First Beginnings

by Clare Atling

  Well, well, Marcus thought. Killing two – no, three – birds with one stone. He had recognised the she-wolf’s scent as soon as he’d spotted her the night before last. He knew exactly who she was, and it would be all the sweeter when she was finally his, hanging from the chains in his dungeon.

  He watched them go inside their small house and disappear through the door. He pulled out his mobile and rang his son.

  ‘Get here to the females’ house. Now!’ he ordered. ‘The fat one is here with two of the Penn brothers. I want her in my hand and those two dead by the end of the day.’

  Then he hung up, not waiting for Colt to reply. He sat back in his chair, just watching.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Callie instantly recognised the scent of the wolf.

  ‘Yep, it's the same wolf. I don't understand why, if it was some random attack, he wants to harm us still. If he is another alpha of a pack and wants revenge for me besting him, then he should have made a challenge by now.’

  Brandon growled at her, his eyes glowing bright amber. ‘Don't even say that. You are not going against another alpha in a challenge. I won’t allow it. Seth won’t allow it, and Mom and Dad would kick Logan’s ass if he let you do it!’

  ‘I'm pretty sure Logan couldn’t care less if I didn’t come back after this morning’s conversation,’ Callie replied. Seth had filled Brandon in on what he had heard, but still winced as Callie truly believed his brother and pack beta would allow her to get hurt.

  ‘Callie, can you see anything out of the ordinary here? Anything moved or taken?’ Seth quickly turned the conversation around, wanting to get out as soon as possible and back to his mate.

  ‘Nope, not a thing. Although it makes my skin crawl to know he got to our house and could still be watching.’ She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering at the thought.

  ‘Come on, let’s get out of here,’ said Seth. ‘Pack anything else you need. I want to be back on the island before it gets dark.’ He watched Callie go from room to room, picking up bits and pieces from around his mate’s house. One thing he was sure of – she was never coming back here, even if it took him years to convince her.

  ‘Ok, ready,’ said Callie eventually. ‘This bag’s for Sarah. I know she is fighting you, but I also know what it means to find a mate. It makes me sad to think she will never be here with me again.’ Callie felt the sadness creep inside her. She was resigned to the fact she would be forever on her own, never knowing what it meant to have a true mate.

  Just as she was about to admonish herself for thinking such dark thoughts, the front door burst open and in marched two huge men. She instantly recognised the man from the other night and felt her wolf close to the surface.

  ‘Well, what have we here? My little chubby pet and her Penn princes.’ Marcus smiled an evil smile, looking straight at Callie. ‘I can’t wait to get you home so my guards can have some fun. You’re a little too large for my tastes, but that’s not to say I won’t take you before I kill you.’ Colt couldn’t help the shiver as he listened to his father speak to the female wolf. He scented the air and could smell something familiar about her, but he wasn’t sure what it was.

  Seth and Brandon immediately stood defensively between her and the two men who he recognised were from Marcus pack.

  “Callie, go!’ commanded Brandon. ‘Leave us to have a chat with this sick motherfucker. Get out the back, anyway you can, and call for help.’ Without looking back, he handed her his mobile phone and hoped she would follow his instructions. ‘Now!’ he shouted. Callie made to move, but was stopped as soon as she heard the next words from the evil wolf’s lips.

  ‘Such a shame I won’t be able to gut you like I did your mother and father,’ he sneered. ‘But I will catch you, Callie. After I’ve killed these fuckers, I will find you and fuck you, then kill you.’ He smiled the whole time he was talking, enjoying the look of pain on Callie’s face.

  ‘What? I...? You killed my parents? Why?’ Callie could barely breathe, let alone speak.

  ‘Callie, I'm warning you, run now!’ shouted Brandon. ‘He’s just using delaying tactics. Don't listen. If it’s true, we will find out, but for fuck’s sake get your arse out of here.’ Callie didn’t hang about this time. She ran, dialling the first number she could find, which just happened to be Logan’s. She could hear the snarling and snapping of teeth as she made her way to safety.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘What do you want, Marcus?’ Seth stepped forward towards the two wolves. ‘You are not welcome here.’

  ‘Well, alpha wolf, I'm sorry. We will be going then!’ Marcus chuckled to himself. ‘But first, I want you to give me back the females. I found them first as potential mates for Colt.’

  Seth snarled at Marcus for even thinking he would just hand his mate over. ‘Never in this lifetime would I ever hand over any female to your sadistic wolf pack. And that goes for my mate as well. The female is mine. Colt can’t mate her now as she is mated to me.’

  ‘Funny thing is,’ replied Marcus, ‘I don't smell the girl on you. If you were mated, her scent would be all over you. Colt wants her for a mate. The other fat bitch will come to me, after I tell her how I ripped her parents apart with my claws.’ A deep, menacing growl escaped him. ‘Hand them over! You know the laws and I say we laid claim to them first.’

  ‘I will kill you if you so much as look at my mate, and Callie.’ Seth could feel his wolf at the surface, ready to rip through, ready for battle. He could also feel the waves of anger coming from Brandon and knew he would rip Marcus and his son, Colt, apart. ‘I say she is already mated. She is not yours to claim.’

  Colt snarled at the two brothers. ‘Then I will rip you apart and get them myself!’

  As he leapt in the air, his wolf burst through, aiming straight for Seth. Just as he pounced, Seth called his wolf forward and the two met, mid-air. Colt managed to get his teeth around Seth’s neck and he threw him against the wall.

  Seth stood up, shaking his head to clear his vision; he could see that Brandon had also changed into his wolf and was challenging Marcus. Seth charged Colt again and grabbed his leg, hearing a satisfying snap as he broke it in his jaws. However, before Colt could turn, Seth swiped his claws across his muzzle and pulled on his leg, sinking his teeth further into the broken bone. Colt let out a howl of pain and moved out of Seth’s grip as he dodged another swipe to his face. Marcus had Brandon pinned to the floor, ready to rip his throat out. Seth jumped over the coffee table and knocked Marcus off his brother.

  ‘Shit, we need to get out of here, Seth. The fucker is strong.’ Seth nodded his head in agreement as he heard his brother speak to his wolf.

  Seth circled Marcus, who was now standing over Brandon, snapping his teeth; he seemed more feral than alpha of a pack. Seth growled back and made to move forward. Just as he was about to jump into the air, he heard a car pull up at the front of the house. He instinctively knew it was his bother and knew that he and Brandon would get out ok. Marcus’s head snapped up as he heard the car and he changed back into his human form.

  ‘Get the fuck up,’ he snarled at Colt. ‘You will pay for the damage you have caused my son,’ he added, looking at Seth. ‘I will find your mates and slit their throats whilst you watch!’

  As Colt changed back into his human form, Seth could see the damage he had inflicted. His right leg was broken and he had three large gashes across his face, just missing his left eye. Seth knew that, for an old wolf, his wounds would not heal and he may be left with a permanent scar. Good, he thought, I wish I could have done more.

  Marcus and Colt ran from the room and made their escape through the back door of the house, seconds before Logan walked into the room. Seth and Brandon changed back into their human forms and inspected their bodies for any damage. They each had a few scratch and teeth marks, but they would be gone by tomorrow. Seth knew they had been lucky.

  ‘Leave them, Logan,’ said Seth, as Logan was about to go after the two men. ‘We will get t
hem next time. We need to form a better plan and find out what they are up to before we go after them. I will not put my mate, or yours, at risk. Ever!’ Seth pushed Logan back, watching his eyes simmer back to their natural pale blue.

  ‘Callie’s in the car,’ said Logan coldly. ‘Let’s go.’ He then walked out of the room, leaving Seth and Brandon wondering what was wrong with him.

  Once they were safely on the ferry heading towards Penn Lake Island, Logan got out of the car and walked away from them toward the front of the ferry. Callie sat looking sadly out the window. Seth wondered what had got into his brother; here was his mate, sitting on her own, and he had his head up his arse. Well, once he had claimed his own mate he was going to kick his brother into submission.

  When they were back on the island, he walked Callie to Hope’s house. He checked she was ok before Hope pulled her into a hug and walked her back inside, shutting the two brothers out. Logan had gone to the marina bar again, so all Seth could do was say goodnight to Brandon and go find his mate. He smiled to himself, wondering if Sarah had actually missed him or whether it was going to be a long battle to convince her how much she meant to him.

  As he crossed the road and headed for his parents’ house, he couldn’t help but feel the excitement bubble up inside him at the thought of seeing Sarah again, knowing soon they would be mated and he could then spend the rest of his life mated to the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He walked up to the front door and opened it, as he had done many times before, and sniffed the air to catch a scent of his mate. Home. That what she smelt like.

  He walked through to the kitchen to see his mother sitting at the breakfast island reading a magazine. His dad was on the computer doing what looked like accounts, but he couldn’t see Sarah.

  ‘If you’re looking for your mate,’ said Mary, ‘she was tired, so I made up the bed in your old room for her. Tread carefully with her, Seth, she’s a very special girl.’ His mum smiled at him, as if she had all the answers he needed. He was about to ask what she meant, but she smiled and winked at him. ‘Why are you still here? If someone had told your father I was laid out on a bed, he would have torn through the walls to get up the stairs quicker!’ He heard his father snicker like a naughty schoolboy in the corner.

  ‘Way too much information, Mum,’ Seth winced.

  ‘Oh, I don't know, boy!’ replied his father. ‘Five hundred mated years later and I would still rip through the walls to see your mother spread out on our bed!’ He smiled and walked over to place a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

  ‘I feel sick,’ Seth said as he rubbed his stomach. ‘I'm going to get Sarah and go home. Far too much information…’ He turned to leave, but not before he saw the love flare through his father’s eyes as he looked at his mother, but he picked up his pace when he heard his mother squeal.

  When he reached the door to his old bedroom, he opened it quietly and looked in. When he saw Sarah spread out on his bed, he knew exactly what his father had meant. He couldn’t help but catch his breath at the beautiful sight; she was like every dream come true and more. He walked slowly to the side of the bed and sat down next to her to sweep the hair off of her face. She was all his and he would never, ever, let her go to Colt. She was his mate and he would protect her with everything he had.

  Stirring from her sleep, Sarah moved her head closer to his hand as he held her cheek in his palm. Her hand came up to hold his as she opened her eyes.

  ‘Hey, sorry,’ she said, ‘I didn’t mean to actually fall asleep. I just meant to rest for a while. Everything ok? Why are you covered in blood?’ She sat up so quickly that she felt dizzy for a moment. ‘Oh my god! Callie! Is she ok?’

  ‘Everything is fine, sweetness,’ he replied soothingly. ‘When we got to your old home we were paid a visit by two wolves. One of them Callie confirmed was the man who tried to take you. His name is Marcus – we’ve dealt with him before. The other was his son, Colt. We were attacked, but they ran when Logan arrived.’ He pulled her against him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Seth took in a deep breath of her sweet, tropical scent. ‘It’s nothing a shower wouldn’t fix once we get back home.’

  ‘You could shower here,’ Sarah replied. ‘I would wait for you?’ she added shyly, not feeling as confident as she should in his bed. ‘I don't mind.’

  ‘As much as I would love for you to stay here in my bed,’ said Seth, smiling, ‘I think it would be wise to return home.’ She felt the shudder go through him. ‘I think my parents are about to strengthen their mating bond and, as much as I want you, and as hard as you make me, there is no passion-killer quite like hearing your parents going at it.’ Sarah giggled at him as she saw how serious he was. ‘You should do that more often,’ he said, looking straight into her eyes.

  ‘What?’ Even to her own ears she sounded breathless.

  ‘Laugh. It lightens up your whole face. I love seeing your eyes sparkle, like you are free of this entire burden. I love you, Sarah. I know you think it’s too soon and I know all of this scares you, but I would do anything for you. I would keep you safe and give you the life you need to be happy here. I would do anything to make you laugh every day, my sweetness.’ He placed a soft kiss against her lips as he felt the wetness of her tears. ‘Don’t cry, sweetness.’

  ‘No one has ever said anything so perfect to me in all my life,’ replied Sarah. ‘Everything about this scares me. I know it’s not fair on you and it’s causing you pain, but I really do need time. If I asked you to give this island up and move with me to live in my house, would you?’

  ‘In a heartbeat, my sweetness. I would follow you anywhere. But at the moment, this is the safest place to be. Come, let me take you home.’

  ‘Ok, and stop calling me sweetness!’ she giggled.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next two weeks went by very quickly for Sarah. There were no more sightings of Marcus or Colt, and nothing was heard from them since the attack on Seth and Brandon. However, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy still. Seth had been a complete gentleman – well, perhaps not a complete gentleman, but he had tried. Every night she slept in his arms and every morning she woke to find one hand on her breast and the other on her arse –cheek. He kissed her every night before they fell asleep and every morning before they showered.

  He showed her round the island. She, Hope, and Callie walked every day along the shoreline, spending many hours gossiping about the brothers and island life. However, every time the subject of Logan was brought up, Callie would become quiet and withdrawn. Sarah had asked Callie about it a few times, but she had just said that sometimes life didn’t work out as it was supposed to and, as soon as it was safe, she was going home.

  Sarah felt her stomach flip at the thought of going home without Seth and his family. She had come to love it here and, even more importantly, she had come to love Seth and all the little things he would do for her. He had bought her an iPad so she could surf the net, but they just ended up playing games against each other. He let her choose the films to watch of an evening after he had cooked her dinner, yet not once had he tried to have sex with her or push her into the mating she knew he wanted so much.

  If she was completely honest with herself, she wanted to stay here and make Penn Lake Island her home, but could she leave Callie and their dreams behind? Callie was like a sister to her and she would never choose a man over her best friend; but she loved Seth and the thought of leaving him left her feeling lonely and sad. Callie looked over at her when she stopped walking.

  ‘Sarah, are you ok?’ Callie asked worriedly.

  ‘Fuck, Callie, I think I'm in love with Seth,’ she replied. ‘Oh god. What am I going to do?’ Tears burnt her eyes. Hope, overhearing, stepped up beside Callie.

  ‘I would say you go home and shag him senseless,’ said Hope. ‘But that’s my brother we’re talking about, so urgh!’ She shuddered, but smiled at them both.

  Callie, however, remained serious. ‘Sarah, go to Seth. He must be going out of hi
s mind at not being able to touch you. I'm surprised his wolf has lasted this long without a mate. I love you and will be here for you; nothing will change that. But I can’t stay on the island knowing I have a mate who hates me.’ Sarah felt Callie’s pain but, before she could reassure her, Hope took her hand and kissed the back of it.

  ‘He doesn’t hate you, Callie,’ said Hope. ‘My brother is the most egotistical man alive and has always had women fall at his feet. I think giving up his freedom is making him act out and you’re his punching bag, so to speak. He will come round and, if he doesn’t… well, I’ll chop his dick off and feed it to him.’ She smiled benignly.

  ‘Remind me not to upset you,’ Sarah laughed. ‘But Callie, I just don't think I can let you leave this island without me. We have worked our arses off for our dream and I can’t give it all up just because some wolfy sense tells him we’re fated to be together. Can’t you just stay for a while? Please, Callie? I understand if you can’t, but I promise I’ll come with you.’ Sarah was now crying openly as Callie hugged her. They stood like that for several seconds before Hope leapt on both of them.

  ‘You two are like the sisters I never had,’ she cried. ‘I never thought I would feel such a close connection to any women like this. It’ll all work out. It has to. I couldn’t bear to lose you both, especially now you have become part of our family.’ Hope squeezed them both before letting go.

  ‘Sarah,’ said Callie, ‘you have to stay and mate Seth. He loves you and I can see you love it here. I’ll come back. Lots and lots to see – you, and your baby sitting on you knee…’ She winked as Sarah paled. ‘And, of course, I’ll be here for the wedding,’ she added, smiling.