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. 

You need to seriously think about this because it's not just you and Adrastos in the middle of this, but

drained

back at Sabrina who met

not going back to Max, Xander. That much I do know." Sabrina says to me standing up and walking towards me.

open palm on my cheek and looks

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 back

just have to." Lucas says breaking our almost

_________________________________________ 

Sabrina's POV 

it was time to come to terms with my feelings. I've been blaming the imprint for how many days now?

no longer on

though he could feel everything I was feeling, he chose to ignore that. He chose to take someone else

connection meant for only him and I. He marked her knowing she would know how I was feeling

was

law to get me out because he didn't approve of how I acted. He changed the law because his brain can't seem to understand the power that flows

his entire pack turn their

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

Xander doesn't deserve to feel that. My anger is not directed

with Adrastos and I. He allows me to be me. To run free in his pack

Yes, uncle Deacon said not to hide my power

could be myself. He wanted me

All of me. 

when I saw how Max being here and wanting me back was troubling him, I took the opportunity to reassure him that I wasn't going back to Max.

for all eternity like Percy. They made their choices and with a girl like

feeling a little stubble starting to grow. I

into

involved with anyone 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 back to

and to start a new life. This was me, telling him I'm willing to listen to my heart and

might just have to." Lucas

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

Xander groaned.

each

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 to you." Lucas

reads it and

away, I snatch it from him.

your new mate myself.' The note said.

I chuckled.

Lucas both

He can try."

and fun to Mr all

alpha aura, which hits

the women and children on lockdown until I say it's safe. Get all my warriors, I want you to put our best six

we'll need the six too. I can put two guards.." Lucas says

the pack's fighters with her by my side." Xander says to Lucas with so much confidence.

Confidence in me.

I can

me to

danced around in my head. Happy to help when

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

I just thought Sabrina wouldn't want