In This Life or Another

Chapter Five: Fated Mates

Strikers POV

I watched Sarah walk away and that's when I heard him.

“It's my business to know why my mate is dancing with my brother.”

Did he just say mate…? It's not unusual for twins to share a mate. I know Sarah felt the spark when we touched.

I watched as Henry walked into the garden, he took in all the lights and the music, and then he turned to look at me.

“Well… well, baby brother, have you enjoyed your birthday? Just how long were you going to keep my mate from me? Did you honestly think I wouldn't sense her?”

Henry and I were now circling each other. I was growling in Sarah’s defense. Henry was irritated at the situation.

“Honestly? As long as I could. Your reputation precedes you brother. Do you even know her name or the color of her eyes? You are not worthy enough to call her your mate.”

I was now growling louder.

“The Moon Goddess has made her both of our mates, Henry. You don’t share well… for eighteen years you have been chosen first in everything. Took everything I have ever wanted. Let me tell you this brother, I will not give up Sarah without a fight…”

“Sarah ... Sarah hmmm, I like the way that sounds rolling off my lips.”

Henry now stares daggers at me.

“ Your right little brother, I don't share and have no intentions of starting now. Sarah is my mate.

At this point, I wanted to rip Henry's head off. When Bas, Duke and Warren ran into the rose garden, Bas stood in between Henry and me, like always.

“Hank, come on man, he’s your brother, our brother. What's going on?” Bas said as he tried to create some distance between the two of us.

“Well, our brother was putting on the moves on our mate. Some bro huh…”

“Yes, because while I was, as you put it, “putting the moves on our mate,” you were whoring around with every female inside. Some mate you are.”

Duke throws his hand up in the air with a fist pump.

“Go Striker, my man.”

As all of us stop our quarrel and look at Duke. Duke is smiling from ear to ear.

“Duke, are you f*****g kidding me? Shut the f**k up team Striker.” Henry says in disbelief.

Duke puts his hand down and backs up away from his now more pissed off buddy.

“Henry, I am done with this conversation right now. None of this even matters right now. Sarah ran away from you the minute you said the word mate. Maybe you should be asking yourself why she was so willing to spend all day and all night with me, gave me a birthday gift yet ran from you… her so-called mate…”

As I try to leave the rose garden, Henry growls viciously at me.

“Striker, I swear to the Moon Goddess herself, if you turn Sarah against me, I will kill you myself.”

“No worries there brother, you are doing a fantastic job of that yourself.”

I turned around to the others and nodded.

“Can you boys keep your dog on a short leash tonight? I've had a long day with an angel." I turned and picked up a silver rose and walked away, leaving the three men to deal with my brother.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sarah’s POV

Did he just say I was his mate? No, no, no anyone but him. This is all wrong. I ran into the packhouse fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Father… please be up” I spoke through our mind link as I rushed past some omegas still cleaning up from the ball.

“Butterfly, what’s wrong? It’s 3 am” he said with concern in his voice.

“Daddy, I need to speak to you and mother right now. Something just happened, and I don't know what to do.”

“OK, we will meet you in your room.” he cut the mind link off.

As I bolted into my room, I took my dress off and put on my sweatpants and extra large tee shirt. They didn’t even knock. My father stormed into the room calling for me.

“I'll be right out. ”

To my surprise, my mother opens the bathroom door and looks me up and down.

“You found him, didn’t you?” She walked over to me and took me by my shoulders.

“Sarah, I told you before, you are part of a big prophecy and your children are the key to saving our kind. You can not fight what has been predicted. If you have found your Alpha mate, you have to accept your fate.”

“But mother, what about my wants… college and becoming the pack doctor? I did meet an Alpha tonight. Two actually”

I said as I lowered my head because I didn’t want to admit I felt drawn to Striker. “Mother, I'm only 17 and Rynn is unsure who is our mate. She can sense a pull for Striker, but Henry … she is just confused. I don't know what to think.”

My father started knocking on the bathroom door and my mother and I walked out. I sat down on my bed while they sat on the small loveseat. I told them everything, trying to fight the tears building up as I looked to them for guidance.

“Well, this just made my choice much easier. Beverly, please go back to our room and start packing. We are leaving tonight. Sarah can wait out the next six months before accepting her fate.” my father looked at me and said “we can stay if you want, but I think space is the best thing in this situation.”

“No, you're right, I don't want to be the cause of the twins' rivalry. I can't even feel the true mate bond yet. How can I trust the word of that spoiled brat?”

My mother and father stood up, and my father hugged me. “I will always protect you, Butterfly” he said as they walked into the hall.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Third-Person POV

As they turned the corner to their daughter's room, Luna Beverly, who was looking down, almost ran right into Striker, carrying the silver rose in his hands.

“Good evening Alpha Conner, Luna Beverly.” Striker said almost giddish.

“Oh my!” Beverly squealed, throwing her hands up in her defense. “Young man, where are you going this time of night?”

“I…um, was going to take this beautiful rose to your amazing daughter. I think Henry upset her and I wanted to make sure she made it back to her room safely.”

Conner puffed out his chest and sighed loudly. “Striker, she did make it to her room safely and, yes, she is upset by the conversation she and Henry had tonight. I would appreciate it if you could give her the space she deserves, to put her emotions back in order. Please keep in mind she is still 17 and her wolf is not certain who her fated mate will be. I am not saying you have done anything wrong, but Butterfly is not ready for such a commitment.”

“Yes sir, I will respect whatever you decide is best for her. Please give her this rose for me and let her know she can text me if she ever needs me for anything.”

Beverly took the rose from him and smelled it before they both walked away towards their room.

Striker stood in the hall for what felt like an eternity. When Warren walked past him and patted him on his back, “Where's Henry?” He asked,

“I think he and Duke went to the bar in the rec room. He's pretty lit even for him. Bas went back to Avery, so he's Duke's problem tonight.”

“So does that make me your problem then?” He directed towards Warren.

He shrugs his shoulders and says“ I got the better end of that deal if you ask me. At least you're not acting like some huge jackass crying in your glass about how your baby brother stole your mate.”

“That's just it, Warren. She's mine too. When we touch I can feel it and Gus has been going crazy. She feels it too. I just know it, but she's only 17 and won't be able to tell for the next six months.”

“So now what?” Warren asked.

“I don't know. Her father just asked me to give her space until she turns 18. I don't think I can go that long without talking to her, man. That thought alone has Gus freaking out.”

“So why not go give her your phone number, and you can text or talk to her over the phone. I mean it’s something right.”

“You’re a f*****g genius man.” Striker said as his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. He took off to his room and wrote Sarah a letter…

My dearest Sarah,

I want to thank you for the best night of my life. You are the most mesmerizing woman I have ever met. I know Henry may have said some confusing things to you tonight, and I am sorry if they hurt you. I am not Henry and I would never intentionally hurt you.

I am going to give you space and time to realize who your fated mate is, but I know you felt the sparks when we touched tonight. I hope you know I will always be there for you. All you have to do is call or text me, day or night. Be safe, my dear, and please keep in touch.

Your Truly

Striker

762-441-8*85

Striker folded up the letter and went to Sarah’s door. She lay on the bed with her suitcase packed. Sarah sat up smelling the familiar scent of pine and lavender. She wanted to open the door, but she just couldn't move her feet. Then she saw the folded paper slide under her door. Soon the scent faded and she knew he had left. She picked up her letter, she held it up to her nose, took in his scent, her inner beast seemed to slowly calm down.