THE MATE THEY CALL MY BROTHER

CHAPTER 4

Mate.

The word felt so foreign yet so familiar.

I pushed myself away.

Kaleb must have as well realized what was happening as his eyes widened and he instantly took a few steps back.

The word hung unspoken between us. We both didn't expect this. My head suddenly felt fuzzy.

“No no…” I started shaking my head as if that was going to change the situation.

Kaleb made to grab me and I snatched my hands out of his grip.

“No, do not touch me,” I yelled. The trainees paused and stared at us wondering what was happening. Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves I turned and forgot about anything relating to trying to get him familiar with the pack.

I ran as though if I did that I'd believe that I was also running away from reality.

I didn't know where I was going, my legs took me to the woods. The woods had always offered a sort of comfort and conflict. Kaleb disappeared right in these same woods and anytime I felt like I needed a break from everything, from being hated by my dad's own pack, being treated like a rogue and all, the woods are still where I end up going.

It took me a while to realize Kaleb followed me all the way in there. I turned, startled at the sudden hurried footsteps.

“I told you to leave me alone,” I said slowly, looking everywhere but him. I feared if I met his gaze I would give in to my wolf's urges to jump into Kaleb's arms.

“You told me not to touch you, not to leave you alone,” Kaleb said calmly, taking slow steps towards me.

“Now I'm telling you to leave me alone,” I said.

“No, I'm not doing that. I just discovered that you're my mate and you expect me to turn back and pretend we both don't know what type of bond is between us?”

“You're my brother Kaleb!” I finally looked up and stared at him straight in his eyes.

“So now that we're mates you accept that I'm your brother, huh?” He tilted his head sideways, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

The way he did his lips did things to me.

I paused, lost and confused, I suddenly forgot what I wanted to say to him. That gave him the chance he needed. He grabbed my hand swiftly. His touch sent sparks flying everywhere and no matter how much I tried to resist and push him away I somehow still found myself enjoying every single bit of the contact.

Kaleb saw how I leaned into his touch and he didn't hesitate to pull me fully against him. His hands went around my waist, my hands gently resting against his chest for balance.

Mate!

My wolf trashed excitedly within me and I didn't even try to suppress her. I finally got another good look at him upfront.

His eyes were so beautiful, dark, unreadable framed by thick long lashes. I was lost in them. We stared at each other for what felt like eternity. He leaned in and buried his nose into the crook of my neck. Inhaling my scent. I closed my eyes, enjoying every bit of the contact our bodies made through our clothes.

My eyes snapped wide open when I felt teeth scrape the skin of my neck. I pushed myself off him fast. Kaleb almost lost his balance. He regained his footing and stared at me confused.

“What were you trying to do? You're not trying to mark me as your mate aren't you?” I asked, letting out a humorous laugh.

Kaleb shamelessly said that was what he was trying to do.

“Have you lost it?” I yelled at him.

“See let's get this straight, we're mates, we both know that and we also both know that the bond between siblings is forbidden in this pack, I haven't even accepted you, I'm not going to…”

“I told you earlier I do not have any memory regarding this pack nor what happened during my childhood, I do not know about the forbidden mate bond but that's not going to stop me from accepting the fact that you're my mate, you're my mate and nobody's going to change that single fact not even you.”

“But I do not agree to all of this, you're going to have to stay away from me Kaleb, we can't have anyone else discovering this, I'm not getting kicked out of this pack because you spawned into my life out of nowhere.”

“I thought you waited almost all your life for me, now you want me to stay away?” Kaleb suddenly didn't sound gentle. His sudden outburst made me flinch a little and I took a few steps back away from him.

“I waited all my life for my brother, not my mate… I have no interest in trying to keep a mate,” I shot back at him.

“Are you rejecting me?”

“Yes I'm rejecting you as my mate, Kaleb.” I could instantly feel the sharp pain in my chest the moment I let out those words. Kaleb stood frozen on that spot as if he couldn't believe me.

My wolf tried to protest and I didn't hesitate to shut her out immediately.

“I haven't even accepted you as my brother, you finding out that you're my mate is just too much for me to handle… the moon goddess made a mistake, this wasn't meant to happen… “ I shook my head and turned to leave.

“Ashley… you're not leaving, we're going to talk this out…” Kaleb appeared at my front in seconds forcing me into a halt.

“Get the hell out of my sight Kaleb!”

“No… you're not rejecting me, I'm not going to accept that…”

“...What is going on here?”

Kaleb and I both turned, startled at the sudden interruption.