Once My Mate, Always My Mate novel Chapter 23

Sabrina's POV

It was decided, by me that we would have dinner with my family and Eleanor in one sitting. Would it be a disaster? Probably....

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Aiden asks me, looking dapper as ever in his black tuxedo and bow tie.

"We cannot hope to build a better future if we do not combine our families and fix what was broken. I need this to work because there is nothing else to do and I believe doing right by the elders is the first step." I say to him.

"Yeah, that is all good and well, but your family hates mine." Aiden says to me.

"My father hated your father for his betrayal and now that he is gone, things might just go smoother. Your mother is not for everyone, but I am sure she will be polite tonight if she wants her place back in society and her old self, which I am willing to give back to her if she works on herself." I say to a very hopeful Aiden.

"What about..." He says and I finish his sentence for him.

"Your ex? What about her?" I ask innocently.

"Are you still going to keep her as a pet?" He asks me and I smile.

"No, she was never a pet. She is living life in her true form... A form we have all seemingly forgot about. Don't forget, the human form was foreign to your kind until my family changed that. I may be in a good mood but don't milk my generosity or test me. I can easily cancel all of this and have us mate without proper procedure." I say to Aiden.

He walks up to stand closer to me, his height blocking the last bits of the sun that was coming through the window.

"I don't expect you to do any of this. In fact, I did not ask for any of it. I simply wanted to make us work, as intended. This was all your idea and if you want to make things right, to have us start this thing between us properly, everyone else has to be involved. Well... those that are living and breathing." Aiden says to me, and I let out a huff.

How dare he lay this all on me? I get what he is saying but I do not have it in me to forgive everyone just yet. Why should I? Eleanor is Aiden's mother, and she is the only one of importance to him.

His brother's mate can be found by Eleanor once she has regained her abilities, if she is still alive.

"I have no intention of doing so. My family was wronged, and I have decided to pardon your mother. Take it or leave it but that is my final decision... I don't have to do this, but I want to. Everything else you will have to let go... Now, if you will excuse me..." I say, walking past him to the dress on the other side of the room.

"I appreciate what you are doing. Please don't think I don't... I was just hopeful, that is all." He says to me before leaving me to get dressed by myself.

Which I appreciate, considering what awaits me in a few minutes. The sight of Eleanor still makes my blood boil and goddess knows what my family will do when they see her in my dining room...

I finish putting on my dress and shoes. A task my mother enjoys way too much but I look good, with the blood bath that was coming, I can at least enjoy the way I look for now before it all goes down the drain.

I walk out of my room, finding Aiden in the living room with my twin brother.

They have somehow become best of friends, and it irks me a little. Do I feel betrayed by the one person who is supposed to feel the same way I do? Yes, a little bit but Anthony and I have a little bit of a strained relationship ever since I saved his mate from death.

Being alone with him becomes sort of awkward and I start to find his jokes lacking. I still love him, goddess, everyone knows that, but I can't seem to wonder if the roles were reversed, would my brother or anyone else in my family, have done the same thing too? Not knowing what the price will be.

"Anthony." I greet him, kissing his cheek as he stands to greet me too.

"You are dressed up." He says to me, looking me up and down with a raised eyebrow. My brother was in formal pants but shirtless... I could see a little blood on his chin and chest, clearly fresh from a hunt.

"And you are partly dressed?" I ask, doing the same as I look him up and down.

"What can I say?! I like to be different." He says to me, making Aiden chuckle.

"You don't need to be here since you so rudely had a raw bloody meal." I say to him, pouring myself a drink since none of the boys offered to.

"Oh sis, don't be like that. I am only here for the drama... My hunt was just a precaution. I mean, do you really think we get to eating with the guest that will be arriving soon?" He asks me and I nod my head yes.