Sacred Bond: A Human Mate for Beta

Chapter Sixteen

JOE

I sit in my wolf form under a tree to stay warm. I don’t want to be in my wolf form, but I have no clothes. I can’t face Everly yet. I’m ashamed and frankly, completely shocked. No, pissed would be more like it. I feel my wolf keeping his distance in my mind. Our wolves seldomly speak with us. In the old days, we knew the wolves’ names. Back when my family were the alphas. Now, we respectfully let them be. What the actual hell though?! How could he do that. “Wolf! Come!” I mentally commanded. I feel him. He is apprehensive and on alert. “Why did you fight for power?” I asked. I heard a response. “Mate. Not wolf. We make her wolf.” Make her wolf? “Never come to the surface when I’m human again. The Alpha will have your hide.” I felt revulsion from him as I let him slip away. He could have killed Everly. Not that he cares.

I sat under the tree for some time, cooling off. My mind was racing about what I would say and how I would act to Everly. She rightfully will never trust me. I don’t blame her. I will have to prove my strength with this wolf and my growing love for her tenfold.

I catch a whiff of werewolf, but it’s unfamiliar. I stand immediately, my haunches raised. There shouldn’t be a werewolf on our land with out them announcing themselves. If Alpha were here, he could just mindlink the stranger and double check. I start to track the scent. I don’t know for how long, but as the night gets colder, the scent gets weaker. I track it to almost the border of our terroritory when Brittany’s voice is in my head. “Joe, come back and think about what you’re going to do to get this girl to stay!”

“She’ll never forgive me.” I say back. “I need her, Luna.”

“She needs you. Andrew is coming. We will protect her if needed.” She says, encouragingly.

“Beta, come speak to your mate. You both will feel better when you’re by each other. You need this, but more importantly, she needs this.” Alpha was in my mind too.

“Yes, Alpha. I’m on my way.”

I had already been running back to he lodge. Back to the scene of the injustice. Back to Everly.

“Alpha, there was a unfamiliar wolf scent. Probably should send someone.” I say to Andrew before I forget.

“Will do.” He replies before the connection breaks.

My mind goes back to Everly. The closer I physically get to her, the better I am feeling. I just want to hold her. Focusing on her again, I can feel her embarrassment. And her apprehension, but my heart soars when I feel her longing for me through it all.

I approach the pack house. I decide to come in through my main door. “I’m ready.” I mindlink Alpha and Luna.

I step through the doorway.

“Everly.” I call to her. She locks eyes with me and briefly scans them up and down my body before she surprises me by lurching toward me. I extend my arms and don’t move letting her come to me. Her body is feather light as it crashes into mine. I gently put my arms around her and breath her in. I feel drunk on her scent. Calm and loopy. I don’t make any moves as she clings to me and I feel her taking deep breaths. Her emotions are all over the place. Anger is the main one. Relief too. I slowly start to feel them calm from our physical connection.

After what feels like not enough time, I hear Alpha clear his throat. “Uhh, we will be right outside the door. Everly if you need anything, please shout.” Andrew says as he grabs Brittany’s hand.

As Brittany passes Everly and I, she gently touches Everly arm and whispers, “He has a lot to say. Please take it all in and compose yourself. I’ll be here to answer all your questions if that suits you.” She squeezed, endearingly.

The door shut behind them. Everly and I stood still with only our hands interlocked. “Should we—“ I free a hand and gesture towards the couch.

“Oh, um—-ok.” Everly responds calmly but I feel her heartbeat quicken.

We sit on the couch. I run my hands on the tops of my thighs and lick my lips. I have no idea where to start. Oh, hey by the way I turn into a vicious wolf and help Andrew run our Wolfpack didn’t seem soft enough.

Everly curled her legs under her and propped one elbow on the couch behind her. She looked at me expectantly and when I didn’t say anything, looked away. I watched her as she started to absently twirl her shiny hair in her fingertips. Mesmerizing. I could just be with her all day and find everything she does incredible.

“I’m sorry.” I blurted out. “I’m sorry about—earlier. That should not have happened.”

Her eyes looked like they were pooling with tears.

“What was that? I was so confused and scared.” She whispered.

“I know.” I started to reach up to wipe the lone tear that was slipping down her cheek but stopped and put my hands back in my lap and looked down at them.

Her hand gingerly grabbed mine. She took my pointer finger and wiped at her tear until the tear was on my finger.

“Don’t EVER do this to me again. I can’t bear it.” She said, strongly.

Well s**t. She’s about to be in a world of hurt in a few.

Her phone buzzed and she unlocked it with her face and began texting.

“I will stay for your apology but I called a ride back to my cabin.” She said.

Cabin. The one where the werewolf scent led!

“Andrew, any news on the werewolf scent?” I mindlinked

“A team is heading out now. Focus on what you have to do and leave the scouting to them for tonight.”

Everly was looking at me.

“Why do you make that face?” She imitated a daze look.

I laughed, “that’s not what I look like! No!” I covered my face with my hands and laughed harder.

Someone who doesn’t know the inner working of the pack of course would think we look ridiculous. As proven by her imitation. I quieted my laughter. “Ok. Serious question—do you believe in the supernatural?” I asked, getting down to the matter.

“Like ghosts and demons?” She asked back.

“Sure. Like ghosts and, uh, demons.” I reassure her.

She tilted her head to the side for a second before responding, “Yes.”

“Cool. Now tougher question—-do you believe in ‘soulmates’ or ‘love at first sight’?” I held my breath.

Her face turned a brilliant shade of red. She did!

“Not to sound corny, but yes, I think it can happen for some people.” She answered confidently even if her blush gave her away as nervous.

“Good. That’s good.” Is all I could say as I tried to form my next sentence.

“Do you love me?”

“I’m a werewolf.”

We spoke at the same time.

“What?!”

“Yes!”

We answered each other at the same time, too.

She stood up and backed away.

“You’re a werewolf?!” She shrieked.

“Brittany!” She shouted for Luna.

Brittany opened the door and stepped inside, casually staying where she was.

“Why did you call Brittany?” I asked, incredulously.

“In case you tried to attack me again. You have mental health problems, Joe.” She went and stood by Brittany, chewing her nail.

“I need to leave.” She looked at her phone. “Diego will be here in 10 minutes and my friends know where I am.” She threatened.

“No one is going to be hurt here. That’s good your friends know where you are.” Brittany said calmly.

“Joe, really?! ‘I am a werewolf’ that’s all you could say?” Brittany asked me, annoyed.

“Wait, you know he’s crazy?” Everly asked Brittany.

“Call me crazy as well for I believe myself a werewolf.” Brittany smiled at Everly sweetly.

“What?! What the f**k?! f**k I knew this ‘meet cute’ in the woods was waaaaay too good to be true!” Everly started cursing herself. She actually looked like the crazy one but I was not about to tell her.

“Everly, you believe in ghosts and demons. How can you not give an inkling of thought to potential supernatural powers gifted to a small few of humans?” Brittany asked.

“You HEARD our conversation?!” Everly shrieked again.

“I’ll call Diego and cancel her ride. You should give her one in a few and make her promise not to say a word to her human friends.” Brittany mindlinked me.

“Everly.” I said her name as I stood from the couch.

“Probably not a good night to show her.”

Brittany chided mentally before she left the apartment.

“I will never let anything happen to you. Can you just—-please give me a little time to tell you about it?”

I asked as calmly and sweetly as I could in order to calm her nerves. They were so wired, I felt anxiety.

I offered my hand out and a smile to bring her back to the couch. She walked to me and hesitated before slowly putting her hand in mine and taking a deep inhale.

“Ok, ok, ok. Learn about werewolves. No big.” She was whispering to herself.

I couldn’t help but kiss her knuckles and rub my thumb over them to help calm her. Her heartbeat steadied. I took a deep breath and was grounded by her scent. This will be a long night I think.