Chapter 5 | Meant To Be

Sebastian

Once again Charlotte isn’t coming in to work. I know what she’s doing. She’s spending the day prepping for the trip that she wants us to take tomorrow. But deep in my heart I hope that the trip will never come to pass.

Charlotte has been my closest friend for my entire life. She’s the only thing I have left from my life back at the Southern River Pack and if I’m being honest… I want her to be my mate.

She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and we get along well. Life would be so much simpler if we were just meant to be together.

If we were humans and not werewolves I would’ve made a move on her years ago. But we both have a destined mate out there waiting for us and just in case my destined mate isn’t her, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.

I walk up to her room to bring her lunch and she smiles at me. I set the food down and she starts talking about our trip tomorrow. I watch her and feign my interest. Can she really not feel the connection that I have always sworn was between us?

I don’t want to go to the Southern River Pack and live as rogues. I want her to find out we’re mates and for us to stay here. I can work my way up in the pack and become a trainer or something. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

One more day and I will know if we are meant to be.

Maddox

Dad called Cassian and I to come to his office right after dinner. Tomorrow we are officially getting split up and I can’t help the excitement that is buzzing inside of me about finding out what part of the land will be mine.

Cassian stands tall and smiles at everyone we walk past as we go to his office. I swear that I can hear people fawning over him as we go to our destination. It’s obnoxious.

Once we get in the office we take a seat and dad smiles at us as he says, “I finally got everything figured out and finalized, boys!”

He sets a map out in front of us and says, “Outlined in blue is the Thunderbolt Pack territory and outlined in yellow is the Lightning Pack territory.”

We both look at it with eager eyes, but while Cassian’s expression lights up, mine falters. What the hell is this?

My pack got the worst land we can’t garden or anything on it, it’s the area that’s most affected by rogues, it doesn’t have any main water source, there are no houses built over there! I’d have to start from scratch.

My hands ball up into tight fists especially when Cassian says, “This looks great! Thank you, dad!”

Surely, he can see that he got the best of everything. This is all because he’s the oldest by 10 minutes and is dad’s favorite.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m being treated different, but I can’t help the anger that rises inside me. This isn’t fair. I thought this took so long because dad was struggling to make it fair, but he obviously did everything in Cassian’s favor.

So, when dad asks, “What do you think, Maddox?”

I couldn’t help the tone in my voice as I respond, “I think that you gave Cassian the best of everything and gave me the worst.”

His eyebrows furrow slightly like he’s confused by my statement and I shake my head, “Don’t act like this is a shock to you. You gave Cassian everything! Rogues aren’t common in his area, he gets the lake, he gets the best soil, the already established village, and what do I get? Nothing! I’ll have to live here under his reign as Alpha until I can build a home for me and some pack members! This isn’t fair.”

Dad’s eyes narrow and he snaps, “Watch your tone.”

I breathe out and force my tone to sound calmer as I say, “I’m sorry, father, this is just disappointing for me.”

He shakes his head and stands up and says, “Let me remind you, Maddox, that I don’t have to do this for you. I could give the entire pack to Maddox, he is the oldest anyway. I am being more than generous to you. And the reason this has all taken so long is because I already had a pack house and a small village made on your land. So, no, you don’t have to stay here under your brother. Any other questions?”

I shake my head no and he seethes, “Good.”

Dad looks back at Cassian and asks, “Do you have any questions?”

He smiles as he shakes his head and says, “No, sir, I’m okay.”

Dad nods, “This will be made official tomorrow. You can be dismissed.”

We both bow our heads to our dad before leaving the room. Cassian walks away with his head held high and I’m sure he’s on cloud 9.

I go to my room, but this whole thing still depresses me. Although, I am grateful I won’t have to start from scratch, it’s still a hard pill to swallow knowing that I’m not getting the good bit of land like Cassian.

I plop down on my bed as I breathe out. I wish for once that someone would care about me more than Cassian. I wish I had someone that would love me.

I wish I had my mate.

Whoever she is, I’m sure that she’ll be perfect for me. I will shower her with love and affection and I will be so grateful knowing that for once in my life I won’t be in competition with my brother.