You're Not My Mate

Getting to Know You

Aurelia POV

“What do you want to know?” He asks. I smile at him. Being on his chest is my new favourite place, so far. “When’s your birthday?” He chuckles. “All of the questions you could ask me in the world. And you want to know when my birthday is?” My face drops and I furrow my brow. Maybe it was a poor question to start with. He lifts my chin up. “I’ll be 25 on December 10th.” I nod. “Do you want to write it down?” I shake my head. “I’ll remember.” He looks surprised but laughs it off. “When’s your birthday?” “No, no, no. It’s my turn to ask questions.” I pout and stick out my bottom lip. He laughs.

“You know, if you keep sticking out that bottom lip, I’m going to start biting it.” I think about it, and then pull it back in. Although I heal fast, I want my body to concentrate on healing other areas right now.. I have Alpha blood so I heal much faster. But Liam is an actual Alpha, his healing will be much quicker than mine. “What about your family?” He looks surprised. “Well, my mother and father are Isabella and Alexander. I took over as Alpha when I was 21. My parents enjoyed retiring and travel a lot now. My mother is Italian. My brother, Henry, you met earlier. He’s 22, still looking for a mate, but he’s not too bothered about it yet. You don’t see him much.. He likes to be off doing his own thing. My sister, Lola, is 20. She’s the baby of the family and has been actively searching for her mate since she was 18. She’s very touchy about it.”

I nod, taking it all in. “I know how she feels.” He looks at me confused, c*****g his head. “You’re still 18.” He laughs. I laugh too. “Yeah, but I was expecting to find my mate ON my 18th birthday. Where were you? Why didn’t you come to my party?” I ask him, narrowing my eyes at him. He chuckles. “Baby, I wasn’t invited.” I furrow my brows and pout. “Hmph.” He pushes the crease between my eyebrows and gently pushes it out, flattening it, and cupping my chin. I lean into his hand and kiss it. “Any more questions?” I nod. “Loads!” He laughs, and gets himself comfy sitting up. I climb and sit on his lap sideways, resting my head on his chest.

“This is my favourite sound.” I mumble, listening to his heart beat. He pulls me closer and tighter to him. “What do you do?” I ask. He chuckles. “I’m Alpha.” I roll my eyes. “I know that. What else do you do? Do you work?” He nods. “I own a few companies. Cruz, my Beta, and Marcus, my Gamma, both oversee them, as well as managers to run each section. I don’t really have much day to day involvement. Just signing contracts and I get involved with any new expansions or business plans. I work either at the office, or sometimes from home.” I nod. “How many are in your pack?” “700.” My mouth drops. “Wow.” He laughs. “Yeah, we’re the second biggest pack in the U.S. Hopefully I’ll get a few babies in you soon and grow even more.” My mouth drops and I elbow him, hard. Knowing full well that it would have felt like a pillow hitting him. 

“Soo.. Alphas are stronger, better, blah blah. But do you have any special abilities?” I ask. He c***s his head and narrows his eyes at me. “Well, don’t be disappointed, but, no.. Obviously as an Alpha all of my senses are extra heightened, strength and so on. But no special superpowers. That’s very rare.” I nod.

Liam POV

I don’t know if she’s disappointed about my lack of a special ability. Was she hoping I’d be able to go invisible or something? I’m nervous looking at her face. Her brow is furrowed. “What’s wrong baby? You disappointed?” Her head snaps to me. “Never!” She looks horrified that I even considered it. I c**k my head to the side and look at her deep in thought.

“Please tell me what you’re thinking. I can’t read your feelings. It’s.. Weird.”

She smiles her wonderful smile at me. “I guess..” She bites her lip and now I can feel her worry. I squeeze her arms. “Please just tell me.” “Well.. I have.. A special ability. Kind of. I have a crazy memory thing, I remember everything. Even from when I was a baby. Well, back until I was about 1 years old. My first birthday is my earliest memory. We figure that’s when my body accepted the ability.” She shrugs.

I gently pull her face to look at me. “Well, at least you’ll never forget my birthday.” I chuckle. She smiles at me and leans her forehead against mine. I gasp and she throws herself back. “What was that?!” I ask, bewildered. When her forehead leaned against mine, I could see what she was thinking about. Past memories. She’s sat on the end of the bed looking at me, terrified. “Baby, come here.” I call, opening my arms for her. She looks panicked, with her eyes darting between us and doesn’t move. 

“My sweet baby, please come to me.”

She nods and slowly climbs up the bed to sit on my lap. “Did you see that?” She whispers. I nod. “Do it again.” I ask. “I.. I don’t know how. I just was thinking about walking down those stairs and meeting you for the first time, and I leaned against your head and then.. It was like I could play it all for you, like a movie.” I nod. “I could see everything. Have you ever had that happen before?” I ask. She shakes her head. “The Elders told me that when I mated my powers could increase.  They weren’t 100% sure as it doesn’t always happen, and they couldn’t tell me how they’d improve.. I guess this is it?” She asks. I nod with her. “Makes sense. Can you read my memories?” I ask.

She bites her lip and shrugs. I think of the first time I saw her on those stairs as well, as much as I can remember of it. She leans against my head. I can’t really see anything different, just my memory, but I can feel wet on my face. “Are you crying?” I ask, panicked, pushing back to look at her face. “I saw it all.” She sobs. I raise my eyebrows. “Did you not like it?” I ask. She shakes her head and wraps her arms around my neck to kiss me. “I love you.” I grin at her and hold her close.

“So, any other talents I need to know about?” I ask. She laughs and shakes her head. “That’s it. Just good memory and apparently I can see those memories and share them now I’ve mated with you.” I grin and rub my nose against hers. “Glad I could be of help. So, what about your family?”

Aurelia POV

I shrug. “Obviously you met my parents. I’ve never got on with my father. My mother I’m quite close with, you know... My oldest brother, Caesar, he’s set to be Alpha of the pack. He found his mate, Arabella, on my 18th birthday. They are still crazy in love right now. I’m surprised she isn’t pregnant yet to be honest.” He chuckles as I carry on. “Felix is my older brother. I’m very close to him, we talk about everything. When Caesar takes over as Alpha, he’s going to be his Beta. Our current Beta, Gallus, him and his wife only had 1 child, my best friend, Lucia. So they have nobody in their bloodline to pass the title onto. And she is mated with our Gamma’s oldest son, Dominik, who is Junus’ older brother. And.. That’s it really.” I shrug.

His mouth drops. “Wow, your family sounds... Interesting.” I laugh, and he joins in. “Oh, sweet baby, I love when you laugh.” And he caresses my face. “So, has your father always been a jerk?” I shrug and nod. “Yep. It’s funny actually. The day I met you, I’d already packed a bag and I was intending on leaving after lunch, running away. And then I met you and got to move away anyway! It’s like fate.” I grin to myself, thinking how the Moon Goddess must have had this planned. He squeezes me tight. “Don’t ever run away from me.” I run my fingers through his hair. “I never will. Why would I run away from you? You are my life. We’re mated forever.” He smiles. “Hopefully that’s at least a couple of thousand of years.” I smile back and he starts to kiss my neck and my mark.“Promise me one thing though?” I ask. He gently kisses my lips, sticking his tongue out to slowly lick along them.

“Anything.”

“I don’t want us to ever go to bed on an argument. Let’s always agree to forgive and forget before bed each night before we go to sleep.”

“I promise, sweet baby of mine. I promise.”

“So, what can I get you for your birthday?” He asks, pulling his lips from mine. “I have all I need right here.” I grin, and kiss his neck. Just as he starts to lick and kiss the mark on my neck he made, my stomach grumbles. “You hungry, baby?” I nod, kissing his cheek, before gently biting down on the mark I made on his neck, grinning to myself when a soft growl escapes his chest. “I love your little growl.” I bat my eyelashes at him. He lets out a longer one and I can feel the vibrations in his chest. I laugh, leaning into him. “I think that’s my favourite sound, my sweet, sweet baby.” I swear my cheeks are aching from all the smiling.

My stomach rumbles again, interrupting us both and we both laugh. “Do you want dinner downstairs? Or I can get Jordan to cook us something and get it brought up?” “Up here please.” I say, sweetly. I’m not really up to meeting more members of his pack just yet. I like being in this little safe haven of his - our - bedroom. His eyes cloud over briefly and then he’s back. “Jordan will plate up food for us and fetch it up now. Sounds like he just finished cooking.” My stomach grumbles in response. 

A few minutes later, someone knocks the door and leaves dinner on a trolley outside for us. Liam pulls on a pair of boxers and heads outside to get it. “Looks like the guys brought up all your stuff up too.” He calls over his shoulders. I make a mental note to unpack after we’ve eaten. He takes the trolley over towards the sofa and gestures for me to follow. He pulls the metal lids off the dishes to reveal a prawn cocktail starter, steak and chips for main, with strawberries and chocolate for dessert. I look at Liam and he smiles slyly at me. I know the strawberries are all him.

Liam POV

Damn. She knows the strawberries are my idea. I knew I should have kept that one covered until later. I move the two prawn cocktails onto the arm of the sofa next to me, and then I pull her onto my lap, with her legs across me on the sofa. I lift up a forkful of prawn cocktail and feed it to her. She swallows it all, grinning at me. Then leans down, picks out a prawn and offers it to me. I open my mouth and she puts the prawn and her fingers in my mouth. I clamp down, sucking all of the sauce off her fingers. Mixed with her strawberry taste, it tastes perfect. 

My turn. I lean over and pick up a prawn with my teeth and offer it to her. She crinkles her nose. “No thanks, you keep that one.” I feign looking hurt and she laughs, pushing it into my mouth with her finger. I make another promise to myself, to make her laugh every day of our lives. It’s like music straight to my heart. When we’ve finished the prawn cocktail, she climbs off me to sit next to me for our steak and chips. This mating stuff is tough, I want to keep her in my lap forever. Feel her against my body. She fits there perfect, I’m sure the Moon Goddess made this lap the exact size for her. 

“So, what’s the plans for your birthday?” I ask, taking a bite of steak. She chuckles to herself, and I raise an eyebrow to her. Am I missing something? What’s so funny about her birthday? “Well, you watch TV right?” She asks. I pull a face at her, does she think we don’t have TVs here? There’s one right in front of her. I gesture with my eyes to the TV on the wall and she laughs, a blush spreading across her cheeks. I love how sweet and innocent she is and watching her face turn red. “Well, growing up my favourite movie was Grease. So, my family decided to throw me a Grease themed party for my 19th. You have to dress up too.” Then her face drops. “Oh my goodness, we have to order you an outfit!!” She screams, jumping up and running into the walk-in closet. I stare after her with my mouth hanging open. She’s kidding me, surely?

She comes skidding back in the room, and jumps on me, landing on my lap. “s**t!” I groan. Her face looks panicked. “You ok Hot Bun?” She asks. She managed to land straight on my d**k. I swear, something snapped. I know my wolf senses will kick in and heal it any second, but I can’t even talk except let a little moan escape my lips. She panics.

“What can I do? What happened? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine baby, so long as you don’t intend on having pups with me anytime soon.”

She c***s her head to the side confused and then realisation hits her. “Oh Goddess, I’m sorry.” She says, dropping her face. My eyes are watering, but the pain is starting to ease. She adjusts herself, and I grab her arm to stop her. For the love of everything in this world right now, please don’t move I silently beg. She sits pure still, a look of concern on her face. 

“Are you not healing?!”

“I am baby, give me 20 seconds and I’ll be as good as new.”

I can feel everything healing and a few seconds later, no more pain. I smile at her, she looks terrified, and climbs off my lap. She bends down and kisses my d**k through my boxer. Oh Goddess. She sits up and looks straight in my eyes. “That was intense. You OK?” Intense? Intense? “You will never know the pain.” She makes a face. “Actually.. I felt your pain. This mating thing is intense. Well, maybe not as much pain as you felt. But I knew you were in pain.” She strokes the side of my face. I catch her wrist and kiss it. I didn’t realise mating would be like this. She’s right, so intense. I never thought someone like me could ever deserve someone as sweet and caring as her. I never thought I’d be the one to have a mate and be all soppy and loving. But, here I am. And I love it.

Aurelia POV

I’m still panicking about hurting him. I didn’t even think in all my excitement. I just wanted to shop for an outfit for him. I can just imagine him rocking up in a T-Bird jacket. I bite my bottom lip and wait until he seems ok again before I show him outfits. I cut off another piece of his steak and feed it to him. He seems happy by this, so I keep going, as way of my apology. When we’re finished with our steaks, he picks me up and pulls me onto his lap again. I stay still so as not to knock anything.

“Oh sweetheart, it’s fine. You don’t have to panic. You just charged at me before and jumped with such force. You’ll never know what it’s like being a man.” He laughs. I bite my lip. I never want to hurt him and I definitely didn’t like the feeling I had wash over me when he was hurt. It was like half of me was hurting when he was hurting.

“Why don’t you get the strawberries, baby?” He asks, trying to distract me. A smile spreads across my face and I lean over the table to pick up the bowl of strawberries, they had melted chocolate all over them but a lot of the chocolate had hardened now. I pick up a strawberry and put it in my mouth. It tasted delicious. I hear a little whine come from Liam and laugh. I pick up a strawberry drizzled in chocolate and put it in his mouth. He bites down nibbling my fingers as he eats it. I flash him my teeth as I smile, and then pull out my phone.

“Soo.. What do you think?” I ask, showing him the T-Bird jacket. He groans and closes his eyes. “Baby, I have a black jacket I can wear.” I shake my head. “No! You’re with the birthday girl, you have to make an effort.” I plead with my eyes. He looks at me, assessing my face. I put out my bottom lip, and sigh. “Fine. I guess I’ll just have to have all the other men in my life dress up, and leave you here.” His face drops. “Hmm. If I’m dressing up as a pink lady, I need a T-Bird to go with. Guess you’ll have to just stay here and occupy yourself. I’m sure I can find another man to come with me. ” I shrug. 

His eyes narrow and glare at me. “Fine. What do I have to wear?” And he rolls his head back on the sofa. I grin, and turn to face him on his lap and put a strawberry in his mouth. “Ok, do you have black jeans and a white t-shirt?” “I have a white t-shirt.” “Ok, so I’ll order black jeans, and a T-Bird jacket. Do you have black shoes?” He nods his head. “Great. You are going to look so handsome.” I grin at him and rub my ass against his d**k through his boxers while feeding him another strawberry.

“Ohh, sweetheart. Can’t you give me 5 minutes?” I burst out laughing. “I hope I haven’t worn you out already?” I ask, innocently. He joins me in laughing and bites another strawberry out of my fingers. “Hey, that was mine.” He laughs, sucking the leftover chocolate from my fingers. “So, what are you wearing?” I grin. “Can’t tell you. It’s a surprise. I’m sure you’ll like it though.” He rolls his eyes at me and lays his head back on the top of the sofa. “I haven’t even known you for a week yet and you’re changing my wardrobe.” I can’t help but giggle. He sits up straight and cups my chin. “That sound..” He purrs and I flash him my toothiest smile. 

“How about a bath?” He asks. I nod, letting myself day dream of a nice warm bath right now. He lifts me up and puts me next to him, and then heads into the bathroom and comes back a few seconds later. He tidies up the plates and puts them back on the trolley and pushes it back outside his door. Then, he starts fetching all of my stuff in. I go to help him but he gives me a warning shake of his head, so I sit back down and watch him do all the heavy lifting. “I’ll unpack them later.” I promise him. He nods and then heads into the bathroom. 

A few seconds later he comes back in, and scoops me up to his chest. “You ready for a bath?” All of the events of the last couple of days, the travelling and the jet lag was starting to hit now, I was exhausted. He carries me into the bathroom, and sets me on my feet to undress me, and then takes off his only article of clothing left on - his boxers. He climbs into the bath and offers me his hand. I take it and climb into the bathtub in front of him, sitting between his legs with my back against his chest.

Liam POV

I can’t believe I’m having to wear fancy dress next week. But, sitting in the bath with her between my legs, breathing in her sweet strawberry scent, makes everything feel just perfect. I pull out the shampoo and start rubbing it into her hair, massaging her scalp. A soft moan escapes her mouth and she leans back against me. I shampoo and condition her hair, washing it all out. 

Then I grab a sponge, add body wash onto it and start scrubbing her naked body. Taking extra care to go slowly over her breasts, and squeezing soap suds down her chest. I can feel the happiness and the start of arousal radiating from her.

“Do you have the energy for one more o****m, baby girl?”

“Mmmm”

I chuckle, and decide to try my luck, and pull her closer to me. I grind against her ass, and I can smell her arousal strong now. I flash a wicked grin, I’ve got her. I lean down and kiss the mark I’ve left on her neck. Kissing it softly and flicking my tongue across it. Her back arches, and I lift her up gently in the water, and then gently pull her back down, sliding my d**k inside her. I slide in so perfectly, it’s like our bodies were made for each other. 

I gently lift her up and down, careful not to be too rough and have the water overflow the bath. Her back was arching and her soft moans were music to my ears. And d**k. It was throbbing inside her. I could feel it pulsing with each thrust inside her. She lays her head back on my neck and I continue to kiss her, before reaching my hand around and massaging her c**t with each thrust. Her moans were louder now, “Oh Liam” “Liam..” Every moan of my name had me thrusting harder, and faster. Just the sound of my name on her lips was enough to drive me insane.

She forces herself down and pushes me deep inside her unexpectedly, taking my breath away. And then, she starts to circle her hips. I swear, my eyes almost roll back into my head. She circles her hips around and around, and the bath water sloshes around our bodies. My d**k, still inside her, has never felt so wrapped up and amazing. It throbs and I know I’m close. I can feel the lust starting to take over. I grab her hips, and start thrusting in and out of her. I start slow, and then I get harder, and faster. I reach my hand around her and rub her c**t, side to side with force.

Her moans grow louder as she screams my name, over and over. The water is splashing around us, almost flowing over the bath, but I don’t care anymore. With one final thrust deep inside her, I push her down, squeeze her c**t and bite my mark on her neck. She screams as the o****m rips through her, and I c*m at the exact same time, bursting around inside her. I continue to thrust for a short while after, getting all of my juices out and inside her, before collapsing back against the bath, still inside her. She leans back, laying her neck against my shoulder. 

Her breathing starts to change, and I know she’s falling asleep. I kiss and nibble at her ear lobe. “Baby.. Come on baby, let’s go to bed.” Nothing. Damn, she’s a deep sleeper. I pull the bath plug out with my foot and lift her up gently, sliding out of her and then stand, holding her in front of me. I lean her back gently against the back of the bath as I climb out. Once I’m out, I grab one of our extra large fluffy towels, bend over the bath and pick her up, wrapping her up in the towel.

I carry her back into the bedroom bridal style and sit her on my lap on the bed as I dry her off. I don’t know whether drying her hair will wake her up.. Or if she does it a certain way. So, I brush through it with my fingers. It flows all the way down her back. Even soaking wet, it smells perfect. I lay her down on the bed while I switch the bedroom light off, and then I climb in next to her. I pull her close with her head resting on my shoulder, and I turn slightly, so that I can smell her strawberry scent all night long. And I fall asleep, dreaming of strawberries.