My Beta's Mate

Okay, as in Yes?

Sam

I wake from another dream about Jewel and I groan. My wolf is lonely, I get that, but damn, it is hard. Werewolves aren’t made to stay away from their mates. It’s like being away from the other half of your soul and it hurts. I rolled out of bed and headed to my office. At three in the morning, there was not a soul around. I headed to the grand piano that is in the far right corner. My dad had it put in there so that he could listen to my mother play while he worked. We also have one in the living room. It's been years since I’ve played, but right now, I need to do something restful. Something that will occupy my mind. So far, working out and working myself into the ground isn’t helping.

I let myself lose myself in a sad key and I didn't even notice Jewel come into the room and watch me.

“I didn’t know that you played.”

Her voice brings me out of my trance.

“...I yes… it's been years, but I haven't been sleeping well. I figured that this might help.”

She nods and walks towards me. My half asleep brain takes her in. She's in a top and shorts meant for sleeping in. Her hair is disheveled and her smell, something floral and sweet, hits me like a tidal wave. I forgot how to breathe as she sits right next to me and puts her head on my shoulder. I can hear my wolf howling in happiness. This is one of the few small gestures that she has made. Normally, she sits as far away from me as she can, but not right now. I can feel her warmth on my skin.

“ I haven’t been sleeping well either….my wolf..she isn’t handling this well.”

“Neither is mine.” I replied.

I don’t know what to say and neither does she. So I went back to playing.

I pick up some time later that Jewel had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I tried to shake her a little bit to wake her. She doesn't budge. So I lifted her up and put her on the sofa in my office. I’ve slept here more than once at late nights. I go to the small closet in the corner and pull out pillows and blankets. I hope that she won’t be mad at me for this, but dear Moon Goddess, I need sleep. I ease a pillow under her head and cover her with a blanket. I use the leftover blankets to make myself a bed on the floor next to her. Even though it's uncomfortable, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

__

I woke the next morning feeling energized. Feeling better than I had in weeks. Jewel is still asleep and I allow myself to watch her and pray that she doesn’t wake up yet. She is cuddled up to the pillow that I put under her head. Dear Moon Goddess, Jewel is beautiful. The Moon Goddess didn’t make it easy for me. No one should be allowed to be this beautiful.

I looked out the window and it's still dark. I mind link my Delta and telling him to run training this morning. I roll on my back and fall back to sleep quickly.

Jewel

I open my eyes and don’t recognize my surroundings at first. But I would recognize that smell anywhere. The smell of pine and sandalwood hits my senses, and I realize that this is the first time in weeks that I’ve slept well. My wolf is even still sleeping. I look down and realize that I’m sleeping on Sam’s sofa and he is sleeping on the ground next to me.

Then it all comes back to me. I woke up and went downstairs to get a glass of milk. Instead, I ended up going to the office to get an early start and I found Sam there playing piano beautifully. I didn’t even know that he was musical. I guess I haven't paid much attention.

I really look at him now. Watching his steady breathing. He is too handsome for his own good. I then noticed, for the first time, the bags under his eyes. What am I doing to this man? I know better than anyone how strong the mate bond is and it's affecting him and not in a way that is healthy. He looks like he has started to lose weight. His jawline betrays how much weight he has lost.

“Again, you’re making me blush with your staring” Says Sam, with his eyes still closed. I nearly landed on top of him as the sound of his voice startled me.

“..I didn’t realize that you were awake.” I mumbled and cleared my throat.

Sam sits up and I see the muscles under his shirt flex and my mouth goes horribly dry.

I glanced back at his face and there was a slight smirk as he caught where my gaze was.

I feel my face turn red again.

“How about some breakfast?” he asks, as he gets up, and offers me his hand. I don’t know why, but I take it.

“It’s still so early and it's Sunday. The cooks don’t start till eight.”

“I’m aware. I’ll cook for us.”

“You cook…? Better than your sister, I hope.” I said back. His sister is a bad@ss, but she could burn water if she tried hard enough.

Sam snorted, “Yes, better than my sister.”

We’re still holding hands. This feels nice. Almost normal, natural. I should pull away, but I don’t want to. Maybe it's the lack of sleep.

“So you’re musical and you cook. What else am I missing about you, Sam?”

His face gets serious.

“Alot.. but I’d love to show you. If you give me a chance,”

“I’ll think about it,” I said. My brain is too tired still to fully process that.

We go down to the pack kitchen and I sat on the counter and watched Sam make his fancy coffee. He carefully measures the beans and puts them into the espresso machine.

“Oatmilk and Honey, right? He says.

“You pay attention and yes.”

He simply nods and grabs the oatmilk from the fridge.

He adds the honey to the espresso and I notice how well it mixes in vs how I make it. Just throwing it in at the end and mixing a lot.

“Well, I feel stupid” I said, and he turned to me with his brows raised, waiting for an explanation.

“..I normally just add honey at the end and mix a bunch.”

He smiles and shakes his head. He goes and steams the milk and finishes the latte.

He brings the latte to me and I notice that there is a heart drawn in the milk.

“...a heart..really? I didn’t realize that you were the cheesy type Samuel.” I said, teasing him.

He put his arms on either side of me, sort of trapping me in. But at the same time, I don’t feel worried. This is Sam.

“Only a few hours alone together and you’ve already learned three new things about me. Imagine what we could do with a proper date.”

He says all of this while looking me in the eyes. His golden brown eyes are piercing into me and I know that I can’t run or hide now. I noticed for the first time how thick our chemistry is. I’ve noticed it before, but I didn’t take the time to appreciate it. It makes all of this feel exciting.

He steps away and leans against the counter across from me. Never taking his eyes from me.

“...I’m afraid of a date with you… will there be more cheesy stuff? Like latte hearts?”

In all reality, I’m more afraid of what this all means, but I’m not going to add that to this conversation. This is all going too well for me to add my own doubts.

“Oh, it will be full of latte hearts and other stuff.”

He says this with a smirk on his face and I feel myself blushing and looking away again.

“It’s just a date, Jewel. We’re still friends and if it goes terribly. Then we will still have that, but I feel like we owe it to our wolves to try. If it goes badly, then we’ll remain friends and we’ll reject each other on the next full moon.”

I feel the breath in my throat catching. This is something that we didn’t even consider, but I get it. We’re both tired and being friends with a mate bond doesn’t work.

“Okay.” I say.

“...okay...as in yes?” says Sam with a huge smile on his face.

“Okay, as in yes.” I replied back.

He comes over and grabs one of my hands and begins to kiss each of my knuckles and I forget how to breathe.

“...what would you like for breakfast?” He finally asks, breaking the tension building between us.

I let out a breathy laugh…”I thought that you’d never ask.”

Author's Note

For some reason my notes aren't showing. But I'll add them at the end. I apologize for my absence. Life has been hard lately and I just didn't want to write in my previous mental state. These characters and stories mean so much to me. But I'm back now. I have a better day job now and that has left me in a better headspace. Can I also add how proud I am of Sam for finally asking Jewel on date? Yasssss!! lol