August’s POV:
HATE!
That was what I felt with each and every loving interaction that happened between Sharon and Logan. I wasn’t jealous that they were together, or at least that’s what I thought. Instead, I was angry because I had no mate.
“Focus!” Neo’s loud voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Can we rest for a bit? I’m very tired,” I whispered, then brushed the sweat off my forehead with my hand.
“You know in our pack, we don’t get to rest until we are told to by a lead warrior or a Beta,” Neo said, and I looked at him coldly.
Was he forgetting that I was a Beta, or was he just being sarcastic?
“First of all, I am a Beta, and secondly, this is not my pack. Now, excuse me, I’ll be retiring to my room,” I answered, then walked to the pack house.
I couldn’t understand why Whitney and Leo had not called me yet. I knew it was their wedding, but they were supposed to come back home as soon as the wedding was done! Were they planning on making me stay here for a few weeks? If that was the case, then I was going to go back with or without their approval.
I entered the pack house and quickly went to my room. Once I was in, I reluctantly threw myself on the bed.
“It sucks,” I whispered, then closed my eyes.
“How are you doing?” Sharon asked through our mind link.
“Horrible,” I answered honestly.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is it because the training is hard?” she asked as I opened my eyes.
Ever since we came here, we talked a few times a day and learned a few things about each other, getting somehow closer.
“Where are you?” I asked calmly.
“I’m helping out at the clinic. Toni is teaching me about herbs,” she answered.
I sat upright and looked at my hands, thinking hard about whether to go ahead and say what I wanted to say or not.
“August, what’s the matter?” she asked.
“I want to see you,” I whispered softly, then immediately wished she had heard nothing.
“Give me a minute, I’ll be right there,” she answered.
I brushed my hand through my hair, not knowing why I had done that. It was as if something had come over me.
Not so long ago, I wanted nothing to do with her. Heck, I still felt like I wanted nothing to do with her. Sadly, I was lonely, and talking to her made me feel somehow better.
I threw myself back on the bed and raised my hand in the air, looking at my fingers.
“She is mated, and her mate would aim to kill me if I were to get closer to her,” I muttered to myself.
“Stay away from Sharon,” my wolf warned me strongly.
“Oh, and he now talks,” I mocked him, then quickly sat upright when the door opened and Sharon entered.
She closed the door behind her and faced me with a smile.
“I’m here, Beta. So what’s going on?” she asked simply as she moved closer.
“You seem awfully cheerful,” I pointed out.
“Of course I am,” she answered, then sat at the edge of the bed.
“Who in their right mind wouldn’t be? I’m learning new things every day, and my mate is doing all he can to make me feel comfortable,” she answered, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
I didn’t have to ask because it was evident through her actions how much she wanted to be with the guy.
“Sharon,” I called softly.
She turned and faced me with a serious expression.
“I was thinking,” I whispered, then moved closer and sat opposite her.
“If we receive a call to go back home, will you come with me?” I asked seriously.
She instantly averted her gaze and remained silent.
Her answer was clear even in silence.
She was going to stay back, and that hurt my heart a bit.
“I see, so you have chosen to stay back with him,” I whispered sadly.
“August, in our pack, there is no one waiting for me. Whitney and Leomord are kind, but I know they would want me to be happy. Here, I can be with my mate and help out with the pack. To be honest, I thought of leaving the first day I met my mate, but then my mind changed the very next day because I realized how happy I am here,” she answered, and I felt my heart ache.
“Well then, it looks like I’ll be going back alone,” I said in a low tone, then forced a smile on my face.
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow because something came up. I will talk to Neo today and let him know, so don’t worry about anything. I’ll also explain everything to Leo and Whitney once they have returned,” I said sadly.
“Thank you, August. I really appreciate your care and concern,” she answered.
“Sharon, can I ask you for a favor?” I asked.
“Of course, anything,” she answered.
“May I hold you for just a minute?” I asked seriously.
She quickly turned and looked at me with a stunned expression.
“What?” she asked in disbelief.
“I said, may I hug you just once before I leave?” I repeated.
“Um… okay,” she answered in a hesitant tone.
Thank you,” I whispered, then got on my knees and leaned forward, wrapping my arms around her.
The warmth I felt made me recall my past. While I was at the orphanage, there was only one lady who treated me so kindly. She made sure to give me a hug before bed every day, and I got so used to it until I was dragged back to the Alpha king’s territory by my biological father. Being with strangers was hard, but what was harder was living up to my father’s expectations. I forgot who I was and what I wanted to do in life. My purpose was to save the Alpha king and to stand by Whitney’s side as his underling.
Now that our territory was free from the Alpha king’s grasp, I was struggling with myself. I wanted what others had, and that was so selfish of me.
I longed for the warmth they shared and how they cared for each other. That’s why I wanted Lexi for myself. Now, looking at Sharon, I wished I had made a move on her earlier. Would things have been different? Who knows, perhaps not.
I pulled back and pressed my hand against her cheek as I blinked back the forming tears.
“Live happily and without regrets,” I said softly and meant every word because seeing her smile made me feel at peace.