THE MATE THEY CALL MY BROTHER

CHAPTER 3

I was getting ready to go for my usual run in the forest. It's a thing I normally do anytime I need to get my mind off things. I stepped outside and met my dad already standing outside the door.

He looked torn between turning back and heading back to the pack house or actually coming in to start a conversation with me. I would love it if he actually turned back and went back to where he was coming from. I was in no mood to look at his face.

I stared at him for a few seconds, trying to give him time to say what was on his mind and when he still remained quiet I proceeded to walk past him and go about my day before he spoke up.

“I'm here to personally tell you that you're going to be taking Kaleb around to get him familiar with the pack once again.”

I turned back with a puzzled look on my face.

“Wasn't he born here? Why does he need to get familiar with a place he literally spent the first six years of his life in?”

“He lost his memory while he was out alone on his own. Be nice and help him settle down comfortably… you're not making things easy for him if you keep acting like this.”

I couldn't help but scoff.

“My brother disappeared for 16 years and a random person came back claiming to be him, told y'all he lost his memory and y'all just decided to believe that bullshit?”

“Ashley!” My dad used his authority to caution me and I couldn't help but bow slightly in submission. I gritted my teeth at the fact that I had no choice but to respect him as the alpha.

“You would do as I ask of you with no further drama, he's waiting for you at the alpha's apartment.”

“Why pick me? another person can surely do that.”

“I need y'all to get familiar with each other too, wear something proper and go meet him.”

“I think my outfit is just fine,” I snapped and walked away.

I was dressed in shorts and a sleeveless blouse, I wore that since I didn't plan on running into anyone on my way to the woods.

Before I saw Kaleb I already knew where he was. My wolf instantly became restless, I shut her out again, getting irritated by her constant restlessness. Kaleb turned instantly and stared at me. I walked up to him, my eyes glued to him.

I suddenly forgot what I was asked to do. I stopped a few meters away from him with my eyes still glued to him. His eyes were equally on me. His eyes softened at the sight of me and I could feel my wolf trying to break through the barrier I put between us.

I was suddenly lost in his eyes. Taking note of how dark they were. Suddenly he smiled, snapping me out of my trance. I looked away.

What is happening?

He stretched forth his hands as if trying to greet me. I stared at his palm, suddenly aware of how every single muscle in me ached to touch him. I ignored his outstretched hands and turned.

“We'll start from the park training grounds, you're going to be in charge of everything that takes place there sometime in the future.” I started with a cold voice. He walked behind me and I could feel the cautiousness in his steps.

I first headed to the wrestling section and he stood beside me as we watched trainees throw punches at each other.

“This is the wrestling section, you fight with your fists, this is more of a defensive training, you can't kill a werewolf by just throwing punches, so it's basically where all trainees first go to before they advance to wrestling with weapons like swords,” I said, doing a terrible job at hiding the coldness in my tone.

I walked away from there leading him to the next section where people were training with katanas.

We stood side by side watching them fight with wooden katanas.

I didn't say anything and we just watched them fight. I was lost in thoughts and it was obvious that he was equally lost too.

I tried to understand why I couldn't be myself around him, as much as I wanted to resent him I just couldn't. I turned to him abruptly.

“Why are you here? What's your mission in this pack?”

He seemed taken aback by my question but he smiled. I was dazzled. Something about the way his dark hair fell to his face made me badly want to stand on my toes and run my fingers through them.

“I see you're yet to accept my presence here but I understand it's hard for you to accept…”

“...cut the crap,” I said, suddenly furious. I didn't like the soft smile on his face. I wanted him to match my fury so we can cuss each other out but he wasn't going to let me if he kept having that dazzling smile on his face.

“We both know you're not Kaleb…. I don't know how you manage to fool our senses and my dad but you definitely can't fool a sister's intuition. I have a bad feeling about you and I don't like you.”

A katana suddenly came spiralling out of nowhere and Kaleb grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the way.

The katana clattered a few meters away from us, a trainee mumbling an apology under his breath as he hurried to get it.

But I wasn't focused on that. His hands around my waist and the other one my bare arms started a spark. I suddenly stopped fighting it and leaned into his touch. I didn't shut out my wolf anymore.

She purred, urging me to increase proximity that was when it all dawned on me.

The reason why she was restless, why I so badly wanted to have bodily contact with him and why I can't help but feel lost in his gaze.

I pulled back before my wolf would utter the word I didn't want to hear.