I think she’s about to stomp her foot when one of her friends says, “we all had such a good time on Friday, Cass. Brit hasn’t stopped talking about your hot tub all weekend.” Brittany’s now smirking at me like she just won something.
“I’m glad everybody had a good time. We’re going out to lunch. See you guys later.” He dismisses them. They’re reluctant to leave, but do. Heads close together looking back repeatedly.
Sniffer rubs his hands together. “Now that the terrible trio are gone, let’s get lunch. I’m starving.”
We end up at a pizza place in the cafe. Sam hasn’t stopped teasing Cass about his new nickname since the girls walked away. They bicker like a married couple; it’s pretty entertaining. After our pizza is gone, I let them know I have to head toward my next class. They offer to walk me. Sniffer tells me I can come to the pack land tomorrow around two, and after, we can grab some dinner or just hang out. He can introduce me to some friends. I let him know either is fine by me. They both walk me all the way to my photography class. “I’ll see ya tomorrow. Text me if you need anything or have a problem finding the place.”
“Thanks guys” I smile and wave. They wait until I’m in the classroom before leaving.
This room is also set up more like a lab. My table mate is a human girl. She has a pretty smile and kind eyes. We don’t talk much, but she seems nice. The teacher gives us a supply list and talks about a few projects we’ll have through the semester. He dismisses us; my classes are done for the day. I head home, glad my first day went so well.
On Tuesday, I’m up early again so I decide to make some oatmeal bars and white chocolate chips cookies to take with me. I’ll give some to Sniffer and use the rest as a peace offering for my ignorance to the Alpha. My GPS tells me it’s about a twenty minute ride so I leave my house at one thirty.
Even though this is a college town, it’s relatively small, so it’s not long before all I see are green rolling hills and too many trees to count. The leaves are just about every shade of red, yellow, orange, and green you can imagine. It’s beautiful.
When my GPS tells me my destination is in one mile, I slow. I get my first look at a large black gate bracketed by a lower black fence. I’ve been following this same fence for the past five miles. The property must be huge. I see someone standing just inside the gate, and as I get closer, I notice it’s Sniffer. I must be getting nervous because the closer I get, my belly tumbles.
“Relax Sophie.” the gate opens and Sniffer walks to the passenger side. Hopping in his says, “I love your jeep. How long have you had it?”
“Yeah, it’s great. I got it the day I turned eighteen, but it was nowhere near the shape it’s in now.” I tell him about all of the work I’ve had done and what else I’d like to do before I’m through. “I’ve been thinking about getting something else to drive through the winter. I hear it’s brutal up here.”
He agrees “That’s probably a good idea; even with the top, it’d still be cold. Maybe a SUV or something?”
He tells me to just follow the road about a mile. “I’ll take you through the pack houses before we head to my brothers.”
“Oh, he doesn’t live with the pack?” I ask curious about their life.
“Yes and no. He has a separate entrance about two miles past the gate we came in, and he has a little over a mile between his house and the pack houses. He needs his space. People forget he’s just a regular person, someone always wants something. This way he has time with the pack and time away.”
“What kind of things do people what from him?”
When I look over at him he’s shoving a whole cookie into his mouth, he smiles. “What? It’s good.” Brushing the crumbs from his hands, he closes the lid and says, “his time mostly, once a month he holds hearing for any disputes or petitions, even blessings for marriages. Sometimes, people just want to suck up to him. They think they’ll get better positions better jobs anything really. When you get to know my brother, you’ll see that he values hard work and loyalty. Suck ups just pisses him off.” He laughs. “I don’t have to share my sweets, do I?”
My lips turn up in a smile. “No, you big baby, those are all yours. I brought him the bigger batch.” I point to the container in the back.
His mouth falls open in outrage. “Nah-uh.” He pouts while looking at the other container to see if it is indeed bigger. I just laugh. It feels wonderful to laugh so much.
I start to see homes dotted here and there, each with enough space so they don’t seem crowded. They’re all a little different; all well kept. It looks like a subdivision just much more spread out.
“Does everyone in the pack live here?” I question.
“No, just those that want to. Anyone in the pack can build here they just have to supply their own materials and build it. Then, they have to contribute to the pack somehow, like run patrols, help watch children for those that work, or even clean the meeting lodge. Everybody helps each other.” I’m pleasantly surprised it seems wonderful. I make sure and tell him so. “Not all packs have it this good, my brothers a very good man.”
“He must be,” I say.
I see what looks like a small grocery store with gas pump out front, a church-like building, and the largest building looks like a giant A frame lodge all windows and wood. As we pass, he tells me it’s their meeting place. They also have a large fire pit in the clearing behind the building, for festivals or ceremonies.
As we pass the last of the houses, I can feel my tummy getting worse. I hope I don’t get sick. Sniffer notices my discomfort; he grabs my hand that’s rubbing my stomach. “Hey listen, it’ll be fine; he’s great. I don’t think anyone else will be there. Well maybe Roxanne, she always wants to be around him.”
“Is she his Mate?”
He quickly shakes his head. “No, thank the moon. He hasn’t found his Mate yet. I hope he does soon. I’m just glad it’s not her.”
By the time we see the house, I think I might throw up. I’m shaking so bad I have to white knuckle the wheel. Please don’t let me puke on the Alphas shoes...or house...or girlfriend.
The house is stunning. It looks like a giant log cabin with wrought iron balconies on the second floor and a wrap around porch across the entire bottom. The roof is green metal that looks new but like it’s been there forever. The large windows don’t seem to be covered. If it was night, I bet I could see right in. We drive up the slight hill the house sits on, and I see a woman in what looks like a ruby red silk robe come out to the porch. I suppose to greet us?
Soon as I stop my jeep, I double over clutching my stomach. “Ahhh no, no, no, no,” I chant. Not here, not now. But, I know what this is. My Mate is somewhere near. I want to scream and rip my hair out, and I want to run as fast as I can to find him. Sniffer is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind so I settle for a whisper, “please Casper, please get me out of here.” I’m in tears, and I don’t even know when that happened. “I can’t do this again. It was so hard last time. I don’t think I’ll survive it again. Please.” I beg.
“What’s wrong Sophia? You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?” I just shake my head; I’m beyond words. A soft keening can be heard, and I realize it’s me, me making that awful noise. “Okay, okay, can you move over? We’ll leave, just crawl over here sweet girl.”
But I can’t move, I’m frozen; I think I’ll shatter if I move. He must know because he pulls me to his side of the jeep. I end on his lap, and he can’t get out from under me. He’s too big; my Jeep’s too small.
My Mate’s scent is all around me. I’m lost so lost I don’t hear the angry growl until the door is ripped open. Two strong arms wrap around my body. I cling to Sniffer, but it no use. I scream as I’m yanked from him. His handsome face is twisted with rage, eyes no longer blue but black as he leaps from his seat. My back meets a chest that’s heaving for breath.
“If you try and take her from me, I will kill you.” His voice shatters the ice, and I’m burning up, on fire so hot there’ll be no
thing left of me, just ash and smoke.
Sniffer stops dead; horror replaces rage. “You! Why?” He spits.
The arms that hold me, turn me. My breasts smash to his hard chest. My feet hang uselessly, and my arms are locked to my sides. I have just enough time to see her, the same woman from that night so many years ago. She’s still standing there, her robe loose now showing a red garter belt, a barely there panty and nothing else.
My face is shoved into his neck. Where I can’t help but inhale his scent. Why? When he throws me away again, how will I make it? My wolf is purring while my head is spinning.
“Mate.” His voice is just as I remember low, raspy, and it soothes me like no sound I’ve ever heard. My mind is shutting down, and I wouldn’t stop it if I could. I need away, away from my heart trying to stitch itself together only to be shredded again. Silence consumes me, and I’m glad.
MASEN
The knock at my door has me looking to the clock at my desk. It’s a quarter to two, Cass must be early. I’m not surprised he wants to spend his day with...? I don’t even know her name.
I make my way from my office to open the front door. Roxanne stands on my porch in a short robe, barely tied at her waist. I never should have told her my plans today.
She’s here because she knows Cass is bringing a new female to join the pack. Trying to stake a claim, she knows there is nothing she can do when I take someone else to my bed. We aren’t together, haven’t been other then sexually in years, but she likes to make the other females think we are. She rubs her thighs together like just the sight of me has her ready. I’m sure it does; we’ve been together countless times over the years her body knows what mine can do to hers.
“Roxanne, I told you when you called I have business today. Why are you here?” Ignoring the edge in my voice, I’m sure she hears.
A shiver of excitement runs down her spine, like I just told her I’m going to bend her over the front porch railing. Maybe she’s not ignoring it after all. I think she is mistaking my anger for passion. Her lips part, eyes dilate as she walks close to me. Her hands go to the white tee shirt stretched over my chest, her nails lightly tracing up and down. She watches her hands and pouts, “Mase, I haven’t seen you since Saturday. I miss you, don’t you miss me?”
Honestly, no, I haven’t. Before I can answer her, my phone I’d left in the office rings. Grabbing her hands, I push them away. “I’m busy. I told you I was busy. Yet you show up here like this.” I point to her state of undress. “I know exactly what you’re up to Roxanne. I told you years ago there is no future for us. I don’t want to hurt you.” That part’s true; I don’t want to hurt her “At one time, I cared very deeply for you. I can’t give you that anymore. If you still have feelings for me, I’m sorry, sorry if you thought it would ever lead to more. I’ve let you get away with this charade for far too long. Stop telling people we are close to a commitment, that someday we will marry. You will never be my Luna. I am truly sorry, but it stops now.” The last words are spoken softly to try and soften the blow, but she hears the finality in my tone.
Her eyes are glossy, and her face is pink. No tears fall. I think she’s more angry than sad. I know she cares for me; she just cares more for what the status of being Luna to one of the largest packs would give her. “What happened to you? You loved me, I know it. You could again if you let yourself.” She is still trying; her voice is soft and sweet, trying to mask the anger I see in her eyes.
My phone starts ringing again. Before I turn to go get it, I answer the only question she asked that matters. “I can’t, and I won’t.”
“Sid,” I say when I pick up.
“Yeah, whoever Cass is bring today has a few of the guys In a stew. Not sure why but even a few of the unMated married fellas are sniffing around.” I hear the worry in his voice “They headed your way?”
Just what I need. “Fuck me, is she close to being in heat?” I ask. No wonder Cass can’t stop talking about her.
“I’m not sure Mase. She smells different somehow, even to me.”
I’m taken back by his response. Sid’s been Mated for a little over a year. He’s barely out the honeymoon stage. “Shit. Okay, yeah they’re headed here. I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.” I hang up as I hear a car coming up the hill. When I walk up to the door, it hangs open, and Roxanne’s on the front porch like some naughty housewife come to greet them. Looks like she’s still trying to run her game.
The white jeep stops and so does my heart. It’s her; dear God it’s her, my Mate after all the years I’ve spent looking for her. She’s sitting in my driveway with my love sick fucking brother, but how? Everything Cass said to me hits me like a bullet. The pain in my chest nearly drops me to my knees. Losing her parents, foster care, alone. Abandoned by her Mate… What have I done!
Her cries break through the fog, and I see her on my brother’s lap. All rational thought is gone. “MINE,” roars my wolf.
Leaping over the porch rails, I rip the door open and grab her from my enraged brother. He jumps from the car and closes in on me. “If you try and take her from me, I will kill you.” I growl.
Realization dawns, and he knows I’m the bastard that ruined this poor girl’s life. He’s rightfully horrified; he doesn’t understand how I could do it. “Mate” I say aloud.
Her tiny body falls limp in my arms, and I want to rip my own throat out. She’ll never forgive me. My wolf doesn’t care she passed out. He wants what’s his. Mark now, can’t leave us, he says. I almost do it. I’m so close my face is buried behind her ear. Her scent is intoxicating. The only thing that stops me is the look on Casper’s face. Like, he knows what I’m about to do, and he’s disgusted with me.
“I didn’t know. I’ll fix it.” I implore him to believe me. “I didn’t know little one, please forgive me.” A few tears leak out before I can stop them.
Cass finally speaks. “Why?” is all he says.
“I’ll explain everything I can Cass I promise,” I say defeated.
I turn to carry her to our home when I see Roxanne still as a statue staring at me holding her. The tears she held before now fall freely from her lashes. Now, it’s real. She knows I’ll never again be hers. So much has happened I can’t even feel bad for her.
“You were here, with her,” Cass sneers at Roxanne, “while she was alone?”
“Casper please let me get her comfortable. I’ll explain. It’s not what you think.” I’m exhausted. I’d like to lock us both in my room and make her understand why I left her, but my brother knows her. My wolf doesn’t like the sound of that.
“Roxanne you need to leave. Don’t come back without permission again.” I see the hurt in her eyes.
She tries to recover, “Mase, what’s going on I can help.”
“If you think your fuck buddy is still gonna be coming around, then hand her over now, and we’ll leave. You won’t ever have to see either of us again,” Casper says angrily.
That’s all it takes for my tenuous hold to brake. I pull her soft body even closer to mine “She is MY MATE! MINE! You will not be taking her anywhere. I’m trying very hard not to break your arms and legs for touching her, let alone having her on your lap. If you say another word about her, I don’t know if I will stop myself from doing it... Do you get me?” I’ve used my Alpha tone I hope he knows how serious I am. He drops his head submissively. “I know she’s your friend. I know you care..., for her. I will tell you how this happened, but please don’t test me again brother.” I add a little gentler.
I want to put her in my bed, but I know that’s not the right move, yet. So, I take her to the living room and lay her on the sofa. She’s so tiny; she can’t be much more than five foot tall, her long chestnut hair hangs almost to the floor. I pick it up and smooth it down her side. I felt her curves against me when I held her, wide hips, smaller waist, soft belly, and full breasts. Her face is flawless with tiny, light brown freckles dotting her high cheeks and small pert nose. Her lips are a full
dusky pink, slightly parted as she breathes. I know when she opens her eyes they’ll be a honeyed amber framed by long dark lashes. She’s breathtaking. It kills me that I could have lost her. God, I hope I haven’t.
I sit next to her hip on the couch. I need to touch her, to make sure she’s real, she’s here. I don’t want to explain myself to Cass, but she knows him, possibly trusts him. Maybe he’ll help me explain it to her.
Stroking her lovely face, I tell him, “this might be hard for you to believe, but everything I’m going to tell you is true. Michael is the only other person that knows. I met my Mate five years ago, almost exactly five years ago.”
Cass’s brow is drawn in confusion head tilted to the side he utters, “I don’t understand. You met Sophia...Five years ago?”
“Yes, I did. Has she told you how old she is Cass?”
He takes a few seconds to think. “Yeah, she said Saturday was her birthday; she turned nineteen.”
“Do you understand what that means, Casper? She was only fourteen when we found each other, fourteen, still a child. She hadn’t even shifted yet. I don’t understand how I knew she was my mate. I’d never heard, shit, I still haven’t heard of a Mate being found before their first shift. Michael and I have scrubbed every text we can find and nothing, no mention of under age Mates...ever.”
He shakes his head in disbelief. “Holy shit man, that’s crazy.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “Believe me, I know! I followed her and her parents home that night. Found out everything I could about them. Her dad was a local doctor; her mom stayed at home with her or worked with her husband at his practice. They had lived in the same town, same house for thirteen years. She was loved and well taken care of. So I did what I thought was right. I came home and waited. I waited three years before going back. I know now that was wrong. At the time, I just wanted her to grow up, have time with her parents. I was afraid if I saw her again I’d make her parents bring her here, where she would constantly wait to shift so I could claim her. That would probably scare a child. I wanted her to be old enough to understand. I thought I was doing the right thing giving her time.”
Becoming His Page 4
