The Royal Brothers' Mate

Chapter 7

Chapter 7.

*****

“Your fighting isn’t bad. Which pack are you from?”

I was lying on the mat in the gym beside the two guards that were training with me, trying to catch my breath as sweat ran down my temples from my forehead. Tan was tall with dyed dark hair and Jacob was blond and just slightly taller than me. I had learnt that Jacob was just a couple of years older than me, making him twenty-three and Tan, Jacob's father, was a few centuries older than us and a much better fighter than the two of us put together.

“Patterson.” I answered Tan’s question.

“That's a family-led pack, right? Trent Patterson is the current Alpha?”

“Yes.” I said, “He’s a great Alpha.” I smiled. Having met a couple of our pack’s surrounding Alpha’s at Uncle Brandon’s restaurant, I figured Trent was the most approachable Alpha I had met. Maybe that was because I saw him every week when our pack had training for my age group of wolves, but everyone said he was a very friendly Alpha – unless he got angry, that is. Then he was just terrifying.

“He is, he’s one of the only two Alphas that don’t seem like they have something stuck up their asses when they’re over here for meetings.”

“Dad!” Jacob said.

“What? It’s true!” Jacob and I laughed at Tan’s answer.

“Who’s the other Alpha?” I asked.

“André.” Jacob replied.

“Definitely not one of your princes.”

“Dad.” Jacob sat up looking genuinely terrified this time as he looked towards the door. I followed his lead and sat up so I was leaning back onto my arms.

“It’s okay, the cameras are off and the gym’s soundproof.”

“Still, what if they somehow hear you?” Jacob frowned.

“Right, I’ll hold my tongue better, kiddo.” Tan rolled his eyes, but Jacob’s frown remained as he stared at his father. The room quieted down for a few seconds and I thought they were either linking to each other or trying to listen to see if they could hear anyone coming.

“Would they do something if they heard you?” I asked breaking the silence.

“Neither of the princes, I think they’re much too respectful to their staff, perhaps because we basically raised them, but their father is unforgiving.” Tan said. He looked distant before he sighed as he pushed himself off the mat. “Come on, Jay. We should get the cars ready for tomorrow.” Jacob kicked his legs into the air to flip his body off the carpet and onto his feet.

“What’s happening tomorrow?” I asked.

“The royals are heading to a press conference and then later a wedding, both in Singapore.”

“All the royals?” I asked.

“No, Rowan is still non-existent to the rest of the world.”

“He never goes out with his family…” I mumbled in realisation.

“Yeah, it used to bum him out but I’m sure he’ll be good with you here.” Jacob’s wink was enough to make me launch at him and he laughed as he tried to dodge me but I was faster than he was, so I caught his arm and tripped him to slam him onto the mat. I knelt down on his chest to keep him on the ground and he grabbed my wrist defensively. “Don’t kill me!” He yelled.

“Kill who?” The voice from the door made my head turn.

“I thought the room was soundproof?” I asked Tan.

“The door’s been open.” Tan shrugged in response.

“Dad!”

“What the hell are you doing? Don’t touch her.” I stumbled in surprise as I was jerked away from Jacob after Rowan grabbed my wrist from Jacob’s hands.

“She was pinning m –” Jacob stopped as if realising who he was speaking to. “I’m sorry, your Highness.” He said bowing his head.

“I was pinning him.” I said pulling my wrist from Rowan’s grip.

“Whatever. Don’t touch him.” Rowan glared at me.

I threw my head back to look at the roof as I gave a laugh of disbelief.

“You’re kidding me.”

“I am?” He asked. He licked his lips and looked away from me shaking his head in annoyance before he clenched his jaw as he glanced at Jacob and back to me, “Eden, do I look I’m joking right now?” The look in his eyes was serious and angry and it gave me the urge to hide from his eyes but I stood my ground and balled my fist as I tried to look less small in front of his towering frame.

“I really don’t care. He was helping me train, he didn’t do anything wrong and I – Rowan –!” I protested as he grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him so he was standing between Jacob and I.

“Get out.” My eyes widened as did Tan’s as Jacob’s jaw dropped.

“W-What?” Tan asked.

“I want him out. Of the palace. Right now. I do not care where he goes but he does not step foot back here.” Rowan said to Tan before turning his attention back to Jacob, “Do you hear me? Get out, that’s an order.” I tried to pull my arm from Rowan’s hand but he held onto it tightly.

“No –”

“As you wish, your highness.” Tan cut me off.

I stared surprised as he grabbed his still shocked son’s arm and dragged him out of the gym. As soon as we heard the door shut behind them I tried to pull my arm from Rowan again, this time with the force of my entire body but he just let go causing me to stumble back almost tripping over my own feet. Rowan turned to face me, I was glad he made no attempt to touch me or help me keep my footing. I clenched my fist as I stared at him.

“Why would you do that?! It’s not –”

“Trust me, I’m being nice, Sweetheart.” He said, “If you’re ever in that position with another man again, I will not hesitate to kill him.” His eyes and his voice showed no hint that he did not absolutely mean what he said. I stepped back as he stepped towards me, mostly because I was too angry to be near him but he followed with larger steps until he was close enough to grab my waist and pull me against him. I automatically lifted my hands to his chest to keep us apart but pulled them away when I realised it seemed like a rather intimate thing to do right now. He leaned closer to me until his face passed mine and I could feel his breath on my ear and it sent shivers down my spine. I lifted my hands to his chest again deciding I was not happy being this close to him when he had just done that to Jacob and tried to push away from him but his arm seemed to lock around my waist. I stopped moving when he spoke. “That includes Corin, Eden.”

He let me go and I immediately stumbled back from him upset that he had even touched me.

“How about lunch?” He asked smiling as if nothing had just happened. I stared at him in disbelief through the slits that made my eyes before I let out an irritated sigh and turned to leave but he caught my wrist again. “You’re not going to walk away every time you disagree with me, Eden.” He stated. “Now go get cleaned up so we may have lunch.”

“I’m not hungry.” I stated glaring at him.

“Then you’ll sit at the table while I eat.”

I grit my teeth before I nodded as I relaxed my arm in his hold.

“If you want a servant who is going to obey your every word, you may treat me like one because it’s not like I have a choice or can disobey anyway, but don’t expect me to act like your mate at the same time.” I said. He seemed surprised as I pulled my wrist from his hand, “I’ll get cleaned up, your highness.”

I gave a bow before I left the room and made my way upstairs to my own. I got cleaned up and changed into a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. From the way the princes and the guards dressed, I knew I was way too under-dressed to even be in the palace but the only formal clothing I had was the clothing I wore to funerals and waitressing at the restaurant and I figured those would be worse than this, especially when running into the king or queen. I was glad that the king and queen were gone with Corin because I could breathe just a little, though I was upset Corin was gone because it felt wrong being so far away from my mate.

Making my way downstairs hesitantly, I paused outside of the dining room before I entered it and sat down across Rowan where the other plate of food had been laid out. I thanked the server before I grabbed my fork actually happy to be able to eat as I had not been able to finish breakfast earlier. I had lied when I said I was not hungry, I would have been happy to eat on my own.

The dining room was filled with silence apart from the occasional sounds of silver wear against the plates and ice clinking against glasses when they were moved.  It was quite awkward and the silence made it hard to eat or swallow because I was afraid of doing so too loudly.

Eventually, a sigh escaped from Rowan as he put his fork down beside his plate.

“Whether you’re my mate or not, I’m still a Royal Alpha Eden and you’re not going to disrespect me or my wishes. You’re lucky – he’s lucky I did not just kill him, you’re a wolf for God’s sake, don’t tell me you did not know how I would react to that scene.” He said. “If you had my power, you would have certainly done the same thing.”

I frowned at him, but I thought about it and even just the thought of him touching someone else made my wolf surge with angry jealousy that made me clench my fist where it was hidden on my lap beneath the table. Right, I would have been angry, very jealous but I would have listened to what he had to say and it as training. Something every single wolf did at least weekly and barely ever by themselves. Yes, having your mate near someone else was angering but it was something every single wolf had to learn to just deal with or there would be no packs and civil living.

“You mean, I can never train with a guy?” I asked.

He opened his mouth but shut it before he clenched his teeth. “Damn right, you cannot.” He growled through grit teeth. “Me. You can train with me.” He added.

“What happened to getting hurt because I’m ‘not even a delta’?” I quoted his words from earlier. He narrowed his eyes.

“I’ll go easy on you.” He replied.

“But you can train with other people?” I asked.

“We have no female guards or trainers in the palace, so yes. What do you have to complain about?” He asked. I looked down letting out a humourless breath and began forking at my food lightly.

We were quiet for a while again as I pushed food around my plate wondering if I was allowed outside of the palace. I was certain he was not unless it was for something important and neither was Corin given the amount of people Corin seemed to need accompanying him outside of the palace and I had no doubt they were not going to let me leave without them. How was I going to see Olivia or anyone else? I missed my friends already... And I missed him. I frowned suddenly wondering where Corin was, who he was with, how he was doing… if he was thinking about me as much as I was thinking about him.

“How did your pull disappear?” Rowan decided to change the subject.

“What?” I did not look up at him as I asked and continued to stare at my food.

“I stopped – both Corin and I stopped feeling your pull for about an hour, it’s why we could not find you when you ran out earlier." He said.

“Oh? Really? That’s not possible.” I replied.

“Please look at me.” I immediately looked up because he was pleading and it made my heart clench, I regretted it immediately when he gasped, “Whoa, I thought I would have to do much more to be forgiven.”

“Shut up – I-I mean – be- be quiet!” I corrected that very quickly and he laughed.

“I will not shut up, Babe.” Babe? I felt my face heat at the name and frowned.

“You’re not forgiven.” I said seriously before adding, “What you did was uncalled for… and frankly, an abuse of your power.”

“How about ice cream? Will I be forgiven then?” He asked. My expression did not change and he bit his lip annoyed leaning back in his seat, “Fine. You are right… I never do this…” He muttered before he let out another sigh, “If I allow him back, you cannot speak to him again.” He said. I stared at him before I tilted my head.

“And if I do speak to him again?” I asked. I watched him stare at me intensely for a few seconds before he got up, the sound of the chair suddenly scraping the floor surprised me a little but I kept my eyes on his face as he rose above me before he leaned over the table, I still had to look up at him as he did.

“Well,” His voice was hushed into a husky tone as he spoke to me, “you would both regret it, but your punishment might be slightly… unusual.”

“Wha –?” My voice disappeared into my throat as he leaned forward quickly and his lips brushed against mine for a second before he pulled back to look at my reaction.

I stared at him wide-eyed as my heart accelerated in my chest as my mind went blank, preoccupied by how soft his lips felt before I realised what he meant and my face began burning.

“You-you can’t say that!” I cried out leaning away from him as I hid my face in my hands.

“What did I say…? Oh! You thought –” He gasped, “Oh my word, you are so dirty-minded. How could you even think that? In my parent’s house?!” He looked shocked and I felt my face burn more.

“No no no –” I began feeling even more embarrassed knowing I had guessed the meaning of his words wrong, it just seemed incredibly sexually suggestive with the whispering, the leaning, the kiss and everything. I felt his hands take my wrist to pry my hands away from my face, he had made his way around the table so he was beside me, “I-I didn’t think –” My eyes widened as his soft lips met mine again, this time he did not pull back right away and I felt like my heart was going to burst through my chest as I seemed to lose my entire ability to think, so I just sat there wide-eyed while my body froze. He pulled back after a while instead of trying to deepen the kiss in any way and stared at me for a couple of seconds as he studied my face.

“You thought right.” He glanced at my lips again as he whispered.

My heart was still racing in my chest as my eyes followed the movement when he licked his lower lip to bite it. I really, really wanted to pull him back to me. I really wanted to have him close to me. I really wanted to be the one biting his lip, I wanted to do more… so much more… My eyes fell to his neck and traced their way down to his collar, my blood pumped as my urge to mark him grew. I pulled my wrist from his hands quickly. It left me feeling slightly cold but it was better than the heat of being so close to him.

“I – I think I – I want... coffee.” I did not even drink coffee. I was going to say water, but we already had water, tea, juice and wine on the table – despite neither of us having even reached for most of it.

I got up and basically ran towards where I thought the kitchen was based on the smell of apples. I found it and was glad it was empty as I walked in. There was a basket of apples on the centre of the counter. I held my breath as I leaned against the counter trying to breathe properly. I bit my lip nervously as I grabbed an apple and began to play with it in my shaking hands.

It was terrifying to think of how badly I wanted to take that further when I did not even know him. I knew it was how mates worked, you fell hard and you wanted to mark them as soon as possible to keep them to yourself. Marking meant everyone could see and smell that your mate was yours, it meant the pull intensifying and your feelings for each other heightening. It was how you accepted your mate for life. Despite all the stories I had heard, watching my friends in high school and college fall head over heels for their mates and move lightning fast, it was still terrifying to feel that way about someone so quickly just because of a kiss.

I shut my eyes tightly. I was not supposed to be scared of it, I was certain of that. I was supposed to be excited to find someone I knew I was meant to be with, as a werewolf you spent your whole life looking forward to meeting the person you knew was yours. But nothing about me finding my mates seemed to be normal. The feeling of being terrified was scaring me even more because I knew it was not a normal reaction to wanting to mark and be intimate my mate.

I stopped twisting the apple around in my hands as I thought of something. Maybe the reason I was so scared was because there was two of them… I was not certain which one I was supposed to be with… or wanted to be with… I opened my eyes to look at the fridge. The thought of having to reject one of them made my heart clench painfully and the thought of not being able to be with either of them was something my mind just would not let me consider despite knowing it was the most possible outcome because of the King and Queen.

I let out a breath feeling my eyes burn. Corin and Rowan were not going to let me go anytime soon, so I was going to get to know them… soon I would have to choose… I had seen wolves get rejected, it crushed them. It usually ended in suicide or the wolf would go rogue and turn into a savage that other wolves had to look out for because rogue wolves completely lost all their humanity, they fought anything that they came into contact with. I could not do that to anyone.

I should never have met Corin in the restaurant. Royals did not meet their mates for a reason.

*****