Her Arrival...

"So what got you so worked up bro?" Nathan asked over the phone.

"I've found her, I've finally found my mate but she's far from what I expected, definitely way beyond my imagination. She's a handful," he responded.

Jason was trying to explain to his 19-year-old brother how his day just managed to take the most unexpected turns ever. He was the only one who would listen to all his tales and not lie to please him. No one could be as honest as his brother.

However, knowing Nathan, he wouldn't get much reasonable advice from him. His brother was the wild type, the most spontaneous, dangerous werewolf he knew. Still, he was the most important person in his life and he wouldn't trade him for anything.

After their parents were brutally killed during a blood bath orchestrated by a power-hungry Beta, a werewolf who felt it was his right to rule, it was just the two of them having each other's back like always.

He didn't want to recall how his parents died. It was too cruel, without any mercy. But it was etched in his mind and for a long while every single day, he had nightmares about that particular night.

The nightmares still come, but occasionally. They come to taunt him, for being too weak to avenge his parent's death. They come to haunt him, reminding him that a cold-hearted killer is out there, still thirsty for his blood and his crown.

For years he had searched for him, but after finding nothing he had given up, but he knew it was not over. He knew when the time comes he'd have to fight, then he would get his revenge.

For 13 years he had yearned for revenge. If it meant waiting till eternity then he was prepared to do just that.

"Hello, Jason, are you still there?" His brother asked, bringing him back to reality.

'Yeah, sure, my mind just wandered somewhere," he replied.

"Are you already making wedding plans bro!" He teased and snickered.

"Oh shut up! Don't be ridiculous, I just met her," he told him.

"Oh come on, that wouldn't stop you. I know you and you're thinking 'as a man of tradition I have to make things right by her before consummation," Nathan continued to tease him, putting on a fake voice in a terrible attempt to sound like him.

"Why did I even bother telling you about this?" He groaned, regretting all his life decisions till now.

"I'm your brother remember, plus you have no one else you can open up to," he replied.

"That's not true, I have plenty of people to talk to, I'm a people's person," he retorted.

"Oh is that so?" Then just name one person that you can spill your guts to, as a people's person I'm sure you have lots of people just waiting to share your problems with you, so go on, name one," he urged him.

Gosh!

His brother was good for nothing but he was also brutally honest and always right and right now he was right, as always.

He had to admit that apart from Nathan he had no one in this world that he was close to. He could never trust anyone, not after what he had been through.

Time and time again everyone around him has proven that they could not be trusted. It was hard to open his heart to anyone, especially knowing that that same person could be used against him.

It was a lonely life that he lived but he had gotten used to it. He had to get used to it else he was sure he would have gone crazy.

Nobody understood the overwhelming weight on his shoulders. There was so much he wanted to do, so many wrongs he wanted to correct, but he felt completely powerless. Money could not get him anywhere, especially when he was at war with money too.

As a werewolf and especially as an Alpha it was important to control people, to be powerful, to be respected. He had to act the part even though it could kill him. He had to be selfless even if it meant his downfall.

So many expectations and so little love.

Love…

That was not a word he was too familiar with. It was something he had always run away from.

He loved his parents and they died. They left him all alone. They left him with a pack that did not believe in him even though they never said it out loud.

Why did they have to leave him? Why was the world so cruel? It should have been him, not them.

"I have no one Nathan, and you know why."

He was no longer joking around. His throat was taut. His usual calm voice went a pitch lower. He was intimidating this way, almost like an animal, but it was just a defense mechanism. He was just sad, plain and simple.

He was an Alpha. He could not be sad, he could not show any sign of weakness. Then what was the tightness in his chest all about?

He had no one.

"I'm sorry Jason, I was just joking around," he said, realizing that maybe he had gone too far.

"You always joke around, it's high time you grow up. I might not always be here to take care of you," he reminded him.

"Don't say that bro, don't talk like you're dying," he retorted.

"But I can die anytime, especially with Sebastian still out there waiting for the right time to strike," he told him firmly.

Sebastian.

Even saying his name out loud was heart-wrenching. Memories cascading, on top of another. It hurt the most when he remembered that once upon a time they were like family.

He trusted him, he even leaned on him, but life soon taught him that anyone could betray you, anyone.

"I don't care about that snake!" Nathan growled.

He knew his brother was a hot head and he was as hurt as he was, but they did not share the same memories. Nathan could not remember as vividly as he could.

He was sheltered from it all, hidden during the fight. Too young to comprehend the shift from love to greed to pure hatred that went on in the pack.

He was too young then but he wasn't anymore so he had to be aware. Nathan was as much of a threat to Sebastian as he was. If anything ever happened to him then it was his responsibility to lead.

Until all the Halem line was extinct Sebastian had no claim to lead. He knew ultimately it was kill or be killed. He hoped Sebastian would choose differently, but that would be wishing on the stars.

He had gone this far, he had done this much. The only thing stopping him was the pack. They disapproved of Sebastian's actions but lately, he could sense that he was losing the trust of the pack, or at least the majority of them.

It was only a matter of time till they turned on him and he had to do something fast to make sure that did not happen, not for him, but for his brother's sake.

His only will to live was Nathan. He could not imagine what would happen to him if he wasn't there to protect him. The pack would eat him alive, that's for sure.

"You better start caring Nathan, I've got to go, goodbye," he said, hanging up.

He didn't wait to hear his reply. He was done talking to him. He was leaning on his car throughout their conversation.

He needed time alone to think. At times like this, a long drive was the ever-ready remedy. The headquarter of the company where he worked was situated a considerable distance away from the city.

To add to that his house was a long drive from the company, situated in the outskirts of town, where he was surrounded by trees and wildlife.

It had to be like this. He could not risk anyone catching him when he turned. He was still under the curse of the full moon after all.

Yet even though it was a curse he loved it when he turned. He loved the feeling of losing his human form and taking on the form of the wild wolf. It was a painful process but it was a pain he welcomed.

When he roamed as a wolf he felt free. That was when all his senses became sharper. It was a feeling he could not quite describe but he cherished every bit of it.

As he drove off with his windows down, the breeze blowing through his once neatly styled hair, he could think back to the good old times.

To times where he smiled, to times where he felt Joy.

He envisioned his 10-year-old self holding his baby brother in his arms, loving him to death. Nathan was a fat baby, always looking for attention.

He had big bright brown eyes and a wide smile that you could never say no. Even as a baby he was annoyingly mischievous. Always crying even if left alone for just a second.

He was either eating, crying or sleeping, but everybody loved the baby. At first, he did not understand what was so special about the ever crying baby.

He struggled to adjust to the lack of attention he suddenly felt. Everyone wanted to be with the cute baby. For a while he felt alone, abandoned, forgotten.

Then things changed. From the moment he held Nathan in his arms he suddenly understood what all the fuss was all about.

A gush of feelings ran through him. He immediately felt this overwhelming need to protect him, to love, to stand by him. Suddenly they were inseparable.

He remembered the warm feeling he had when he held him as his parents watched with admiration. Their soft gaze followed him as he rocked the baby back and forth.

From that moment he vowed to keep him safe. To shield him from whatever trouble he could face. To love him no matter what. He just didn't know that he would be doing all that alone.

It was a heavy burden to bear with a heavy heart. He was hurting but had to push all that pain behind him. His little brother needed him and that was more important than his feelings, at least that was what he thought.

At last, he reached his home. It was a simple building but it was comfortable. It was as close to nature as a modern house could get. It didn't look like the house of a billionaire.

He didn't particularly feel like a billionaire either. Most of his wealth was inherited. His parents were true billionaires. He was just a lonely man with money and power.

However, this particular night there was a strong familiar smell around. He knew that smell, he just did not want to believe it was true.

What was she doing here? Why now?

He counted his steps as he walked to the doorstep. He did not need to check the lock, he could bet it was open.

He walked in and saw her standing, facing the fireplace. She had on a black leather jacket with black skin-tight jeans and her trademark high black boots.

Her long legs stretched to their full form as she dangled a glass of wine in one hand. Her thick brown hair which was usually long was now cut short, reaching just below her neck.

As she turned around her dark eyes pierced through him. There was something extremely unsettling with the way she stared at him.

He hadn't seen her for years and now she was right before him, in his home. He thought back to how they parted ways, to the day he last saw her, the day he lost her.

"Hello Jason," she spoke in that unique smoky voice of hers.

Something was wrong. He just knew it.