Chapter One
Bat
It was a strange thing. I had known her, her entire life. She had been two days old when she had been thrust into my arms. Her round face beetroot red as she screamed her displeasure at the new scary world.
She had been pretty much screaming at me ever since.
But I loved her. It was an obsessive , fiery kind of love. The kind that devoured every good sense you had.
I had thought we were finally going to stop fighting when her small hand had closed around mine at Diablos and Gabrielle’s wedding and then I had caught her packing.
The realisation had hit me like a sledgehammer. Knocking the wind out of me. Part of me even understood why she felt like she needed to leave but that didn’t mean I liked it.
Diablo had finally given us his blessing, not that it mattered to her it seemed. She wanted to leave. It didn’t seem to matter to her that I didn’t care if the cub was mine or not. She didn’t care that I wanted to look after them both.
No.
She just wanted to leave.
I hadn’t been able to stand there and watch her pack her life in to bags. I couldn’t and I wouldn’t beg her to stay either.
If she wanted to leave, if it would make her happy then so be it.
“Brother?”
I didn’t raise my head at the sound of Jetta voice. I didn’t even raise it when the wooden stairs from Sarah’s porch creaked as he settled himself down next to me.
“Bat?”
Finally I turned my head. He must have seen the misery on my face because his smile slipped.
From inside I could hear what sounded like a party. The Sabres celebrating the marriage of their alpha in their own way.
“Are you coming inside?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t go back in there with Sarah until I had my wits around me.
“Sarah is there. Have you two had a falling out again?”
“No she’s leaving that’s all.”
That’s all, it was comical how those two words seemed so normal when in honesty they were ripping me apart.
“And you are ok with that?” Jett was looking at me like I was a crazy man.
“Of course not.” What was he crazy?
“Then why are you out here and she is in there dancing with Harper, looking like she is going to burst into tears at any minute?” His eyes searched my face. “Because of the cub?”
I shook my head. “I don’t care if the cub is mine or not. I don’t even care if it’s not a cub at all. “ my shoulders moved as far shrugged. “But She wants to leave so what can I do?”
Jetta punch took me by surprise. Landing solidly on my jaw and I turned to him was a growl. “What the hell was that for?”
Jett’s blue eyes narrowed, like he was gearing himself up for a fight. “Someone needs to knock some sense into you. She’s your damn mate and you are about to let her just walk out of your life?”
He was a fine one to talk. “Didn’t you do the same with Harper.”
“Yeah so learn from my mistakes. Learn from Diablos as well. None of us are any good at at this. But you have a woman you love in there and she loves you back as well.” His lips curled upward. “At least I think she does. It might be hatred. She does like fighting with you.”
I had to smile at that. Our fights were legendary.
“Are you going to let her go without a fight?”
Slowly I glanced behind me. “No.” Without another word I turned on my heel and headed back into the house.
“Sarah?” My hand closed around hers. Pulling her gently back from where she was doing some sort of awkward shuffling dance in the middle of the kitchen. “Sorry Harper can I cut in?”
Jett’s mate gave me one of her wide girly smiles. She was such a sweet girl. The perfect balance to Jett , who could be a right asshole before he had met her.
“Of course.” She stepped away. Patting my arm as she went.
“Bat?” Sarah sounded unsure but she didn’t move away. Her hand was still in mine. I was taking that as a good sign.
“I just want to dance with you, Sarah. That’s ok isn’t it?” Slowly I pulled her against my body. My arms wrapping around her. For a second she tensed and then she melted. Her cheek pressed against my chest.
We stood there and swayed. It didn’t matter that we were just in the kitchen, it was like the real world had melted away. There was nothing left but me and her.
“I don’t want to fight anymore Sarah.”
My shirt was suddenly wet. She was crying I realised with a start. Her tears making my shirt damp. “I don’t want that either.” She nodded sadly. “I didn’t mean to be mean earlier.”
I knew she was talking about out altercation in her bedroom when I had caught her packing but I didn’t say anything. Tilting her chin up I searched her face. “Did I really just hear you apologise to me babe?” Never in all the years I had known her had I ever heard her say sorry to me. “Are you feeling ok? Sick? Is the world ending?”
“Don’t be a dick.” Her eyes sparkled. “I can say sorry.”
I raised my eyebrows at her . And she giggled. “Come here.” Tightening my arms around her I let my head come down to rest on her blonde hair. “Please stay, at least a little while.”
“You know I can’t Bat. And you know why. Can we just not talk about it now? Cant we just stay like this?” Her head rose.
I didn’t answer her at first, instead I let my head fall down to meet hers. My lips slanting over her mouth.
I had kissed her numerous times but never in front of my club brothers. Our affair was a badly kept secret that no one spoke about but I was tired of hiding it.
I wanted the world to know what she meant to me.
“I love you Sarah. I have my entire life and you have been giving me s**t since you were two days old. I won’t give up on us. If you need to leave then fine. But I am coming too.”
“The Sabers though?”
“Not as important to me as you are. Or the baby you are carrying.” My hand slid across the small bump. It was madness to think that she was growing a baby inside her body. “Wherever you go I go from now on Sarah.”
Capturing her lips again , we melted against each other. “I’ll fight for you until my dying breath.”