I loved being surrounded by my Mum’s family when we visited their pack. They were always so welcoming. But damn did I hate their weather! Always so much cooler than home, and it seemed to love to rain. A definite downside to our visits here.“Have you seen Sergio?” Rico asked, walking down the stairs of our grandparents' house. I shook my head at him as I finished my toast. To be fair, I had barely seen my brother since we had arrived, and he had gone a little weird in the packhouse. Other than the occasional passing of paths in the house, he had barely been around.I swallowed my food quickly, before looking at him. “He has barely been here. Grandpa said he had things to see to. I assumed he meant training, that is usually what you guys have to do.”“Hmm. He came to a training session, but other than that, I have barely seen him. So he isn't spending time training like usual. Or at least not with me. He isn’t even eating with us now.” Rico’s eyes narrowed. “You think he has been on
I saw the look of shock upon my brother and sister’s faces. Of course, I knew it would not be the news they expected to hear. And this was not the way I had wanted to tell them. I had wanted to break it to them gently...“You can’t be serious.” Rico’s voice sounded angry, if anything. “We are part of the elite warriors back home, Gio. Why would you give that up? She should be coming to the pack to be with you. She realizes that, right?”I found myself holding back so much anger at his words. Trying hard to tell myself it was just shock that was making him think like that. But I wasn’t about to go head-to-head with my brother over this. “She is my mate, that is why I would give that up, Rico. I don’t expect you to understand that until you meet yours. The pull you feel to your mate is exactly as they tell you when we learn of fated mates. I need to be with her. I cannot stomach the thought of leaving her here now I have met her. Now I know that she is mine. She takes care of her mother
The family had returned to the house after what had felt like a long day, all of us now together, but not one of us with a word to say. Mum and Dad had spent most of the day at the hospital with Grandpa. Mum needed that time to say goodbye. Kaleb and I had spent time there, said our goodbyes, but both of us struggled seeing him like that, and had chosen not to go back. So we decided to spend our day training instead. And spending time with pack members. Everyone seemed to want to see us, so it seemed like a good way to spend our time. Hearing tales of our Grandpa from so many...Our grandfather was like a hero to us growing up. So hearing so many people tell us how highly they thought of him only made me prouder to call him family. There had been a multitude of happy memories shared with us that had made us smile. Our Grandpa was a wonderful Beta to this pack, and we had every reason to remember him and be proud. Seeing him at his weakest was not the way I wanted to remember him. It
The mere mention of Landon set my heart into a panic. Why was Kai bringing him up? And what had given him the idea that I had a thing for him? That seemed so out of left-field. Never had anything like that been mentioned before…And just looking at the expression upon his face told me that my delightful big brother did not like that idea, so I could only imagine the reaction he would have if he was to discover that he was my fated mate.‘Fuck off Kai.’ I said, before moving out of the room where our family were sitting, albeit awkwardly. We had been sitting there having polite and dispersed conversation since we all arrived home and had dinner together. This was not the family I was used to. This was an uneasy and uncomfortable one. I did not like it. I tried my hardest to hold back the tears that were threatening. I did not want to think of Landon.I had avoided thinking of him as much as I possibly could. Thinking of him hurt. I hated the thought of my fated mate rejecting me. I h
I could see my sister was withdrawing. Sinking inside herself the way she does when she is battling with her emotions, and I know that was not a good thing. She is not going to give me any further information. So, I do what is the best thing to do, and I agree with her. I smiled, and nodded. I ruffled her hair the way she hates, and told her things would be okay. Said that the next few days are going to be difficult but that things will improve. Then I leave her alone in her room to give her the space she is craving, while I go out for a walk. Or so she thinks…But, instead, I reach for my phone and call the one person who will be able to give me the truth. I did not want Cleo to know I planned to talk to him because the moment I mentioned talking to him, I saw the response upon her face. That was the last thing she wanted. So, that told me that he held the truth. I wanted the truth. Despise him or not, I needed to talk to Landon.“Hello?” His voice sounded uncertain as he answered m
I had made a mistake. A huge fucking mistake. I could only assume that the reason he wanted to see me was because Cleo had told him. Was that not an easy assumption to make? Especially considering the way he sounded on the phone? He had sounded angry, though in all fairness, I think Kai always sounds angry… but looking at the anger upon his face now, I can see that I made a huge fucking mistake. It would appear he didn’t actually know anything. Or, to put it correctly, he hadn't known anything until I had opened my big fucking mouth; and now he knew it all. And Cleo was going to be broken by this…“Yes. She is my fated mate. But I am trying to do the decent thing by her, Kai.” I urged him to see the good in my actions. I know how he sees me. He has not thought particularly highly of me for a long time. I don’t think anyone has in my reluctance to take my place as Alpha. So surely Kai would want better for his sister than me? Anybody would want better than me, right? Cleo should want
I continued to drive along the road, an awkward silence sitting between us now as Kai’s words echoed in my mind. I tapped my thumbs on the steering wheel almost nervously. Maybe asking Kai to come along with me was not the best idea in the world...“Quit doing that, will you?” Kai snapped, telling me my tapping irritated him.I nodded, battling hard to stop myself with the nervous movement of my thumbs. I heard Kai sigh deeply. “You don’t see it, do you? You don’t see this the way I do? I hate that it is you. I truly do. Cleo deserves the best. She deserves to be happy. She will have been like every she-wolf out there, dreaming of the perfect happy ending the moment she met her fated mate. All hearts and roses... the racing heart and her heart being swept away in the moment. Everything so perfect, and you..." he gave me the dirtiest look I think I have ever been given before continuing. "And you are going to destroy that by deciding you are going to reject her the moment you discover
I stood in the kitchen for a moment after my sister had left the room, giving me a sad glance as she did, filling my body with guilt. I was still in shock at how my brother had acted, and now my sister was making me feel guilty too? I needed to compose myself. That was not how I had wanted things to go. I wanted them to be happy for me. Was that too much to ask? This was one of the biggest moments of my life. It hurt they were not sharing my excitement. Yes, I saw Ana was trying to be happy for me, and to some degree she had attempted to defend me, but I could also feel her pain, not to mention see the pained expression upon her face.And then there was my brother. One of my closest friends. I had dreaded telling him. And I think this had been the reason why. He and I had trained alongside one another as warriors. Brothers in arms as well as in blood. He saw this as a betrayal to that bond. But it wasn't that, or I did not view it that way. We would always have that connection. I had