Chapter 42: All About That Bass

Ares

I have issues.

You wouldn't think so by looking at my handsome exterior, but I struggled with self-esteem issues throughout my whole life. Where people saw a hot blonde, I saw the runt of the litter.

I am the youngest of three children and since none of them displayed any interest in following in my father's footsteps, he practically bred me for it. I don't mind it much, I like training and exercising.

My only problem is my father. Because he is the highest ranking warrior, he thinks that his son should be a perfect fighting machine. He thought he had created the perfect warrior, but I wasn't created in a laboratory.

I am not a robot. I am a man with my own plans, hopes, and dreams. I have feelings too just like any other person, not that my father recognizes that.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to pursue another career, one where my father isn't the boss. Because this one takes its toll on me.

Funny, you'd think that the constant training or the grueling combat exercises would be what demands the most out of me, but no. It really is my own dad.

To be fair, he is the same with everybody. It's like he was born a hard ass.

Though I don't really know why. He is a straight white man, a middle-class American living in a small town. He has a loving mate, 3 wonderful children, and a respected career spanning almost three decades.

Why is he so brooding all the time? What is his motive for sulking? Mr. Henderson is a widower who lost his mate more than a decade ago and you don't see him brooding all the time.

No one really knows why and I am not asking him that. All I know is that sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a lawyer like my brother or a courtroom clerk like my sister. Her boss is the judge.

I should have gone to college. It's not like I had any mate holding me back here in Regency Falls. Maybe if I were mated to another warrior, my career path could be explained. But I am not particularly attracted to muscles.

I already have plenty of those, I don't need them on my mate.

No, I prefer some junk in the trunk. More cushion for the pushing, or however the saying goes. I haven't been exposed to much gay culture growing up in a town of less than 50 thousand people in Texas.

Fortunately, the only good thing about my father is that you can't say he is mean to me because I am gay. That was never the issue. He was surprised when he found out about it, like any father would. But that was never a deal breaker for him.

We are werewolves after all. Evolved creatures. And I am living my truth, being my proud self. You can either accept me or get the fuck out of my way because I know 50 different ways to kill a man.

My high school experience wasn't bad. I faced some homophobia since most of the school population is human, but I was a jock so my teammates shielded me from most of it.

Truth is if you can survive the locker room, you can survive anything. And I am a survivor. My father has been training me to be a warrior since I could walk. Once I began shifting into a wolf at 12 years old, then it became intense.

It's like the 'Karate Kid' film, but with deadly weapons. And a less nice sensei.

Through all the bullshit I had to face in life, what really killed me was being unmated. I had such high hopes for my mating. There was an Omega boy from my class I had my eyes on. Grayson's cousin, if you can believe it.

I had such high hopes to be mated to him. I always wanted an Omega to be my mate because it's the easiest way to have a family for queer people like me. But when it came down to it, not only was it not him, it wasn't anybody else.

I turned 18 and no mate to be found anywhere. I graduated high school unmated. Tried out for a warrior position unmated. 19, 20, 21... year after year I attended high school graduation ceremonies to check if my mate was younger than me, and still nothing.

It absolutely destroyed me. I already had a terrible boss, 2 successful older siblings to measure up to, and a career where you literally have to risk your life every single day. Why couldn't I have one good thing in life? The very element that defines all werewolf kind - besides being able to shift into a predator.

In the years since I graduated, I focused on my job and my career. I trained, I perfected, and I dedicated myself to my craft. But nothing could please my father. The more you give, the more he demands.

Eventually, you just stop caring. I had to develop a thick skin, but I can only withstand so much. Every Christmas, every Thanksgiving, or family holiday when the Saunders would reunite and I'd look at my siblings' families I felt like a failure.

Both of them are happily mated with pups of their own. It's hard out here for a single man.

Yes, I took comfort in many humans over the years. I wasn't about to go without sex just because I was unmated. I have needs too. In that department, I have no complaints - though the quality of the boys available could be better.

Anyway, you get what you can. And sometimes I had to travel to the next town to get it. Too bad I couldn't travel to the Blood Moon pack. You need to be authorized by an Alpha to enter a territory and we were enemies. I could be killed if I ventured to their side of the border and got caught. No, thanks.

But that was then, this is now. For all my suffering, I finally have the Omega of my dreams: Spencer Goliath Jonas, my mate. I feel so lucky to have him.

People asked me why I didn't reject him like Rhiannon did Aaron, but the answer is pretty simple. I am not squandering my only chance of happiness. No, sir. No, ma'am.

I couldn't give a flying fuck if he was already mated before. It's an unusual situation, sure. It never happened before to anyone except for Rhiannon, of course. But I don't get to pick my mate. What I do get is to be thankful to the Goddess who paired me with a handsome Omega from a good werewolf family.

I am mated to a doctor, y'all. Do you have any idea of what that means?

I won the mating pool against my siblings - one mate is a stay-at-home mom and the other is a police officer.

I am kidding. It's not a competition. That'd be pathetic. Both their mates are lovely people and I get along great with my family. If anything, my brother and sister have been my rock throughout this whole time.

I was raised to face any adversities in life, but I wasn't prepared to face the mating pool. It has been a tough four years, but that is over now. I have Spencer and I couldn't be happier.

The night of our date. Inside the bar on a Friday night.

"Thank you so much for staying over at Regency Falls and for being so accommodating to my work schedule. It's not lost on me the effort you put in and I really appreciate it." I told him after we ordered a couple of pitchers.

"Of course, Ares. I'm on break from college, it's the least I could do. We need to get to know each other." He said, grinning at me. It has only been a few days since we were mated but I am already smitten by him.

"I'm happy to get to know you better. I'm sorry this town doesn't have better options. It was either this bar or the mall." I said, humorously.

"I wasn't exactly raised in a big city either. I'm used to it, though living in Houston has its own privileges." He commented, pensive.

"I wanna hear all about that. I never went to Houston, so I'm eager to go now that we're mated." I told him, smiling flirtatiously.

"It's a fantastic city. You're gonna like it. Plus, they actually have gay bars that you can go to instead of this one. No shade." He snickered and I laughed.

"Yeah, the straight population loves to ruin things for us." I joked, looking at all the people inside the bar drinking and talking. Landon and Harry were here too, but they were purposefully distant from us.

"It's fine. As long as it doesn't stop you from kissing me." He flirted and I swooned.

"Nothing can stop me from doing that." I stated, confidently. My eyes fixated on his lips for a moment before I leaned in. His lips met mine and suddenly I was in heaven.

This isn't like anything I've ever felt before. It's not like kissing anyone I've ever kissed. Being with your mate is something else entirely. His lips taste like paradise to me and I never want to be parted from him.

After a moment, our beers arrived and we drank it thirstily. Since the bar is packed, I already ordered another pitcher. It could take a while before it gets here and I earned my drink tonight.

Fortunately, most of the attendees were other werewolves so no one really cared about a gay couple cramping their style. And if anyone tries to get involved in my business, they should be deterred just by looking at my arms.

As the night went on, Spencer and I got to talking about his college life and what he expected out of the next term. We talked for a good while over a few beers.

It's funny how we instantly got along so well, even though our mating started with him slapping me for forcing a kiss on him. Thankfully, he doesn't slap me anymore.

"I'm gonna order us a cab and I'll drop you home." I declared some hours later. Unfortunately, I had to work the next day, but we had a great time on our date.

"OK, I'll pay our tab then." He offered, humbly.

"No need. Mike [the bar owner] pretty much has my credit card on file." I said in a joking tone.

On Sunday, I had the day off so I took Spencer all around the city. The parks and my favorite spots downtown. We continued our conversation and got to know each other better.

"This is nice. The coffee here is really good." Spencer commented, taking a sip of his black beverage. We are in a coffee shop downtown. We made a pit stop to refuel after an hour-long walk by the park.

"It really is. The owner here, Beverly, went abroad to study coffee. She knows everything about grinding and what grains to buy. My coffee has a touch of orange in it. I didn't even know that was a possibility before her." I informed him, sounding excited.

The good thing about small towns is that everybody knows each other. Though I know mostly other werewolves and she is a human. But I do love coffee.

"Wow. It does smell nice." He said, taking a sniff of my cup.

"Whenever I'm between shifts, I come here. It's better than any other coffee I've ever had." I said, enthusiastically.

"I think you turned me on to this orange coffee. Order me one please while I go to the restroom." He said after finishing his cup.

"I knew it! I knew you'd want one too!" I boasted, laughing. Spencer pecked my cheek before he went to the bathroom.

I finished my coffee and ordered another round for us. This time with a side of tiramisu that I love.

When I was returning to my seat, I scented a familiar person walking inside the place.

"Ares? What are you doing here?" Samson, a human boy from my high school class, questioned me, pretending to be shocked to find me there.

"You know I love the coffee here. I told you about this place!" I glared at him.

"Oh right, you do. Why haven't you texted me back?" He demanded in an irritated tone.

Full disclosure: Samson and I have been hooking up since high school. Even after he went to college, every Summer he returned to Regency Falls. He texts me and we hook up.

This Summer was no exception. We met up back in June and early July. It's easy and so far no strings attached.

"I'm sorry I haven't texted you in a while. There have been some developments in my life." I admitted, awkwardly.

"Oh really? Don't tell me the convicted bachelor Ares Saunders finally got a boyfriend." He snickered with a mischievous grin.

"He's not a bachelor!" Spencer interjected, returning from the restroom to find this awkward encounter.

Sansom looked at Spencer from top to bottom with disdain.

"Please don't tell me you're trading ME for THIS!" He said with a disgusted expression on his face.

"Samson!" I gasped in shock at his condescending tone.

Spencer nearly growled at him.

"Ares, really. Did he drug you? I mean, look at me and look at him!" He said, pointing at Spencer's body with ridicule.

"That's enough!" I snarled at him. I had to contain myself from not shining my eyes.

"You don't need to disrespect my partner to make yourself feel better! I appreciate everything we had together but that chapter is closed now. Forever!" I shouted, ferociously mad.

"But Ares–"

"It was nice knowing you, Samson. Have a good life!" I cut him off, dismissively. My tone and facial expression broke no argument. I am done with him.

Eventually, he got misty-eyed and left the coffee shop tearing up. I took my seat back at the table where we waited for our coffee. Spencer followed my lead.

When I looked at him, he was clearly hurt. This was completely unnecessary and uncalled for. My poor mate...

"I'm so sorry for everything he said. He had no right to put you down like this to make himself feel better." I said, remorsefully.

"Considering he is clearly your type, do you have any regrets about being mated to me?" Spencer asked me and it nearly broke my heart hearing him say that.

"First of all, he is NOT MY TYPE!" I nearly screamed the last few words.

"We met in high school at a time when I couldn't exactly afford to be picky. He was gay, available, and had the hots for me. That's why we ended up connecting..."

"I can imagine the type of connection you two had." He interrupted me in a sarcastic tone, widening his eyes.

"Yes, we hooked up. I was horny and he was easy. Like I said, there weren't many choices for me at the time and it's not like I had a mate to connect with." I explained, causing him to gasp at my statement.

"And after he went to college we connected every Summer because it was easy to fall back to him. But I never made any promises or led him on. He knew there were no strings attached and we were both fine with this arrangement." I continued in a serious tone.

"But he is not my type. And I do not, under any circumstances, regret being mated to you." I stated, confidently.

"Sure..." He rolled his eyes, not believing me.

Beverly came to our table and placed two cups of coffee and a slice of tiramisu for us. I thanked her and she left shortly.

Before he could sip his coffee, I grabbed his chair and pulled Spencer closer to me. He was startled by my action as he came within an inch of me.

I touched his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss that lasted for a few minutes. I left him panting after the heated lip lock.

"I swear to Goddess. You're my type, Spencer. You are everything that I've ever wanted in a mate. You're everything that I've ever wanted in a partner. Don't ever think otherwise because it is simply not true. Trust me on this. You are perfect for me. You were definitely worth the wait." I declared in a firm tone, getting my point across.

Spencer blushed at my statement. Then I kissed him again.

"Fine, I believe you." He conceded after we parted lips. He took a drink of his coffee and so did I.

That fucking bitch. Don't disrespect my Goddess given mate. I waited four long years for him and nobody will stand in my way now.

I meant everything that I said. Spencer is my number. He is all that I want. And I am all about his delicious body.😏

A|N: The surprises keep on coming.

This chapter could've been titled so many different songs, but I couldn't resist it. You go, Ares!

Love,

Léo.