THE MATE THEY CALL MY BROTHER

CHAPTER 2

Diane turned her head so fast I feared her neck might snap. She threw me a nasty glare while Garret and my dad looked at me in total confusion.

“What? What the hell did you just say?”

I repeated my sentence, staring at my stepmother straight into her eyes.

“I said that's not my brother.” I didn't know where the sudden courage came from but this was the first time I dared to test my stepmother's patience. She walked up to me angrily and grabbed my hair, pulling my neck back forcefully.Nobody moved, they were used to seeing her treat me like this but I could see my dad s**t uncomfortably on his feet. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he wasn't worried about me but about the pack elders seeing this whole drama unfold.

Garrett made an attempt to move forward but my dad stopped him by placing his hands on his shoulder.

“And who are you to decide if he's your brother or not, coming from someone like you. Everyone here can clearly see and confirm for themselves, the pack doctors ran tests and his blood matches your dad's. It's bad enough that your bad luck rubbed off on him and now that he's back you're trying to get rid of him again….”

“...Mom!” Kaleb cut her off.

Diane paused at his voice. She let go of my hair slightly and I was finally able to take a good look at him. Something about his strikingly handsome face made me weak. I swallowed hard as my eyes met his. He stared at me, his face expressionless before he returned his gaze back to Diane.

My wolf purred within me, fighting to engage in physical contact with him. I shut her out abruptly.

“I came home and expected to meet a gentle atmosphere, I wasn't expecting to see my mom so angry and…violent.” Diane winced and completely let go of my hair. His first day here and she was already showing him her true colors.

Diane walked up to him, remorseful as she apologized to him.

I scoffed and without another word I walked out of the gathering, completely ignoring my dad and Garrett as they yelled my name.

The guards were relieved to see me out of the alpha pack house and I knew no one was going to convince them to let me in again if it's not my dad and that wasn't happening soon since he does anything Diane tells him to.

Garrett was behind me in seconds, hurrying to catch up with me.

“Ash, wait up!”

He ran to my front and forced me into a halt.

“Why did you leave like that? you've been waiting for a whole

16 years to see your brother and now that he's back you're going to deny that he's the one?”

“What is wrong with you Garrett? You of all people should believe me, that's not my brother… I don't know how to prove it but I know it isn't, something just doesn't sit right with that imposter waiting in there.”

“Are you doing all of this because of a random hunch?” Garrett asked as if he couldn't believe his ears.

I took a long look at him and decided there's no point explaining if he's not going to believe me.

“You know what… never mind, why not go back and welcome your new alpha while I go and look for my actual brother.” I pushed him aside and brushed past him. Garrett didn't let me take a few steps before he appeared at my front, forcing me to stop once again.

“Ashley you're overreacting… I don't know, maybe it's denial of not wanting to accept that your long lost brother is back but you need to calm down and see what everyone sees.”

“The problem is you don't wanna believe me… you believe what everyone else is saying and you think what I'm saying is bullshit… you're supposed to be my best friend, see the point in what I'm saying when others don't.”

“I'm your best friend that's why I'm trying to show you what you're failing to see.”

“Garrett please! Don't make me look like a fool. Trying to be one of Diane’s lapdogs aren't you?” Garrett stared at me in disbelief, anger crossing his features. I walked past him instantly regretting speaking to him like that but couldn't bring myself to stop and apologize. I didn't like the fact that he didn't believe what I'm trying to say.

“Leave her… she'll accept it sooner or later.” My dad's voice drifted from behind and I turned to see Garrett walking back up to him, his shoulders slumped.

The so-called Kaleb suddenly appeared behind my dad seconds later. His eyes met mine almost instantly. My heart rate increased, my wolf trying to resist me shutting her out. Something about his presence seemed to mess with my composure and I didn't like it. I stared back at him. I tried to remove my gaze and walk away but I couldn't. It was as if looking at him calmed me.

Diane showed up behind him, caught him staring at him, a light smirk pulling at the corner of his lips and she protectively moved closer to him, grabbing his arm as if I was suddenly going to come running towards him and snatch him away.

“Stay away from that girl she brings bad luck,” she said to him making sure I heard despite the distance and I did, I was a werewolf so my heightened sense of hearing didn't help matters. That finally made me break out of my trance and I made to move away from there.

Despite being out in the open I still managed to feel suffocated. I could feel Garrett and Kaleb's burning gaze on my back as I walked away.

But It felt like I could distinguish Kaleb's from Garrett because it seemed like he was trying to burn holes into my back. I stared at my isolated apartment far off suddenly wishing I could get inside quicker and get out of everyone's sight.