Chapter 4: Hello, brother

Kendrick came awake instantly. His eyes shifted to ruby red hues, his lips peeled back. Canines emerged as he scanned the room for threats.

When he noticed Astrid was trying to get away from him, he immediately put a leash on his beast.

Astrid was still shrieking, scrambling away from the bed. The sheets tangled around her ankles and she tripped, landing hard on the floor.

In a second, she was on her feet, cowering away from Kendrick.

"Who are you?" She yelled.

Kendrick lifted his hands, trying to show her he wasn't a threat.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just need you to calm down..."

"Don't tell me to calm down." Astrid screamed at him. "Where the hell am I? Who are you?"

When Kendrick tried to take a step towards her, she grabbed the nearest object she could find, a bread knife, and pointed it at him.

"Stay away from me, you vile beast!" She finally untangled her legs from the sheets and kicked it away. Her movements were so awkward and amusing that Kendrick couldn't help chuckling.

Astrid turned on him instantly, holding the bread knife like a sword.

"What's so funny? Huh? You think kidnapping me is funny?"

"If you would just calm down and listen to me, you'll know who I am, and why you're here." He explained with a playful grin.

Astrid stared at him suspiciously. While she contemplated if she should listen to him, her mind worked frantically, thinking of the best exit she could use in case she needed to escape.

Suddenly she grabbed a book from the table beside her and threw it at him.

The book bounced off Kendrick's bare torso and he looked at her innocently.

"Why'd you do that?" He asked.

Astrid grabbed another book and lifted it. "I don't know. Maybe I'm making sure you're real, and not a figment of my imagination."

"I promise you, I am real." Kendrick spread his hands and wiggled his fingers. "See? Real. Now drop the knife. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Not a chance. I'm holding on to it until you tell me how I got here." She said stubbornly.

Kendrick wanted to cry, and at the same time, laugh out loud. He had never seen anyone like her.

"Start talking." She ordered. "Who are you?"

"I am Kendrick Blackthorn, Alpha of Lunaria." Kendrick said, then paused.

Astrid stared back at him, waiting for him to continue.

"What are you looking at?" She snapped.

"Nothing. Just surprised you don't know who I am." He murmured.

"Am I supposed to know who you are?"

"The name Blackthorn, Alpha of Lunaria, doesn't ring a bell?"

"I've never heard of it."

A small frown furrowed Kendrick's brows. Every single shifter in the werewolf realm knew about the Blackthorn brothers, yet his mate didn't. It made him wonder what kind of life she lived.

"Well, now you have. I'm Kendrick Blackthorn, Alpha of Lunaria."

"So you said." Astrid interrupted him. "How did I get here?"

"I saved you last night in the forest."

When she heard him, she slowly lowered the knife.

"I must have passed out." She said thoughtfully.

"You did pass out." Kendrick nodded. "But I found you in time, before the lycans could take you back."

"Do you go about saving every damsel in distress?"

Kendrick smiled and shook his head.

"Actually, I don't."

"Well, what about the lycans?"

"They're all dead."

To his surprise, she dropped the knife and began to shake her head.

"No, no, no, what did you do?" She whimpered. "You killed everyone of them? I have to leave here. I can't let Alpha Kael find me."

At this point, Kendrick grew impatient. He marched up to her and grabbed her arms gently. Despite her struggles, he held her tight, looked into her eyes and spoke earnestly.

"Kael will have to go through me to get to you."

Astrid went totally still in his arms, her mouth wide ajar. She wasn't shocked at the swift change in his eyes. She was stunned by the sparks of the mate bond swimming through her body.

She knew immediately and stared at him in disbelief.

Kendrick knew she could feel it too, and he nodded.

"Yes, you are my mate. That's how I found you last night. The full moon led me to you. And as for Kael, he better gets running because when I find him, I won't be merciful."

Astrid was still speechless. She couldn't believe she found her second chance mate, the same night Gerald rejected her.

Was it a mere coincidence, or did it mean something more?

...

A few minutes later, Astrid felt calm. The urge to run away was gone and she was sitting on the bed, brooding.

Kendrick stood before her, leaning against the wall.

"Will you at least tell me your name?" He asked.

She sighed and looked up at him. Now that her anger had faded, she realized how handsome Kendrick was. She once thought Gerald was cute, but he was nothing compared to the man standing before her.

"My name is Astrid." She said softly, and looked away. "I, uh, I don't have a last name."

"Astrid." Kendrick repeated, the name rolling off his tongue easily. It was perfect, just like her.

"I don't even know what to say, or think." She murmured.

Kendrick then crouched before her and took her hands in his. "I'm more worried about you. Would you like to take a bath and change your clothes? You'll feel much better."

Astrid brought her hand to her nose and sniffed tentatively. "Do I smell bad or something?"

Kendrick laughed and shook his head. "You smell wonderful. But I don't want you wearing this." He pointed to the brown sac she had on.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, she agreed to take a bath.

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, clean clothes were waiting for her on the bed, a large t-shirt and shorts, which probably belonged to Kendrick.

She dried her body quickly and put them on. It was extremely large on her, but it was better than that awful sac.

She had just finished drying and brushing her hair when the door opened and Kendrick entered. He smiled warmly at her, and Astrid had to mentally kick herself so she wouldn't swoon.

How charming could a man be?

"Thanks for the shirt... and shorts." She mumbled.

"Are you hungry?"

As if on cue, she felt her stomach rumble.

"Yes, please." She nodded.

Kendrick held out a hand for her. "Come with me."

She placed her hand on his, gasping softly as she felt the sparks of the mate bond again. The feeling was exhilarating.

They left the room and began to descend the stairs, and she noticed they were the only ones in the mansion.

"You live here alone?"

Kendrick almost told her he lived there with his twin, but he held back. There was no need telling her about Kaiden.

"Not really. There are a few maids who do the cleaning and cooking."

"Oh." Astrid nodded nervously.

"There's no one here at the moment, so you don't have to be nervous." He turned back and smiled charmingly at her.

Astrid found herself smiling back at him. It was utterly difficult to resist his charm.

Suddenly Kendrick froze. He felt the hair on his neck stand on end and his eyes bled red.

Astrid watched his eyes transform into those terrifying ruby hues and she retreated from him.

"Kendrick?" She called out in fear.

Kendrick didn't answer. His gaze was pinned on the front door.

A second later, the door swung open and a dark haired man stepped in.

Astrid felt her jaw drop for the second time that day. The man bore a very strong resemblance to Kendrick. It was like she was staring at his doppelganger, his exact copy.

The resemblance was uncanny.

Meanwhile, Kendrick had a look of utter shock on his face as he stared at his twin brother.

"Kaiden." He growled.

"Hello, brother." Kaiden had a smug smile on his face, and that smile slowly disappeared when his gaze lowered to Astrid. He felt the connection, even without the full moon.

He took a step forward, his eyes never living hers.

"Mine." He whispered.