Chapter 5

Sawyer’s POV

The ride from the jetport to the hotel is dreadful.

The thought of seeing Sebastian’s smug face twists something ugly inside me.

When we pull up to the entrance, my unease deepens. I sigh and pray to the Moon Goddess that today passes with minimal mental anguish.

I open the door — and instantly know my prayers have gone unanswered.

Her scent hits me.

Smoky vanilla and lavender. Intoxicating. It wraps around me like a second skin.

I can feel her.

Oh, Goddess… no.

A mate.

My grip tightens on my briefcase. It must be a she-wolf who came with Sebastian.

My inner wolf claws for control. On the inside, everything screams to run to her. Find her. Claim her. Mark her.

On the outside, I shift uncomfortably, forcing composure. I drag a hand through my tightly manicured hair and make myself move forward.

I hope she doesn’t cause a scene. I don’t want to be forced to appear accepting in front of everyone.

I’m not even sure I want a mate again.

Not after Natasha.

I step inside. Her scent is everywhere, growing stronger as I walk down the hall toward the conference room.

Then I hear Sebastian’s voice.

And I smell him — tangled with her.

He stands at the conference room doors, back to me, arms wrapped around someone. He pulls away as I approach.

“I don’t mind having a pretty woman fall into my arms every now and then,” he says in that effortless, flirtatious tone that comes naturally to him.

He shifts.

Her face comes into view.

It stops me cold.

My knees weaken. Sweat beads along my brow.

“Do we know each other?” she asks, her voice light, almost musical.

That voice.

Familiar. Like something from a dream. Like I’ve known it my entire life.

I nearly lose myself in her features. They don’t just captivate me — they consume me.

Hypnotic.

I force myself to refocus.

And once again, Sebastian has his hands on something that should be mine.

A dangerous anger coils inside me. My features harden.

“I was just about to ask the same,” I say, my voice low and edged with warning.

Sebastian turns. For once, there’s no playboy mischief in his expression.

It’s calm. Honest.

His gaze meets mine — and tightens.

“Hello, brother,” he says coolly.

I look past him to the woman behind him.

Orange hair braided back, leaving her entire face exposed. Freckles dust her creamy skin. Piercing green eyes lock onto mine.

“Sebastian, may I speak with you in private?” I ask, professionalism barely holding.

He rolls his eyes.

“Sure,” he says curtly.

He turns back to her, and I catch the way their gazes linger. Something flashes between them.

Oh no. Not this time.

He will not take what’s mine again.

“I’ll be seeing you around, freckles. If you’re free later, maybe I’ll take you out for a drink,” he says smoothly.

I grab his shoulder without thinking.

“A word, Sebastian,” I snap, patience gone.

He shrugs me off, eyes narrowing.

“Lead the way.”

⸻

We walk in heavy silence to a smaller conference room down the hall.

I shove the door open and hold it for him. He scoffs but steps inside.

The frosted glass swings shut behind us.

Sebastian leans against the table, infuriatingly unbothered.

“I’ll say this once. Stay away from her. I won’t have you waltzing in here and ruining everything aga—”

“Excuse me?” he growls, venom dripping from two simple words.

“You will not forbid me from my mate.”

His mate?

My blood runs cold.

“Y-your mate?” I stutter.

He arches an eyebrow.

The fire inside me is extinguished instantly, replaced with suffocating dread.

“You’re sure?” I whisper.

“More sure than I’ve ever been of anything. The connection is tangible. The sparks — electric. And her scent… it’s like nothing I’ve ever smelled before. Smoky vanilla—”

“And lavender,” I finish.

Realization crashes over him.

“No.” The word chokes out. His face drains of color. He drags a hand through his long hair. “She’s… but… no. No, no, no. That’s not possible.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

We have the same mate.

This has to be some twisted joke.

Goddess… why?

————————————————————————————

Sebastian’s POV

I am angry.

No — I am raging.

This has to be punishment. For what I did to Sawyer.

Goddess, you’ve seen my heart. You know I’ve regretted it since it happened. Why would you do this to me?

I have a mate.

A mate who also belongs to my twin brother.

I look at him. He looks just as wrecked as I feel. Maybe worse.

That familiar ache spreads through my chest — the same one I’ve carried since Sawyer caught Natasha and me in bed. The one I try to drown in weed and booze.

“Stay away from her until we figure this out,” he says, voice frosted over. Face carved from stone.

“No. You don’t get to tell me how to be with my mate,” I snap.

“Don’t I? After everything you’ve done to me? Besides, she’s my mate too. Or are you planning to steal this one as well?” he growls, stepping closer until our noses nearly touch.

The air between us thickens.

Silence stretches.

A knock pounds against the door.

“Alpha Sawyer, the meeting will be starting promptly,” Azekial calls from the other side — a voice I’m familiar with, my brother’s best friend and Beta.

“We’ll be right out, Zeke.”

His footsteps retreat down the hall.

Sawyer shoots me a hard look and turns away. He pushes through the door and heads back toward the conference room. I follow several steps behind.

Just before he walks in, I clear my throat.

“I won’t stay away from her. I won’t, Sawyer. You of all people should understand the pull of the mate bond. This is one thing I won’t risk fucking up.”

I brush past him and enter the conference room.

I straighten my shoulders, locking my composure back into place.

The chaos of whatever the hell this is will have to wait.

But one thing is certain.

She’s mine.