Sloan's POV
There's no place like home.
"I can't believe my baby is here." My dad hadn't left my side since I got back a few days ago from my graze. Which went on a lot longer than expected. I wasn't planning on being gone for two years, but I honestly wasn't in a rush to come back.
I hadn't gone two years without seeing family. They all usually flew out to see me wherever I ended up. But I knew it was time to come home.
I looked at my dad and gave him a big smile, his big doe eyes stared at me. He had his glasses on today which made him look so much younger than he was.
My sister Florence was sitting on the opposite side of me. Cuddled up under my arm. She was also a tiger shifter, but her graze only lasted for a few months.
There were six of us Micakya kids.
Ezra the oldest, was 23. I was next, at 20 years old. Then there was Florence and Ambrose who were both 18. Then the youngest two were twins again, Eliezar and Delany who were now thirteen.
Eliezar was the only wolf...but not just any wolf. He was an omega. It shocked us all truly. None of us were expecting him to be an omega. We tried our best to treat him the same but he was just small, and fragile. It was hard not to coddle him.
"What all did you do on your graze?" Flo asked looking up at me.
Flo and I were carbon copies of our father. Many thought she and I were twins because of how much we looked alike.
"I went everywhere. Met about ten other shifters. But I spent most time alone, meandering around. Getting used to my form."
I didn't shift until I was fourteen and when I did I remember when I came back to my human form how much I had changed physically. I might be 20 but I have the body of a grown man. It was strange. But that's why I was on my graze for so long. I needed to learn to love myself and the true tiger I am.
"Meet anybody special?" She wiggled her eyebrows at me but I rolled my eyes at her.
I shrugged, completely ignoring her question. Not ready to answer it just yet and also knew that no one would compare to the man who occupied my mind daily.
"Dad, they are on their way. Carter held them up but they should be here soon."
Speaking of the devil. Ezra said as he came and joined us in the living room. Eli following him and sitting basically on top of him. The two of them were inseparable.
The mention of his name made my heart skip a beat and my tiger Loren purr. Ever since I was a kid, Carter was there. Even when he wasn't. There was something about him that drew me in and it dragged its claws in me, and it didn't let me go.
But I had a deep feeling of what that meant. That indescribable feeling and pull I had towards him. Which is why I left two days before my 18th birthday. I knew that if there was a party he would be there. And we would find out that we were mated.
I knew Carter wasn't attracted to men. He loved women.
Loves women.
And it was always obvious from a young age he had a disdain toward me. I don't know what I did to make him hate me so much but he did. And the thought of him rejecting me, I couldn't handle it. I wasn't strong enough. But I am now.
I had spent the last year of my graze preparing myself for the rejection to come. And now I am here, and I'm ready for it. It won't hurt as much knowing that it's coming and I'll accept it.
Flo immediately noticed my stiffness and she stood up and dragged me from the couch as my dad continued to talk to Ezra.
We found ourselves in one of the random sitting rooms and she closed the door. I groaned as I ran my hands down my face and layout on the couch.
"Are you okay? You know...seeing him?" She asked as she lifted my legs with ease so she could sit down.
"Fuck no. You know he hates me." I covered my eyes and I could feel my chest tighten at the thought. Loren growled but didn't say anything.
"You don't know that. It's been years. He could miss you." Flo the peacekeeper. No, the comedian.
"Are you serious? I'm sure he hasn't thought of me at all these past two years." I could feel the sting in my eyes as I thought about it. The worst part about this is I could be completely wrong. That he isn't my mate. But I don't think I am. I feel it. I feel it in my bones that he is my mate. we were destined to be together. But I'm afraid he won't see it that way.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. If he wants to reject me then he is going to have to do it." I sighed and sat up and looked at her. "I'm just going to mind my business. And hang out with Sean."
"You think you can do that? Ignore him? What if he got super duper hot." Flo wiggled her eyebrows at me and I stared blankly at her.
"He's always been hot," I told her in a duh tone. "I just--it's what I have to do." I sighed in defeat as I laid back down on the couch.
While I was on my graze I thought about him every second of every day. Those bright green eyes that tear me apart every time he laid them on me. His big body was sculpted to perfection. His smile and how it would light up a room. His personality made everyone feel comfortable and at peace around him.
But the thoughts of him are what made me run away further and further from home. It was like I was being teased with something that I could never have. It was heartbreaking.
"Well, if he can't see how special and awesome you are then he fucking sucks. I'll make sure to tell Sean and Addison to keep him in check." She smiled and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her, especially in this moment.
Her eyes went to my tattoos, my brand new tattoos that littered my arms. Those tattoos made me look even more like pops, and when my hair was long I was his twin. Except now I rocked a buzz cut.
"Who did them?"
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath knowing that what I was going to say would bring up a lot of questions.
"His name is Z, one of the tigers I met while I was away." Even the thought of Z brought a blush to my cheek.
"What's the look for? Oh shit. Did you fuck?" Her eyes went as the words flew from her face. I wanted to run away and hide but there was no getting out of this one.
No matter how badly I wanted Carter I knew there was no possibility for it. And while I was away...a man has needs. And Z was there, willing, and offered. He taught me many things...many things.
"OH SHIT! You did! How was it? Tell me everything!"
Z was the last tiger I had met. The thing about Z was he was a runt. The smallest Tiger, but bigger than a werewolf. But not stronger than a Lycan. He didn't care though. And he never once told me it bothered him. We spent the longest time together. I wouldn't say we were dating but we weren't not dating. We would laze around all day together and then we would fuck and then he would give me a tat. Then we would laugh and have fun. There were feelings there, he for me and I for him. And I wish I could give him all that he had wanted but Carter always loomed in the background. Z didn't deserve that.
"Yeah, it was good. It was fucking great, but that doesn't matter. At least not yet."
"What does that mean?" She pressured and I sighed.
"I told him that once my mate rejects me then we could be together." Flo was jumping up and down at this point. Running around like a madman.
"And—"
"And?? There's more? What the fuck Sloan." She yelled and sat back down and waited for me to continue.
"He's coming here for the party. I texted him at 11 last night." Flo literally gasped as she grabbed my arm and squeezed it. Tightly might I add.
"What? What the fuck? What the fuck fuck fuck fuck?" She let out a crazy laugh as she covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes are as big as Dad's. "Why? Why did you do that?"
"Because once I get rejected then I would want you guys to meet the person I'd been seeing. Make sure you all like him, seeing as he'd probably be part of the family." Even as the words left my mouth they left a bitter taste and it pissed Loren off. He of course didn't like the plan, he'd prefer if we kidnapped him and not let him go until he was in love with us. But I can't have that. Even if it does sound slightly appealing.
"Part of the family?" Flo looked at me confused and her face fell slightly. I knew she wanted what was best for me but I also knew that deep down she had a soft spot for Carter. Though she'd never admit it.
"Yeah...we agreed to mate and mark each other," I told her truthfully. That was the last straw for her I suppose. As she fakes fainted into my arms.
"You're fucked, Sloan. Sooo fucked."
***flashback***
Sloan 17, Carter 20
He was here. Not for me. Never for me.
But he was here. I don't know what it was about him but it captivated me every single time. He made my heart leap, and Loren swooned.
I felt like a creeper the way I was watching Ezra and Carter hanging out outside. I hated how close they were. All I hoped was that he and I were that close too. But I knew we'd never be like that. He hated me.
It was a fact I battled with every single day.
There was nothing I could do about it. I mean the guy never called me by name. Only 'tiger'. And I hated it.
I can't remember the last time he saw me as anything but a tiger, and that hurt me even more. He didn't see me. Maybe he didn't want to. Maybe he truly didn't care. Didn't care about me.
Which broke my heart even more.
"You find your mate yet?" Ezra asked him. Their backs were toward me, but my hearing was better than both of theirs combined.
Was I eavesdropping? Sure...but did I care? No.
"You think I want a mate?" Carter chuckled.
"I mean, doesn't everyone?" Ezra shrugged, and I knew I should go. I knew I shouldn't listen. But I can't help it.
"Not me. Too many girls in this world that need to be dicked down by me!" I couldn't help the growl that escaped my mouth. The idea of him with a woman made me sick to my stomach.
"Oh dude, come on. You don't want a forever person?"
"Fuck no. That would get so fucking boring. I want my life to be exciting man. Having a mate...she would only drag me down."
The fact he automatically assumed his mate was a 'she' hurt me. So very badly. I'd never be someone Carter would look at like that.
"I can't wait to meet my mate. Whoever they are. I'd be happy." I could almost hear the smile on Ezra's lips. I wish that Carter was talking about me in that way.
"Yeah, man. I want that for you too. But until then, are you trying to go on a two-man tonight? Separate rooms of course."
****End of flashback****
"Sloan...but what if he surprises you? What if he doesn't reject you?"
I could almost die laughing at how ridiculous that sounds. I've gone over the situation a million times in my head and never once had it been he accepted me.
"Just humor me, what would you do?"
The question plagued me. I had never...NEVER thought that it would happen. And I don't want to now. I don't want to get my hopes up for a fairytale.
"We should get ready for dinner."
Which was code for. I should go get ready for my rejection.
Because it was coming.
I knew it was.