My Adoptive Brother is My Fated Mate

“Sit there?” who told you that you can sit there?” My hand came to a halt half way to the chair. I glanced at the empty seat next to the table at the meal, then at Luna Lydia. I thought about it, I said quietly, “My thought was to…”. I knew that everyone was eating, "I thought. Everyone was eating. Alpha Darius was seated in the chair at the table's head. He was sitting with Lydia. Their two sons' seats were already filled. Silently the servants stood at the walls. There I was with a plate in my hand. I had been running all day since morning. My feet hurt. For hours my tummy had been rumbling. I left for a silly moment, when I saw the food set out there. Slowly Lydia placed her fork back on the table. “You thought?” I lowered my eyes. “Yes, Luna.” Some at the table looked at each other uneasily. Lydia's mouth curled. "You're still unaware of it after all this time?" "I regret." "That's right." It caught my attention that she was dressed. My hands followed. Then my face. “Not a part of this family, Elyra,” he repeated. It was an all too familiar theme. Too familiar. I had heard them before, but in a hushed manner. I'd heard their voices in secret. On occasion I had heard them standing within a few feet of me. But, even though it was in front of everyone, my chest still hurt to hear them. “Yes,” I whispered, “oh, yes.” “Do you?” She leaned back. “You're not used to recalling when it comes to being comfortable.” In my hands I held the plate. Well, I wasn't trying to—“ Back to the Kitchen! I swallowed. “Yes, Luna.” I turned. “Wait.” I stopped. At long last, Alpha Darius' voice could be heard. His voice was calm. Almost indifferent. “Leave it.” I looked at him. He made a motion to the plate. “Eat.” Just before I was going to lift up my heart it lifted up. “Thank you, Alpha.” Lydia's expression darkened. “But not here.” However, this little hope would only last a few moments before being forgotten. “Go to the servants' quarters.“Go to the servants' quarters.” I nodded. “Yes, Luna.” I turned again. Then replied Alpha Darius, There won't be a need in fact. I stopped. He was speaking in a way that I didn't enjoy. He examined me. "Tomorrow, you're heading out.” I was really a hair's breadth away from dropping the plate. “Leaving?” You will be changed to another pack.” I simply took a look at him and then gave him a blank stare for a few seconds. “But…” No one answered. I looked at Lydia. She looked satisfied. “Which pack?” “The Frostfang Pack.” My fingers felt very cold. “That far north?” “Yes.” “Why?” I can feel Lydia rolling her eyes at me as I say something silly. “Because you're eighteen.” I didn't understand. What's this, you have to have something to do with— “Everything.” She retrieved her drinking glass from the table. “You were taken care of here, nourished, taught and cared for for eighteen years.” Protected. I almost laughed. By now I'd experienced a lot of growing up, to know which hallways to steer clear of when Lydia was angry. I had developed the unhealthy pattern of speed eating. To speak quietly. Not to ever touch anything which belonged to the Alpha family. The recollection of the beautiful bed in the upper room of another was a reminder. I didn't say all that, though. Rather, I squatted my head down! “I am grateful.” “You should be.” Cleared my throat, Alpha Darius. The Frostfang Alpha has consented to look after you. “Responsibility?” My voice shook. Lydia smiled. “Come on, you'll see in the near future,” she says. I wasn't happy with her performance of the words. What will I be up there doing? “Whatever you're told.” My stomach twisted. I glanced at Alpha Darius. “Can I come back?” Silence. I could see that no one was saying anything and I knew what I needed to know. “No,” Lydia answered. I gazed at my plate. Suddenly the food had a terrible smell to it. “Then…” I swallowed. Why have I been here to begin with? No one spoke. I was going to say that for a fleeting instant I thought that Alpha Darius would respond. He just said, though, that he didn't want to talk about it. “Enough questions.” I nodded. “Yes, Alpha.” I turned and went away. No one stopped me. There was no one else who called out my name. I didn't have to answer the question, were you okay? The moment I opened the kitchen door, I heard laughter coming from the dining room. I kept walking. I refused to cry. Crying made people feel uneasy, I had learned a long time ago. But the uncomfortable turned to being cruel. My room was no room at all. It was a small area under the servants' stairs. It was a narrow bed. One wooden cabinet. One window. That was all. I shut the door and settled on the side of the bed. Tomorrow. Leaving tomorrow, I was saying. I really should have been scared. But, something unusual occurred. I smiled. It had been years since I had been able to breathe! I took the little bag out of the cabinet and retrieved the small bag that I had hidden under my clothes. We didn't have a ton to take with us. Three dresses. Two pairs of shoes. A brush. A few books. And prior to arriving at Mooncrest, that was all I had. Small silver medallion. I picked it up off the bottom of the cabinet. I'd known it since I was a wee lad. It was unknown where it originated. Not even me. I scratched my thumb on its peculiar crescent. I will be leaving the Mooncrest tomorrow. I would have to wait until tomorrow to find out if this family would ever accept me. Maybe Frostfang is going to be bad. Maybe it would be better. At least I would know the truth, though. I wasn't wanted here. Maybe that's not the worst thing that could be done to me. Perhaps the thing that was the worst was staying. Suddenly, one of the pack howled. I froze. Then another followed. Voices rose outside. Doors opened. Footsteps were running across the courtyard. I stood and then went to the window. All the packs appeared to be heading towards the main gate. “What happened?” There was a voice calling out from below. “He's back!” My heart skipped. I was aware of what they were talking about. The only person who could make the whole of the Mooncrest Pack react like this. Kael. The Alpha's eldest son. My childhood companion. My adoptive brother. He had left for the Lycan Academy 3 years ago. His next return was to be a month later. But another convoy had come in through the gates. I observed the assemblage of people. Then, the black vehicle came to a stop. The back door was thrown open. A tall man came out of the crowd. I didn't see him for a while. He was a much taller man than I recalled him being. Broader. His black hair was a bit longer and he had grown a bit harder in his face since his childhood. Now he was like his father. Like an Alpha. His life was at once changed and a crowd gathered around him. He said a few words to them. Then, his gaze swept over the courtyard. I should've walked from the window. Rather, I stayed there. He looked out towards the crowd. Then stopped. On me. I could see his face from this far away, and his face changed. He stared. I stared back. It was three years like one flash. I recalled a boy once who when Lydia rejected me food slipped into my room. A boy in my past said to me that no matter what happens, I will never be alone. But, that boy had departed. And I had changed. So had he. The crowd slowly dispersed and Kael started walking away. Toward the house. Toward me. I pulled myself away from the window. My heart started to beat abnormally. Next, I heard footsteps in the corridor. Outside my door they made a stop. I held my breath. A knock sounded. Once. Twice. After that, he heard voices at the door. “Elyra?” I looked at the wood door. In three years I hadn't heard his voice call my name. Then, some time later, tomorrow didn't seem so easy as it had a few minutes ago. “Are you in there?” I didn't answer. The handle moved. Then Kael got me all mixed up when he said something that made my blood run cold. “What happened, why didn't anybody tell me that you're being sent away?”