Mated to Her Alpha Brother

Chapter Seven (edited)

DOVE

“It’s time! It’s time!”

Luca’s anxious voice called from behind the closed closet door.

My back was turned to Bella as she zipped and tightened the strings of my corset.

Nothing too tight—I would be eating later, after all.

“And… done!” she chirped, patting my shoulders excitedly.

I opened my once-closed eyes and turned to the mirror.

And immediately—froze.

My eyes widened at the reflection staring back at me.

A breathtaking woman.

The dress hugged and draped in all the right places, my makeup natural but expertly enhancing my features. My hair was styled in a half-up, twisted bun at the middle of my head, with the rest cascading down my back in soft brown waves.

I almost didn’t recognize myself.

I had looked into this mirror for eighteen years—but tonight, the girl looking back at me felt like a stranger.

“You’re beautiful,” Bella gasped, wrapping her arms around me from behind, careful not to ruffle the dress.

“Thanks,” I murmured, reaching over to squeeze her hand.

“Ehem, ladies?” Luca called impatiently.

“We’re done! Sorry,” Bella said, unlocking the closet door and swinging it open.

“Good. Now let’s—”

He froze.

His eyes widened as he took me in fully.

Then, with a dramatic flourish, he placed a hand over his heart.

“You! My dear, are gorgeous.” He sighed dreamily. “If I didn’t have such a beautiful mate—who is everything I’ve ever wanted—I’d almost wish you were mine.”

He grinned cheekily at Bella, who was now glaring daggers at him, her chubby cheeks puffed up in outrage.

“Luca,” she huffed, attempting to look menacing—but it was more adorable than anything.

“You know I was joking,” he reassured, pulling her close. “I could never want anyone else. I don’t want you, my precious—I need you.”

His eyes twinkled as he gazed at her, and she, in return, smiled bashfully before rising onto her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his chin—the highest place she could reach.

I watched them, a soft smile tugging at my lips.

Apart from my lovely parents, the next couple I knew to be a perfect match was Luca and Bella.

Despite their differences in culture, age, and race, they had overcome everything and found something beautiful in one another.

A love I wished to have with my mate someday.

“Now let’s go,” Luca declared, snapping out of his daze. “Luna entrusted me with a task—I’d hate to disappoint her.”

Bella nestled at his side as the two of them exited the room first, with me trailing behind.

I treaded carefully, mindful not to step on my dress with my ridiculously high heels.

Only now did the nerves creep in.

Flashes of what could go wrong played in my mind.

But then—

bE… At… EaSe…!

A distorted voice whispered through my mind, making me halt abruptly.

I turned my head sharply, scanning the corridor.

But aside from Bella and Luca up ahead, the only others present were a few guards—none of whom had paid me any mind after their initial acknowledgment.

A slight chill ran down my spine.

Shaking my head, I dismissed it as my imagination playing tricks on me.

But at the very least—the nerves had vanished.

With renewed confidence, I stepped into the elevator, heading down five floors to the ground level.

DING.

The moment the doors slid open, a loud shriek filled the space.

“Oh my Goddess!”

Outside stood Delilah, Marmee, and Aunt Adeline—Delilah being the one who screamed.

Marmee simply stood frozen, eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she took me in.

Aunt Adeline, as usual, maintained her strict, no-nonsense expression—but if you looked closely, there was the faintest upward curve to her lips.

That alone convinced me I had impressed her.

“You look so beautiful, Dove,” Delilah grinned, and—to my absolute shock—whipped out her phone.

And took a picture.

My jaw dropped.

“Who are you, and what have you done with Lilah?” I gaped.

She never used technology.

“Oh, shut it,” she laughed.

“Come here, Marmee,” I smiled at my mother, who had been staring at me emotionally.

She returned my smile, stepping to my left while Delilah stood to my right.

Luca took the picture, and soon, we all crowded in for more—Aunt Adeline, of course, refusing to be in any.

Clearly where Delilah got her mistrust of technology from.

“Now let’s go,” Marmee said, slipping her hand into mine. “The time is nearly upon us.”

“You okay?” I asked, frowning slightly when she grunted as we walked.

“I’m fine,” she reassured, rubbing a hand over her swollen belly. “She just kicked.”

“She’s precious,” I whispered in awe, rubbing her belly gently.

Assumed baby sister.

We hadn’t checked the gender yet.

5:45.

“We’re here,” Aunt Adeline announced, giving me an encouraging nod before stepping into the venue first.

Luca and Bella followed.

Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the watch on my wrist.

5:45.

“You ready?” Marmee asked.

I nodded, not trusting my voice to be steady.

“Be at ease, and trust the Luna Goddess,” she murmured, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

And then—we stepped inside.

The moment we did—

The entire room fell silent.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward us as we walked in.

5:47.

Soft music began to play.

The lights dimmed, leaving a single halo of light surrounding the three of us.

My chest pounded—not just with nerves, but with anticipation.

Even with the dimmed lighting, I could see them.

The sheer number of people inside.

I could feel my eyes flitting from face to face—searching.

Was it the man with the top hat? The wolf with silver hair? The faerie dressed in blue?

I had no idea.

But my heart settled.

With this many people—

I would definitely find him tonight.

5:49.

“Welcome, my dear!”

Dad’s booming voice cut through the room as the music faded to a low hum.

He beamed at me, his expression overflowing with pride.

“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he said, embracing both Marmee and me.

He pressed a kiss to Marmee’s lips before pulling away.

“And you as well, Delilah,” he added with a wink.

Then, turning to the crowd, his voice echoed across the ballroom:

“Let the ceremony officially begin!”

The room erupted into cheers and applause.

5:53.

Dad and Marmee guided me toward the most important guests—the ones we could not ignore.

Levi—my cheeky little brother—finally joined us, and I saw him for the first time today.

I had just started a conversation with Chief Berhan of Nayak when—

Everything.

Stopped.

All sounds seemed to fade.

A burning sensation ignited from the tips of my toes, surging upward, igniting my veins like liquid fire.

I gasped sharply, my beautiful dress suddenly suffocating, feeling too tight, too restrictive.

I wanted to tear it apart—wanted to let my claws break free.

But no matter how hard I tried—

I couldn’t.

5:57.

The pain intensified.

My limbs trembled.

My mouth moved—I was speaking, but I couldn’t hear my own words.

Panic flickered across the Chief’s face, but Dad reassured him—mouthing something about it being normal.

Then he turned to me—his expression grim, yet encouraging.

Marmee was beside me, frantically waving at the guards.

They immediately responded, parting the crowd and clearing a path toward the greens.

5:58.

Something in me clicked into place.

And before I even realized it—

I ran.

The pain lessened the moment my claws—now ridiculously large—dug into the soft earth.

The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp soil as I sprinted into the open greens, leaving behind the gasps of the crowd.

But the pain—

It didn’t stop.

CaLm ChIld… Don’T fiGht… EmBraCE iT.

The distorted voice echoed in my mind.

The moment I listened, it worsened—sharp, searing agony tearing through my body as bones broke and reset, twisting into an unfamiliar yet instinctively familiar form.

I screamed—or maybe I howled—my hands elongating into paws, my teeth stretching into sharp fangs.

My dress slipped from my changing form, my body expanding as fur sprouted from my skin.

The sounds of the world whooshed back into focus as my fully grown wolf finally surfaced.

Panting, I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the heightened senses.

The world was sharper—clearer.

I turned, scanning the gathered crowd, finding my friends and family among the stunned, awe-struck faces.

But my gaze kept moving.

Searching.

For him.

A scent—faint at first—reached me.

Unlike anything I had ever smelled before.

It was intoxicating—woody with a musky undertone, something deep and rich, sending a violent shudder through my body.

My wolf itched to chase it.

6:10.

I took unsteady steps, following the trail—though it was weak, meaning its source was still far.

My muscles trembled as I attempted to run, but the new weight of my form betrayed me.

I lunged forward—only to collapse into a heap.

Frustration burned in my chest as I tilted my head back and released a weak, desperate howl.

Calling.

Begging.

For him.

I didn’t know who—

I just knew.

6:15.

And then—

Something answered.

A resounding howl—deep, powerful—responded to mine, sending a rush of pure need through me.

The scent that had been faint before suddenly intensified—thick, consuming, overwhelming.

My ears perked up.

The rapid padding of paws on the ground.

Then—

A massive black wolf emerged from the woods.

I let out a high-pitched yip, my heart clenching at the sight of him.

The sheer size of him alone was enough to make the others shrink away.

He was huge—larger than any other wolf in the pack.

His sleek black fur gleamed under the moonlight, his golden eyes locked directly onto mine.

My body heated further, every inch of me screaming mine.

It should have scared me—this sudden, unguarded affection for a stranger.

But all I wanted was to bury my fangs into him, mark him as mine—just as he would mark me.

To brush my fur against his, let his scent coat every inch of me.

He suddenly sprang forward—crossing eleven feet in a blink.

His snout brushed against mine as I tilted my head up to meet his gaze.

A low rumble vibrated through his chest as he lowered his massive head, pressing his nose against my side, inhaling deeply.

A sound—almost like a purr—reverberated from him, his large frame vibrating with restrained energy.

Then, suddenly—

He moved, pushing me down in a tumble, rolling me onto my back.

My belly exposed, I let out a soft, submissive whimper.

He nuzzled his way down my form, inhaling me again, his fur brushing against mine.

I shuddered beneath his touch, instinct taking over as my wolf welcomed his presence.

He stopped when he reached my face, pulling back slightly.

Then—

He turned.

Padding toward the woods, he paused after a few steps, looking back at me expectantly.

But—

My legs wouldn’t move.

They had given out on me.

His head tilted slightly in confusion, then—realizing my struggle—he turned back toward me, prepared to return.

But before he could—

A brown wolf suddenly blocked my view of him.

A large, dominant wolf—one almost as big as him.

The familiar scent of the brown wolf flooded my senses.

Dad.

I let out a frustrated yelp.

I loved my father—but what the hell?!

Dad let out a low, menacing growl, his body tense as he snarled at the black wolf.

The black wolf snarled back, stepping forward aggressively.

A challenge.

“Stop it! Stop it, both of you!”

Marmee’s desperate cry suddenly cut through the tension.

Tears streamed down her face as she looked at them, hysterical.

But—

Dad didn’t move.

Didn’t even acknowledge her.

He just continued growling, his gaze locked onto the black wolf.

My father had never ignored my mother before.

What the hell was going on?!

6:30.

Then—

Marmee collapsed.

Dad immediately rushed to her, finally snapping out of it.

And with that—

The black wolf was in my view again.

But—

He was no longer a wolf.

He stood before me—tall, broad, flesh and bone.

A figure I knew better than anyone.

My heart stopped.

It was my brother.

Callum.

And he was my mate.