The Bride Games

The Connection

Lucas:

I feel her pain and confusion, I

feel her panic and desire, but more than anything, I feel her heartache. My body

is burning with the need to barge into my brother’s house and rechallenge him, but I know I can’t. I love my brother, but I hate that his hands are on

my mate, and that she is suffering. I promised to protect her, but I failed,

and I’ve never felt so useless in my life. I chose Ava because I knew Ember was

scared for her friend, and I wanted to show her my devotion in whatever small

way I could. When I brought Ava home, she seemed happy to be shown to her own

room. I let her know I have no expectations of her and that I want her to be

safe and comfortable. Since she went to bed, I’ve been running in the woods, my

body needing to do something. There is a painful energy coursing through me,

and I know I wouldn’t be able to stay still in my house, not with the knowledge

that my brother is defiling my bride. If I get far enough from them, then maybe

I won’t be able to feel her turmoil. There is a part of me that wants to just

run and start new somewhere else, but I can’t leave my pack, my family. I run

throughout the night, awful murderous thoughts playing over and over again in

my mind, thoughts of stealing Ember and running away. I could take her far from

here, where we can live happily together, unplagued by my pack's traditions and

expectations. Far from James’s reach.

When I reach our border in the morning and

look at our quiet little town, I feel the most unbearable thing possible: my

mate in ecstasy with another. My mate being filled by someone else. Not just

anyone else but the person I swore my allegiance to. I want to rip this beating

organ from my body; if I was rid of it, then I could be free from this pain. I

should be happy for my brother that he has found a Luna for our pack, that he

can start again, but I can’t share in everyone else's joy. Not when she is

taking up every ounce of space inside of me. I want her for myself. She was

just in my arms, and now she is in his bed. This loss feels all-consuming. I

can’t stop my wolf from howling, crying out to the moon goddess, and cursing

her for giving me a mate I can never have. My body is weak when I shift back

into my human form, drained from running, and now the squeezing ache in my

chest makes it hard to breathe or think.

I’m almost home when I see him sitting on my

porch. He was my best friend, but now the only thoughts I have towards him are

hatred. “Brother. I heard you and was

worried.” “James, you are the last person I want to see right now. Please go. I

am exhausted and need sleep.” “Why were you gone all night, and not home with

your mate?” My eyes flashed red, and I

screamed out. “My mate was in your bed last night! I couldn’t be here feeling

her pain and then, worse, her pleasure. Now, unless there is something you need,

go!” James stood tall, moved closer to me, and said quietly. “Ember is mine.

Let go and let her be happy. I don’t want to fight anymore. I need my Beta and

my brother. Claim the beautiful young woman in your house. This feeling will

pass.” As James began to walk away, I turned to him and, in a steady voice,

spoke out. “My feelings for Ember will never fade, and I will not take another.

My body, my mind, and my heart belong to her alone. No matter how many times

you crawl on top of her, that won't change. I love you, brother, but I love her

more. Ava is my guest and has my protection. That is all.” James growled out

but left before his temper got the better of him. Ava’s window sat directly above

the front porch, and I hoped she didn’t hear our conversation. I don’t need to

involve anyone else in this mess.

Ava:

Yesterday, I was glad not to be

claimed and forced, but now another feeling has started creeping into my heart:

jealousy. I knew about Ember and Lucas, but after he picked me, I was happy it

had been him and not one of the other scary men. I started thinking eventually,

we might fall in love, especially with how kindly he treated me last night,

making sure I was comfortable and had everything I needed. Now, I felt like an

unwanted burden. For now, I will be safe, and that’s what I need to focus on.

Ember is my friend, and I can’t let these new feelings destroy that.

Ember:

When

James returned home; he found me in the kitchen washing up the last dish in the

sink. “I made breakfast from some things I found in the pantry.” I smiled at

James and pointed to the table with two plates of hot food. He came up behind

me, kissed his mark on my neck, and sat down, looking pleased at the plate in

front of him. We ate together in comfortable silence until I asked. “Is he

okay?” I knew I shouldn’t mention it, but I was worried. I had figured that’s

where he went, to check on his brother. “What do you mean Ember, who?” “Lucas...I

heard him this morning before you left. I’m worried about him. He sounded so...so

broken. I just assumed that’s who you went to see.” Tears began to spring up in

my eyes. James pulled me from my chair, wrapping me in his arms. “How did you

know it was Lucas?” “I felt him. I felt his agony. I broke his heart by giving

myself to you, didn’t I?” James held me close, but I could see the fear and

anger on his face.

James:

How could she feel him? She is my mate. I know

that she is. I felt it before, the connection, and I feel it now. How can she

be my mate and be connected to Lucas, too? He hasn’t marked her, and there is

no way I can feel this drawn to her if she is truly his mate. Lucas has been

convinced that Ember is his, and I thought it was just his lust for her

clouding his mind. She can’t belong to us both. I try to calm the panic in my

voice before I answer her. “He’s okay, Ember. Just working through things. I

have some pack business to deal with, but later, I want to show you around

town.” She searched my face before nodding. “That sounds great; until then,

I’ll settle in and get to know the house.” I kissed her and left. I want to

check on the new couples and ensure all is well with my new pack members, and

honestly, I need time to think.

Ember:

I busied myself by getting familiar

with my new home. Things were tidy, organized, and cozy. I guessed that James

probably didn’t spend much time here outside of sleeping because everything

looked almost new, like he didn’t touch anything other than what was in his room

and the study. Seeing the other rooms in the house filled me with both fear and

excitement. I didn’t know James well enough to love him or want to start a

family with him, but I loved the idea of being a mother and filling a home with

children. I also knew that giving James’s children would further take me from

Lucas. So many feelings were consuming me; how could I be drawn to both men? I

knew I loved and wanted Lucas and would choose him if I could. James had been a

brute, but I also felt like a part of me craved that and loved how powerful and

desired he made me feel. There is no doubt in my mind I want both brothers.

James:

I spent

the morning checking up on the new couples in the village, and all seemed to be

going well. As well as could be expected anyway, there was bound to be an

adjustment period and awkwardness in a new place. I have my own situation that

I need to figure out, and soon. There is a large part of me that wants to

dismiss the possibility that my brother and I have the same mate; true mates

are so rare for us now that Lucas and I both have a mate given by the moon

goddess, and that she is the same woman seems impossible. Even if she is both of

our mate, there is no way that I can fathom us sharing her. That would never

work. I haven’t heard of this happening for generations, and the few times it

had, it was almost always twin alpha’s that had shared one mate. I will make a

point to speak to the elders and seek their knowledge of the subject. For now,

I want to be close to Ember and get to know her. I want her to myself. I want

to prove to her that I am more than a monster that took her from someone else.