Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 274: The Eve of Battle

*Trisha*

I can feel Damon’s pain. It must have been so hard for him to watch his father slowly deteriorate into this state when he didn’t understand what was happening. I don’t know anything about his past yet. We haven’t even had time to talk, but I look in his eyes and see the ache in his soul.

We still don’t have time to talk. My kingdom is already under attack. Even with Damon temporarily in charge, there’s nothing he can do.

We stand around for a few moments letting the news sink in. I want to go home and warn everyone, and I want to do something to stop people from fighting. They have to know that they’ve been led by a man who was poisoned into madness. But I remember how long it took to get here by ship, and I know that even if I leave today, I won’t get there for weeks, and by then, it will be too late.

But apparently, my Alphas have been doing more than just absorbing the shocking news.

“The pilot will meet us there,” Alessandro says.

“We don’t have time to pack anything,” Braden chimes in. “I don’t know what we’re going to need.”

“There are stores in Dark Forest,” Damon says. He looks at me. “Right?”

“What? Yes, stores….”

Recognition flashes in my mind. They’d said pilot.

They had a plane.

“The Council is waiting for us in the main hall,” Damon adds.

“The who?” But no one answers me as they all start moving, and Damon takes my hand.

“We’ll explain on the way,” he says.

He starts to pull me because my legs don’t quite move right away, but seconds later, I’m running with my Alphas down the castle hallways. We reach a giant room where a couple of older men are standing. We walk up to them, not saying anything.

I realize that they’re just leaving me out of the conversation. ‘Want to let me in on it?’ I ask Damon in the mind-link, and seconds later it’s like a floodgate opens because I hear the entire conversation between these men, my Alphas, and some other people who are apparently running to get to the room as quickly as they can.

This is their kingdom’s High Council, and this is Damon’s coronation ceremony.

The healer and the Beta speak in the open mind-link, the former verifying that the current Alpha King is mentally incapacitated and the latter agreeing that Alpha King Roland can no longer perform his duties.

A woman runs into the room, followed by a man, and they take their place next to the older men we’d been waiting with. Other people follow who look like servants, and one is carrying a large gold box.

“We’re ready to begin,” one of the men says. He looks like the oldest. He turns and looks at Damon. “Prince Damon Barlowe, it has come to the attention of this Council that your father, Alpha King Roland Barlowe, is unable to perform his duties as Alpha King of Green Mountain. In accordance with our laws, with agreement from the entire Council, the Alpha King’s Beta, and the royal healer, we may pass the torch to you. All in favor?”

One by one, the Council members say, “Aye.”

The healer and Beta Kurt say the same in the open mind-link.

“By the power afforded us by the laws of Green Mountain and with guidance from the Goddess, we pronounce you Alpha King Damon Barlowe.”

The man with the box steps forward, and the Council member pulls out a crown, which he places on Damon’s head followed by an emerald-green sash that goes from his shoulders to his hip, and a pin that he attaches to his collar.

Damon bows his head and says, “Accepted.” He takes off the crown and sash and puts them back in the box just seconds later, keeping the pin.

“Now, please go stop this crazy war,” the old man says.

Damon nods and takes my hand again, and we all rush out of the castle and into a large SUV.

“Wow,” Alessandro says as we settle in and the driver takes off. “Are you all right, man?”

“Yeah,” Damon says. “I know he’ll be okay. He’s been drinking that tea for a long time. It’s going to take a while for all that to undo itself. I trust Kurt. They’ve been friends for years.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I say. I don’t know that for sure, but I have a feeling the antidote will work.

He takes my hand and squeezes it. I feel a pleasant spark of electricity run up my arm, and I realize that I haven’t had any time at all to be physical with my mates.

I’ve heard all the stories about it. People see their mates for the first time across a crowded room, and all they want to do is touch each other. They kiss, and they can’t pull away. They end up with the man sweeping the woman off her feet and carrying her off where they can be alone, making mad, passionate love for days on end without coming up for air.

All I’ve had is a hug and hand holding, and I have three mates.

We have a lot to make up for.

But I feel a little guilty because my other two mates are sitting across from me, facing us, and I can’t give them the same physical contact.

Alessandro seems to read my mind because he’s suddenly in it–in a private mind-link. ‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘We’ll all have a chance to be with you. Right now, Damon is the one who needs the most support.’

I smile at Alessandro and he smiles back. I squeeze Damon’s hand and feel his body relaxing.

We reach the airport quickly and drive right up to the plane on the runway. It doesn’t look like this place is used often, but I suppose since no one wants to fly to Dark Forest or other kingdoms, there isn’t much call for one this big. I notice several small planes around that look like they’ve been used more for local trips.

We’re already in our seats, which are more like sofas in the huge private plane, when a sudden mind-link opens. Damon is talking to the pilot, and since they’re mid-conversation, he apparently just remembered to include me. The man sounds excited, and he says we’re ready to go.

It’s a smooth takeoff, and soon we’re up at altitude.

“This will take all night,” Damon says. “There’s a bed in the back. You should go get some sleep, Trisha.”

“Go with her,” Braden says. “You need the rest just as much as she does.”

“I agree,” Alessandro says. He looks at me. “We’ll each have plenty of time with you. Tonight, it’ll be Damon’s turn, okay?”

I nod, thankful that I’m finally going to have some time to relax with one of them at least. We stand and hold hands as he leads me back to the private bedroom in the rear of the plane.

I’ve never been with a man. I’ve never even kissed one, unless you count the boy back in third grade that I kissed on the cheek on a dare.

Damon seems to sense that I’m not experienced in this sort of thing as he moves exceedingly gently and takes his time.

He starts by kissing me gently as we sit on the bed beside each other. His scent, which was making me angry only a few days ago, is now so irresistible I can taste it on him. I learn quickly why people enjoy kissing so much, and I get an even better thrill when he introduces his tongue. I part my lips for him, and it feels so natural to just let my tongue dance with his.

In a few minutes, he leans me back, lifting me slightly, effortlessly, so I’m more in the middle of the bed, and my head is on the pillow.

We get back to kissing, and I can’t get enough of it. I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer, and now I feel his right hand running up and down my side, settling on my hip. The feeling of his hands so close to my core gives me a warm sensation that rushes up my spine.

I can feel the thrill of my wolf as he touches me–my mate. No one has ever mentioned it before, but having my wolf feels like there is a distinct personality inside me, my most base, animalistic desires, and right now, she’s awakened in the presence of her mate.

I moan as his hands reach to unzip my jeans and I help him along, slipping out of them and my panties at once. I don’t want to waste a single second. Hearing his low moan, I know Damon approves.

His fingers migrate to my pussy at once, stroking it with light, circular motions as he plays in my juices. I spread my legs wide as he explores me. Every stroke of his fingers causes pleasant shivers and makes me even wetter.

He reaches up with his other hand under my shirt, and I quickly pull it up over my head. I don’t bother with the bra because he has unclasped it already and pushed it up for access to my nipples, which he plays with while his other hand continues to stroke me down below.

He stops after a moment and moves on top of me, giving me a gentle kiss and stroking my hair. He takes his clothes off but stops to look into my eyes before he goes farther.

“I’ll be gentle.”

I nod as I spread my legs even farther apart, and I feel him pushing inside me. I expect it to hurt and prepare myself, but it doesn’t. He’s huge, and I have no idea how he’s fitting inside me, but once he pushes past a certain spot, it feels like heaven, like I’m finally complete. It’s the most intense physical and emotional experience I’ve ever had.

It’s so clear that we’re made for each other. After I get used to it, I match his stroke, pushing out against him as he’s pushing in.

“Harder,” I say, and he obliges, picking up our rhythm, stroking me harder and faster.

Something changes. A new, intense feeling emerges, and I start to cry out. It feels like going over the edge, and I feel him stiffen even more just before we both explode, and a warm sensation washes over me.

We continue to cling to each other, our hearts pounding in sync and slowing together as our breathing gradually returns to normal.

I must have passed out because I wake up in what seems like just a few moments to kisses from a fully dressed Damon.

“We land in ten minutes, beautiful,” he says.

* * *

*Ethan*

We don’t even head to the castle. We just reroute the entire convoy of warriors, minus the ambulances and prisoner transports, toward the port.

From what my father has told us, soldiers are pouring in from a fleet of ships flying the Green Mountain colors. No one has heard from anyone in Green Mountain for generations, but apparently, now they have a whole army attacking out of nowhere.

All my dads are scrambling with their allies to meet us there and fight. We all check in through the mind-link.

Matthew reports our position to our dads from the car in front of us. ‘Ethan and I are five minutes out.’

‘We’re twenty minutes out,’ my father Eli says. ‘But I have a big team ready.’

My other dads report in after him.

‘My troops are heading in from the south,’ Tristan says. ‘I’m guessing fifteen minutes.’

‘Ten minutes for my team,’ Mark chimes in. ‘Ethan and Matthew, it looks like you’ll be there first. Assess the situation. If it’s too much for the warriors you have, especially after you handled the issue at the marketplace, hold back until the rest of us get there.’

I look at Rylee and wish she wasn’t with me. She’d done well holding her own during the marketplace attack, but everything in my being is screaming for her to be as far away from danger as she can be. I know that’s a combination of my love for her and the mate bond, which I realize makes me overprotective.

But I know she’s a strong woman. I know she wants to help and I need to trust that she will be careful.

That’s easier said than done.

Rylee squeezes my hand. “We’ve got this.”