The Mark

Happy Birthday

Miles was truly relieved when he found his mother asleep. He wasn’t in the mood for another argument. It wouldn’t be so bad to say a few words to her though. He couldn’t understand what’s wrong with her. She always denied when asked about alcohol, but it was clear that she had a problem. She didn’t even hide it anymore, or at least not like she used to. When they were little, she was telling them that it’s her medicine, but time went by, and they didn’t believe in that anymore so she tried to keep it a secret. Now she drank every day. How could she even afford that? That was something that was surprising. She didn’t have a job, but they had quite big house with beautiful garden, and overall they were financially stable. She didn’t want to talk about it either.

“Ehh” sighed red haired man. He covered Sofia with a blanket and turned off the light in the saloon where she passed out.

He was glad that Kie stayed at Alpha’s house, but he was stressed out more and more with every minute and now he could use his sister’s support. Miles was already upstairs, with his hand on the doorknob, when he felt a weird smell. He tried to ignore it and proceeded to his room. It was hard to describe it, but there was some familiar scent in the air. He couldn’t recognise what it was, but then he remembered how Kiara smelled this morning. “Could those perfumes be any stronger?” thought, quite surprised as Kie usually didn’t use any.

It was late and it’s just started raining. The sound of little drops thudding on the window was soothing and Miles finally relaxed a little. He didn’t turn the light on so now he was sitting in total darkness. He turned on his chair to the window, trying to focus on what’s happening outside just to not have to face his worries for a while. It helped, so he stayed like that, losing track of time after a while. Suddenly his phone chimed and that woke him up from meditation. Not very willingly, but he turned his eyes from the window and reached for his phone, just to see Lisa’s name. That was a surprise.

“Hi Miles. I just wanted to apologise for earlier. I hope that changes nothing between us and I can still come to your party. You’re my friend. And I’ve got you a present anyway!”

It was true, they were friends and even though his sister and Lisa broke up, it didn’t mean they couldn’t act decently during a party.

“No worries Lisa, see you tomorrow” he replied being sure that Kie wouldn’t mind and even wanted things to go that way.

Miles’ eyes landed on the clock now. 45 minutes till midnight. “Why not to go for a run?” he thought. It was still raining, but that didn’t discourage him at all. Maybe he’ll be tired after, too tired to think. He took off his t-shirt and socks, and now was going downstairs towards the back door. They creaked when moved too fast, and he didn’t want to wake Sofia, so he opened them very carefully. Fresh air run through his body, which was a nice feeling. He stepped out to be able to close the door, after that he stood in the garden for a few seconds, letting the rain to cover his whole body, he’s going to be all wet anyway, and it felt so good. Then he walked closer to the edge of the woods and took off his pants. Now completely naked with his feet sinking into the wet ground started running slowly. His wet red locks were all over his forehead, but it didn’t make him look any less majestic with his lean, muscular body and smooth skin, moving in the rain. He was sprinting now, but it wasn’t easy to run in the mud, so finally he decided to jump and shift midair. That’s something that Kie was obsessed with, and practiced that a lot. It was quite fun actually. Now instead of young, naked man, there was a big brownish wolf standing in the middle of the woods. His fur darkened over the years, it was red when he first turned. He started running without any specific direction, all he needed was some distraction and something that will make him tired. He didn’t stop even after hearing first thunders. He just let his wolf lead him. When young werewolf couldn’t run anymore, he slowed down his pace and decided to head back home, but the closer he got, the stranger he felt. What was that? This smell, but also weird aura everywhere. Now he felt it, someone was watching him. Miles stopped and growled. That wasn’t any familiar scent. Who was that? Why would someone spy on him? What did they want? He didn’t like that situation, but somehow he knew he’s not in danger. He let out a quiet growl again and right after that, a dark brown wolf came out of the darkness. It was male, and must’ve been older as a lot of white fur was visible, especially on his tail and paws. Older wolf looked at Miles with his light green eyes and observed him for a few seconds, but right after that turned around and run away. “What the hell?!” thought Miles, and chased after the runner, but reacted too late, as he was nowhere to be found. Even his scent disappeared. There’s not much to do now, as the rain blurred the traces. Suddenly Miles felt how tired he was. He didn’t even know for how long he was running. He decided to come back home. Now he was really glad that Kie was safe at Alpha’s. He didn’t think that the older male wanted to do anything bad, but you never know.

Miles was now at the edge of the woods, where he left his pants. Now they were completely wet, but he put them on after shifting, just to cover himself. He stood there for a few more minutes, trying to smell or hear anything, but nothing happened. It was quiet, even the rain stopped, and the only scent that he could smell was actually Kie’s perfume. How was that even possible? He went into the house, wiped his feet really fast, just to not leave mud on the floor, and before he could even think about it, he was in Kie’s room. This scent was intoxicating, Miles couldn’t stop sniffing around. The frustration grew in him as he wasn’t able to find the source, and he wanted more. What was that, and why was it stronger and stronger? He sniffed her pillow. It wasn’t that, but it was enough for now, so he just pressed his face into it. Suddenly he stopped and looked around. What was he doing? He was acting like a junkie, what’s wrong with him? He dropped the pillow, and run to his room. He closed the door and stood in the darkness for a while, trying to understand what’s just happened. He felt dirty about it. And he was dirty, literally, so taking a shower was the best option for now. Maybe it’ll help him think.

When Miles was finally clean, at least physically, he went straight to his bed. It was 10 minutes past midnight. “Happy birthday weirdo” he said to himself. He was exhausted but that didn’t make him fall asleep. He was fidgeting in bed, none of the positions were comfortable. He felt weird and anxious, like something bad is going to happen. And to make matters worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about this smell. It could be easier if it wasn’t so intense. It felt like the more he tried to fight it, the more intense it became. “Would that be so bad if I borrowed her pillow for a night?” he thought to himself, and was on his way to Kie’s room before he even answered this question. He was now wrapped in this addicting scent again. It was so nice, and cosy, and… safe. He walked to the bed and sat on it looking around the room. On the wall in front of him was a big pin board with a lot of different notes and pictures on it. Kiara and him, Kiara and her friends. He couldn’t stop staring. He knew his sister, he saw her every day since she was born, but now when he saw her face on those pictures, it was something different. He grabbed her pillow and hugged it. He felt so calm now, but deep inside he knew there is something really bad coming. He couldn’t deal with it now, as he fell asleep with the pillow in his arms.

The sunshine was coming through the window and when it finally came to Miles’ face, he woke up. He didn’t move an inch the whole night, still holding the pillow. Now when he wasn’t so tired anymore, the feeling of a disaster coming was stronger. What the hell was he even doing in his sister room?

He was still lying on the bed when heard muted “Happy birthday” from the hallway between his and Kiara’s room. It was Kie, she must’ve wanted to wake him up, but she didn’t know he wasn’t there. Of course she didn’t, why would he be somewhere else? Birthday boy started to realise how weird this is.

“I don’t care if you’re still in bed, I’m coming in!” he heard from behind the door. He hurried to the door and opened it, Kie’s hand was already on the doorknob to his empty room.

“Miles? What are you doing in my room?” she turned around when she heard door from her room opening, “Nevermind. Happy birthday!”. His sister was now coming towards him, probably to give him a hug, and he froze. It was her, but it wasn’t like always. The scent that he felt at night now was so strong, he barely refrained from sniffing her.

“Are you wearing any perfume now?” he asked ignoring her wishes.

“Umm… No, why?” now she was confused, standing before him.

If she was confused, then his whole body was half confusion and half panicking now. It was her, she was the source. He was still standing stiff, looking at his sister. His heart was pounding like crazy and head was spinning.

“Can you please stop being a big red weirdo and let me hug you now?” she stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around her brother body.

His body was trembling now. He knew that’s wrong, he shouldn’t feel that way, that was his sister for f**k’s sake. Was that even possible? He didn’t want to hug her back, or even to look at her, he was so scared, and also he wasn’t sure what’s going to happen.

Kiara was still holding her brother, but felt that something’s off. “Are you okay?” she mind linked him, and felt how tense he became right after. When he heard her words in his mind, a hot wave of pleasure came through his body. He wasn’t able to do anything for a few seconds, but then couldn’t resist anymore and looked at Kiara. How could she look the same as always, yet so different? He knew she’s beautiful, never doubted that, but now she was intimidating to him. He felt like he’s in the presence of a goddess, not his sister. His heart was almost jumping out of his chest.

“I’m good” he slipped in her mind and it felt weird for the first time. Good, but weird. After staring at her with amazement for a while, he finally hugged her back. He wouldn’t do it, but he felt tears coming to his eyes, and he wasn’t ready to talk about it. He wasn’t sure he’s ever going to be ready.

“Are you sure?” she asked again. She definitely felt something’s wrong, didn’t want to push him too much, but he’s never behaved like this.

Another wave or pleasure came through his body, and right after that another wave of pain and shame. He took a few deep breaths and slightly pushed her away.

“I’m fine. I had a rough night, that’s all” he said trying to act normal, although that was almost impossible now. Every inch of his body begged not to stop touching her. “Thank you” he added and kissed her in the forehead. She tried to say something, but he rushed to his room, and shut the door. His head was spinning, he was sick. He run to the bathroom and started vomiting.

Kiara was shocked. Her brother has never acted like that. Maybe that’s the mate thing worrying him? Does he already know who it is? Or maybe he’s just stressed. She knocked the door to his room, but when he didn’t respond, she just mind linked him “Are you stressed out because of this mating thing?”

He laughed, how ironic that was. “Yes. Don’t worry. Please let me be alone for some time now okay?” he said, knowing that this is the last thing that he actually wants.

“Okay. I’m right here if you need anything” she said now a little less worried.

Miles was sitting now on the bathroom floor with tears coming out of his eyes, he couldn’t even respond. Is it possible that it’s some mistake? He was so disgusted with himself right now. How could he have feelings for his sister? Why? What is he going to tell her? He’s going to lose her. And that hurt him so bad, he didn’t know what to do. His sister was his mate, and now he’ll need to find a way to live with that.