BONUS CH. 131.2 - PREYA'S BIRTHDAY

 PART 2 -

-PREYA’S POV*

Zixuan took me to lunch. He’s not my mate. Without my wolf, I was uncertain if I'd sense or scent my mate. My birthday felt bummed and I didn’t want to celebrate.

I entered the foyer of pack house. I sported my favorite color today, looking quite petite in my light blue wrap romper with short sleeves, surplice neckline, and skirt overlay. I came to hang out with Amber for a while when a loud screeching was heard from outside.

Turning around in curiosity, I spotted Sage’s car with smoke at the tires. Overriding the sinking feeling in my stomach, I rolled my eyes at his dramatic entrance. Giving him little importance, I spun around and accidentally bumped into an Omega who dropped a tray of empty wine glasses that shattered to the floor.

Damn! “I’m sorry,” I apologized.

The Omega appeared like she was going to cry. Oh no! I spoiled her day. I bent to help her tidy up.

“Please let me clean it up,” she offered.

“It’s my fault. I’ll let Beta Dwayne tell the matron not to punish you.” I softly touched her shoulder and stood. I should have stayed home today. However, Amber was the one person who could lift my spirit.

Behind me, I felt a warm presence. He wore a different cologne today. It was rather potent, smelling like cardamom and jasmine. Having an inkling that it was Sage, I did not look back. I proceeded up the stairs even though he growled and followed my footsteps. He growled again as if that would scare me.

Whatever Sage was up to, I didn't care. He had ample chances and he missed all of them. There's nothing else to say.

“Sage,” Beta Dwayne called out when we reached the third floor.

The trailing footsteps halted. “Uncle Dwayne, please, not now.” When he tried to walk off, his uncle grabbed his arm, tugging him backward.

I turned the doorknob to Amber’s room, entering.

“Hello, birthday girl!” My best friend hugs me tightly and leads me to sit on her bed. “I’m sorry that you didn’t shift.”

“Hmm,” I hummed while frowning. “I don’t want to talk about it. My parents are taking me out of town later for dinner.”

“Sweet.” Amber cheered, going into a drawer and pulling out a gift box. “So what do you want to do today?”

“Open my present first.” My eyes were glued to the present in her hand, “Gimme, gimme.”

Excitedly, I took the gift and began unwrapping it when a loud rampant pounding jerked the room door. With knitted brows, Amber and I stared at each other. Then a savage look crossed her face as she stormed to open the door. Sage almost tumbles her over when he barged in and stood before me, barefooted.

“Cuz, what the hell?” Amber snapped.

Sage's eyes dilated. His natural grey eyes expanded into a marble of raven black. His body stiffened and his fist doubled like he was fighting an internal battle. I gulped and took in the sight of him like this for the first time. My mouth twitched into a half-smile that he wore pale blue, just like me, but where was his shoes? My focus keened in on the hem of his trousers that purported to have been through fire. Where the hell has he been?

Beta Dwayne came to the doorway, panting, which takes me out of my reverie. “Is everything okay here?” He looked between his daughter and me.

“No, Dad.” Amber complained like a four-year-old, “He forced his way in here and won’t leave. He’s bothering Preya.”

Beta Dwayne got angry at his Beta nephew and stepped forward to apprehend Sage to throw him out.

Defiantly, Sage’s wolf, Jafar, surfaced and growled “MINE!”

With that, Beta Dwayne brakes in realization and glances at me. Blinking, it took time to digest what the hell was going on. Me?

Beta Dwayne took Amber and led her out of her own room to give us privacy.

Closing his eyes, Sage pushed Jafar into the crate of his mind before opening them once again. All I could do was stare in awe. Was that why I smelled him differently? If I touched him, would I feel sparks? If I had a wolf, she’d tell me. This would be easier.

I drew in a sharp breath and then sighed. “How long have you known?” The fact that he was two years older implied that he could have sensed it. 

“I wasn’t sure. You couldn’t feel the bond so I needed your eighteenth birthday to confirm it.” He whispered.

“I did not shift.” I put that fact at the forefront of our discussion, thinking he might be disappointed.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Sage uttered with understanding.

“It matters to me. And it’s hard to believe that you suspected that we could be mates but you never mentioned it. Nor did it stop you from fucking every frock tail that offered themselves.” I scoffed and folded my arms. He reached out to touch me. “Don’t you lay a finger on me!”

Don’t cry Preya. Don’t cry. I fought threatening tears.

“I’m sorry.” He pleads.

“Sorry?” I asked, sardonically.

“I know now that I should have said something,” he explained.

A sad laugh broke from me. “You should also have kept your dick in your pants, or didn’t you want me.” My heart ached, should it be true? But it was fine with me if he wanted to reject me.

“I wished you weren’t my mate.” I lied but had to hurt him for all the months he had me watching him with other women.

The pain settled in his eyes and he tightened his lips. “Why?”

“For years I’ve loved you and while you flirted with me, you never once tried to have a relationship with me.” I stood and walked to the bay window to gaze into the forest with cold steel eyes, and hugged myself.

“Your parents would not let me get anywhere near you without being able to confirm the mate bond.” He protested with dread settling in his stomach and a grim expression. “It was hard to be around you, Preya.”

“Do you want me as your mate?” I asked in wonder, penetrating my eyes into his. The attraction was stronger and every atom in my body was urging me to run into his arms. Only to be hampered by the awareness that his wanton ways were irreprehensible.

“Yes,” he admitted without second-guessing. “I want all of you. Will you be mine?”

“What about all those other women that you’ve been fucking? Are you done with them?” I faced him. My jaw pained as I clenched my teeth with force in anger.

Shockingly, Sage fell on his knees and crawled towards me. He sat on his knees, making prayer hands, and beseeched, “Please, Preya. I’ll do whatever you want but don’t make me live my life without you. Please, baby, please.”

“Will you be faithful and love me forever?”

“I promise to love, honor and cherish you. To help bear your burdens and share your sorrows. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.” The thickness and solemnness returned to his voice.

I'm torn inside; I want to be with him, yet it would be best to take things slowly, particularly since I have trust concerns. “Get up.”

 “I will never betray you because I love you.” He stood and smothered me into a bear hug.

I buried my face into his neck and felt the sparks rolling into me, accelerating my heartbeat and causing me to want more of him. The scent of him inebriates me into a lustful daze. I feel a hardness against my stomach and my pussy aches to feel him inside of me.

We part with his muscular hands on my waist. I try not to look at his lips or his chest. In silence, I stood waiting for him to say something. My heart races at super speed when he leans his head towards me. His eyes rolled down to my lips, neck and boobs. Butterflies float in my stomach as his hot breath on my sensitive skin sent shivers in between my thighs.

The chemical reactions in my head work faster, seemingly going out of control as I inhale deeply to fill my lungs with his godly scent. Panting awkwardly, I cast my eyes to the floor as my knees got weak. It’s official, there’s something wrong with me today?

In an instant, warm lips desperately crashed on mine, sucking my lower lip viciously. He violates my mouth by nibbling hard and sucking on my sensitive flesh. Unexpected moans came from my throat as his bulge pressed shamelessly into my core. A low growl escaped his mouth in between the kiss. Like a desperate wild animal, he dominantly moved his lips over mine.

After a while, the kiss broke. Our chest heaves raggedly. Sage released me and stepped back to create unwanted space between us.

“I’ve got an evening full of surprises for you and after that, we can break the news to your parents.” His voice overflowed with excitement. “Please spend the rest of your birthday with me.”

Nodding, I press my lips together as I try not to smile and blush. True to his word, this turned out to be the best birthday ever!

^~^