

Leah and Alice looked just as surprised as I felt, though the sentiment was definitely shared between us. The fact that Rosalie was the one to essentially claim the wolf - whether by friendship or our weirdly developing relationship - and talk her up was shocking yet seemed to be exactly what Leah needed to hear as she grabbed my blonde mate and pulled her in to a heated kiss that had both women battling for dominance. It was a kiss of love and desire, but also one of mutual respect and I felt nothing but happiness and pleasure at watching.

Unfortunately, my phone pinging interrupted them as I remembered the pic I'd sent to Lauren. I was still processing the fact that we had all officially made out with Leah at that point when I glanced at Lauren's reply.

Useless Lesbian: 'WHAT THE FUCK, SWAN?! HOW DO YOU DO IT?! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU PULL EVERY GORGEOUS LESBIAN IN THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA?! IT'S NOT FAIR! HOW CAN I COME OUT IF I HAVE NOTHING TO COME OUT TO?!'

'also, I have a nosebleed, thanks you fucking cunt!'

I burst out laughing, passing my phone off as I fell back on the bed as the thought of the incensed blonde getting the same reaction I got to first seeing my mates in those lingerie shots they'd sent me. Served her right for being such a bitch, but I suppose I was going to have to correct her eventually on the idea that Leah was 'taken'. But not before I got in some good hits because I was gonna milk this for all it was worth.

Eventually I got my laughter under control as Leah passed my phone back to me. "So what did this girl do to piss you off enough to want to give her an aneurysm so early in the morning?"

"Ugh!" Alice growled I'm frustration. "Explain it in the shower, because now we have to hurry and fix you two something to eat while you both get washed up! I should have seen this coming, dammit, but we're gonna be late now if you two don't save time and water."

Leah and I shared wide-eyed looks before turning back to my mates. It was Rosalie who walked up to us, grasping our chins as she forced our gazes to meet hers. "Nothing we haven't already allowed, understand girls?"

I swallowed hard at the dominant edge to get voice, nodding quickly in her palm. I couldn't look away from her if I wanted to, her entire demeanor demanding attention. The fact that they were both giving permission - basically demanding - for Leah and I to share a shower together was both arousing and comforting in a confusing way that I was beyond questioning at this point. I realized belatedly that I wanted to share this experience with the other warm-blooded creature, but also promised I was going to get my mates alone in a nice warm bath as soon as possible. I'm sure, knowing their family, they had a hot tub or three in their house.

Alice took over ushering us into the upstairs bathroom, which ironically had the larger shower compared to the downstairs bath, while Rosalie began to dress in whatever immaculate clothing her sister had brought for her. Once we had our clothes set to the side and fresh towels, Alice left us both with a set of kisses that was at once endearing and confusing as she closed the door on her way out. I felt like this was testing another boundary, to see if they could handle Leah and I being alone together in this kind of situation, but I also knew they both trusted us so I was once again drawing question marks.

Eventually, we both just shrugged after an awkward laugh. I turned on the hot water of the shower before turning to Leah. "There's a spare toothbrush under the sink. I brush mine in the shower."

She smiled softly before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips that had me blinking up at her. "Thank you," she murmured, nuzzling her nose against mine in an adorable show of affection. "I'll brush mine out here and join you in a moment."

I nodded, still a little disoriented by her affectionate nature but I suppose it was something I was going to have to get used to. I liked it, don't get me wrong, it's just...my mates weren't here now and this was definitely uncharted territory. This was girlfriend territory, and this was definitely girlfriend affection and I was having trouble relating this with having two adoring mates who meant the world to me. It reminded me of the first time I learned of polyamory and wondering how a person could love so many others without that love losing meaning. I had believed in it, longed for it, but I don't think I had ever understood it until this moment. What I shared with Alice and Rosalie was infinite and passion incarnate. Their love was so all-encompassing that I thought there would be no room for any other, which was counter to my whole ideal of what polyamory should be. But what I felt for Leah was a different kind of love. It was friendship, mixed with passion and devastating attraction. It wasn't my mates, but I didn't want to think of it in terms of 'less' or 'more' with either of them. It was simply different.

And while this thing with Leah might last or it might taper off into platonic friendship in the future, I knew my mates were eternal. And who knew, all four of us were eventually going to be immortal. Who was to say how far and how long love could exist in those kinds of terms? And as Leah climbed into the shower and pressed her warm body into my back, I realized that I would fight for Leah just as hard as I would for my mates, lover or not. Because beyond the physicality of our relationship, she was loved for who she was and not what she could give us and in the end that was all that would matter.

I would always fight for those I loved. And the gods have mercy on anyone who ever tried to tell me my kind of love was 'wrong' or 'broken' in some way ever again.