Love Impossible: My Mate is Married?

Chapter 4

Xander pov

I felt helpless holding my mate as she sobbed for the diagnosis for her husband. I held no animosity towards Josh, even knowing she was married to him. I was willing to wait for her. A life as an immortal had its perks. I had been wondering if I should turn her while we looked at a similar age but hadn't had the courage to bring it up.

After hearing the cancer was stage 4, Josh and Frankie spent weeks at hospitals and clinics just trying to find a way to prolong their time together. Unfortunately, it was too late. After 2 years of fighting, his illness ended up killing him 6 months later. Frankie was beyond herself in grief. I could only just hold her close while she went through all the stages of grief, from denial to anger to helplessness. Her daughter was a shell, having lost the one man who was her father. He passed before finalizing her adoption, so her heart was shattered.

I was over every evening for a year helping around the house, doing Josh's chores and fixing things that needed it. I couldn't let my mate go through this alone. I didn't know if she would want to open herself up to a new relationship eventually, or if the heartbreak from this would ruin all chances of her accepting the mate bond.

Xander POV

1 year later

Josh hadn't lived much longer after discovering the cancer had spread. I had been asked to be a polebearer, and I was grateful to be close to Frankie and Hannah during this horrible time. Hannah seemed to take the news exceptionally badly. She would leave the house without letting Frankie know where she was, started hanging around tougher crowds. We lived in a small town, but that did not mean there were not troubled kids who got into trouble.

Frankie's light was dimmed, and I made sure to stick close to her. It's not like my wolf would allow me to leave her be, but I couldn't force either of them to accept the mate bond. The only reason why I had been able to hold off on acting on the bond is that I am an Alpha. My ability to control my wolf is much stronger than most.

Hannah was so angry at Frankie and often times would lose her temper when Frankie tried to be a parent. The girl was 16, and she needed the structure, but she was not making it easy. I knew Frankie was at her wits end with Hannah.

Hannah, who had been indifferent to my presence prior to Josh's passing, now looked at me with contempt. I tried to reach out to her only to be met with a stone wall of silence. I kept Josh's gardens alive and worked on the house as needed. Frankie did not need to think about things like that, nor did I think she had the ability to think about simple maintenance.

It was a good thing I didn't have to be super present for the security business because juggling Frankie's grief and the pack was getting difficult enough. Marcus, my beta had stepped up a lot, as had my father. Ultimately, though, the responsibility was mine. I knew I needed to start talking to Frankie about the bond, to see if she would reject me or accept me. Unfortunately, I was a chicken s**t about it. I was too afraid to be rejected. Every time I wanted to talk about it with Frankie, the words died on my tongue.

Most days, I would arrive at Frankie's house to help out and would see her staring off at a wall. She did this often, and I would have to snap her out of her own mind. I knew Frankie had started going to therapy to help with her grief, and she also had Hannah in therapy, but I did not know if it was making any difference.

I was fixing a leak in the kitchen sink when the door slammed, indicating Hannah was home from school.

"Hey baby, how was school?" Frankie called to her. She only responded with a grunt and stomped to her bedroom. Frankie's sigh echoed in my heart, I knew she felt alone. She had mentioned selling this place to start over, yet every time she starting talking about it, she would find something to remind her of a funny memory of Josh and each time she would say, I cant leave him yet.

Frankie was lonely without Josh, and Hannah closed herself off. Neither woman was there for each other.

I wiped my hands after finishing under the sink and was cleaning the mess I made. I looked up and saw Frankie staring at the stairs that Hannah had gone down. A tear was traveling down her face, and I wiped it off her cheek. "Wanna talk about it?"

Her broken sigh nearly put me to tears, and she turned to me. "She hates me." Frankie's voice cracked. "She won't talk to me. Even a simple hello is too much for her. I don't know how she is handling anything. I dont know if she is getting into trouble. I don't know what to do anymore."

I looked in the direction of the stairs before coming up with an idea, "You guys used to travel, or even go day fishing. Would a vacation help?"

Frankie scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. "I'm not sure I'd be able to convince her to leave with me."

I knew my smile was sad when I responded. "Let her make that choice. She's nearly an adult. I know a great place, cabin in the woods, little lake nearby filled with fish, it would be good for you both to take a break. She either comes along or she doesn't."

Frankie started chewing on her bottom lip, thinking it over. I wanted to take her lip and suck it from her teeth. I forced myself to keep looking in her eyes, "I mean, I can ask her, but if she says no?"

"I'll join you instead." I stared in her eyes, willing her to say yes. A small part of me didn't want Hannah to join us, but I also knew they needed this. Frankie's heart fluttered, and I saw her face slightly heat up. I knew the mate bond was working on her, but she shifted her eyes down to her feet, "I'll go ask her."

I listened to her light footsteps, make her way down the stairs, and cross the basement to Hannah's bedroom. A quiet knock on the door. I could hear everything with my wolf hearing, "Hey hun?" Frankie almost timidly got her attention. "Listen, we haven't gone fishing in forever, and there is this cabin by a lake. Maybe we could go there and enjoy nature a while? You and me, taking a break from life."

Hannah scoffed. "Pass" was all she said.

I frowned at the disrespect given to her mother before Frankie continued, "Ok, that's fine. I'll go without you, but things have got to change around here. I don't know what it will take, but I need some respect again. I know this year has sucked beyond all suckiness, but I am your mother. It's time you remembered that." By the end of Frankie's speech, her voice went from timid to stronger. I imagined she was standing taller to show Hannah not to mess with her.

"Whatever. Have fun with your lover, boy." Hannah's retort made both Frankie and I gasp.

Frankie sounded offended, "My what?"

"Oh, come on, Mom, Dad wasn't even cold in the ground, and you moved on. Has there been a day that Xander hasn't been here? I see the googly eyes you make his direction. It's sick. Were you cheating on Dad? What his illness was too much, so you jumped in the sack with some rando?" I heard Hannah stand as she yelled.

I bristled, knowing Hannah was lowly walking toward Frankie slowly as her rage kept rising. I could smell the anger coming off both women and knew the battle of wills was officially hitting a breaking point.

Frankie retorted, "I do not know who you think you are, young lady, but if you were so worried about this, why haven't you said anything?" I may not have children of my own, but watching enough pack members parent, I knew, a downfall to being a parent is when your child is so much like you, and it makes bashing heads worse.

"What the f**k Mom? What could I say? Hey Mom, uh, is the hot neighbor, who has been over nearly daily before Dad left us and is now here daily, trying to take Dad's place. Can you elaborate on what is happening? Does that sound like a conversation that would go well?"

"1. You will not use that tone with me. 2. No, I never cheated on your father. 3. Even if I decide to date again why does it matter? I'm allowed to find happiness after one of the worst periods of my life."

Hannah's scoff made me see red and I was not the one in front of her, "Whatever, Mom. Just leave. I'm at least loyal to Dad."

Her words hit me like a truck. Frankie was more than loyal to Josh. Her family came first in everything. Did I accidently force an emotional affair with Frankie? I heard Frankie sigh and leave Hannah's bedroom. She closed the door and I could tell both Hannah and Frankie were sobbing.

Hannah's anger was just taken out on Frankie. Gods, why is this so hard. I've denied my wolf his instincts for a year and a half. He wants to mark and mate sooner than later, and the human side of me knows that I can't rush it. Not only is Frankie hurting but one wrong move, and her daughter would be gone from her life.

I heard Frankie trudge up the stairs as I stayed in the kitchen by the table. Her reddened eyes made my wolf howl, and I wanted nothing but to hold her until the sadness could pass.

She walked past me, barely acknowledging my presence. "Frankie?" I asked cautiously.

She froze and asked quietly, "What are we? I've considered you one of the best friends a person can have, but is it more?"

I sighed, knowing that my next statement would either push her far away or bring her closer. "I've considered you an amazing friend, Frankie. I never would have come between you and Josh. I am very happy being your friend, but" I paused as she stiffened. "You're beautiful. I'd be a blind man to not see that. Would I actively pursue you? Maybe someday, but that day is not now. I know you just need a friend. Would I say no if you wanted to go further? I would have a hard time saying no to you. I already have a hard time telling you no to anything, and you're not even mine to have."

My heart raced as I waited for her to process my words. "Did you come around so much because of being interested or thinking that I was?"

"No, I met a woman who I admired. Who held similar interests to myself. Who I felt I could talk to about anything. It was not for the purpose of being together. I just enjoyed your company. I never once thought about breaking your marriage up. A mate bond is a powerful thing that should be honored."

She turned to face me, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Mate bond? You have the strangest ways of saying things."

I shrugged sheepishly. I had not meant to bring in wolf terms into our conversations. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Xander. Hannah got me wondering if I had an emotional affair on Josh."

"I get it," I really did get it. We were in a no-win situation. "Your love for each other was so evident. The moment I met you, I knew you would never have eyes for me. It didn't stop me from wanting a friendship, though. If I were one of those "Nice Guys" who expect s*x out of acting like a human being towards women, you would have known by now."

Her giggle warmed my heart. "Yes, nice guys who ask if you're still married."

"Nice guys who hold a door open and expect you to drop panties for them," I grinned, knowing her humor was pulling her out of the depression her daughter cast her way.

"Nice guys who don't get why they get friend zoned when in reality they are in the "Ugh not this guy again zone"" she continued giggling.

"Nice guys who will get abusive if you turn them down for a date." I added, enjoying our banter.

"Nice guys who want to be given back all gifts provided just because you dont want to date them," She stated.

I smiled at her and just watched her behavior move from sad to happy. My wolf was prancing in the back of my mind. He acted like he was the one who had just turned her mood around. I heard him huff at the thought but still enjoyed watching her.

"Well, my friend, I should get home and make sure Beast eats. Think about the vacation. Let me know when would work for you."

She smiled. "I will, and thanks Xander, you always seem to know how to make me feel better."

I smiled and made my way to the door, "I'm just a phone call away, never forget." I said as I gently closed the door behind me.