His brother the alpha

Chapter Three: Past love

Lances POV

Willow would be at breakfast this morning and usually I don’t always join my family for breakfast this morning I made a exception. James looked back at me shocked “No way she’s your mate?! Did she know,” he responded to my news, I shrugged I didn’t know if Willow knew or not, I was finding it hard to read her. I felt the mate pull instantly but I did not want to scare her off, she looked so fragile and innocent, plus I could smell Austin’s scent all over her. “It was like she knew subconsciously but something was clouding her judgment,” I replied. It was then we entered the dining room and there she was in all her glory, looking a little tired but I found it cute, I wanted to pick her up and take her to bed so she could rest. Her hair was are tousled and fell behind her shoulders, such beautiful hair, her lips were naturally pink and juicy. I wanted a taste so badly! All the way through breakfast I kept looking over at her to see if she was looking at me, I had to be subtle, so no one noticed as I wanted to keep this under wraps for now. “So, Lance where were you last night?” Xander asked me, the great Alpha I had heard so much about was sat across from me studying me closely, “I’m not a big fan of balls if I’m honest so I was in charge of security last night with my pack, there had been news of potential rogues in the area,” I responded he looked shock when I mentioned my pack. Taking a sip of his drink Xander continued with his interrogation “you have a pack? Are you an alpha?” So many questions, I nodded in response, “Yes and yes, my father was once the alpha but unfortunately after his death it fell down to me, his beta stepped in until I was ready and the rest is history,” I replied. Hoping the interrogation was over and I seemed for now it was, I looked down the table at Willow who was listening intently, so I have peaked you interest little one I thought to myself. I could not help but want to stay longer, show her around, introduce her to my pack. I felt as though that would not be possible and it pained me, I wanted her no I needed her, I could still smell Austin’s scent radiating off her it angered me. If she belonged to him why did not, she leave with him last night, I knew full well he wouldn’t stay as he hated it here, in fact he hated me and my family. That was his father’s doing he trashed my mother’s name, dragged it through the mud the evil bastard. My mother was a good person, a heart so full and a spirit that couldn’t be broken, yet there was always sadness in her eyes. My parents died tragically in a accident, but I knew it wasn’t an accident and it was orchestrated by Augustine himself, he couldn’t stand to see her happy.

After breakfast, the swans were leaving to return back home, I watched from afar as they left i felt a stabbing pain in my heart as they pulled out the driveway. There she goes. I never got the chance to discover whether she felt it too, I turned and found Alyssa and my uncle staring at me like they knew. I was right, they knew everything! My uncle, James and I were gathered in the study when they broke the news to me, “Xander promised her to Augustine before she was born, if it wasn’t for him his pack wouldn’t of survived he had no choice,” my uncle said trying to calm me. Willow was promised to Austin and this made my blood boil with rage, she deserved better, she deserved me! She is mine! Willow was made for me and I for her. I was pacing my fists clenched, that family took everything from me and now they want my mate too! Was there no end to their cruel ways? “Is there anything we can do?” James asked my father in hope he could help ease the pain I was going through. Charles shook his head. That was not the news I was looking for, my mother was his sister, his baby sister who he loved dearly but yet he still entertained Austin. Although we had no proof his family did kill my parents, I knew full well they did, my mother sealed her fate the day she left. My mother Felicity was Augustine’s first wife he become obsessed with her and had a witch cast a spell over her, the spell broke when she met my father who was her mate. Felicity fell pregnant again with me not long after they met, she already had a son Austin and when my father mated with her the spell broke. Felicity tried to run away with Austin, but Augustine stopped her vanishing her from his lands. Austin and I were brothers, half-brothers, he despised me, and his father filled his head with lies that our mother abandoned him that she never loved him. All of which was a lie. My mother missed him every day! My parents eventually died when I was 16 and I had two years left of training to be the alpha, my uncle protected them until the very end. Banishing my mother wasn’t enough for Augustine and he wanted to hurt her making him prime suspect. My uncle said none of this was Austin’s fault hence why he entertained him so, I thought he was a fool. “We can’t let this happen; he’s taken so much from me already!” I snapped I then stormed out the room. I needed to zone out and calm myself as I couldn’t hatch out a plan whilst I was angry. I caught Alyssa listening in on the conversation I shot her an angry look and she knew it was time to leave. I went to the gardens the sunshine had turned into dark clouds and it was pouring with rain, I didn’t mind the rain and i started to head to the nearby woods to let off some steam. My t shirt was now dripping wet and I pulled it off my body as I transforms into my wolf form and I ran, as fast as I could through the wood jumping over fallen trees and avoiding low hanging branches. I reached the end of the wood and was met by the cliffs edge and I let out an almighty howl, it felt good to let everything out. I then punched a nearby tree and kept going until it fell, I was so angry, my pack needed a Luna it was their time. I walked back to my pack house feeling abit calmer now I let off some steam I found my discarded shorts where I left them and headed home. My thoughts headed straight back to Willow, when would I see her again? Could I make an excuse to see her? Am I too late? All these questions shooting through my head I needed to get some answers. Formulate a plan.

I reached the pack house it was an old beach house at the edge of a wood, it was peaceful there but secluded. Anton my beta was the first to greet me upon my return. Anton and I were good friends, the best of friends you could say his father was my father’s beta and it seemed only fitting he became mine. “Alyssa stopped by earlier for you, I said you were out swimming,” he said jokingly looking at my wet t shirt and shorts “What did she want?” I asked grabbed a towel from the cupboard and dabbing myself with it, I could already guess the reason she came probably to meddle. “Mentioned something about being invited to go stay with Aragon for a few days, she wondered if you we would mind escorting her as she couldn’t go alone” my ears pricked up when the words Aragon and few days left Anton’s mouth. I could go with her, talk to Willow! This was perfect! That clever little girl “did she say when?” I asked trying to act cool but inside I was excited, I wanted to be with Willow it had only been a few hours, but I missed her already. Anton shrugged and said he didn’t know but I didn’t mind as all I knew what I could get to spend time with Willow. I was about to head up the stairs to change then go find Alyssa, but I was stopped “who’s Willow?” asked Anton, I spun round he had a smirk on his face busted! Damn Alyssa she could never keep her mouth shut even when we were kids. “She’s out future Luna isn’t she,” Anton continued I knew I couldn’t hide anything from him, I let out a sigh “well it’s abit more complicated than that,” I replied

“is anything simple when it comes to you?” Anton joked again trying to be positive about things “I’m afraid not, she’s promised to Austin,” I could see Anton grew angry too, he knew what Austin and Augustine were like. “Does she know your mates?” He continued with his questioning I shook my head and explained that I didn’t know for sure, but this trip would help me figure that out.

Willows POV

“Why is it important for a pack to have a Luna?” I asked Aragon we were practicing sparring in the gym; it had been a few days since the ball and my mind would not forget about Lance. “Well Willow this is my personal opinion, but I find a pack is more focused when their Alpha is grounded and focused. This kind of focus comes when you meet your mate. A Luna tends to be a nurturing kind of figure within the pack she helps the balance” he explained, the real question I wanted to ask was why Lance hadn’t met his mate, yet he was older than us by a few years. Someone as good looking as him must have found his mate by now. “Do you know if Lance has a mate?” I dared to ask the question stopping Aragon in his tracks, “Yes I think he does, and I think he found her a few days back” he said cryptically my heart sank a little at the thought. Aragon looked at me confused, “What?” I asked he started laughing “are you telling me you didn’t notice the way he was watching you over breakfast,” he explained I shrugged, I didn’t feel the mating pull. I knew I felt something but wasn’t sure what, “didn’t you feel a thing?” Continuing with his questions I shook my head which was a little lie as I knew I felt something. Aragon continued sparring with me my mind begun to wander was I missing something here, it felt more like a crush than a mating pull could I be mistaken? With that I crashed to the floor I clearly wasn’t concentrating “focus Willow!” Aragon hissed at me; I was trying but it was no use my mind was elsewhere today. Aragon lent me a hand and helped me to my feet again, “I think that’s enough for one day sister,” he smiled at me, Aragon was hard on me sometimes but I knew it was only because he cared and wanted me to be able to defend myself.

I headed back towards the house I needed a shower to cool then and gather my thoughts for a moment or two, but what I was greeted with came as a shock! As I stepped into the hallway the front doors were open my mother was greeting someone but who? I walked over curious and lone behold who was stood there but Alyssa, she gave me excited squeal and ran over to hug me she was so bubbly all the time! Of course, Aragon was not far behind me lifting her up in the air and spinning her round god guys get a room, it’s only been a few days! Then a scent hit me, the same beautiful scent I had smelled a few nights back Mine!Mine!Mine! my inner wolf started chanting I turned round slowly and everything moved in slow motion there stood loaded up with bags was Lance. Lance was here. In my home. I quickly scurried away out of view luckily, he didn’t see me as he was too busy with his and Alyssa’s luggage, he looked a mess he couldn’t see me like this, more to the point why did I even care? The cold water from the shower cooled my body down it was exactly what I needed after my session with Aragon and then seeing Lance. Why was he here? I knew Alyssa probably wanted protection on her way here and back but Lance of all people? Maybe Aragon was right, and he was interested in me, so he saw his opportunity and came with her. No, I thought shaking my head, that’s too much effort it’ll be just because she trusts him and wanted his backup, I was being stupid. I dried myself and walked into my bedroom I could smell him already and it was coming from my door, my mother must of lead them upstairs to the guest rooms. The urge to follow his scent was overpowering and I wanted to peak my head out of my door, but I told myself no you must think of Austin and no one else. I finished getting dressed tying my hair up in a high ponytail and a loose top with shorts then made my way to my door. I could still smell Lances scent, but it was fainter now, I stepped out my door and looked up the hall to find no one there so I decided to make my break for it. I avoided Lance for the rest of the day by hiding out in our library, I seek solace in here a lot as it was peaceful, and I could lose myself in a book. I thought my plan had worked until I felt I wasn’t alone anymore, I looked up and there he stood looking right at me his eyes instantly soothing my soul. What was this? What was I feeling? My inner wolf was pacing as if she was waiting for the nail to finally drop but drop for what? I didn’t know what was going on or what I was feeling. “We need to stop running into each other like this Willow, your boyfriend will get jealous,” he joked it was nice to see he had some sense of humour behind those dark brooding eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend!” I snapped at him then paused why did I need to snap like that and why did I lie? Did I not want Lance to know I was taken? Lances eyebrows raised he looked taken aback he then sat down on a chair near the sofa I was sat on. “Sorry I didn’t mean to cause offense” he said raising his hands as if he was surrendering to me. Surrender, now that’s what I’d like to see, see him surrender himself to me. I shook my head Willow stop that! “No, it’s fine I’m sorry,” I replied apologizing for my behaviour moments ago, “then what are you to him?” He enquired digging for more information I could tell he was curious. “It’s complicated and hard to explain” I lied dodging the subject for in fact it wasn’t that complicated at all, “are you in love with him?” He continued pressing me for answers “No! I mean yes erm maybe? I don’t know okay!” I snapped again. All I remember is slamming the book down on the table and walking away, why does he care? There’s nothing I can do about it even if I didn’t love him, it was not up to me anymore I had to do as he wished. I hated being questioned like that I felt ambushed and cornered. Why did he care so much? Then again would it bother me if he didn’t care? All these questions in my head made it spin more I needed to start finding answers to all these questions.

Lances POV

Dammit Lance! Why did I just push her like that, she was like a dear in the headlights scared and with no options. I hated to see her angry like that, I should apologies, but I have a funny feeling she won’t want to see me. Willow you beautiful creature what are you doing to me I thought, she looked so sweet and innocent laid on the couch with a book in her hand. The scent hit me hard when I walked past the library door that I had to venture in, go find her and seek her out. Seek her I definitely did I wanted to lay her down on that couch and kiss her tenderly then start to touch her in places that would drive her wild. Then I would take her right here in this room up against the bookshelves and claim her as mine, I needed to mark her so badly! I had to go after her. I followed her scent leading outside at the end of the gardens was a lake and I could see her figure under a tree watching the water calmly. I walked over cautiously but I snapped a twig on the ground making her look up to which she stood up “I don’t want to speak to you,” she said about to walk away but I grabbed her arm gently “Willow please, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to over step the line. I’m sorry please stay,” I pleaded with her trying to win her back over. Lucky for me it worked. We spent what felt like hours under the tree talking she explained to me about her arranged marriage with Austin also how she felt a prisoner here in her own home. I wanted to make her happy. Back home with me Willow would have all the freedom she needed I would never hold her back or control her life, she would be my equal when it came to everything as that was what she deserved. I was enjoying getting to know her and all the things she was interested in, it made me want her so much more. I needed her, in fact no. my pack needed her for what is a pack without a Luna.