By the Sea

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Who I had wanted to start a family with.

She hadn’t wanted that with me. My wolf wasn’t really mad about this. He knew that somewhere out there our mate was still waiting for us to find her.

I was upset, her words had hurt but not as much as seeing her sitting in my Alpha’s lap. His hand resting on her bare thigh as she whispered in his ear. How she had smiled at me when our eyes met.

After I’d seen them, I had headed to my truck, making a quick phone call to one of my good friends. Where I’d become an architect, he’d become the owner of a chain of hotels.

The wind ruffled my hair as I drove down the highway, the windows down on my truck. Rock music blaring as I tried to forget about Lena.

Derrick had already arranged for me to sleep in one of his best suites. With the promise of a fully stocked liquor cabinet and a special surprise.

I hoped it wasn’t an escort again. The last time he’d done that I’d felt mortified, handing the curvy woman an extra hundred as I’d looked away, sending her from my room. My tastes weren’t easily matched by someone who I couldn’t tame.

I wanted to get shitfaced drunk and forget that Lena ever existed. Forget that I’d thought that I loved her. That I’d been willing to forget about finding my mate just to be with her.

Turning down the radio, I looked out on the water as I drove. The sounds of the sea soothing me, reminding me of nights spent on the beach with my friends. Bonfires and booze, laughing while Conrad had played his guitar. Before he’d found his mate, back when we’d all been mostly single.

I’d wanted to bring Lena here, but I’d never had the chance.

The hotel came into view and I pushed that thought from my mind as I took in its towering height. Derrick had done well for himself and his family. I’d heard rumors that he’d found his mate, but I didn’t know if it was true.

I never thought I’d see the day when he settled down with anyone more than a quick fling. He wasn’t like me, I needed so much more. I needed someone who needed me.

Would let me dominate them, tame them. There would be no s*x without that for me. I didn’t do flings.

Parking my truck, I grabbed my bag before opening the door and hopping out. The night air was cool against my skin, soothing my heated flesh as I walked towards the hotel.

My wolf was on edge, I didn’t know if it was because of what had happened today or because the full moon was getting closer.

Pulling out my phone, I swiped the screen open, looking at my newest text.

Derrick: I’m at the bar.

I closed the phone, shoving it into my back pocket as I slung my bag over my shoulder. My friend knew that I needed a drink. Well, a dozen of them or so.

I walked through the mostly empty lobby. It wasn’t my first time through here, and I always felt slightly out of place. I’d stayed in plenty of nice hotels for business, but the feeling of being less than enough never went away.

No matter how hard I worked, how much I earned. I’d still be the kid in ripped up jeans and off brand sneakers.

“Dom, over here.” Derrick called out as I walked into the bar. The low lighting was nice. Casting the room in shadows, soft music played through carefully hidden speakers as people sat tucked away chatting and drinking.

I smiled as I got closer to him, he looked just like he had when we were younger. The only thing that had changed was his scent.

He smelled of something almost, almost like a flower that was past its bloom on the edge of decaying. And something else I wasn’t prepared for. The crisp scent of another shifter.

“Derrick, I see the rumors are true.”

He tilted his head to the side, pulling his collar down, “You could say that.” A smile spread across his face as he lifted his tumbler full of brandy to his lips.

“Not just one mate, but two?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What can I say?” He chuckled, tilting his head to the other side to show off a messy scare. “It wasn’t something planned, but I couldn’t take one without the other.”

My grin deepened as I slipped onto the barstool. Dropping my bag by my feet as I picked up the whiskey. Nodding my head in thanks as I took a sip. Enjoying the way the liquid burned as it traveled down my throat.

“I’m happy for you.”

“You’ll find your mate, bro.” He said, leaning against the bar signaling the bartender to pour me another. “Drink as much as you want, I’ll make sure you get to your room.”

“Alone?” I asked, pressing my lips together.

He looked back at me, his lips quirking into a half smile. “Yes, alone.”

“Okay.” I nodded as the bartender walked over to us, grabbing the whiskey. She refilled my drink before sitting the bottle in front of us.

Derrick shook his head, covering his drink when she went to pour him another brandy.

“So, tell me about these mates of yours.” I said.

“Oh, I think you’ll get a kick out of them when you meet them. Nevie is a bit of a handful, she’s almost more than I can handle and Talon, well. I’ll let you meet him.”

“Him, I didn’t know-”

“I didn’t either.” He chuckled, finishing off his drink.

I did the same and he refilled my drink. I hadn’t had anything to eat since early this morning, and that helped the alcohol numb me.

Once the bottle was finished and Derrick was done entertaining me with stories of his mates. He grabbed my bag, helping me get to my feet and into the elevator.