Defiance and Dignity

Nikolai’s workload was nearing the finish line and he had estimated he’d be done early if not for his brother, Benjamin. He walked across the room as if he’d never stepped foot through that door before. Nikolai didn’t have to look at his brother to know he was up to something. The silence was a dead give away and he was waiting for the ball to drop. Nikolai finally looked up from the stack of papers he held in his hands to face his brothers attempt of a poker face. He wasn’t budging, surprisingly. He sighed, not really in a mood for his antics. “What do you want?” And his fixed expression fell apart. He didn’t reply, seemingly wanting to relish in Nikolai’s uncertainty before laying it out for him. “Look, Kol” he began and scoots towards the edge of his chair with his elbows on his knees. “I get how hard it must be… for you.” Nikolai already had the inkling to kick him out for whatever gratuitous advice he was trying to give him. He continued before Nikolai could act on it. “Mates are.. vital to our wolves within. its our natural world order.” Nikolai sat up straight now to put an end to his attempt on being wise. Benjamin raised his finger to signal he wasn’t done. Seeing the irritation across Nikolai’s face prompted Benjamin to drop his monologue and get to the point. It was fine, he wanted to see his reaction when he found out what he knew. He wasn’t sure what importance it held correctly, he could make assumptions. “I know the search for your mate has turned out to be a longer quest than we had thought, but to…haaa” he smiled like he couldn’t believe it. “To involve yourself with a mere human” he spoke slowly as if he was trying to make sense of the words coming from his mouth. Mate. Search. Human. Involved? “What the hell are you talking about?” Nikolai could suspect what he was talking about. How he knew was his real question. “I’m talking about the girl you’ve involved yourself with. How long did you think you could keep it a secret? What, did you want to have some fun since you haven’t been able to locate your mate? I gotta say, that’s low. You know it won’t work out but does she know it? And what about our parents? What will they think when they see you hooking up with some human girl who could never-” Benjamin cut himself off when Nikolai’s palms slammed on the desk, his jaw clenched and there was build up tension around him that differed from his usual ‘were-not-doing-this-benji’ or ‘im-warning-you-back-off’ reactions. So Benjamin stayed silent… for a couple seconds. He was sure Nikolai was acting more prickly than usual due to the mention of his mate -touchy subject, he concluded. Then why was he parading around with this mystery girl? That may be an over exaggeration- lie. Benjamin hadn’t seen the two together. He knew his brother had some type of involvement but why keep it hidden? What is he hiding? Why else would his Alpha brother, Nikolas, be shopping at some random small business? He doubted it was up to their standards. So if it’s not the store itself then maybe it was a who. A girl. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Quit sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Keep to your schedule and worry more about what our parents expect of you, never mind me.” His voice was stern. He was holding back whatever emotion he truly felt and Benjamin could see right through it. He decided since he wasn’t going to get more information from Kol, he might as well get it from the source herself. That interaction came a lot sooner than he originally planned. “Can I help you?” The worker asked. Benjamin had roamed around the small store as if the answers would appear on a sale rack. “Were you looking for something in particular?” She asked. “Yes I’m looking for…” he stared as his eyes landed on her. “You.” He spoke without thinking. Confusion spread across her face. “Sorry?” “Ha…” he shook his head, turning away from her. “It’s you isn’t it? The one dating my brother?” He didn’t bother with introductions. “Sorry, I think you have the wrong person?” “No, I don’t think so.” Of course not. He picked up Nikolas’ scent, weak but the alpha scent was there. “Um, I don’t know what you’re talking about sir.” “Nikolas. I’m his brother, Benjamin.” He said like it would ring a bell in her head. She shrugged. “Kol?” She shook her head. “You don’t know who that is?” If that was the case then…. Benjamin was lost. Possibly more confused than she was. “I don’t know who you are” she said a bit confused yet defensive. Not the greatest customer service but it was five minutes before closing so it was safe to assume she wanted him to leave. He hadn’t been mistaken. That was Nikolas’ scent, faint but it clung on her like a thin veil. “We’re closing now sir…” She lets him know as she checks her watch. “If you’re not going to buy anything then-“ “Tomorrow” “Sorry?” “…what time do you open tomorrow?” Benjamin had walked out of the store with even more questions he had initially walked in with. “The young Alpha requests your presence” The driver notified Benjamin as he gets into the car. He clenched his jaw in irritation knowing the driver had relayed this encounter to Nikolai. Now he wouldn’t hear the end of it, not when he did exactly the opposite of what Nikolai warned him about. Benjamin stared out the car window to set his eyes on… s**t. He didn’t even get a name. He couldn’t help but send a glare to the unnamed girl cleaning the window as she closes down the store. She wouldn’t be able to see him but it’s the action that counts in his head. Back at their manor, the voices of the two brothers echoed throughout the place. “After I specifically told you-“ “What’s the big deal-” “This is the last time-“ “She doesn’t even know who you are!” The silence that followed was deafening. Truth be told, if Benjamin weren’t his sibling, he would’ve been met with some sort of discipline per the Alphas order. Nikolai was the older of the two, stronger, and soon to be leader of the pack. He’d follow in what was once their father’s footsteps. Benjamin was only trying to help. He wanted to ensure Kol would stay on the right path but ever since he got a whiff of this mystery girl, he had a different feeling. She was human. No good would come of getting involved with a human girl. Even half wolves were looked down on. “And it will stay that way” Nikolai solidified his stance. That should’ve been the end of it. It was for the rest of that night. Despite his brother’s warnings and reassurances, he felt something was amiss. He knew Nikolai wasn’t being honest. That only proved evident when a couple of days later, that same brunette girl, showed up at their door in his brother’s arms.