Eva POV
Unexpectedly, I got a call from Scarlett that there was a small attack on Blackrose, and Romain was injured. Not knowing what to do, I went to Sienna to try and figure out what the best plan was. Romain and I might have ended our romantic relationship, but that didn't mean that I stopped caring for him. At the moment, he was still in a coma and the doctors weren't sure how long he would remain in that state.
"Sienna, a problem has come up at Blackrose." I told her while pacing in front of the couch, biting my nails trying to get my brain to focus on something other than the million thoughts going through it.
"What's happened?" She asked concerned seeing my obvious distress.
"A small attack occurred on the border of the Blackrose territory while Romain was on patrol. He was training some new warriors, and he got injured pretty severely and is in a coma at the moment. I still care about the guy, even if it is no longer romantic. What should I do? Should I go to Blackrose early?"
"That is a difficult question to answer at the moment, and you know that. Callum is part of the picture now, and even if you are going back to adopt Devaney - he is going to have to be involved in the decision making since you have decided to accept him as a mate."
"Yes I know, but he's not going to understand, Si." I sigh and flop down on the couch in defeat - this will not be an easy conversation.
All of a sudden, Callum rounds the corner of the living room and stands up against the doorway - looking expectantly at me. This causes me to wonder how much he really heard.
"I am thinking of going to Blackrose earlier than I had planned." I began.
"You're going to see him."
"Yes, but that wasn't the initial reason for going. I am still going to adopt Devaney, but there has been an attack on one of the borders of Blackrose. Romain was injured pretty badly, and the doctor's don't know when he will come out of his coma." I tried to explain.
"You just want to see him again. You still want him." He argued, I guess trying to pick a fight.
"Fine! If you don't trust me. Mark me!" I hollered.
Callum just stood there and stared at me. "Mark me dammit!" I commanded him.
"No." He answered.
"So what's the problem?" I questioned.
"You know what the problem is!" He replied.
"Dammit Cal! Like you've never slept with a girl before me - I haven't even slept with anybody." I confessed and his eyes just widened with the realization of what I just told him, but he just stood there.
"That's what I thought, you hypocritical jerk!!" I bellowed as I swung my arm out of his grasp and walked away crying.
"Eva wait!" He called out chasing me.
"What Cal?"
"I'm just possessive, you know that." He tried reasoning with me.
"That's no excuse! Do I go around here causing problems around your pack just because you might have slept with someone there?" I challenged.
"No."
"So why are you insisting on making this a problem? I want to go get Devaney. I miss her, and she misses me. Why can't you see that?" I cried.
"I love you, Eva. I don't want to lose you." He confessed.
"You won't lose me as long as you trust me and stop with this insistence that I have ulterior motives for going back to Blackrose."
He came over and hugged me tight.
Sienna POV
Ben had been nothing but a gentleman once he showed up at Silver Tide. Even if I was still upset that he didn't wait on me, he still seemed pretty regretful about his actions and has been trying extra hard to win my affections.
All that week, he would do those little things like buy me flowers, ask me about my life and interests without breaking his attention from me, taking me on romantic dates, and I even got to take him on his first trip to see the ocean. It was actually a pretty magical moment to see. I guess I had gotten so used to the ocean just being part of my life that I hadn't taken the time to consider what it was like for someone to see it for the first time. The smell of the briny water catching your nose as your toes sunk into the shifting sand. The light that is cast off the tides as the roll into the shore. Getting to see what the water brings up to the shoreline or what the receding water uncovers under the layers of sand already built up.
But despite all of those magical moments, I couldn't help but be concerned about the relationship between Eva and Callum. The only feelings I had been getting off of that guy were possessiveness, arrogance and the feeling that Eva was more of a trophy than a mate. It made my heart hurt to know that someone out there loved Eva for everything that she was - inside and out - and this guy didn't seem to appreciate much about what made Eva - well Eva. Did he know that she loves seafood except sushi? That she loves playing games with family and friends - and I mean not just backyard football, but card and board games? That she has eclectic taste in music and hates when the colors of her clothes don't match - right down to the shade of the colors she is wearing? That she hates dresses and heels but loves camo and boots? I doubt he's even taken the time to learn even a fraction of anything close to those things. Ben might not be perfect, but he's already learned that despite my love for the ocean - my favorite meal is steak and potatoes - not seafood. That my favorite color is yellow, and that my favorite flower are daisies.
It seemed however that Callum could take cues from Ben. Callum hadn't really taken Eva out on a date yet, but tonight that was going to change. We both had dates with our mates - separately thankfully. I loved my cousin, but I wasn't sure how I was going to survive with Callum as my Alpha. Of course, I was sure he was actually a good Alpha, but I just didn't personally like the guy. For the sake of my cousin, I was going to help in any way possible.
"I hate wearing dresses Si, but this is the first dinner date Callum has taken me on. I feel like I need to wear a dress, so which one?"
Eva held up a sage green dress with a floral print, a white dress with a rose print, and a wine colored dress with the same V-neckline, spaghetti straps and asymmetrical hemline as the white dress. She would look gorgeous in any of them - it's a shame she doesn't wear them more often. We eventually decided on the green dress for Eva and a teal dress with lace top for me.
After an hour of getting ready, it was almost time for our dates to get there to pick us up. Hopefully this night goes great for both of us.
Ben was early carrying a beautiful bouquet of daisies in a variety of shades of pink and red. I couldn't contain my happiness. As soon as he handed me the flowers, I ran over and hugged him tight and kissed his check - a slight blush covering his cheeks.
"How beautfiul!" Eva exclaimed from the stairs - she couldn't help but come down and explore why I was so excited.
"These are the prettiest flowers I've ever seen!" I yelled.
"I'll put them in water. You guys go have fun." Eva offered.
"Thanks, Eva. Callum should be along shortly." Ben told her, and she just smiled.
I hoped it would all work out for her - she deserved happiness.
Once we got to the car, Ben refused to tell me where we were going, but I could tell my where he was driving we were headed towards the beachfront.
"Why are we going to the beach?" I asked.
"Don't try to ruin my surprise, please." Ben pleaded.
With that, I kept quiet the rest of the drive. We arrived at the beach and parked near one of the peers. Ben had me take off my heels, and he lead me down to a tent that was set up with fairy lights. Inside was decorated beautifully - like we were eating at one of the finest restaurants. He pulled my chair out for me and then a waiter came to take our order. Of course I could have chosen shrimp scampi, but there was also the choice of ribeye with baked potato. He really did remember most of my favorites.
"Sienna, I have a question for you." Ben asked as we were finishing our desserts.
"Ok." Was all I said because I had no idea where this was going.
"I would...I would like to...damn this is more difficult than I imaged." Ben stated.
"Just spit it out Ben, it can't be that bad." I encouraged.
"I would like to mate and mark with you, but only if you would like to be mates with me. I know I messed up pretty badly by not waiting for you, and for that I will always be sorry. You are the best woman I've ever met. The most beautiful and kind hearted. You are everything that I could ever want. Would you please be my mate?"
As the tears were flowing all I can do is nod my head. Ben motioned for the waiter to come back, and he spoke with him for some time. He asked me to wait a a few minutes and disappeared. Next thing I know I am being picked up by Ben, and he is carrying me across the sand to a nearby hotel.
"I hope this is a good enough hotel. I guess I should have asked you first." He blushed.
"This hotel is just fine Ben."
The evening and early morning ended up being satisfying for both of us.
Eva POV
It was getting close to when Callum was supposed to pick me up - Ben had already picked Sienna up early bringing her flowers - her favorite, daisies. I was beginning to wonder if Callum was going to stand me up when someone knocked on the door.
"Sorry I'm late, Eva. I brought you flowers."
"They're beautiful, Cal. Let me put them in water before we go."
They were beautiful roses, which I like, but they weren't my favorite.
"I see that you weren't the only one who got flowers. Although I think the roses are prettier than the daisies." He said cockily. Smug bastard.
"Daisies happen to be Sienna's favorite flower." I frowned.
"You don't like roses?"
"I love them, they just aren't my favorite."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine Cal. They are beautiful flowers, and I love them. Just don't think that something isn't the best if it isn't considered 'the best' - okay?"
"For you sweetheart, anything." He smiles and kisses my forehead. "Let's go eat. I know you hate surprises, so I will tell you where we are going in the car."
He had definitely decided to take me to the finest italian restaurant. Mancini's was the best in the area. He was the perfect gentleman - opening all doors for me and pulling out my chair at the restaurant.
After dinner, he drove me to the local beach to take a late night stroll. There wasn't a thing about the beach that I didn't like - well except for the occasional jellyfish that I might come across or the sand fleas.
Having a wonderful evening, Callum surprised me by renting a room directly facing the beach.
Stepping out onto the balcony, I felt the wind whip through my hair and breath in the briny smell of the ocean - home.
I wasn't really set on mating with Callum, but I knew letting him at least mark me was the best option. Not letting him do at least that would have set off chain of events that I was not sure I could get myself out of.
"Callum, come out here and enjoy this. This is what home smells like to me." I told him excitedly.
"Interesting. It is beautiful here. The ocean is almost as beautiful as your eyes." He whispered.
Looking over at Callum, I still marvelled at how well built he is and despite my hesitation, he was an extremely gorgeous guy. I decided that I would let him mark and mate me - because this is who the fates have deemed me to have as a mate.
"Cal, I'm ready." I whispered.
"You are?"
"You are my mate, why wouldn't I be?" I replied trying to sound sure of my decision even if my heart was breaking.
"Ok sweetheart. I've heard it only hurts for a moment and then it can be quite pleasurable."
"I've heard that too. So do you want to get more comfortable?" I smiled trying to get into the moment.
"Whatever you want. I've wanted you from the moment I saw you - I've just been waiting for you to say the word." He told me, and I did appreciate the fact that he hasn't pushed me.
Turning away from the ocean, I slowly began to unbutton Callum's shirt - nice and slow - building the anticipation. I wanted my first time to be for love, but I guess my first time will be for the sake of mates - as close to love as I am going to get at the moment.
"Sweetheart you're going to kill me if you go any slower, I don't think I can hold out that long." Callum grunted.
"I thought it was all about the anticipation?" I teased.
"I've anticipated long enough." Callum declared and hastily made waste of the rest of our clothes.
I still couldn't deny the appeal of his sculpted body and everything in me reacted to this.
There is nothing sweet about the kisses we share as Callum backed me up to the edge of the bed. I fell back and waited for Callum to join me. He returned quickly with something in his hand, and I raise an eyebrow to him.
"Do you want kids?"
"Umm...not yet."
"Ok then."
Once we find a rhythm, I felt Callum kiss and suck on the skin from my neck to my shoulder - trying to find the right spot. As soon as he does, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder region. The bite was painful for only a moment, and this gave way to a burst of pleasure that rocks through my body. It only heightened my need for my mate and helped to release the last bit of insecurity I have about mating with Callum. Our love making lasts well into the morning, and we fell asleep satisfied.
My phone ringing woke me up a few hours later, and I groaned at the intrusion on my sleep.
"Hello." I croaked out.
"Eva, where are you?"
"At the beach. Why?"
"I have to talk to you. You have to know first." Sienna screamed excitedly.
"Let me guess, Mr. Romantic wined and dined you again last night, and you finally gave in?" I chuckled.
"Spoil sport. How did you know?"
"Because I did the same thing." Callum joked next to me.
"Evangeline Gray." Sienna started.
"Sienna Gray." I mock. "We'll talk about this later."
"Ok lovely. Later."
"So Ben was as romantic as I was." Callum gushed.
"I guess so. It sure sounded like it from the excitement in Sienna's voice."
"You don't seem so excited." Callum remarked.
"I'm just tired Cal. You kind of wore me out."
"Well sweetheart, rest up - there will be plenty more nights like that one." He smiled.
Resting my head back on his broad chest, I traced the wolf tattoo on his left bicep - pulling me back into a deep sleep.
Callum POV
Looking down at Eva while sleeping was satisfying. I looked at the mark I had placed on her neck - a wolf howling at a sunrise with my initials - and I know that she was mine. She's finally mine - body and soul. My mate - not anyone else's. She was perfect for me strong, compassionate and beautiful - everything I need for a mate worthy to stand by me as the Luna.
As for the other guys, they would soon learn to keep their distance - I was the only one she needed to be with. Which was why when we arrived in Blackrose, I would be with her every second.