Their Mate Between

CHAPTER 3.

Sebastian didn’t know what to make of the silver doe eyed beauty standing in front of him, except she was one hundred percent his mate.

Of course, he’d known that since last night. He’d sensed it when he followed her home from the club parking lot. Granted, he’d just been driving by, but he couldn’t ignore it. The moment he set his eyes on her, it was certain he had to know her.

And he never looked away for a second.

Not when he had to watch her sit alone in a car with some other guy. Not when they’d both been too engrossed in their conversation to notice him lurking. He hated every minute of it, but he forced himself not to react. He didn’t want to seem like a crazy person.

Above all, he’d forced himself not to listen in, for fear that he might hear something that ticked him off.

Now that they were up close, it was impossible to keep his hands to himself. Her scent was intoxicating—warm vanilla laced with something wild, like rain-soaked earth and fresh pine. It hit him in the chest and burned through his veins, demanding he step closer. Claim her. Mark her. Keep her.

But she looked like she might bolt at any second.

His wolf prowled just beneath his skin, restless. Mine, it growled, a deep rumble only he could hear. Ours.

He clenched his fists, forcing restraint. Scaring her off wasn’t an option, no matter how much his instincts roared.

“Sorry, I didn’t think there’d be anyone else out here by this time,” he said finally, in a low, cautious voice.

“Oh, no. There’s no need to be sorry, the forest is open to all.”

She shut her eyes and looked away, muttering something under her breath. She’s shy. How cute. If only she knew the effect she had on him. Her voice was beyond perfect, he could listen to her talk all day.

“You stay close by?” he asked.

Dumb question, since he technically knew where she lived. He watched her walk up to her front door last night, and only left after he was sure she was okay.

But she was oblivious to this, so no harm done.

She inhaled sharply, returning her attention back to him. “Yeah, a couple blocks away. You?”

He looked around. “I fear I might have ventured way past my territory. Sometimes I jog for hours and end up so far from home.”

“How far?”

“The next street.”

She let out a soft laugh. The sound floated right through him, melting his heart and turning his legs to jelly. She’s so adorable.

“Do you always get lost and stretch in the middle of the woods?”

He grinned. The answer was no. In fact, he rarely did this. He’d been waiting for her, hoping she’d be drawn to him. Some people would call it borderline obsession.

“Believe it or not, I haven’t been to this particular area in a while,” Or ever. “But my wolf kept nagging, and I just had to comply to get him to shut up.”

A snarl echoed in his head. It’s true though.

His mate grinned. “Well, It’s either fate, or you and your wolf have some unresolved issues.”

“I’ll go with fate.”

If she called stalking her, fate, then he’d go with it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around before,” he said, stepping closer. “I wouldn’t have forgotten a face like yours.”

“Maybe I’m not so memorable,” she nervously shifted a strand of black curly hair away from her face.

What he wouldn’t do to run his fingers through her hair and feel the beat of her heart against his. His gaze dropped to her luscious lips, then back to her eyes.

I have to protect her.

Sebastian thought, assessing her. No doubt, she looked fearless, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to be her shield.

“Trust me, you are,” he said, “So, what do you think about Whisperden?”

She paused, deep in thought. “It’s been just lovely. I like the peace and quiet, and how everyone is so friendly.”

He laughed. “Come on, try again. What do you really think?”

At first, she was stunned. Then slowly, her face contorted into a smirk. She pointed a finger at him and waved it. “Oh, you’re good. Trying to get me kicked out?”

“The thing is, people will know you’re new around here if you define the town that way.”

“So, this is a lesson?”

“Exactly,” he closed the distance between them, his voice reducing to a whisper. “Try again.”

She heaved, pursing her lips into a thin line. Sebastian’s eyes followed her mouth, down to the veins on her neck, stopping at her chest. He watched as her chest moved, in and out.

“If I’m being honest, it’s been so… f*****g boring. I’ve been cooped in for so long, and when I finally decide to step out, some sadistic fuckboy thinks he can get me into his bed, and—”

“What?”

His yell startled her. Sebastian cursed at himself internally for losing control, but he couldn’t help his reaction. His mate had just mentioned someone else hitting on her.

“When did this happen?” he asked.

She swallowed. “Last night.”

He gritted his teeth. Was it the guy she was in the car with? Should he have interfered? This is what he gets for trying to act civil. He could have beaten the perv to a coma if he hadn’t convinced himself to remain in the shadows.

“Was it—” he stopped before it was too late. “Who was it?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me, Please. I want to know.”

She nodded slowly. “Some guy called Kade Draven.”

Kade. Of course. It just had to be the one person he couldn’t stand. He and Kade were so different from one another. Everything the playboy did, he was against. He believed in finding the perfect woman and sticking with her, no matter what. And Kade? That was the last thing he’d ever do.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he finally said.

Although, it didn’t end there because he planned on handling it. He’d show Kade just how wrong he was for messing with what’s his, and he wouldn’t stop until Kade was at her pretty feet, begging for forgiveness.

***

Even saying his name out loud made butterflies flap around in her tummy. Kade Draven. Ravyn didn’t understand why the name had such an effect on her. Hadn’t she decided to forget about him?

He was only trouble. But he was only one half of it. The other was standing in front of her.

What a man.

This bigger, more accommodating version of Kade piqued her interest. He not only had her attention, but made her body feel all sorts of things she hadn’t felt before. Hearing him speak made her insides vibrate with desire.

This is how a mate should make her feel.

Wait…

“I hope you don’t think the rest of us are like Kade.”

The gorgeous titan spoke, and immediately all thoughts of the night before vanished into thin air. She was like a puppet, waiting for him to pull her strings and direct her on where to go and look.

“I’d be happy to show you around, and shift your perspective on Whisperden,” he continued.

She sighed. “I don’t hold the entire town accountable for the sins of one man. Besides, you’re enough to redeem its qualities.”

He let out a shaky chuckle, his cheeks turning a slight red. Once again, the middle of Ravyn’s legs fluttered.

He’s blushing?

“Are you serious about showing me around or were you just trying to be polite?” Ravyn asked, hoping for a positive answer.

He tilted his head, staring down at her. “I’d love to be your guide.”

“It’s a date then,” she blurted out. Her eyes went wide with embarrassment, she bit the inside of her bottom lip until it drew blood.

Stupid. Stupid. What is the matter with me?

“It’s a date,” he repeated, stretching out his hand for a shake. She let out a nervous breath, taking it. They shook, sealing the deal.

There was no turning back now.

“You know, I still don’t know your name,” he quipped, bouncing from one leg to another like a little school boy.

She smiled. “It’s Ravyn, with a ‘y’”

He nodded. “Sebastian.”

“Can I call you Sebby?” she joked, and to her surprise, he nodded softly.

“You’ll be the first, and only one.”

Standing still, staring into each other’s eyes, Ravyn lost track of the time. It wasn’t until her phone began to ring that they both snapped out of the spell. She picked the call, and heard Rion’s voice.

“How crazy is your wolf today? You’ve been gone a while, should I be worried?”

“No, I’m on my way back,” she said hastily, ending the call to look back at the wolf now staring down at her in fascination. “I have to go.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait, how do I find you?” he asked. “Do I come to your house?”

“No,” she didn’t mean to shout it out, but then her forehead creased. “You know where I live?”

“No. I-I just—” he stuttered. “It’s a small town, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out if I really put my mind to it. I don’t care if I have to knock on every door or just follow your scent, I’ll find you.”

Tempted by his determination, she almost told him to go for it. But she didn’t want a situation where her brother would be home when he came around looking for her.

She quickly threw her phone at him, watched him type his number in, then gave him a satisfied nod. “I’ll text you.”

Before he could say anything, she ran back into the woods, and followed the pathway home.

Was she really going to text him? This was something she’d have to decide when she was alone, in the confines of her bedroom, where she could think straight.

She met her brother by the door, no doubt looking out for her. After a brief conversation, she disappeared to her room to take a quick shower and dive into bed.

“I have two mates?” she whispered to herself, “I have two freaking mates?”

She shook her head in disbelief. She must have been mistaken, maybe she was wrong about one of them. But she felt it, she was sure. She felt them both.

They can’t both be my mates. But the growl in her head made her think otherwise. How was she going to handle two when she could barely handle one?

Throwing the thoughts to the back of her head, she whipped out her phone, scrolled through her contacts and stopped at his name. Sebby.

First, she needed to get them both in the same place so she could make sure she wasn’t going insane. But for now, she sent a quirky text to the forest hottie who’d managed to steal her heart.

‘Still roaming the woods looking for girls to charm?’