Loving My Mate

Real Mate

SALLY POV

Never in my life did I think I could be so happy.  I have the sexiest, most amazing husband anyone could ask for.  All of our friends are together again and having a great time- it's been far too long.  I place my hand over my stomach, imagining what life is going to be like in the near future, and sigh with happiness. 

“We’re here babe—lets go boogey.”  I chuckle at Dustin’s lameness and get out of the truck to the pub.  All the couples took their own cars, Mark hitching a ride with Cole and Jessie.  It’s not super crowded, but it’s still early.  Everyone files in, and we search for tables for all of us.  Once seated, everyone starts ordering drinks, and thank god, all the women aren’t drinking alcohol, so it doesn’t stand out when I just order a coke.

I look at our group of friends and it’s crazy how far we’ve come since we were kids.  Jessie and Cole are in baby making heaven, and I honestly think Cole is trying to aim for a fourth kid….. but the way Jessie looks at him, she wouldn’t mind.  Brian and his mate are truly the most adorable couple.  He would hang the moon and stars for her if he could.  Brighton and Harrison are newly in love.  I know she’s hesitant with trust, but I know she’s already in love with the guy.  Harrison is lucky to have her, and she needs him to help her heal.  

I admit, when we were younger, that I was extremely jealous of Brighton.  I thought she and Dustin would have ended up as mates when she finally turned 18.  My anxiety was so high that day because I know how close they are.  When nothing happened, I was able to breathe better and enjoy my time with Dustin.  Then, it was my turn to turn 18, and reality came crashing down.  Dustin and I were not destined for each other.  I cried for a week straight, but Dustin would not relent.  He told me he loved me the night we found out, and he’s told me that every day since.  I don’t know what I did to deserve such a love, but I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. 

“Sally?”  I turn towards a familiar voice.  “Oh goddess Anna!!!”  I get up and hug the s**t out of my friend.  I haven’t seen her in almost two years since she found her mate and moved to another territory.  I pulled back holding her at arms length. 

“Wow Anna, mating sure looks good on you!  You possibly look hotter now than you did 5 years ago!” We both start laughing and hug again.  She still keeps in touch, but I haven’t seen her since she’s left.   When she let go, I felt a pair of warms arms pull me to his body, his chin resting on my head.  God how I love when he does this.

“Anna, it’s good to see you again.”

“You too Dut, glad to still see you taking care of my girl.” 

“Oh, you know I’ll always take care of her,” he emphasized by thrusting his semi into my backside.  It’s crazy after all of these years together, he can still make me blush.  Everyone comes to say hey to Anna, all giving hugs and warm welcomes.  “So what brings you back this way girl?” 

“Oh, me and some girlfriends wanted to get away for a weekend and just have some girly time.”  There’s a rustle in the back of my head but I just brush it off. 

“Friends? Bring them over and introduce us—let’s make a party out of it!” Brian’s mate Shelby says.

“They went off to the bathroom when we got here.  They should be right ou—"  and just then, as she turned around, 3 females came out of the restroom.  One was unmated.  How did I know?  Because Dustin’s arms slowly slid off of my stomach.  My heart started rapidly beating as the female stared at Dustin with wide eyes.  I looked up to see him staring at her as well. 

I reached for his hand and squeeze, but he doesn’t look at me.  Tears form in my eyes, and eventually fall down my cheeks when I see him walk towards her.  I take a step back not being able to breathe, not being able to call out to him.  He’s almost to her and I turn around, because I can’t bear to watch him kiss another woman.  I feel arms go around and I look up to see Harrison hugging me, using his alpha ability to try to calm me but nothing is going to work.  Nothing will mend my heart. 

He’s looking ahead at Dustin, but his face is impossible to decipher.  Anna comes up next to him and places a hand on my shoulder. “Sally, look…”  I close my eyes and shake my head.  How can she ask me to look!  Tears are still pouring out of my eyes and I’m trying to hold back the sobs.  Harrison lets go and I hear the voice of man that I know I have just lost. 

“Sally, look at me.”  I take a shuddering breath, eyes clenching shut.  “I can’t,” I sob out.  I feel his warm hands land on my shoulders and I’m trying my best not to break down.  “Sally, please look at me,” he pleas softly. 

I slowly open my eyes and suck in a breath as I look up gaze into his face.  He has tears in his eyes and I just know he’s about to destroy me.  I can’t hear him say it.  “Just go Dustin, leave me alone.  Please I’m b-begging you.”  He puts his hands on my cheeks so I can’t look away.  He’s making this more difficult than it has to be. 

“Sally Raine Milton, I love you with all of my heart.  I’ve told you before, I’m never leaving you.  The goddess may have had other plans for us, but I choose you.”

I stare at him with disbelieving eyes, and he kisses my nose.  “You are the only woman in my life sweetheart.  You and the baby are the only things that matter to me and I would rather die than to hurt you.”  My eyes widen at his words.  “Y-you know about the baby?”

He laughs and pulls me into a hug. “Of course I do… I smelled the change in you a few weeks ago… I just wanted you to tell me in your own time.”  I hugged him back with all of my might, sobbing into his shirt.  “I love you so much Dustin.” 

He pulls back so he can look me in my eyes.  “And I love you.  Never doubt that”.  I nod my head and hug him back again.  When we pull apart, I look around and all of my friends are circling us.  All the women have tears in their eyes and the men have looks of approval. 

Before I can step forward to talk to them, Dustin tugs on my hand.  “Sally, she wants to meet you.”  I snap my head in his direction as his eyes silently ask me to trust him.  I give him a small nod and he leads me to a table of the girls that Anna came with.  “Ladies, can we have a moment please.”  The two mated females nod their head and it’s just the three of us.  “Sally, this is Shay.  Shay, this is my beautiful wife and mother of my unborn child, Sally.”  I look to Dustin while he introduces me and I can’t help but have tears flow down my cheeks.  Stupid pregnancy hormones.  I look at Shay, and she’s beautiful.  She has short blonde hair and tanned skin with bright blue eyes.  I can tell she shed some tears too and part of me is sad that she doesn’t get Dustin as a mate, but not enough to give him up.  

“Hi,” I say softly.  I don’t know what to say to her- ‘I’m sorry but I’m married to your mate, which is why he rejected you’?  Yea, that’s not going to cut it.  She says hi with a watery smile, then she gets up and comes to hug me, which throws me off guard.  When we pull back, Dustin is smiling at me, but I’m just so confused. 

Shay starts laughing. “You’re probably weirded out, right?  Please don’t be.  I’m so happy Dustin has someone that loves him like you do.  I would’ve felt 100x worse rejecting him if he was alone.”  Rejecting him? 

Dustin leans towards my ear.  “She’s married as well honey.” 

I look at her finger that she proudly puts on display, carrying a huge smile.  “Going on about 7 years now.”  Relief floods through my mind as Dustin pulls me to his side.  “I just wanted to say you’re not alone.  If my husband was here, he would be a hot mess right now.  I really wish you two the best of luck.”  She looks to Dustin with a tight smile and goes to the bar. 

“You ready to go home Mrs. Milton?”  I nod my head and walk with him, me attached to his side tightly.  “We’re headed out guys.  I’ve gotta take care of my baby momma.”  Cheers rang out from all of our friends and I press my red face into his shirt.  It took us 10 minutes to actually leave.  All the girls rushed at me, excited about the baby.  Brighton even punched Dustin in the stomach for scarring me, even though he didn’t intentionally do it.  By the time we get into the truck, I am mentally drained. 

When Dustin climbs in, I scoot across the bench and snuggle into his side.  He wraps an arm around me as soon as we hit the road.  We sit in a comfortable silence, each digesting the events of the night.  “Are you okay Dut?  Can you explain it to me?”  He knows I’m asking about the bond, and I can feel him tense.  I place a reassuring hand on his thigh and squeeze.  I want… no, need him to talk to me about this. 

“When I first saw her, my senses were overloading- the smell was intoxicating, which is the reason I moved away.  My wolf was happy, but conflicted.  He realized that I’ve always been happy.  I’ve never felt like I was lacking anything.  By the time I reached Shay, she already had tears in her eyes, and she rejected me flat out.  I instantly felt a pit in my chest, but I knew it was only the bond, so I rejected her as well.  I told her that I was married and she said she was as well.  We both looked at each other with pain from the broken bond, but it wasn’t unbearable, probably because we both had someone to love unconditionally.  We both turned around and you were in Harrison’s embrace, and my heart broke, knowing you thought I would hurt you like that.  She told me to go comfort you and to meet up with her before we left, now, here we are.” 

I started silently crying again as he talked.  I sat up and wiped my eyes and nose with his shirt and he chuckled at me.  Dustin pulls the truck over on the side of the road and pulls me over to straddle his lap.  He pushes my hair off my face and gives me the most tender kiss he has ever given in our years together.  He pulls back and stares deeply into my eyes as if he can see my soul.  “I love you Sally.”  He places a hand on my stomach and massages my soft belly, sporting a huge grin.  We make love on the side of the road that night, Dustin reminding me over, and over… and over how much he loves me.