Five

 Kai

Anger was an understatement of how I felt after Vespa walked away. I was inflamed that my one chance of being with my mate was ruined by my overbearing brothers and my spoiled cousin.

"Get the hell out of here, Nebula." I snapped at the silly girl. "You're so infuriating."

Nebula rolled her eyes, looking smug. "C'mon, Kia, I'm still your favorite cousin and you shouldn't dump me over a worthless human."

Then she sat on the same seat Vespa had vacated, placing her manicured nails over my clenched fist and trying to pry it open.

I pulled away, glaring at her.

Hissing, she leaned back, drinking some of Ziah's water. 

"This isn't what you should be focused on. Grandma said keep your eye on the prize. But here you are, acting like simps. I'm most surprised that you're acting pussy-whipped, Kai."

"Shut the fuck…"

"You're the serious one," she continued, ignoring me. "If it were Zeke or fuckboy Ziah, I wouldn't bat an eyelid."

She was right. Vespa's presence made my skin prickle pleasurably. At first glance, Vespa looked like a basic, random girl. Short, strawberry-blonde, pixie hair, glasses and all.

At a close glance, she was drop-dead gorgeous. Sexy as sin. Even when she was pissed off, she radiated sensuality in a way no female could ever match.

 I was drawn in by her beauty from the very beginning. From the moment I saw her at the airport, my wolf roared inside me, excited to mark our mate. 

But my attraction quadrupled when I realized she was intelligent. I wanted her to be my partner, my friend, my slut.

Hell, I'd fuck her everywhere. I'd release my pent-up sexual frustration and send shivers of desire all over her body with my tongue.

My brother, Zeke, clenched his fists, and Ziah tugged his man-bun. Nebula's statement rang in my ears. I wasn't offended. Even if I was, I had no right to hit her. She was female, my cousin, and pregnant.

"I'm going to get her," I said with supreme confidence. "Because I'm interested in her."

"You wouldn't dare." Zeke fired off like a soldier ready for battle. It took Vespa to bring out the angry side of my brother that I hadn't seen ever since our parents died. 

Thank you, Vespa. 

"Must you always dominate everything?" He continued his rant. "And you, Ziah? You have a string of girls to sleep with. When was the last time you took Camila's calls? That girl would die for you."

"Well, I don't want her," Ziah roared. "I want Vespa and I must have her."

Hissing in annoyance, I controlled my temper and waited for Zeke to finish. 

"I declared my interest first. Both of you must stay away from that girl."

"What is so special about her?" Nebula sneered, eating my burger. "There are thousands of other 5;2 blonde, pixie-haired girls with curves. I can get you more beautiful and sophisticated ones if you want."

We ignored her. I had far more important things to worry about. Things like how to convince my brothers to stay away from my human mate and how to win her heart. 

All through last night, I couldn't sleep because it was an unspoken rule among Alpha lycans to mate with strong mates from either an Alpha or Beta bloodline. No alpha in my generation ever mated an omega, not to talk of humans.

Finding my mate was perfect, but we were in the middle of a crisis. 

This was beyond me and I couldn't control my feelings. This has never happened in the past five years, since Diana died. Vespa made me come alive from my grave of loneliness and numbness. 

I needed her in my life, more than oxygen. 

"Zeke, Ziah, I'm pleading with you to leave the girl alone. I don't want this to spiral out of control, but I want her and must have her."

My second chance at happiness from the moon goddess.

 Losing my parents to our enemies and losing my girlfriend in the space of three months was too much to bear, a torture imprinted in my heart.

"Kai, didn't you say you weren't interested in romance and that the only reason you're here is to find the bastards who ruined us?" Ziah asked with loathing in his voice. "What changed? Where's the spunk?"

"We're going to have to modify that. I never planned to abandon their duties but I want that girl, and whatever I want, I get."

"Not this time around," Ziah warned. "I like her."

"You do? Are you tired of being a fuck boy?" I sized him up. "Don't forget that you like them in all shapes and sizes. It's why Camila…"

"Enough with the Camila referencing!" Ziah snapped, shooting me a nasty look. "I want Vespa."

Ignoring his tantrum, I turned to face Zeke who looked like he was about to devour me. 

"Damn you both. Why is this coming up after I confessed to both of you that I like the girl?" He snapped angrily. 

 Despite how aggravating the situation was, I liked that it was getting an emotion out of Zeke. Had I not been directly involved, I would have been excited to watch him react.

"This is fucking messed up," Ziah said, now composed. "Must we always compete over everything? I'm drained. In the end, one person would emerge as Alpha. If you want me to give up on my quest to become Alpha, I will, on the condition that you leave the girl alone "

A shocked gasp escaped Nebula. I was stunned to hear Ziah's words. I wasn't going to let anyone have Vespa. She was mine and mine alone."

"Well, in that case, I have something important to tell you, "I cleared my throat. "And I want you to take it as seriously as life and death."

Everyone, including Nebula, stared at me, knowing that I never joked with anything.

"I don't know what games both of you are playing, but Vespa is my second chance mate and I don't plan to share her with anyone, much less my brothers."

Zeke's turned white as a sheet and Ziah red as a tomato. No one spoke for about a minute until Nebula broke the silence.

"Have you lost your mind, Kai? You're admitting that a human is your mate?"

"Well, perhaps we should visit the Moon Goddess. My decision must be respected and strictly…"

Ziah's mad laughter made me stop speaking and I turned around to face him.

"What's funny, Hezekiah?"

Ziah scowled at me. He hated it when anyone called him by his full name. All three of us hated our full names. They housed too many memories.

"That's impossible," he shook his head. "She can't be your mate."

"And why not?"

"Because... Because she's mine." He stared back at me with defiance. "My wolf can scent her. And I am going to mark her."

My breath became shaky and I broke into a sweat. Was this some kind of joke?

"That's ridiculous," Zeke mirrored the same expression as mine. "She's my mate."

"Oh fuck," Ziah and Nebula said at once. My heart stopped beating.

"Come again?"

"You heard me," he shrugged. "My wolf can scent her, and I don't plan to share her with any of you."

Now was my turn to laugh. I laughed so hard that I choked on my spit.

"If this is a joke, stop it because it's not in any way funny."

"Looks like we have a big problem." Nebula sneered. "I can't wait to tell Grandma that her grandbabies have one mate, a tiny human who's leading them into damnation."

Ignoring her, we stared at each other, confused. Alphas were never permitted to share their women. And not only did I have to fight my brothers over my father's vacant throne. Now I had to fight them over a woman.

"Well then. Game on, I guess." I said to them, "You know me. And you know how ruthless I can get. Do not stand in my way if you love the very air you breathe. Reject her or face my wrath."

Zeke and Ziah stared at me, emboldened with newfound defiance.

"Not this time, Kai. I have nothing to lose," Zeke said. 

"I guess it's showtime. May the best man win," Ziah said after giving me a stare-down.