Not Your Mate Anymore

Xander's POV 

Losing my mate was tough. I thought I'd never find anyone that could take her place by my side. I decided long ago that I'd never take a luna. 

Until I met Sabrina. 

From the minute I met her, I was drawn to her. She stirred something in me that was dead. Her beauty is out of this world but not only that, after she showed me her life, opened up to me, I was drawn to her. 

She had not only lost one but two mates and here she was ready to start her life again, even if she was on her own. 

My pack doesn't know this but there's been days where I wanted to end it all. Be with my mate because some days, I didn't want to enjoy life's pleasures without her. 

Then I'd take on different females to help me forget but I'd end up feeling guilty and even more lonely. Sabrina changed that for me. 

She was a breath of fresh air. She knew the type of guilt one goes through when meant for another. Besides all of that, I wanted to hold her and show her that when a true man makes a promise, he keeps it. 

I am a man of my word. 

I am ready to love her and her son. I am ready to call them mine, my family. I can deal with Max, he is the child's father but his days are done. He ruined a perfect family and now it was my turn to make it right. 

I looked at Sabrina as she watched Deacon and Max leave. I'm worried now. 

What if Max's change of tune will have her running back to him? 

Did our nights together not mean anything to her? May e they did then but now? 

This is her chosen mate. The man she gave her innocence to. 

Was I not obvious enough with my feelings for her and care for her son? 

I'm not ready to lose that boy. He's grown on me and my wolf. 

She turned to face me. 

"Don't worry Xander, I'm not going anywhere." Sabrina tells me. I wasn't convinced but I was not going to tell her that. 

"Oh I wasn't worried about that." I say taking a seat on the couch. 

Yeah, I was definitely too obvious with my feelings.

Sabrina sits next to me and places her hand in mine. 

"I've waited so long, well not that long but it feels like forever since Max and I were good. So I'm happy he wants a life with his son, I'm happy my son doesn't have to grow up feeling insecure that his father didn't want him. I was never going to be prepared enough to answer his questions about his father. Where would I start? He would blame himself and I just, I couldn't live with that. So yes, I'm happy Max wants to be a father." Sabrina says to me and I nod to show I'm listening and taking her words in. 

"What about you? Max wants you back too." I say and Sabrina let's out a loud sigh. 

"It would be so perfect to just go back with him and raise this child together. That's how it should've been. That's the way it was intended but he broke that. Max didn't just break my tea set Xander, he broke my heart. That's not something you can say sorry for and think everything will go back to normal." She says to me. 

I guess that was good enough for now but in the long run? What happens when Max is consistent about being a good father and mate? 

She looks at me, 

"Look, Sabrina, I feel like I'm in competition here and I won't win. This is the father of your child. Your chosen mate. The man you thought you'd build forever with and I'm just the new guy. I'm not trying to pressure you or anything but you need to know that I put myself out there by openly telling everyone that I will raise your son to take over after me. You didn't ask me to, I know, I did it willingly and I would do it again even after what just transpired here because I want to be with you. I care about that little Forrest and I want to do right by you." I say to her. I stand up and run my fingers through my hair. 

the middle of this, but me too.

defeated, drained and

door and look back

do know." Sabrina says to me standing up and walking towards

palm on my cheek and

I did for some time but enough was enough. If I leave

might just have to." Lucas says breaking our almost kissable moment.

_________________________________________ 

Sabrina's POV 

Xander was struggling with this. I liked him, I liked him a lot and it was time to come to terms with my feelings. I've been blaming the imprint for how many days now?

imprint was to blame but the claw marks were no longer on

to me was painful, emotionally draining. He left me to be lonely and even though he could feel everything I was feeling, he chose to ignore that. He chose to take someone else and let her in on

only him and I. He marked her knowing she would know how I was feeling and she added on to my agony.

this mate thing was everything

because he didn't approve of how I acted. He changed the law because

pack turn their back on

of pregnancy. I didn't have my mother to guide me and my

Xander doesn't deserve to feel that. My

I. He allows me to be me.

so free. Yes, uncle Deacon said not to hide my power but look at what it did

could be myself. He wanted me

All of me. 

wanting me back was troubling him, I took the opportunity to reassure him that I wasn't going back to Max. I

They made their choices and with a girl like me, there's no going back.

cheek, feeling a little

looked into

but I know myself. I left Max. I could've stayed and I did for some time but enough was enough. If I leave here, it won't be because I'm going

for that one kiss to seal it all. To put an end to both our troubles and to start a new life.

to."

in to something and right now, I don't think I'll have that courage again to take the first step in to whatever it is I

Xander groaned.

away from each other and

is fast approaching our border with his pack. He received your message and from the ten rogues we just killed, he has a message  of his own to send

it

could toss the paper away,

kill your new mate myself.' The note

I chuckled.

and Lucas both stared

He can

goes from free and fun to Mr all

which hits both Lucas and I in waves.

I say it's safe. Get all my warriors, I want you to put

the six too. I can put two guards.." Lucas says

with her by

Confidence in me.

I can

wanted me

danced around in my head. Happy to help

hide me away like the other women, I didn't need to lessen myself for him. He wanted me next to him, fighting alongside

Sabrina wouldn't want to leave her son's side."