BK 3 - Chapter 1 - Mates
**Twenty Years Later**
Saxon woke up after only getting a couple of hours of sleep. He'd been waiting for this day for eighteen years. It was time to claim his, mate.
He realized how lucky he was to already know who his mate was at the age of twenty. For a vampire, that was rare. In his dad's case, it took him centuries to find his mom.
Everyone told him he couldn't know who she was until she was eighteen, but he knew that wasn't true. He had known from the moment his mate's mother was carrying her in her belly. His mate was made for him. Their destiny was one that was planned before either of them walked the earth. Now he just had to convince her.
Saxon had been screaming from the rooftops telling everyone that came anywhere near her that she was already claimed. However, when she was old enough to have a voice, she put a stop to that. She told him she was her own woman and no man would ever own or claim her.
At the time, Saxon had thought she would overcome her resistance to him, but she hadn't. She had made it extremely clear that she didn't want or need a mate. His only hope was that once she saw him and realized that what he'd been telling her all along was the truth, she would run into his arms and accept him.
His Aunt Cat and Uncle Trey had raised her to be independent. Saxon didn't have a problem with that. In fact, it was one of the many things he loved about her. He just wanted to show her that he wasn't trying to ruin her life. Having a mate would make it better. He would always be there by her side to support her no matter what. Saxon didn't want to hold her back. He wanted to be her partner.
He jumped out of bed and took a shower. When he was done, he threw on his favorite jeans with a white t-shirt. He looked in the mirror combing his thick wavy black hair back, leaving a curl to fall over one of his blue eyes. Women usually liked that look. Saxon was tall at 6'6" with a firm, muscular body. He worked out a lot to get rid of his frustrations of being unable to be with his mate.
Knowing he belonged to someone else who didn't want him had serious downfalls. For one, he could never bring himself to be with other women. Not that he wanted to, but it may have helped to see her reaction with another woman on his arm when she was parading around with one of her boyfriends.
Men chased after her like hungry dogs. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen with her honey-blonde hair and hazel eyes. If only she felt the same way about him.
When he was ready to go, he made sure everything was locked up and headed out the door. His parents were on one of their trips with his two sisters, but he wanted to stay behind for his mate's birthday. Saxon just hoped he could catch her before she left the house for the day. It was still early, so there was a good chance she was still home.
He drove nervously to Roseville. It wasn't a long drive, but it seemed it took years for him to get there. When he pulled up in front of her house, he saw the children at the group homes playing in the yards nearby. Cat and Trey now had four group homes. They were all in a row, with their house in the middle. They had built a community for the children, and he loved them for it. Those two had the biggest hearts of anyone he knew.
As he got out of the car, he saw Cat standing on the porch waiting for him. She was smiling, but he couldn't read it. She knew why he was there.
"Good morning Saxon. You're here early." His heart felt like it was in his throat when her voice came out with a bit of weariness.
"Good morning Aunt Cat. Is she up yet?" She looked at the door and then back at him with sadness in her eyes.
"Yes, but I don't know if now is the best time. Maybe you should come back later." Saxon knew she was trying to protect his feeling, but he had to do this. If she rejected him, it may kill him, but that was her choice.
"I can't wait any longer. I have to see her now." He said with conviction.
"Okay," She opened the door and led him inside. He could hear her sweet voice in the dining room, and it felt like a physical cord was pulling him to her. Saxon knew she would feel the same way as soon as she saw him.
When he walked into the dining room, the chatter immediately came to a stop. She sat with her back to him, but he could see her shoulders stiffen. Her siblings were sitting at the table with her, but he could only look at her. Saxon waited for her to turn around, and when she finally did, he smiled. It was time to make her his.
"Hello, Melanie."
_______________
Melanie was conflicted when she opened her eyes the morning of her eighteenth birthday. She should be happy that she was turning eighteen, but she wasn't. She didn't want to be tied down to someone because a high power said she should be. The idea of having a fated mate made her feel like she would no longer be able to be herself.
Her parents tried to reassure her that finding her mate wouldn't take away her identity, but she wouldn't hear it. Melanie didn't want to listen to anything they had to say. What made it worse was that she knew Saxon was expecting her to be his and would want to claim her today.
They had grown up together, and she loved him, but not how he loved her. From the time he could talk, he was telling everyone that she was his mate, but she didn't believe it. When she was five, and her lioness Chika made her first appearance, she told Melanie that Saxon was right. They would be mates.
She tried to deny the pull she felt toward him. Even before she was eighteen, it was as though she felt calmer and whole in his presence. Melanie still fought it every chance she had. She dated a lot, and many people thought she was sexually active, but she wasn't. No matter what she did, she felt repulsed by the men she dated. Chika said she wouldn't feel that way with their mate, but Melanie ignored her.
She got up with the goal of being out of the house before Saxon showed up to declare her his mate. Melanie really didn't want to reject him because she knew what it could do to him if she did. She wasn't cruel, and the thought of hurting anyone made her heart hurt.
She was a werelion and caladrius hybrid. It was a blessing and a curse. Melanie loved being a lion, but the other side of her made her aware of the emotions of others. She could feel Saxon's love for her whenever he was around, which made her feel warm all over, but that didn't mean she wanted it.
When she got downstairs, her mother and siblings were waiting for her. Theo, Emily, Jelena, Grant, and Theo's mate Caitlin were there. Jelena and Grant were fraternal twins and were sixteen. Melanie felt relief wash over her when she saw Saxon wasn't there yet. Cat pulled her to the side before she entered the room.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Melanie hugged her mom, who was a few inches shorter than her. She could hear the worry in her voice.
"Mom, don't worry. Even if he shows up, I'm not going to outright reject him. I don't want to hurt Saxon, but I'm not ready to be his mate." Cat hugged her tighter.
"I know. Just please be careful with your words. You think rejecting him will hurt him. What you don't realize is that it will also hurt you. Listen to Chika. Don't do anything rash that you'll regret later." One thing Melanie loved most about her mother was her unquestionable understanding and support. She never pushed them to do something they weren't comfortable with.
"I won't. I hope to be gone before he gets here to save ourselves from dealing with this right now." Cat kissed her cheek before they continued into the dining room.
"Happy Birthday, sis," Theo yelled, and the others joined him. After she took her seat, she felt the dread wash over her. Melanie could already feel Saxon's presence, and he hadn't even entered the house yet. When everyone around her got quiet, she knew he was behind her. She turned around, and her heart broke. The hopefulness she saw in his eyes made her want to cry. As much as she wanted to run to him, she stopped herself. This isn't what she needed right now.
"Hello, Melanie." Hearing the excitement in his voice made her feel even worse. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't have a choice right now. She stood up and took his hand. The sparks she felt were undeniable, but she ignored them as she pulled him toward the front porch. No use putting off the inevitable.
"We need to talk."
