An Offer She Can't Refuse

Stray

SABRINA POV:

Xander stared at me until his eyes turned green again.

"Y-your what?"

"'Mate," Sebastian said, "You're..."

"I am no one's mate. You are insane. You're all insane.." I whispered.

Hudson moved closer to me. I could feel his heat—feel his breath on me.

"You are our mate Sabrina.."

I laughed, "I don't even know what the hell you're talking about. This is some sort of trick? I just want you to let me go. Please? I won't tell anybody..."

David coughed, "She can't accept you until she knows the truth and we can't tell her the truth until we've spoken to the council."

"Xander.." I don't know why I didn't pull away. I felt so safe with him at that moment. I wanted him to be my savior.

"I'm so sorry, Sabrina..."

"She doesnt have the capability to accept you right now. I f*****g told you boys to let her figure this out on her own!" David said, begrudgingly.

"Dad... " Hudson's voice cracked, "Please don't do this."

"I've no choice. The four of you acted recklessly and without the authorization of the council. You must let her go."

Xander didn't budge, even when I pleaded with him again.

"Xander... " I sobbed.

"I can't let you go, Cupcake," He placed his forehead against mine, "I've waited so long for you."

"The other option is to clear her mind of everything from this afternoon," Rayanne suggested.

"W-what?!" I continued to stare at Xander who didn't seem to like that, either.

"Do it," Q said, "Just f*****g do it and get her out of here. We'll run this through the f*****g council."

"No... " I shook my head, Xander still holding me close to him.

"I don't want this, either.." He said only to me, "I'm a shifter, you're very special, and you're our mate. Mine and my brothers. You have ancestors, family–real family–that live... "

"It's too f*****g complicated to wipe her memory!" David seethed, knocking Xander out of the way, and grabbing me much to the chagrin and anger of the Quads, "She leaves now."

Xander tried to stop his father, but David was too strong. The elder had me up the stairs and in my room in no time.

"Pack and go. Go wherever you can and I promise you won't be hurt. My boys will still protect you some way, somehow."

Tossed away.

Again.

"Don't you see she's hurting?" Q cried out as the Quads entered my room.

Sebastian joined me as I fumbled to pack my belongings.

"Just regarding the basement, we meet the council, we go from there... "

Rayanne smiled as she stepped forward and I tried to fight her off, but to no avail.

It was lights out for me.

AUTHOR'S--THIRD PERSON POV:

"Where is she?"

"In the music room," Valerie told the Quads, "She's speaking with Maggie about her goals for tomorrow and how the basement is off limits due to reconstruction."

"This is f*****g bullshit!" Xander punched the wall.

David leered, "Do not speak to your mother that way."

Xander turned and was nose to nose with his father.

"Then I'll speak to YOU this way. We were taking care of her, we were fine... THIS... IS... FUCKERY. "

"You're a man of many words," Seb rolled his eyes at his brother, "We did act carelessly, but we want her. She's the one, everything we've ever needed."

David nodded, "Yes and far more powerful and WANTED by many, dead or alive."

"The council will know what to do," Valerie chimed in.

Hudson scoffed, "The council cannot allow us to wait. We tried that. We'd no idea she'd be seeing or hearing things, or getting lost in the forest or even healing people before 19... "

Xander laughed, "This isn't new. It's rare when someone from this side peaks at her age, but she's always heard the voice. They have to make an exception. "

"And if they don't?" David countered.

"Then f**k the rules."

SABRINA POV:

"How was your first day?" Maggie asked me as I tinkered with my violin.

"It was great, actually!" I said, "I guess time just slipped by because I don't really recall much of anything that happened this afternoon."

Maggie smiled, "That happens to me, too, especially when you're so busy."

I didn't know the Quads had come home and I was startled to see Xander's car outside.

"Wow, I must have really been working!"I laughed, feeling off as Rayanne joined us, "Oh thank you! " I was delighted when she set my care package beside me, "I appreciate it."

Rayanne smiled, "I've even left instructions on how to use and take all of the items. The Calhoun's said that perhaps doing a little personal assistance with the boys would do some good."

"Oh, did he?" I narrowed my eyes, "That's interesting."

Maggie nodded, "I agree. I'll knock down your chore list so you can get to that when necessary. "

"Oh, I have tons of stuff planned for her, " Xander said, waltzing into the room, "Like going to the movies with me."

I frowned, "That's not, -"

"Work?" He winked, "Would you rather wash my bedding?"

I scrunched up my face, "God knows what's on those sheets."

Xander narrowed his eyes at me, "You will be very soon."

"Is that all you think about?"I asked him, prepping to play a piece on my violin.

"Most of the time."

Seb, Q, and Hudson joined their brother as I began to play.

"None but the Lonely Heart....Tchaikovsky..."I heard Hudson say to his brothers who already seemed to know.

I always got lost in my playing so no one was there except for me and my violin. I played for my broken heart and my years of sadness that consumed me. It was my outlet and, once I was finished, their clapping brought me back to my reality.

Putting my violin away, Q tapped me on the shoulder.

"Why did you choose that piece to play?"

"Because I don't have any friends, Q," I said, following Maggie out of the room, "I only have my music."

AUTHOR'S—THIRD PERSON POV:

"That pisses me off," Xander said, "She's got us."

"We've hardly been friendly to her, brother," Seb said, "She's been alone for so long."

"Well, she wouldn't f*****g be alone if we could tell her the truth."

"When's the meeting?" Hudson asked, impatiently.

David entered the room, "We meet tomorrow night. You boys need to be ready."

"Well, I am taking her out the movies tonight," Xander said.

"You think that's a good idea?" Q asked.

"She needs some type of normalcy, Quinn," David agreed, "I thnk it'll be good for her to get out. The four of you are going to compete for her, aren't you?"

"Who? Us?" Xander asked, sarcastically, "We would never."

David shook his head and sighed, "Details about the meeting will come soon. I'll keep you updated."

After their father departed, Q snarled.

"You're always trying it, Xander."

"Oh f**k off. I asked her first and you're just pissed off that you didn't," Xander waved his brother away, "Why don't you,-"

"There's a birthday party at Finnegan's for Molly. It's,-"

"High class—ball gown s**t," Hud said.

"I plan on asking her so if the three of you don't mind, I am going to do just that," Q escaped the room before his brothers could speak.

"f**k. I didn't think about the party," Xander muttered.

"Don't even..." Seb warned, "Let him have this."

"None of this going to end well at all," Hudson sighed.

SABRINA POV:

"Hey, Sabrina?" Q was standing in the doorway of the library. How these people found me when I was trying to hide was beyond me, but I loved the feelings I got when they were near me.

"Hi, Quinn.."I said, putting my book down, "What's up?"

He made his way to me, settling down a few feet from me on one of many couches inhabiting the space.

"Are you free next Friday night?"

I laughed. I couldn't help it.

"Q, I am free all of the time," I told him.

He straightened up as if his nerves were consuming him.

"Would you like to go to Molly Finnegan's birthday party with me?"

My face fell.

"Oh, I-I don't think so..." I lowered my gaze and stood up, "Thank you, though. I appreciate the invite."

Quinn stood up and stood in front of me, "What's wrong?"

"I am not liked by Molly Finnegan or any other Finnegan for that matter," I told him, "She-she's not a nice person."

Q winced, his anger spreading across his face.

"What did she do to you?"

"She...she dunked my gym clothes into the toilet before class one day," I shrugged, "Why are you friends with her?"

Q sighed, "We're only friends because of her family."

"Oh, the whole big shot families of Solitude thing?"

"I promise no one at all will mess with you at that party," Quinn said, stepping closer to me. He cupped my chin, "Do you trust me?"

I looked at him and he looked at me as if he could see into my soul, "Yes..."

"Then be my date," His blue eyes sparkled as he gazed into mine.

"Yes..."I found myself saying.

He leaned in and brushed my cheek with his lips, skimming ever-so-softly over my jawline. My ovaries did somersaults and while I thought about making babies with him right there in the library, a low growl fizzled up from his chest.

"You're perfect..." He said, pushing me back a few feet until my back was up against one of the bookshelves, "Do you know that, Sabrina?"

"N-no..."

"I want you to get a dress. I am going to have my mom take you shopping, is that alright?" His lips ghosting every inch of my face except for my lips...

"Y-yes..."

He kissed me on the forehead and smiled, licking his lips and taking a step back.

"Thank you."

"F-for what?"

"Being you..."

I hadn't the slightest clue of what was happening, but I think Rayanne's care kit was really working.

Things seemed...

Normal...

I wasn't hearing or seeing things and my routine was just that—a normal routine.

Except for one thing...or four.

I was so deeply involved with the Quads now that my heart skipped beats when they were near me.

Hudson invited me to a gaming convention—which I'd never been to—and I was ecstatic to go.

The evening with Xander was more tame than I'd anticipated. He'd even had me home before midnight.

"You didn't have to protect me the whole time," I teased as we rode home, taking a scenic route. Xander shrugged, "You're my precious cargo."

"You take care of her, Hudson," Xander said, pulling his brother by the collar and dragging him into the foyer like I couldn't hear them, "If anything f*****g happens to her, I will personally throw your body into the Malsum."

Hudson pushed him off, "I would never let her get hurt, asshole. Don't threaten me. You took care of her during your date night so let me be. "

I noticed a hint of heated tension between the Quads and it was sizzling...so was my core, but not in anger like their tension.

"Is everything OK with you guys?" I asked as Hudson helped me into his Jeep, his hands grabbing my hips and accidentally brushing my backside before I sat down, "Hudson.."

He lingered in the doorway for a moment before leaning in and kissing me on the cheek.

"Nothing's wrong, Cupcake.."

He revved the engine and smiled.

"Ya ready to get nerdy?"

I nodded, smiling. If he only knew my loins wanted to get down and dirty with this hot nerd sitting next to me.

What in the name of everything holy was happening to me?

"What's on your mind, Sabrina?" Hudson asked as we flew down the highway, "You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?"

I nodded, "I don't know. Everything is so weird, so rushed..."

Hudson sighed, "I know how you feel."

"You do?"

"I mean, that's life, right? Weird and rushed?"

I grinned, "That is too true. I just don't know why you guys never liked me in school."

Hudson frowned, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Sure."

"We don't really like anybody."

I didn't understand him—at least not then.

I couldn't believe how much fun I had at the gaming convention, though. Hudson was quiet, but he was the sweetest of the Quads, for sure. Every time he'd look at me with those mocha-like orbs, I could sense something behind them, something stirring.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes..."

If he only knew...

We stopped off at a little diner on the way home, our day spent well and played out. I'd never played so many games or seen so many people in cosplay in my entire life.

"Do you ever dress up?"

Hudson nodded, "Maybe you can go as my Zelda next year."

Next year...

I wouldn't be here next year.

I smiled and finished, falling asleep on the way home.

"Hey, Sabrina..." I felt a gentle caress of my cheek. Rousing I sat up straight and looked around.

"Where are we?" I looked around at the night sky.

"It's a full moon..."

"Oh, I love full moons!" I got out and walked around, Hudson was on me in a flash—like if he didn't stay near me, I would die.

"Sabrina...I..."

"So kiss me then..."

What the f**k? No, Sabrina...

He leaned in, wrapping me up in his arms and kissed me so sweetly that I just knew I was going to melt—I was going to melt right into a puddle and float away.

"Hudson..." I moaned, pulling myself into him and resting my head on his chest. I never realized just how tall these guys were until I was in their arms.

"I know..it's just a kiss, Sabrina..nothing more," He assured me as we watched the night sky for some time. Heading home, he held my hand and I didn't feel weird. I felt...almost complete.

AUTHOR'S—THIRD PERSON POV:

"The actual..."

"I don't need to hear this. We didn't f**k. I kissed her," Hudson said, tossing his jacket off and onto the sofa in the game room.

"Xander kissed her," Q said, "Why you mad, bro?" He looked at Xander who was stabbing a piece of paper with a pencil.

"Dad said this would happen," Sebastian reminded them, "We have to keep our heads about us. She'll be OUR mate—not just mine or yours or yours."

"I can't imagine what she's going to be thinking when she finds out she's the woman that four men want to make babies with..."

"Who's making babies?" Sabrina asked, walking into the room, "Oh... am I interrupting man talk?"

Sebastian smiled, "No, but we do have to head out."

"Oh yeah...your meeting. What was it about again?"

"The will."

"Are your folks OK?" Sabrina asked, nervously.

Q smiled, "Yeah, but we go over the will every few years."

Sebastian nodded, "I want to look at your parent's will, too, Sabrina. Remind me about that."

"I will," Sabrina said, yawning, "Will all of you be,-"

"You'll be OK, Cupcake," Xander said, "We've gotcha covered."

If she only knew how many Lycans were guarding the house that night, Sabrina would have gone to bed feeling completely secured.

"Thanks, guys..and thank you, Hudson, for a wonderful time," She waved to them, making her way back to her room.

"The will?" Xander laughed.

"She believed it."

"I cannot put emphasis on the fact that we must wait until she is ready for the turning. All of you know this," Elder Hawk was saying to the Quads and the other Calhoun's at the meeting.

"This isn't right. You know she's ready," Xander huffed, "The rules are completely archaic. Why can't we just rush the veil and talk to Kurt about this? You don't think that Sabrina's being accosted by this strange voice her entire life isn't something from the Realm?"

A silence hovered over the room.

"If she turns too soon, she'll die."

"Not her. She's special. You know her lineage, Hawk. She healed me, she moved the floor! She needs to know the truth, to know us, to make a decision and to become one with us before they take her."

Sebastian stood up, "My brother is right. If we don't get the ball rolling, Sabrina is as good as dead. She's fresh meat for the mutts."

"I haven't reached the Realm in months," Hawk told them, "What if this voice is the Dark Front?"

"The Dark Front will just have to be dealt with," Q said, "She's our mate and she's the rightful Queen on this side of the veil."

Hudson agreed, "It's not fair to hold this from her. She needs to be able to protect herself and decide whether or not she wants to be our mate. Once she's branded or knows her truth, she'll be able to start her life."

"Any word on her parents?"

David chimed, "We're looking into it. They were on the run, that much is clear."

"And the birthmark?"

"Definitely a ward," David said, "She's been protected since birth."

"I'm sure I know who marked her," Hawk said, "Kurt Downey and most likely on behalf of her ancestor..."

"She was always going to protect her family," David nodded, "That's who we think is trying to contact her, but why?"

"You know she's always gone against the rules...reminds me of you all," Hawk eyed the Quads.

"And if it isn't the Soul Coven?" Xander asked, "The Dark Front can slip through the veil and you know it."

"Anyone chat with the Mueller's lately?" Hawk asked, the room filling with murmurs.

"Only when I ran into Cindy," Valerie piped up, "She's agitated. You know they want her."

"They won't f*****g get her," Q said, "Not on my watch."

SABRINA POV:

I was on top of the world.

The birthday party with Q was going to happen in a few days and we were going to get a ballgown from—well, where does one get a ball gown?

I'd no idea, but I found myself messaging Tina throughout the night until falling asleep.

I woke up to a howling.

Rushing to the window, I looked out towards the forest and saw the lights again.

I saw some of the guards run to the woods, but I'd never seen people run so quickly.

Tossing on my shoes and robe, I grabbed my phone and a flashlight and rushed down the stairs, making sure to hit the alarm system on the way out.

"Hello?" I asked when I stepped out, expecting someone to answer me, like one of the guards.

When no one did, I sighed heavily and walked around the huge fountain in front of the Calhoun home.

I didn't want to text them, but we were already in a group chat so I did anyway.

"Sabrina! Get inside now!" Q texted me.

I didn't respond.

Instead, I rounded the fountain quickly and headed back to the front door.

I wasn't even halfway there when the hair stood up on the back of my neck. I didn't dare turn around, but I squealed like a scared pig.

A growl, followed by another and another....

The stray dogs....the door wouldn't open....what the...no....

"Even if you went inside, little red, I'll huff and I'll puff...and I'll," James laughed. James?

"Well, you know the rest.."