Once My Mate, Always My Mate

Sabrina’s POV

"It is time for you and your vampire lover to return to earth and stay there. You are only permitted to visit for s short stay and then return to earth, where you are to stay for the rest of your very long life." I say to my little sister, Josey.

"So, you called me into your office to kick me out? You could have said that at the breakfast table.” She says to me, walking away from me and to the door.

"I called you in here to warn you about your meddlesome boyfriend. He is running on thin ice and at the moment, I don't have the patience for him. You are responsible for his actions and will both pay the price if he ever causes trouble again.” I warn Josey.

"I know, I know." She rushes me to finish.

"Josey, he will pay with his life and I will not bring him back. Not again, not ever.” I say, with my parents walking in just in time.

"It appears we have been summoned by the moon goddess." Father storms in, visibly upset and sending daggers my way.

Josey takes the time to fly out of the room, closing the door to leave me with the parents.

"Father, I only called for you. There was no need for you to bring mother with you. Like you said just now, you have been called in by the moon goddess, not as your daughter... so, this has to do with your role in this realm. Mother can go." I say and mother turns around to leave but father pulls her closer to him.

"Mother will stay.” He says firmly and I nod my head, no point fighting him over this.

"Retire father. Give Anthony the opportunity to be an adult, it will also ease things for me, so I can focus solely on earth and my people.” I say. "Are you trying to say that I don't do my job?" He asks me, mother nudging him on the side.

"I am saying, as much as you did not get to enjoy your reign, with all the hiding you and mother got up to, time waits for no man. I work better with Anthony anyway. Allow your children to do what they were both born to do, please. I have assumed my role as the moon goddess, finally, and I have reunited with my true mate. Anthony should be doing the same right now." I say and mother seems to agree with me.

"Come on Hunter, you raised him for this. The time has come.” My mom says.

"I had plans..." He tries to say but mother interrupts him.

"So do they. Let us take the time to work on us, get back to being us before all the bullshit we had to endure, and the time forced apart. The kids are all here, alive and ready to lead their own lives. We are all here, just enjoy it, please.” My mother says and Hunter grunts but relents to my mother's words.

They leave soon enough, leaving me to my work.

Between choosing mates for all the newly born pups... when the time comes for them to form a bond and blessing my brother's kingdom. CJ still had so much land to conquer, crowds to win over and packs that still needed better rulers... The days flew by, with me diving head-first into my work and spending hours without break to prevent myself from walking out of this.

To avoid the big elephant sitting comfortably in my home. The truth is, I was working to create some space between Aiden and I...

Aiden tries to be the dutiful mate, bringing me lunch and sometimes dinner when I forget what time it is. We have not kissed since reuniting, have not even held hands or cuddled in the same bed we share every damn night.

He tries, goddess bless his soul, but I feel that now is not the right time to jump back to the way things were before he betrayed me.

"I brought you some lunch. Went hunting this morning with Anthony and we got some good meat..." My smiling mate says as he smoothly walks into my office, tray in hand as the fresh smell of blood hits my nose. Aiden was a go-getter, a man that never gives up, NO-MATTER- WHAT.

He places it gently on the table, kisses my cheek and walks his way to the door.

"I have healed your mother and given her your old home back. This was all done for you, which means her actions are your responsibility. She acts out of hand just one time... I promise you, I will end her. I will not banish her to a place she hates but end her. I will also torment her in the spirit world, never letting her find peace.” I say but Aiden jumps back around to scoop me up from my chair and spins me around. Ignoring my threats, just hearing that his mother is back at full health. His laughter fills the room and my body eases, for once after so long, feeling quite safe in his arms. The feeling of giddiness grows within me and the faint tingles actually spark some feeling, a familiar one in my gut and for the first time in a long time, I fail to ignore it.

Aiden will always hold a special place in my heart and I have been working hard, just like before to avoid any feelings, especially the warm and fuzzy kind to take space inside of me. Only this time, his action was in no way a gesture to twist my arm or force me to love him for that moment, he was simply happy and pulled me in to share the joy with him...

His good mood was infectious, seepng into me through our skin on skin contact. With him shirtless, as he is on a daily basis and with me wearing a knee length, spaghetti strap dress, the contact is what sparked whatever was hiding within me, reigniting an old flame I thought I put out so long ago.

My arms move by themselves and wrap themselves around his neck and I choose to believe it is out of fear. Fear from falling out of his embrace and bum first to the floor.

The action does not go unnoticed by Aiden, stopping in his tracks to look at me.

Without saying a word, his eyes searched mine for answers. As if asking me, are you sure? What are you doing? Why are you doing that?

I could read the confusion off of him easily and that was enough to end the warmth that was building inside and he set me down, creating some space between us.

A cold breeze passing through us to remind us of the sudden separation and my heart aches, only a little... not to much to set the water works off but enough to have my mind racing.

"You can go and see her, she is probably waiting for you." I say, breaking the serious tension in this room.

Aiden smiles, accepting that little form of contact... I received his action well too, and for today, that was enough. He was content with it and without pushing for more, he leaves me alone, with my brain ready to attack me.

How do I even begin to be the girl he wants? The woman the world needs?

So much wanted from me and yes, I have accepted what is needed from me, but to actually go through with it, to give him children and build a life... That is a lot to ask of me, after everything... yet, here I stand, heart racing and in a good way, for Aiden...

For a minute, my feelings got the better of me and I could have acted on impulse, could've gone too far and opened a door that would be too cruel to Aiden to close. All because I tell myself to wait... or am I fighting a different battle?

Who is the real enemy here?

Was it Aiden, from his past atrocities that he inflicted on me or was I the enemy of progress? Am I the one that has brought this upon myself and when life grants me another chance to start again, I make the same mistakes again?