First Beginnings

by Clare Atling

  ‘Stop it now,’ replied Sarah, blushing. ‘You’re just teasing me. We are a long way off from all that…’ she huffed, but the glimmer of hope stayed with her. ‘Plus, I don't know if I can go through changing into a wolf without you, Callie. Promise me you will stay, at least until I'm ready for you to leave.’ Which may be never, she thought.

  For the rest of the afternoon they discussed what work Sarah would be doing. Hope told her that she didn’t have to work, as her family had enough money to keep them going for years, but Sarah needed to do something. After she left Callie and Hope at their front door, she walked off to find Seth, thinking that she couldn’t wait to have wolfy senses like him so she could just sniff him out the way he did with her.

  She walked toward the main row of shops and stopped when she saw him walking out of one of the empty buildings. She could tell the moment he caught her scent and he looked straight at her. She couldn’t help taking in his strong, muscular body, his thick arms peeking out from under his white T-shirt, but when he started to walk toward her she froze. He was stalking his prey, she could tell. His eyes lowered to her mouth the minute she licked her bottom lip and she knew, at that moment, she would give him the mating he wanted. He walked to her and swooped down, instantly taking her mouth in a kiss.

  ‘Mmm, you taste so sweet,’ he breathed. ‘I'm glad you’re here. Will you come with me? I have something to show you.’ He seemed preoccupied about something. ‘You don't have to say anything now – my brothers and I will do all the work. You would have complete say in what goes where, but I think you will love it.’ He was talking so fast that Sarah couldn’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm as she followed him into the empty building he had just exited. She looked around its shell, thinking it had been used as a shop of some sort before its closure.

  ‘Well, what do you think?’ he asked.

  ‘Of what, Seth?’ she laughed. ‘I don't know what it’s for.’

  ‘It’s for you, my sweetness,’ replied Seth. ‘It’s all yours, for your dream. You could open a bakery here on the island. I know it’s important to you and the guys can’t keep coming over every day to sample your cooking. I don't want them in our home when you’re alone. You’re mine and I don't like it.’ That made her laugh. She knew he hated the fact that she cooked sweet treats for the guys after they came back from the hunt; a few of them even came by every morning especially for her breakfast cinnamon rolls that she and Callie would make.

  ‘I love you more than my next breath, Sarah,’ he continued. ‘I’ll do anything to make you happy, including giving you this building to make your dream come true. If you don't like the building, we can look at another one. Logan already has some plans in place and we could go over there now to look at them.’ He was watching her for any signs of distress and, when he saw her eyes fill with tears, he knew it was all too much for her. He’d been so sure she would love this little building, but clearly he was wrong. He wrapped her in his arms as she sobbed against him. ‘Sarah, I'm sorry. Hell, I thought for sure it was something you wanted. I'm sorry, baby.’

  Sarah looked up into his eyes with a confused expression.

  ‘Oh, Seth. It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I... I think... no, I know I love you!’ That was it. She didn’t get the chance to say anything else before Seth picked her up against him and devoured her. She could feel his pent-up emotions as he kissed her hard. She pushed at his chest when she finally needed to catch her breath.

  ‘Of course,’ she added, ‘it’s a shame we have to go over the plans with Logan, as I was hoping we could go home and fu...’ She was swept off her feet and thrown over his shoulder before she could finish her sentence.

  ‘Fuck Logan,’ he said. ‘I’ll show you round tomorrow. We’re going home. NOW!’ He growled out loud, making her laugh. He strode out of the door and down the street, almost tripping when she squeezed his butt in her hands. When he caught scent of her arousal, he started to run towards their home. He could feel his wolf prowling the surface. Mate. Want mate. Now.

  When they arrived at Seth’s house, they saw Logan sitting on the porch swing, waiting to go over the plans.

  ‘Logan, change of plans,’ Seth growled. ‘We’re going to have to reschedule the meeting for tomorrow.’ He didn’t even stop, but walked straight through the door. Sarah lifted her head and saw Logan laughing at the scene before him, making his way back down the front steps.

  ‘Hi, Logan. Bye Logan,’ she shouted whilst laughing.

  Inside, Seth placed her on her feet and steadied her as all the blood came rushing back round her body.

  ‘Sarah, my mate, you are so beautiful. I have waited for you for two hundred and twenty years. Tonight I will mark you as mine, and never again will you ever feel lonely or unsafe. You are mine, but this time I'm going to make love to you on our bed.’ He walked her backwards towards the stairs. She turned and sprinted up, knowing he would follow her.

  He caught her just as she got to their room and spun her around, kissing her with everything he had. However, he knew he had to calm the fire in his blood or else he might run the risk of hurting her, and he would never hurt his mate just because he couldn’t control himself. But he had waited several lifetimes for her.

  He kissed her on the side of her cheek and down her neck, hearing her moan as he kissed down across her collarbone. His hands moved from her back to the bottom of her T-shirt, which he yanked up. He helped her take it off and, whilst she reached behind herself to undo her bra, he worked on getting her out of her jeans.

  ‘Seth, take off your T-shirt,’ she breathed. ‘I want to feel my skin against yours.’ She looked at him as he pulled his top over his head. ‘God, Seth, never did I ever think I would be having sex with someone who looked like you.’ She immediately put her hand over mouth, realising what she had said. He looked down at himself, wondering if she didn’t like what she saw, but the scent of her arousal made him smile, knowing it was just the opposite. He stalked towards her as he undid his jeans, making her walk backwards towards the bed.

  ‘Clothes off now, Sarah. I'm going to take you so many ways you won’t be walking for a week,’ he smirked. ‘And, for your information, we are not having sex.’

  ‘We’re not?’ she said with a raised eyebrow.

  ‘No, we are not. From now on, we make love, as that’s how I feel about you. I love you. Sex would imply I only care for you.’ She reached the bed and she fell back, completely naked, watching him come toward her.

  ‘Seth, please make love to me. Show me how much you love me. Please…’ She opened her arms as he came down hard on her lips. He kissed her, making it hard for her to breathe, but she didn’t care. She only cared that they were finally going to mate and make love. Seth’s hands came down to take her breasts in his hands, breaking the kiss to look down at her body. She was beautiful and she was naked and sprawled across his bed. He was in heaven.

  ‘I want to taste all of you,’ he said as he took her hard nipple in his mouth. He hissed in pain as her hands threaded tightly through his hair, pulling him closer.

  ‘Yes, Seth. God, yes,’ she moaned as his other hand tweaked her other nipple until he moved across to take it in his mouth. All the time, he rubbed his cock against her moist slit and she could feel the come leaking from him. Her hands moved down his back and she reached down to grab his butt, pulling him closer to her, making him rub against her clit. She was so close she didn’t know if she could hold out much longer as she writhed against him.

  He kissed his way down her body before he made his way to the thin patch of blonde hair; but just before he parted her lips and sunk his tongue deep inside her, he glanced up at his mate. She looked down at him, lifting her hips as an invitation; he sunk deep inside, licking and fucking her with his tongue, before he sucked on her tiny knot of nerves and her hips shot off the bed. Her fingers were wrapped in his hair, holding him to her as she rubbed against his face; she knew she would be embarrassed about this later, but right now she could feel th
e wave building. When he inserted two fingers into her she screamed out and all she could see were stars.

  He watched her chest rise and fall as she tried to catch her breath; he felt his wolf puff up out of pride at making his mate come. He kissed his way up the crease of her leg, making her shudder, watching as she sucked her hard, flat stomach in as his tongue circled her belly button. When her breathing was less rapid, he removed his fingers from inside her and felt the tight muscles clamp down as if they wanted to stop his exit. That made Seth smile as he moved on top of his perfect mate, fixing most of his weight on top of her.

  ‘Open your eyes, baby,’ he said. ‘Look at me.’ When she did, it was his turn to gasp. He saw everything in her eyes – peace, home, family and love. He was completely and utterly in love with her and he wanted to make sure she felt that love when he claimed her. As he settled on his elbows, he felt her tense up and watched as she closed her eyes.

  ‘Sarah, sweetness, what’s wrong?’ She moved her head to the side so she didn’t have to look at him, but he put both his hands on the side of her head and forced her to look at him. ‘Sarah, please look at me. If you want to stop, I’ll stop. No pressure. Sure, I think I might die from blue balls…’ He saw the smile on her lips, ‘but this is all about you. I’d never force you into a mating. Ever.’ He saw her eyes fill with tears as she shook her head from side to side.

  ‘No, Seth,’ she replied. ‘I don't want to stop. It’s just... are you sure I'm what you want? This is forever, no backing out. Until death do us part, literally? I just want you to be sure.’

  Her eyes told him she was ready, so he gave her no choice as he pushed her head to the side and tenderly kissed over her where her neck and shoulder met. He felt his teeth lengthen and heard her sharp intake of breath as he bit down hard, tasting the sweetness of her blood as it rushed down his throat. His hip moved forward of their own accord and he entered her in one, quick motion, thrusting himself into her to the hilt. She was his, completely and utterly his, forever and ever. He felt the moment her soul joined with his as he bit deeper, hearing her moaning out his name. As he felt her clamp around his cock, he pulled his teeth out and licked over the two puncture wounds that would tell all the pack she belonged to him.

  When he looked into her eyes again he saw no hesitation and so he continued to pump in and out of her, revelling in the feel of his mate under him pushing her hips up to meet his thrusts. He reached down and took her rosy nipple in his mouth and sucked hard, making her moan loader and clench her pussy muscle tighter around him. Her fingers were digging in his backside, urging him to take her faster and harder, and he would never disappoint his mate. He pulled out of her and used his strength to flip her over on her front, pulling her hips up so he could enter her from behind in one thrust.

  ‘Mine,’ he snarled.

  ‘Yes, yours, Seth, please...’ she replied breathlessly. ‘I need you.’ His grip on her hips would leave bruises in the morning as he pounded into her. Sarah moved herself up so her back came against his chest, bringing him deeper inside her. He couldn’t help but brush her hair away from her neck and re-claim her. As soon as he bit down, he felt her tumble over the edge, screaming his name, sending him following after her.

  After he had spent every last seed within her, he lay still. Sarah could feel his heart thundering in his chest as he pulled her tightly against him. He was still inside her as he cradled her shaking body.

  ‘Best sex ever!’ she said with a smile on her face. He moved his hand down her sweaty body and slowly turned her so he could look at her face. Her lips were plump from his kisses and she had the most beautiful blush across her cheeks.

  ‘I love you, Sarah.’ He watched her eyes turn a deeper shade of blue and she smiled the most devastating smile he had ever seen.

  ‘I love you too, Seth. Always,’ she replied and leant up to kiss him. ‘Guess this means I'm moving to the island,’ she added, smiling.

  ‘I’ll go wherever you want to go,’ he said. ‘This is my home and I would love for you to stay here with me. At least until after the first change, but if you wanted to move back to your apartment after the threat is gone, then I will follow you.’ He brushed her hair away from her neck and saw her shudder as he traced his fingers over his marks.

  ‘Right,’ she replied. ‘Like I would make you move away from your family. I’ve never had this. Ever. My mum flits in and out my life and I’ve never had a family before. I want it now, so bad. I already love your family. Well, Logan might have to be buried under the patio if he pisses Callie off anymore, but I really want to stay here and raise our family here.’ She watched his eyes dance with excitement at the thought of their young.

  ‘Yes, sweetness. I’ll give you everything you ask for and more.’ He pulled her head to his chest. ‘Now, shush. Get some rest, as I can’t promise I won’t wake you again and take my mate.’ Her giggle was the last thing he heard before sleep took him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sarah was surprised she could still walk the next morning, as she and Seth had been up most of the night as he took her over and over again. She smiled, thinking about all the positions they had tried in such a short space of time, blushing now, wondering how she was going to look his mother in the eye over lunch. Her first call was to Callie, as she wanted to let her know what was happening with Seth and to tell her all about the empty building that could be the start of everything they’d dreamt of. As she approached the steps of Hope’s house, she heard movement coming from out the back. All these new senses she was feeling were making her feel a little out of control, and she made a mental note to talk to Callie about her newly-gained wolfy senses.

  ‘Callie? Hope? Anybody here?’

  She walked round the side of the building, hoping to find someone there, but what she saw had her gasping in shock. There, pinned against the wall, was Callie, her legs wrapped around the waist of a large and rather mean-looking Logan. He was kissing her like his life depended on it.

  Sarah was frozen to the spot, wondering if she should interrupt or back away and pretend she was never there; however, they must have heard her, as Logan dropped Callie’s legs to the floor and released her quickly. His breathing was rapid as he looked at Callie for a moment, before storming past Sarah without saying a word. Sarah just stared at Callie but, before she could say anything, Callie held her hand up to stop her.

  ‘Not going to talk about it, so don't ask,’ she said defiantly. ‘It was just what it looked like and nothing more. A moment of weakness, okay!’ Sarah smiled at Callie, knowing it was so much more.

  ‘Thought we weren’t talking about it?’ she smirked.

  ‘Fuck off, Sarah!’ Callie laughed as she walked back towards the garden.

  ‘So, if we are not going to talk about you, could we talk about me?’ As Sarah spoke, she swept her long hair over her shoulder to show Callie the mate marks Seth had left. She wasn’t going to show her the other ones he’d left on her body, as they were for his eyes only.

  ‘Well, well,’ replied Callie. ‘I guess congratulations are in order. Welcome to the wild side.’ She winked and reached over to hug a teary Sarah. ‘Is everything ok? Two more nights and you turn. I can’t wait to run next to you. I'm so pleased.’

  Sarah wiped her eyes and looked back at Callie. ‘Everything is perfect,’ she replied. ‘But I do have a few questions about the change. I can hear and see everything fifty times better than before and I feel like my body’s on overload. I’m already missing Seth like I haven’t seen him in weeks rather than minutes, and I want to eat everything in sight.’ This made Callie laugh out loud as she heard the stress in her friend’s voice.

  ‘I don't know about the heightened senses,’ she replied, ‘as I was born as wolf, not made. But yes, we do hear and see better than humans do. You’re missing Seth because you’re newly mated, so I suggest you don't be parted for long; even though he’s marked and claimed you, you haven’t marked and claimed him. I suggest you go find him and make
him yours – before you throw him over his mother’s table and take him!’ Callie chuckled at the thought.

  ‘So, you and Logan, huh?’ Sarah smiled, knowing Callie would stop teasing her.

  ‘Not talking about it,’ replied Callie. ‘Go get your own mate. Go. We will talk later.’ She hugged Sarah one last time before walking back inside. All Sarah could do was hope Callie and Logan sorted out whatever was going on, and that she and Callie would truly be sisters.

  Sarah spotted Seth in his mother’s front garden, helping his father fix the huge ride on their mower. He spotted her right away and walked over to her before she reached them. It was a hot day, which meant he wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the slight sweat on his skin made his muscles seem even more pronounced. She could smell his arousal as she mentally undressed him. She couldn’t believe her wantonness in front of his father, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was getting to her mate and making him hers. His huge, knowing smile told her he knew exactly what she was thinking as he reached her and swept her into his arms.

  ‘God, Seth I want you,’ she murmured. ‘I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s like we’ve been apart for weeks, not minutes.’ He laughed and kissed her neck. ‘Seth, baby, I think you’re going to have to take me home before I embarrass your dad.’

  ‘Oh, you won’t embarrass me, honey,’ shouted Christopher in reply, obviously overhearing. ‘Us wolves are used to seeing mating happening in front of the pack.’ He threw his head back and laughed when he saw Sarah's blush.

  ‘Shit, I forgot about your super hearing!’ She could feel her face glowing, but it was soon forgotten as Seth grabbed her arse and lifted her against him and started walking to their home.

  ‘Catch you later then, Seth!’ his dad shouted, making Seth chuckle.

  Sarah felt his erection pressing against her all the way to their living room, where he laid her down on the sofa.