Sharon’s POV:
“Put me down, asshole!” I screamed, ignoring the beautiful tingles I felt as my mate walked upstairs.
I couldn’t believe he was treating me like this!
“August! Save me!” I screamed through our mindlink when he walked into a room.
Immediately, he put me down. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face without thinking.
Fear washed over me when he stood still, without moving an inch or reacting.
What was he? My slap was meant to inflict pain on him, yet he acted as if it was nothing.
“I… I…” I stuttered.
“Relax, I won’t hurt you. I just want us to talk,” he whispered softly, while he moved his hand to his cheek and gently rubbed it.
I frowned and took a step back when my wolf growled at me furiously.
She had hated him a second ago, but now she was hating on me for hitting him.
“I’m really sorry, but if I did something you didn’t like outside, I won’t do it again. So please be at ease,” he said softly, then dropped his hand.
My heart was hurting badly.
Why was he being like this?
He was acting as if he had no idea what the problem was, when he knew! He was even playing it off by being nice.
“I also want to apologize to you for the state that I’m in. It has been a long time since I had sex, so I’m weak to advances,” he said.
“What the hell!” I screamed out in anger.
Did he think his messed up excuse was enough to make me forgive him?
“When a she-wolf offered to give me head half an hour ago, I willingly accepted. Not that I was going to have sex with her, but to have release. I had no idea that this would be the day I meet you, my mate. I’m terribly sorry,” he said as I stared at him speechlessly.
I had no idea whether to react to how honest he was or how pathetic he was.
“Listen to him. He could tell that we are an omega, yet his tone is full of respect. And let’s not forget that some warriors are proud to the point of never apologizing, yet he is doing just that for us. He is a man, and in our pack before the alpha queen took over, men took to bed any she-wolf they wanted. Him being honest with us should be more than enough, and our slap would have pissed him off, yet he is still here,” my wolf said in a sad tone.
“Sharon,” he called softly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“I know my actions are horrible and that they did hurt you badly. I’m sorry. I have seen how my alpha and most of my friends acted with pride upon meeting their mates, and that almost led them to being rejected. I don’t want to take that route. That’s why I want to make us work no matter what. You can take your time to think about everything. It would be good if you can give me a chance too, even as a friend. As long as you forgive me and don’t hate me,” he said as my wolf purred happily.
“I have…”
“A man, I know. He made sure to warn me off,” he said with a pained smile.
“Tell him the truth before your lies hurt him and escalate,” my wolf growled loudly.
I sighed softly, feeling defeated by her words.
“No. He is not my man, and that’s not what I wanted to say,” I said slowly as he looked at me with astonishment.
“He just kissed me to help me out,” I admitted.
He walked past me and went to a desk behind me.
I turned and watched as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and pulled off the lid, taking a mouthful of the liquid.
He swallowed, then sighed heavily.
“Ah, fuck. Kine and I were scared to death. I had to put up a front so as not to break down in tears,” he said softly, then looked at me with a wide smile.
“I’m relieved,” he said seriously as he blinked back the forming tears. I could feel the sincerity in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered honestly.
I didn’t have to apologize, yet I wanted to.
He put the bottle back, then moved closer and held both of my hands in his as the tingles spread throughout my body.
“You don’t have to apologize for anything,” he said as I smiled.
“It’s funny how I now understand and feel what the twins felt. Back then, I thought they were being lame in acting so in love with a stranger who was their mate. But now that I feel the same way, I really do understand their actions,” he said as my heart fluttered.
I was happy that we were talking and trying to know about each other, but that didn’t mean I was going to stay here.
“I have a pack,” I whispered sadly.
He smirked, then moved his hand to my cheek.
“I know,” he whispered back, then wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.
I inhaled his scent and closed my eyes, loving every moment that was passing by. Although the disgusting scent of sex was slowly diminishing, it still made me feel uneasy.
But smelling past that disgusting scent was his. His scent was so unique because it smelled like a campfire and lavender.
“Sharon!” August called loudly outside, making me pull back quickly.
Logan angrily looked at the door, then back at me.
“He is still my beta,” I whispered to assure him.
August was here because he was only concerned.
“Enter,” he responded.
The door opened, and August walked in.
He looked at me from head to toe, as if to check if I was injured in any way, before looking at my mate.
“I hope you are done with your little talk,” he said.
I was about to respond when Logan beat me to it.
“For now, and so you know, my mate and I have talked through a few things, and we have come to an understanding. So from now on, I don’t want you to act as if you are her lover. She told me about your little act, which I have decided to overlook, but when you do it again, it won’t end well,” he said as August looked at me coldly for a second, then laughed softly.
“I see, no one can win against the mate bond, is it?” he asked, then extended his hand towards him.
“I’m called August, and I serve directly under Whitney and Leomord,” he said as Logan hesitated but shook his hand.
“I’m Logan, Ian’s lead warrior,” he answered, then dropped his hand.
“Now that we have introduced ourselves, let’s go downstairs where the others are so we can discuss a few things,” he said as Logan looked at the man who was at the door with his back towards us.
“Fine, but before I go, I want to overwrite something,” he said.
“What?” August asked.
“The kiss,” he answered, then grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. Before I could do anything, his lips brushed against mine.
Instantly, I opened my mouth to let him in, feeling my knees weaken.
My mind went blank as all I could taste and feel was him. My mate.