StarShine (Temporarily On Hold)

5

Elara wondered how it was possible that his touch would feel so familiar and so foreign at the same time? It's a complete anomaly and yet so perfect, like snow on Christmas morning or a pale blue sky and sunshine while spending the day at the beach. It's a perfect combination and Elara can't remember how she ever got along without it.

"Well..." Alpha Gabriel claps his hand together but no other words are said.

Her mate wraps his large hand around her waist, his palm heating up against her lower back as she is pressed against his chest. They fit together like pieces to a puzzle and Elara's arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.

Every moment in Bennett's life, every mistake he's ever made that led him here to this moment, he would live again. He would suffer through every heartache and misstep along the way as long as she was what awaited him.

"We should give them a few minutes of privacy before we begin the real discussion as to why you're all here. Shall we go downstairs for dinner?" The Alpha's began to shuffle out of the room, but neither Elara or Bennett noticed.

"Hey," A hand was placed on her shoulder and she was pulled out of her mates' embrace. Out of the small bubble they had been trapped in.

Everett wore his concern like it was face paint. He had always known that one day Elara would meet her mate and he thought he was prepared for that, but now he wasn't so sure.

That's his baby sister. The one who Everett had helped feed and taught to ride her bike. He was the one who sat with her during her first shift telling her that everything was going to be okay.

"I won't leave if you don't want me to." his voice was firm as he looked into the eyes of his sister.

Sure this man looked like a good mate, but they knew nothing about him and Everett will be damned if he didn't make sure her mate was worthy of Elara before giving his approval.

"Who are you to step between me and my mate?" sparks ignited on Elara's shoulder before she was pushed behind a well defined back.

She wasn't sure when things had become so tense. She knew that Everett was just being the overprotective brother that Elara knew he would be but, of course, her mate wouldn't know they were siblings.

"My older brother, Everett." it didn't dawn on her that these were her first words to her mate until he spun around and looked at her like a child on Christmas morning.

His eyes searched hers as a breathy laugh escaped his lips. He could think of one hundred different cliches to describe this moment and yet none of them felt accurate enough to describe how starstruck he felt hearing her voice.

"Elara -" Again Everett tried to but in but was cut off quickly.

"My love, I don't think I've officially been introduced," her mate takes her hand into his and gently brings her knuckles to his lips, "I'm Bennett."

Elara could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks but forces her self to remain as calm as possible. Her heartbeat sounded like helicopter blades throughout the Alpha's office and she was certain that both her brother and her mate could hear it.

"Sorry to interrupt again, but Grace will kill me and you, Elara, if she isn't included in this," Everett slow inches his way between his sister and her mate until there is an acceptable distance between the two, "So why don't we go home for dinner?"

"Um, yeah. I guess you're right," Elara looks to Bennett, nervousness churning in her stomach at the thought of inviting him into her home so quick.

How quick is too quick when it comes to mates? she wondered before giving Bennett a soft smile.

"Would you like to go to my house for dinner?"

"Yes!" Bennett responded a little too eagerly, but if he can't look a little foolish in front of his mate, who can he be foolish with?

Everett took the lead on the walk home, allowing Elara a few minutes alone with Bennett. It was a nice gesture, Elara would admit, but she wasn't naive enough to think that Everett wasn't in earshot.

"So who is Grace?" Bennett askes after a few moments of silence.

She can see his hand tensing at his side and without so much as a second thought, she reaches out and cups his hand with her own. Surprise is written on Bennett's face but it is hidden with smug satisfaction that he couldn't wipe away if he even wanted too.

"She's my brother's mate. They're the future beta couple of the pack." She couldn't keep the pride from her voice as she spoke of her brother.

"So are your parents the current Betas? Will they be joining us?" Up ahead, Everett faltered in his steps, clearly caught just as off guard as she had been.

Not even an hour and her parents had already been brought into the conversation. She shouldn't be surprised at this, but for some reason she is. She had thought, no matter how foolishly, that she wouldn't have to disclose that painful history with him just yet.

"Um. no," she clears her throat and removes her hand from his so that she can fold her arms across her body. She is in no way ashamed that her parents really had no rank in the pack. She was proud of what her parents were. Who they were.

But it has happened before, where a person rejects their mate because they are a lower rank than themselves. The only thing she knew so far about Bennett is that his Alpha liked him and thought him a good wolf. She was fearful of how he'd react, but she will not lie to impress him.

If he is to be with her, he will be with her for who she is not what she is.

"Grace's father is the current Beta. My parents had no real ranking in the pack." Elara squinted against the setting sun and could see the modest two-story home she grew up in, with Grace standing expectantly on the porch.

Suddenly she was aware of everything in her home that needed fixing. Would Bennett notice the chips in the paint on the side of the house or creak in the floorboards on the porch? She had meant to take care of it, but one thing or another always came up and stopped her.

"Had? Past tense?" Bennett trails his hand down her arm, capturing her wrist and pulling her to him in a swift movement.

"I'm sorry," Bennett whispers tucking some stray hairs that had fallen from her ponytail, behind her ear.

Elara couldn't think of what to say. Does she thank him for saying sorry, because that didn't feel right but neither did saying something like, it's okay. It wasn't okay and Elara was never good at pretending.

So she settled for a change of subject.

"That's Grace on the porch giving us the death glare." She tilts her head in the direction of the house, where Grace has her hands on her hips and her foot tapping impatiently.

Bennett blew out a breath before turning back to Elara with a smile, "any tips to make a good impression?"

Feeling brave and a little reckless, Elara moves to her tiptoes and presses a kiss to his cheek before whispering a soft, "nope" and leaving Bennett's arms for the house.

<3 <3 <3 <3