First Beginnings (5 page)

Sarah couldn’t help but try and
blink the tears away.
Mistake?
The hottest sex of her life and he
thought he had made a
mistake
!

‘Sarah, that’s not what I meant,’
he said quickly. ‘Wait… where are you going?’ Seth watched her head to the back
door.

‘Just going to see Callie,’ she
replied. ‘You must be Logan,’ she added, looking at his brother. ‘Nice to meet
you! I'm Sarah. The mistake.’ She knew she sounded childish, but she couldn’t
help it. That one word had sliced straight through her and she didn’t want to
hang about to hear the rest of the conversation. Yet, she couldn’t understand
her disappointment. She knew she would be going home, back to her normal life,
and that was what she wanted, right?

‘Sarah, wait!’

‘Let her go, man,’ said Logan.
‘She needs to cool off and speak to her BFF about what an arsehole you are.’

‘I hope,’ said Seth, ‘when you
meet your mate, you’re just as much of an idiot as I am. I didn’t mean it like
that. I wanted her to trust me, take things slow. But when she kissed me back…
man oh man, I couldn’t hold back.’

‘Cant blame you, brother. That is
one hot piece of ass.’

‘Do not refer to my mate like
that. Go get your own mate!’

Logan let out a whistle. ‘Can’t
wait, man. I just know my mate is going to be one hot she-wolf. When I find
her, I'm going to claim her, there and then, so there’ll be no doubt she’s
mine.’ Logan pushed his huge frame out of the chair and headed towards the
front door.

‘Yeah, well I hope your mate will
be some hag that can’t stand to look at your ugly face.’

‘Never going to happen, Seth. See
you later – and good luck with your mate.’

Seth made his way to the back
door, stepping outside to go find his mate. However, he stopped short when he
saw her sitting on the swing by the tree in his garden.

Chapter Eleven

He walked slowly towards her, but
made sure he made enough noise so as not to frighten her.

‘Sarah, I'm sorry about what you
heard,’ he said gently. ‘I didn’t mean a mistake like you think. I only meant
that I shouldn’t have taken you like an animal, up against the wall, for our
first time.’ He crouched down on his haunches before her and took both her
hands in his. He could tell she had been crying and felt like a total tosser
for making his mate feel that way.

‘I know,’ replied Sarah. ‘I kind
of figured that out. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. It’s just that I’ve
always had a plan in my life. A clear goal of where I want to be. But then, in
a blink, it’s all changed and now I don't know what I want.’

‘Sarah, I could make you happy
here, but I would also follow you wherever you wanted to go. You are my mate.
The one soul made just for me. I'm lucky to have found you, even though the
circumstances at the time were bad.’ Seth cupped her cheek with his hand and
she closed her eyes, tilting her head as if to get closer. ‘I’m 220 years old,’
he continued, ‘and felt like I have waited for you my entire existence, but
somehow I couldn’t wait two more minutes to get you to a bed. I'm sorry. I
really wanted you to trust me and feel safe with me.’

‘Is that what you think?’ she
asked. ‘That I don't trust you?’ Opening her eyes, she looked straight at him
and covered his hand with hers. ‘Seth, for some reason, I feel safe with you
and, for the first time in my life, I finally feel at home. I can’t explain it,
but I trust you to never hurt me. Your trust was never in question.’

‘Then what is it, sweetness?’ The
use of her nickname brought a smile to her lips.

‘I’ve known you less than two
days, and already my lifetime dreams seem not to matter anymore. It’s like I
want to crawl inside you and never leave.’

‘Then don't,’ replied Seth.
‘Leave, I mean. How about we go out? You and me, on a real date. I want to get
to know you, Sarah. I already know you’re mine, but I also need to explain some
things to you that you may not understand. Things like pack ways and the
mating.’ Her eyes began to well up again, but Seth continued. ‘I also want to
hear about your dreams and your life before you came to Penn Lake Island. I
want to get to know you and for you to get to know me. What do you say?’

‘Okay,’ said Sarah. ‘I don't know
what your brother packed for me, so not sure whether I can do a fancy
restaurant. Why don't we get something to eat here and talk?’

‘Because,’ replied Seth,
grinning, ‘if I have to sit in all evening with you wearing my clothes I can
guarantee we won’t be talking.’ Without another word, Sarah stood up from the
swing and headed toward the house. Shit, he had done it again! He couldn’t
think straight around her; the urge to mate her rode him hard.

She turned her head and he saw a
mischievous twinkle in her eye. ‘I'm all for staying in, then,’ she said as she
sashayed to his back door.

He rubbed his hands over his face
and stood up. He loved the fact his mate had a wicked sense of humour; it would
maybe balance out his harshness. As pack alpha, he knew he had
responsibilities, but he also knew she would make a wonderful alpha female at his
side. He also hoped she’d understand that, when they mated, she would turn into
a wolf on the next full moon. He couldn’t wait to see her wolf, to hunt with
his mate by his side. He was going to woo her so she would never want to leave
him and return to the human world. He followed her inside and, before she could
bend down to pick up the case Logan had packed, he took hold of it.
Let the
wooing commence
, he thought.

‘Where shall I put my things?’
Sarah asked coyly. ‘I'm sure you don't want to be kicked out of your room for
good.’ She saw the disappointment in his face. ‘I mean, I'm all for staying
here, but I don't mind taking the couch.’

‘You will not be sleeping on the
couch, sweetness.’

‘Well, I can’t stay in
your
room, as you’ll need it.’

‘That’s kind of the point of you
staying here, my mate,’ replied Seth, hesitantly.

‘Look,’ said Sarah, ‘I know I
said I trust you and want to get to know you better, but you were right about
what happened earlier being a mistake. Not like that, but I can’t set up house
with you when I don't know you. You have to give me time. I'm sorry it’s not
what you want, and if this is making you uncomfortable then I'm sure I can stay
with Hope and Callie.’

Angrily, Seth slammed the door
open in his bedroom and threw her bag on the bed. ‘You are not leaving this
house. You are my mate and you belong here with me, sweetness, and you sure as
hell are not sleeping on the couch. I’ll sleep down there for now. But make no
mistake – it’s a short-term thing.’ He hadn’t realised he’d raised his voice
until he saw his mate flinch. ‘Sweetness…’ He reached for her, but she backed
away.

‘
I am not your sweetness!
’
shouted Sarah. ‘My name is Sarah and if I want to stay with Callie I’ll damn
well stay with her. I haven’t agreed to be your mate and I
do
have a say
in how my life goes. You Neanderthal!’ She stamped her foot and folded her arms
across her chest, raising an eyebrow at him as if daring him to question her
outburst. For a few moments, he just stood there looking at her.

‘Fine,’ he replied, ‘but I
am
taking you out tonight and you
will
stay here with me. On that I am not
moving.’ He turned around and left Sarah standing there, shocked at his
behaviour.

Seth found himself walking to
Callie’s house, wanting to talk to his mate’s best friend to find out the best
way to approach this situation with Sarah. Normally, when a wolf met its mate,
they were instantly attracted to each other; but, with Sarah being a human and
not feeling the mating urge like he did, she wouldn’t understand the pain it
caused him every time he touched her. The need he felt to take her in his arms
and mark her for all to see. Shit, he needed to get his head out of his arse
and stop flying off the handle every time she stood up to him.

Rounding the corner to Hope’s
single-storey house, he saw Logan striding towards him with a murderous look on
his face.

‘What’s crawled up your ass?’ 

Logan shoved passed him. ‘Fuck
off, Seth.’

‘Logan, what the fuck?’ Seth was
rubbing his shoulder, but Logan just kept going. Fuck that. He wanted respect,
so he gathered his alpha strength and shouted to Logan.

‘Stop, brother. What is the
matter?’

Logan stopped, his shoulders
sagging slightly and his fists clenched by his side. ‘I'm sorry, Seth. I just
need to get out of here. I can’t be around her. I just can’t.’

‘Who? Callie? Why, what’s the
matter? What’s upset you so much?’ As Seth asked his final question, Logan
turned round, his eyes glowing amber with rage.

‘I'm pretty sure she’s my mate,’
he replied.

‘What? That’s great, man,’ replied
Seth, but then checked himself. ‘Oh, let me guess. She didn’t take it so well?
You can’t blame her – you look like a linebacker and mean as a bear.’ He
chuckled to himself.

Logan didn’t look so amused.
‘You’re kidding, right? I’ve just told you she is my mate and you think she
didn’t take it well!’

‘Callie’s great.’

‘Then you fucking mate the
heifer!’ Logan turned to walk off again, but Seth grabbed his arm to stop him.
Logan tried to pull his arm free, but Seth wouldn’t let go.

‘What did you just say?’ he said
angrily. ‘You fucking prick. You’re honestly angry because Callie is your mate
and she doesn’t meet up to your perfect Barbie expectations? You self-centred
bastard! And keep your voice down – she can hear you from here.’

‘I don't care if she can hear
me,’ retorted Logan. ‘There is no way I'm mating with her. Now, let me go.’ He
tugged himself free and strode off toward the marina. Seth knew he was going to
the bar to find solace in a bottle of beer or two. Shit, so Callie was his
mate, but Logan wasn’t keen. Ok, so that was putting it mildly, but he couldn’t
believe Logan would react that way about Callie’s size. Sure, she was bigger
than the girls he brought home, but she wasn’t fat and she was stunningly
beautiful and had saved his mate’s life. He stood looking at is brother’s
retreating back before he turned around and walked to Hope’s house.

Callie was sitting at the table,
her fingers laced in her lap, looking down at the cup of coffee in front of
her.

‘Callie, you ok?’ She snapped her
head up, startled at the sound of Seth’s voice. Her eyes were red from where
she had been crying. He had never wanted to beat the living hell out of Logan
so much. ‘Callie, what did Logan do? It’s ok, you can tell me.’

‘Sorry, Seth,’ she replied,
immediately standing up. ‘I didn’t hear you come in. I was just thinking about
something. Would you like a coffee?’

‘Callie, sit down. I’ll grab my
own coffee. I want you to tell me what Logan said.’ He walked over to the
cupboard and reached for a cup, ready to pour his coffee out.

‘Nothing…’ replied Callie. ‘I
mean, he said I needed to go back to the house to confirm the scent of the
wolf. I'm okay with that, but I don't think...’ She stopped and worried her
bottom lip with her teeth. ‘I don't think he was too happy about taking me
there.’

‘I’m the alpha and if I tell him
to go, he will go,’ said Seth firmly. ‘He is to protect you with his life,
brother or no brother. He also told me he was your mate. Callie, what is it?’
He paused as he saw a tear run down her cheek.

‘I...’

‘Oh my god!’ Seth turned round suddenly
at the sound of Sarah’s voice. ‘Not only do you have to bully me into
submission, but you have to start on Callie as well.’ She rushed to her
friend’s side and wrapped her arms around her.

‘No, Sarah, it wasn’t Seth’s
fault,’ replied Callie. ‘Something just happened and I got upset about it. It’s
stupid and nothing to worry about, I promise. Seth was just asking me to return
to our home, so I can confirm the wolf scent is the same as the wolf that
attacked us. We will be leaving soon.’

‘But won’t that be dangerous? You
told me we couldn’t go home, that he may be waiting for us. Seth, you can’t let
her go back. Please.’ Sarah looked at him with such pleading eyes that he knew
he would give her anything he wanted if she asked.

‘Sweetness,’ he said, ‘she will
be safe. Brandon and Logan will be going with her. I promise, no harm will come
to her and she will return safely back to the island. I met Logan out the front
and he told me he and Callie were mates. I think he may have been upset that
I'm putting Callie in danger and took off, but I’ll speak to him about it.’

Inwardly, Seth was confused about
the whole Logan and Callie situation. Being mates meant they were supposed to
be made for each other, like two souls coming together. However, Logan had clearly
been against the idea of mating Callie. Fuck, two days ago his own life had
been peaceful and uneventful, but now he had a mate who wasn’t sure how she
felt about him and a brother who hated the thought of being with his own mate.

‘Callie,’ said Sarah, ‘you and
Logan mates!’ She smiled at Callie. ‘Oh my goodness, that’s great! He’s so hot
and huge. Yay for you, girl!’ Sarah’s smile was so wide that Seth’s heart hurt
a little for her at the thought of having to admit to her what Logan had said.
He was pretty sure that, had she been a wolf, she would rip Logan’s arms off
and beat him with them.

‘Sarah, please don’t,’ replied
Callie with some sadness. ‘It’s not like that. Logan wasn’t happy with being
saddled with me for a mate. Please, just leave it. I’ll sort out the problem
from home and make it safe so I can return when I'm ready to. I'm just going to
grab some shoes and I’ll be ready to go.’ With that, she pulled herself from
Sarah's embrace and left the kitchen. Sarah looked to Seth for answers and, when
he held out his arms, she willingly went into them, as if she had been doing so
for years.

‘Seth, what... what she said
about Logan. Was it true? I thought you said that mates were attracted to each
other, like an urge that’s hard to control. So why would he feel that way? I
thought you guys wanted mates?’ Seth looked down at his own mate.

‘Sweetness, it’s not always so
easy. Sometimes, as men, we don't always think with our head and are ruled by
other parts of us.’ He was trying to explain as diplomatically as he could for
fear she would explode. ‘However, Logan can’t seem to think of Callie in that
way.’

‘Why not?’

‘Umm... because he likes a
certain kind of woman.’ He felt her stiffen and he braced himself for the
impact.

‘He
what
! You mean, he
shot her down because he doesn’t like the way she
looks
? Oh fuck, no. No
one, and I mean, no one – freakishly huge wolf man or not – gets to dismiss
Callie just because she’s not a size zero bimbo. She’s the best person I know
and would make anyone a perfect mate.’ By now, Sarah had pulled away from his
arms and was pacing up and down. ‘You need to put this right. I will
not
lose my best friend to an arrogant egotistical wolf. There is no choice – it’s
her all the way. She goes, I go!’

‘I’ll speak to him, I promise,’
replied Seth. ‘I agree, Callie would make a perfect mate to a wolf, but I don't
know what was said. But first, we need to sort out this problem of the wolf
that attacked you, and then we can solve the problem of Callie and Logan.’

Just then, Callie walked back
into the room. She held her head high. ‘There is no problem,’ she said,
obviously having overheard Seth’s last comment. ‘As soon as he scented I was
his mate, he flipped. Said I couldn’t be his mate and that the gods wouldn’t be
so cruel. I wasn’t his ideal picture – that he couldn’t even think about mating
someone who looked like me.’ Although she tried to remain strong, her eyes
began to fill with tears.