Chapter 8: We have nothing to talk about

The tension between Kendrick and Kaiden exploded the next day.

That morning, Kendrick carefully rose from the bed, not wanting to wake Astrid who was still sleeping beside him. The air was chilly, and he pulled the blanket up to her shoulders to keep her warm.

Then he stood beside the bed, watching her sleep for a while. The ghost of a smile lifted his lips and he pulled the blankets higher.

Mine.

The word echoed in his head. She belonged to him, and he'd be damned if Kaiden thought they would share her. He didn't care what the moon goddess had been thinking when she paired them with one mate, but one thing was clear. He wasn't sharing.

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, brushing back a thick lock of hair from her face. Then he left the room and gently shut the door behind him.

Now that Astrid would be staying at the mansion, he had to call back his guards. After Kaiden left a year ago, he had receded into a thick shell of isolation. Wanting to be alone, he dismissed the beta and gamma, along with the lycan guard and warriors.

Now he knew he had to call them back. Astrid needed protection, especially as she was wolf-less. He suspected she was a late bloomer, and her wolf was just taking its time to emerge. She could feel the mate bond, so it was only a matter of time before she shifted.

He stepped into his study, intent on sending a letter to his beta, and froze at the door. Kaiden was standing by the window, staring outside. When he noticed Kendrick's presence, he turned around.

"Hey."

"What do you want?"

"Last time I checked, this is my study just as much as it's yours."

Kendrick wasn't in the mood to talk, so he turned to leave. But Kaiden's voice stopped him.

"Kendrick, we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about."

Kaiden gazed at him silently. His eyes were hooded, a thousand emotions swirling through them. For a few seconds, they said nothing, just starting at each other until Kendrick broke the silence.

"If you have nothing better to say, get out. I have important things to do."

"Refusing to talk about this won't change a thing." Kaiden shot back.

"Didn't I just say get the fuck out?"

Kaiden scowled, his anger mounting. The Alpha blood in him wouldn't tolerate such rudeness, even if it was from his own brother.

Kendrick fetched a bunch of clean parchments for the letters. Then he took a seat behind the desk and started to write, totally ignoring his twin. He really wished Kaiden would take the hint and leave, but the latter walked towards the desk and leaned against it.

"Kendrick, I am your brother." He said. "No matter how much you want to change that, you can't. We can't carry on like this, not while Astrid is in the picture now."

"Yeah, well, big shame that it is this way." Kendrick retorted. "You can as well give up your Alpha title and go to hell if you can't carry on like this."

Kaiden's anger increased, and he had to put a leash on it so he wouldn't snap.

"No fucking way in hell will I do that." He growled.

Kendrick lifted the parchment he held and narrowed his eyes at it. His indifference infuriated Kaiden and he slammed his fists on the desk.

"Damn it, Kendrick. Listen to me. We have to stop ignoring each other. Talk to me, man to man."

Kendrick slammed the parchments down and rose to his feet. Then he walked around the table and stood toe to toe with his brother.

"You want us to talk, right? Fine! I wish you didn't come back, Kaiden. I've been better off without you, and I am still better off. You obviously came back because you felt the mate bond through me. You didn't come back for me, you came back because of Astrid."

"I know I fucked up, and you have every right to be pissed. But let us set our differences aside and..."

"Are you fucking kidding me, Kaiden? Our differences? Remind me again who left without a word, who got up one morning and decided to leave me to rule Lunaria all alone. Now you're back, expecting to continue from where you stopped. Not this time, Kaiden. You can fucking return to the hole you crawled out from."

Kaiden clenched his jaw, trying to hold back his rage.

"Tell me Kendrick, what are you really pissed about?" He murmured. "This isn't just about me leaving, right? It's because we share the same mate."

"You're damn right it is."

"Why? We've shared everything since we were kids. Why is this any different?"

Kendrick couldn't find the words to reply him, so he remained silent.

"Why so silent now?" Kaiden taunted him. "Is it because you're scared Astrid might choose me over you someday?"

"Fuck off, Kaiden. And fuck you!"

"Why don't you give this a chance?"

"Why don't YOU fucking reject her? Because nothing would make me share her with you!"

Kaiden's temper snapped. His eyes flickered and he took a step forward. They were standing so close that their noses were almost touching.

"Say that one more time, and you won't like what I'll do to you." He growled.

"Do your fucking worst, Kaiden!" Kendrick yelled and shoved him backwards.

Kaiden's rage snapped and he threw the first punch, aiming his fist for Kendrick's jaw. But Kendrick easily blocked it and threw his own. Kaiden deflected it, and he grabbed Kendrick's collar, pushing him backwards.

Suddenly a sweet forest scent filled the room and they both froze as Astrid forced herself between them. Her tiny palms landed on their chests as she pushed them apart.

"That's enough." She pleaded softly. "Please."

The brothers glared at each other, not wanting to be the first to let go. Astrid stood sandwiched between them, the sparks of the mate bond burning through their skins.

Numerous emotions washed over them: anger, rage, confusion, betrayal, and so much more, coating them in a toxic cocoon.

Astrid turned to Kendrick, and that was when he noticed she was crying.

"Kendrick let go of him." She whispered.

Kendrick's grip loosened immediately, and he pulled Astrid away with him, not wanting her to be close to Kaiden.

But Astrid yanked her arm away and glared at both of them.

"What is wrong with both of you?" She cried. "Neither of you are acting like the man you are, and you both need to get yourselves together."

"I came here to sort things out with him, Astrid." Kaiden explained while he tried to go closer to her. Watching her cry was like a dagger to his heart.

But Astrid held up her hand, stopping him. "Don't come close to me. You want to sort this out, then do it the right way. I didn't escape from an abusive pack only to come here and watch both my mates fight over me. If you both know you can't accept the fact that I am mated to you, then you can as well reject me, right now. Reject me, and I will leave and never step foot here again."

Her outburst stunned them into silence and they looked away, unable to make eye contact.

Kaiden was ready to put the past behind him, but Kendrick was more hurt. Apart from being mad at his twin for leaving Lunaria, he was pissed over the fact they were mated to the same woman. He had never been good with sharing what belonged to him, and he couldn't bring himself to share Astrid with anyone.

"If this is how you will fight each other everyday, then there's no need for me to stay here." Astrid said, wiping her eyes. "I'm leaving. And don't come after me, until you settle this rivalry between you."