Carter's Savior

Four

Sloans POV

I lay in my bed trying to focus and breathe for the first time since he walked into this house. I knew from the moment I smelled his bright orange citrus scent that he was my mate. I had felt it as soon as he pulled into the driveway and Loren started prancing ridiculously. The urge to run to him and grab him was too great, elevated by the newfound revelation. But I fought against it.  

I thought ignoring him and focusing on Z would make our interaction less painful but I was fucking wrong. Z knew who he was, I had told him on occasion of who he was to me. And I thought him being here would help. But it made things worse. So much worse. Loren was pissed and fighting me. 

I forced my eyes down and to not look at his beautiful face. Goddess, he looked so much better than he had before. I didn't think that was possible. I was grateful that Z sat in my usual seat across from Carter. But Sean almost messed it up with his comment.

I'm pathetic.

I stormed off and now I'm in my bed fighting tears. Tears because I feel the rejection coming. The man I had wanted for years was going to push me out of his life forever. I mean it's not like I was ever in his life in the first place. At least then I could pretend. Now...I can't.

There was a soft knock on my door and his scent flooded into my room. My chest tightened and Loren whined at what was to come. He was here to do it. I thought maybe he would wait until after dinner but...it makes more sense for him to do it now.

I pushed myself off the bed and moved unnaturally slow to try and prolong the inevitable. I put my hand on the knob, I turned and I pulled the door open.

There he stood. His arms were crossed and he had his usual look of annoyance on his face. As he always did when he looked at me. I didn't even know if he realized he looked at me like that. Was I that bad? Was I the worst option to have as a mate?

I towered over him. I was 6'5 on a good day, and he was 6'2. And I loved our height difference I really did. His eyes slowly moved up to look at me, the green eyes leaving a trail of heat. I loved it. I wanted to bask in it. But I know I'll never get the chance.

But fuck, he looked so beautiful. He always did.

I waited silently. I kept my hand on the doorknob to keep myself grounded and from grabbing him. I wasn't going to talk first. If he wanted to end things then he needed to do it.

"I'm here to say..."

Here it is...

"That I'm..."

Fuck, just get it out already.

"I'm sorry for being a dick."

Wait what.

Carter has never apologized for anything ever. I don't think he has in his entire life. Especially not to me. So hearing this was strange. I was short-circuiting making sure that what he said was real and true...that I wasn't imagining an apology from him.

"Oh." The word slipped out, but there was nothing else I could think to say. He's never done this before.

"Okay." He took a step back and it took everything in me not to grab him and pull him to me. He took a deep breath and relaxed just for a second. "Well, you think you can come back to dinner? I promise I'll leave you and your boyfriend alone." 

He said boyfriend with such disdain that for a moment I thought he could be jealous. But no. This is Carter we're talking about. Carter is never jealous. Especially when it comes to me.