You're Not My Mate

Seeking Permission

Liam POV

The next morning I wake up early for training, and leave Aurelia sleeping peacefully. I definitely don’t want to be late again. Although I doubt Antonio would want to cross her again so soon. I grab a pen and paper and leave her one of my usual morning notes.

Good morning my beautiful baby,

I love you more than all the stars in the sky.

Be back from training soon.

Missing you already xxx

I kiss the paper and put it on her bedside table. I sneak out of the room quietly, so as not to wake her and head over towards our training fields in the forest. I shake my head. A year ago, I could never have imagined myself writing sweet notes. I was known for being a prick. Every other pack knew me as an obnoxious, horrible bastard. And that’s the way I liked it. Nobody dared to cross us or bring us any trouble. I revelled in it. 

But now, my every thought is consumed with Aurelia. Leaving her sweet notes. Wanting to give her the world. Heck, even being apart from her for training makes me feel empty. I smirk and shake my head as I get closer to the field. “Oh, nice to see you are early today, Alpha.” Antonio smirks at me. “Yeah, well, I figured if you let me get cut up like that again, Aurelia is gonna whip your ass.” And this time I smirk at him. He nods and drops the smirk. “s**t, she’s scary man.” I chuckle. “Oh trust me, I know.”

Training starts with 5 mile laps of the grounds, and then some defence strategies. Antonio is over 700 years old. 742 to be precise. He has seen and heard a lot over his life, which makes him one of the best trainers around. His experience and knowledge is like nothing I’ve ever come across. And I trust his training exercises wholeheartedly, even if that gets me in s**t with Aurelia. A strong pack is important, especially with so many rogues and upcoming packs who want to challenge and get what they can. And now, I have Aurelia to protect as well.

Aurelia POV

I wake up and stretch my muscles, star-fishing in bed. I know Liam’s in training, and I know he’d leave me a note, so I sit up to look for it. I smile as I read it. These messages are the best start to my day. And I save them all in a little shoebox in my closet. Maybe one day I’ll show him. But for now, I love to have them and just look through them. I figured they’ll be especially helpful if we’re ever apart for more than 1 night.

I walk over to the windows and pull open the curtains. Through the trees I can see the men training with Antonio. I squint and try to work out what they’re doing, hoping that nobody is going to come back injured today. That’s when I realise, the fire has gone. I don’t feel hot and tingly anymore or like I’m about to burst into flames. The heat must finally have finished. I collapse back onto the bed, thankful to have made it through my first heat cycle. Now I’m praying I am pregnant so I don’t have to go through it again anytime soon!

I head downstairs to the kitchen and sit down for breakfast. A few minutes later the guys return from training to sit down. The smell of sweat dampens the air. Not the most delicious scent to accompany breakfast, but I figure they must all be starving. Marcus comes to sit next to me. “Are you sucking up, Marcy?” He smirks. “Never.” I narrow my eyes at him but smile. “I’m glad to see your face is back to being perfect.” He smiles smugly at me as I hear Liam growl gently, taking his seat next to me. “Ahh there’s my jealous wolf.” I tease. This time he narrows his eyes at me but I lean close to him and kiss his nose.

Liam and Cruz almost suck their food off the plates and then hurry off for showers. I shake my head. “They are so gross.” I groan. Marcus laughs. It’s just me and him now, and it’s nice to spend time with him. “So Luna, are you all settled here now?” “Yeah, thanks. You’ve been a big part of that. I appreciate you.” “Of course, Luna. You know where I am if you ever need anything.” I smile at him, trying to hide the sadness in my eyes. How can Talula have done this to him? My poor Marcy. “How are you doing?” “Oh, I’m fine. You know. The curse has pretty much fully worn off now. It’s weird I don’t feel anything for her anymore. It’s the strangest thing.” I nod, sadly. “It hasn’t put me off though. I know I’m going to find my mate. And marry her. And I haven’t forgotten that you still owe me a day out being my wing woman. Hey you know my best suit could use an outing. When are you and Liam gonna get married?”

I laugh. “Liam hasn’t even hinted at marriage. So I doubt anytime soon.” “You want it though, right?” I rest my chin on my hand and gaze out to the garden, dreaming of him in a suit, saying our vows.. Promising to be together, forever. “Yeah, I want it. I really do.” He grins. “Ahh, you will be a beautiful bride. Liam better pick me as best man.” I laugh. “If he doesn’t, you can be my best man, how about that?” He wrinkles his nose. “Not the same.” I shrug. “Hey who knows, maybe I’ll let you walk me down the aisle.” I wink. His face drops. “Seriously?” I shrug. “Marcy, you’ve been amazing to me. A large part of why I feel so comfortable here is because of you. You’re like a very special big brother to me.” I pat his shoulder as I stand. “But like I say, Liam hasn’t even hinted, never mind asked.” He nods at me.

“I’m off to sunbathe by the pool and enjoy my day off before I head to work. Apparently I am now going to be Liam’s assistant.” He chuckles at my face as I scowl and roll my eyes at the thought of working with Liam. I was excited really. But I wasn’t going to let everyone know that. 

Liam POV

“Marcus, what exactly did you say? And what did she say?” “Liam, I did as you asked. I did some digging. Yes, she wants to marry you. Heck, she even told me that if you don’t choose me as best man I can walk her down the aisle.” He grins at me smugly, adjusting the collar on his polo shirt. I close my eyes and shake my head. How did he manage to go from snooping about marriage to getting to walk her down the aisle? 

“So, are you gonna ask her?” I bite my cheek. “Oh wow. Is the big bad Alpha NERVOUS?” I shoot him a warning look and he holds his hands up in surrender. “Look, ask permission first. That always goes down well.” I raise an eyebrow. Her father is dead. “How the f**k can I ask her father’s permission you d**k?!” Then I think of Caesar and lift my finger up to silence him before he can rip back into me. “Keep a listen out for her. She’s got stupidly good hearing, even for a wolf.” I pick up the phone and dial Caesar’s number. He answers two rings in. “Hello? Liam? Is Aurelia alright? What’s happened?” “Uh, nothing. Sorry, man, I just wanted to call you and ask you something.” He breathes a sigh of relief. What the f**k? 

“I just wanted to phone you and ask something quickly. Ordinarily, I would have asked your father, but... Well, for obvious reasons I can’t. Listen, I love Aurelia, with every fibre of my being. And I want to make her my wife. But, I’d like to do so with your blessing.” Marcus sticks both thumbs up at me, nodding. I hate doing stuff like this, so the peer support is definitely appreciated. “Oh Liam, man. That’s uh... That’s great. Thank you for thinking of me. Sounds awesome, man. I’m over the moon for you both. Let me know when you’ve asked. And hey, don’t hold off on that ceremony. We’d love to come over and celebrate your wedding as soon as possible! We could use some good news.” 

I thank him, promise him to do it soon and then put the phone down. “Ok. Now what?” I ask Marcus, panicked. He laughs. “Man, you suck at this. Just be romantic. You know Aurelia best. You know what she likes, wants and what makes her happy. Just be you.” I nod, biting my lip. “A ring. f**k. I need a ring.” He rolls his eyes at me and I shoot him a warning glare. “Come on, let’s go into town and have a look for a ring.” I nod but worry about the thought of leaving Aurelia alone at home. Which sounds stupid because there’s so many wolves here who can protect her. We’ve had no threats. But, she’s my girl. My world. “Aurelia will be fine, Liam. Come on, go tell her we need to go sort something out for the business in town and let’s go.” I nod, as we both head out to the garden.

Aurelia POV

“There’s my sweet girl.” I turn around to see Liam walking towards me with Marcus behind him. He sits himself behind me, pulling me close to his chest between his legs. “You enjoying the sun?” He asks, kissing my neck. Marcus comes to sit next to us, laying on his back while the sun bounces off his face. “I am now I have my 2 favourite men here.” I smirk smugly at Marcus who chuckles. “Hey.” Liam groans, playfully. This time I chuckle and move my head to the side to kiss his chest. “We have to head out for a little bit, baby.” “Ok, where we going?” I ask, sliding my sandals back on. “Oh no, you can stay here. It’s just me and Marcus, I have this business thing..” “I don’t mind coming.” I say, turning around to face him. “Baby, I won’t be long. I’ll miss you too.” He kisses the top of my head and I sigh against his chest. He knows me too well. 

“Fine, you two go sort business. Will you be back for lunch?” They look at each other briefly, and then he shakes his head. “I don’t think so, baby. But I’ll make us a special dinner, just us two. How’s that?” I narrow my eyes suspiciously at him, there’s no way he would make the dinner. But a dinner for just us two does sound good so I shrug. “Ok.” He smiles and lifts my chin up to kiss me gently on the lips. As he pulls away I breathe in his scent and then squeeze his thigh. “Go on you two, get out of here. See you later.” “See you later, Aurelia.” I wave to Marcus, and hold Liam’s eyes for a few seconds before he turns to walk away.

“Miss you already.”

He turns to smirk at me.

“Baby, I haven’t even go to the car yet.”

I grin back at him.

“Still miss you. Love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”