The Beta and the Figure Skater

Chapter 11

Sarah's POV:

 I sat there, confused and stunned. Finally, Grady came back inside and sat down. "Are you alright, Grady?" I asked quietly.

 "Yes, Sarah....I'm alright." he gave me a small smile. "And I promise I will explain everything...I'm sorry, Sarah."

 "For what?" I asked, confused.

 "I wanted to tell you at a later time. I didn't mean to rush it..."

 "Tell me what? Rush what? Grady, I'm confused." 

 Grady sighed, taking my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'll tell you very soon. I promise. I just hope you don't hate me..."

 "Hate you?! I could never hate you, Grady!" I exclaimed.

 He smiled at me. "I sure hope so, snowdrop."

 We sat there in silence, as we finished our food. After we finished, Grady paid for our food, then, we went out to the car. Instead of starting the car, Grady turned to me, taking my hands in his. "Sarah, what I am about to tell you, will be a lot for you to take in....It's complicated. Please, don't interrupt me. I will explain everything to you as best I can."

 I nodded in response. "Ok..." 

 Grady took a deep breath before speaking. "Sarah, I am a werewolf. I live in the White Stone Pack. A pack is a community inhabited by were-creatures. Wolves, foxes, and some cats. I am the Gamma for the pack. The third-in-command. I lead the pack alongside the second-in-command, Weston. He's the Beta. The top leaders of the pack are the Alpha and Luna. Alpha Ray and Luna Myla are my Luna and Alpha." I sat there, stunned and speechless. My eyes were wide as I listened. "Us were-creatures are able to find our soulmates in a special way. Much different than humans. Most of us call our soulmates, mate, for short."

 "S-so...You have a mate..." I said in a quiet voice.

 "Yes. We all have a mate. But we can't find out who they are until we turn sixteen. We have a strong sense of smell. When our mate is nearby, we can smell their scent. When we see them, we instantly see them as our mate. When I walked into the cafe that day, and I saw you for the first time, I recognized you as my mate."

 "M-me?" I asked, not sure if I was comprehending what he was telling me. This was so much to take in....

 "Yes, Sarah. Soulmates are our other half. And, when it comes to were-creatures, we take it seriously. Mates can reject each other. It will cause pain for those who've rejected and been rejected, however. I'll answer any questions you have and explain more about mates and my kind."

 I sat there in disbelief. What on earth....?? This-this is impossible....I've always dreamed of finding my other half. I just never imagined he'd be a werewolf! "So...You aren't a CEO...?" he shook his head. "T-take me home, Grady.."

 "Sarah, I-"

 "Please, Grady..." 

 Grady nodded. "Alright...But, just know, that I truly do love you. I won't force you to be with me. If you don't want me, then I won't force you. I'll support whatever you want. Please, at least think about what I said..." I didn't answer him. I just nodded in reply. 

 It was a long, quiet drive home. Neither one of us spoke. And, honestly, for the first time since I met Grady, the silence was awkward and tense. Whenever it was quiet between us, it was never awkward or tense....I don't know what to do. To be honest, I believe him. Why would he joke about something like this?? 

 We finally pulled up to my house. Grady got out and opened my door for me before helping me out. I gave a small smile, nodding my thanks. "Goodnight, Sarah...I'm sorry I lied..." I nodded before walking inside my house. After I shut the door, I leaned against it, panting heavily. I'm mates with a werewolf Gamma.....

 *A Week and a Half Later*

 Weston's POV:

 Grady has been down since his date with Sarah. I guess he told her about him being a werewolf. He hasn't seen her since that night. When he goes to the cafe to see her, her friend, Leanna always says that she wasn't in work. Grady's become so different. His hair is messy, he has bags under his eyes, he barely speaks, need I say more? Myla, Ray, and I are all worried about him. I wish he would let his feelings show. I just want him to know we're here for him. He's not alone. He hasn't been rejected yet, so there's still a chance. But I know he's scared stiff.

 It was the evening. About a week after Grady's date. I was taking a walk, trying to figure out something to do or say to help my friend. I had been walking a few minutes when I came upon a frozen pond, a bench in front of it. A young woman sat on the bench, drawing. My eyes went wide. She was the same girl I met here before!

 I walked over to her and cleared my throat. She looked up at me. "Oh! Hello, sir." she greeted me. "You're Grady's friend, aren't you?"

 "Yes, I am. And you're Sarah's?" she nodded. "Do you mind if I join you?"

 "Oh, not at all. Go ahead." she nodded, closing her drawing pad. I sat down beside her. I was honestly getting Deja vu. "I'm Leanna. What's your name?"

 "Weston." 

 "Weston...That's a great name." Leanna smiled at me.

 "Thank you. You have a pretty name too."

 "Thanks," she replied, looking down a moment. Her smile then faded as she looked up at me. "How's Grady?"

 "Not good." I stated. "How's Sarah..? I assume she told you what happened...?"

 "No, she didn't. But whatever happened, I know it was bad. Sarah hasn't been herself...She hasn't been to work, she barely talks to me....I don't know what to do..."

 "Me neither, honestly....Grady doesn't talk to me either. He won't talk to anyone. He's real upset." I said quietly.

 "I just hope she knows I'm here for her...." she sighed, looking over at me.

 "I hope Grady knows our friends and I are here for him..." I said quietly. "But....More than that, I hope they talk it out...He loves her already. A lot."

 "Sarah loves him too! I can see it in her eyes. Her eyes seem to sparkle whenever she's with him or talks about him. I wish they'd talk it out too...I hate seeing her like this." Leanna declared.

 "I hate seeing Grady like this. I doubt you'd recognize him. If I didn't work with him, I wouldn't recognize him!"

 "I'm surprised he's coming into work if he's that bad." Leanna remarked. Honestly, I am too. But he knows how important his work as Gamma is. He knows we need him.

 "If his work wasn't important, I doubt he'd be coming to work. But he knows how important it is and how important he is to us. He enjoys his work. Though lately it seems as though he doesn't enjoy anything...." I remarked.

 "It seems that way for Sarah too...Oh, Weston, what are we going to do?" she asked.

 "I don't know, Leanna....I don't know..."