Rejected By My Mate; Loved By His Brother

Chapter 4

Damian's POV

“Hey, boys.”

A sultry voice purred from behind us. Dante and I turned to see a blonde approaching our table, her eyes flicking between us before landing on Dante.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked with a warm smile.

Dante smirked, though I could tell it was forced.

“Sure, why not?” he replied, his tone lacking its usual spark.

I leaned back in my seat, watching as Dante played along, entertaining the girls draped over him. We were at the club, and while Dante seemed distracted by the attention, I could still see the tension lingering in his eyes. I sighed, sipping my drink. He was trying to pretend everything was fine, but I knew him too well. Tomorrow was fast approaching, and despite the laughter and music, neither of us could ignore what was coming.

The girl on his lap pouted, sensing his distraction, but she didn’t move. I remained in the corner, watching their interaction while my thoughts wandered elsewhere. Elena’s hurt expression flashed through my mind, and guilt gnawed at me. Dante had called me out on it. I had been too harsh on her. She hadn’t deserved that treatment. But admitting that meant acknowledging emotions I wasn’t ready to face. Masking my feelings and keeping her at arm’s length was the best approach. It had to be.

I took another sip of my drink, forcing the thoughts away. Dante’s laughter rang out, pulling me back to the present. Lillian leaned into him, whispering something in his ear that made him chuckle.

“Lighten up, Dan,” Dante teased, using the nickname he reserved for moments like this. “We can’t be all doom and gloom on the eve of our big day.”

I forced a smirk. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s enjoy the night while we can.” I took a long sip of my drink, letting the warmth of the alcohol dull my unease.

As the night wound down, we decided to call it. Dante bid farewell to Lillian, giving her a lingering kiss. She clearly wanted to come home with us, but tomorrow was too important. No distractions. Especially not s*x.

“Goodnight,” Dante murmured, leaving her behind as we made our way to the car.

The drive home was quiet. Both of us were lost in our thoughts, the weight of our eighteenth birthday pressing down on us.

As we pulled into the driveway, Dante turned to me, his expression serious. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we face it together. Agreed?”

I nodded without hesitation. “Agreed.”

Dante held out his hand, but instead, I pulled him into a tight embrace. “No matter what happens,” I whispered, “we’re in this together.”

He returned the hug, squeezing my shoulder. “Always.”

We parted and headed to our rooms, each preparing for whatever tomorrow would bring.

I was woken by the blaring of my alarm. Growling, I sat up and shut it off. Today was the day. D-Day. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

Dragging myself into the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, then threw on a shirt and stepped out into the hall. It was just after six, and the servants were already up and moving.

I found myself at Elena’s door. I didn’t know why—I hadn’t planned to—but I stood there, staring at it.

Then, I heard the sharp beep of her alarm from inside.

She’s awake.

I should’ve walked away, but I didn’t.

A few seconds later, I heard her squeal in excitement.

I winced, covering my ears. That girl could scream.

“Happy birthday, Elena,” I heard her whisper to herself.

I stepped closer, peeking through the small gap in the door. Her face was lit up with joy. A wide smile stretched across her lips.

Today was her eighteenth birthday. In a few hours, she’d get her wolf—her lifelong companion. And if fate was kind… maybe even meet her mate.

My thoughts drifted. It was our birthday too—Dante’s and mine. We’d be going through the same thing. And maybe… maybe we’d find our mates too.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. I quickly hid in a corner.

It was my mum. She walked up to Elena’s door and knocked gently. Elena opened it, surprised. I sighed quietly as I watched the warm exchange. My mother looked at her with so much affection… and jealousy burned inside me.

“Happy eighteenth birthday,” Mum said softly, her tone full of warmth.

Elena smiled, her voice trembling. “Thank you.”

“Here. Take your cake and get ready. Today’s important,” Mum said, handing over a small box. The smell of chocolate and berries drifted toward me. It wasn’t just a gift. It was proof my mother cared for her.

“Thank you,” Elena whispered again.

“You’re welcome, Elena,” Mum replied with a soft smile. “Don’t forget to make a wish before you blow out the candle. Birthday wishes have a way of coming true.”

Elena nodded. When Mum left, I watched Elena close her eyes.

“May I find my mate today,” she whispered, and then blew out the candle.

That was enough. I turned away and walked back to my room.

I let the cold shower run for longer than usual, trying to wash away the knots in my chest. When I was done, I dried off, pulled on the outfit I’d laid out for the day, and took one last look in the mirror before leaving.

As I walked into the dining room, I saw Dante already chatting with Elena.

“Morning, birthday girl!” he grinned, eyes dancing with mischief.

“Morning, Dante,” she replied warmly. “Happy birthday to you too.”

“Thanks. Big day for all of us, huh?” He leaned casually on the counter. “Got any plans?”

Elena shook her head. “Just the usual. Maybe I’ll celebrate later.”

He frowned. “You should do something fun. It’s your eighteenth, after all.”

Before she could respond, I walked in. Their closeness annoyed me. It always did.

“Breakfast ready yet?” I asked coldly, avoiding her gaze.

“Almost,” she replied calmly. “Happy birthday, Damian.”

I grunted. “Whatever.”

Her smile faltered slightly, a lump forming in her throat. I caught her eyes for a brief second before turning away.

Dante shot me a glare, then turned to her with a wink.

“We’ll make sure you enjoy your day,” he promised.

She gave a small smile in return.

By evening, the pack house was packed with guests. Our father had spared no expense for the celebration. Everyone was buzzing—eager to see us shift for the first time. Girls in sparkling dresses lined the halls, hoping to catch our eyes.

But my eyes found only one person.

Elena.

She stood alone in a corner, nervous energy clinging to her. My chest tightened, but I looked away, focusing on my friends.

The priest arrived. The ceremony was about to begin.

He led us away to shift in private. As Dante and I turned to leave, my gaze locked with Elena’s.

For a long second, we just stared.

And even as I walked away… I couldn’t stop looking back.