Her brother her… mate?!

Chapter 4

Della couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing. She still didn’t want to be Jared’s mate. There was a quiet knock on her door. Then it opened. Jared. She sat up in bed.

“Can’t sleep?” She asked. He came over and sat on her bed. He looked so tired. He looked hot! She needs to stop.

“No I was sleeping fine. I sensed you were in distress.” He could sense that?

“Is that how you knew about the other wolves?”

“Yes. That and nick smelled them. They were using scent blockers. Then Erica came down when he was telling me and said you went for a run.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Just don’t do it again. At least not without someone with you. You’re a target.” If nothing else he at least cared. She laid her head on his shoulder. He scooted closer. More of his body was on hers. He was cooling her. That was part of the problem. She was so hot! Everything burned!

“But I’ve never been one before. Why now?”

“You’re close to shifting. Which means we are close to mating. That means our pull to each other is strong. This would be a devastating time to lose you. You’re my mate. People want to hurt you.”

“Ugh.” She plopped down on her bed. He laughed.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Isn’t it going to be weird to mate? We are siblings.” He laughed.

“No. Once you shift you will understand.”

“How? What will happen?”

“Well I will take you into the woods. You will naturally shift. First you will get a headache. Some girls say they end up with severe cramping. But most say it’s when they are on their periods. I don’t think you’re supposed to be on yours. Then your vision will get blurry. Then you will hear your bones snapping. It will hurt. But having your mate nearby will help. I will be with you. Every step of the way. You will shift. It will feel weird for a moment. Your wolf will introduce herself to you and your mind link will be open. But other than mom and dad you won’t be able to use it.”

“I won’t be able to talk to you?”

“Not til we mate and I mark you.”

“What if I seriously can’t be your mate?” He exhaled. It sounded like he was disappointed. She didn’t want to disappoint him but she really couldn’t be his mate.

“Then you can reject me. You say your full name and then mine and say you reject me as your mate. I then say I accept your rejection. And then we are no longer mates.” That didn’t sound too bad. Why did he seem so bothered?

“What happens if I do that?”

“Both our wolves will die.” What?!

“So I really don’t have a choice do I?”

“You do. If that’s what you want I understand. Trust me I’ve had 6 years to think about this. I don’t want to push you one way or the other. The choice is ultimately yours.”

“I don’t like that.” He laughed a little.

“Never liked having to choose between life and death.” Nope she didn’t.

“It’s end up being my brothers mate which is so stinking weird or lose two wolves. One I know is insanely strong and mine I don’t even know exists yet.”

“Technically you can reject me right now. Get it over with. We will both have to be on the run for the rest of our lives. And we would have to split up. Make it harder to find us.” That sounded terrible. Jared has always protected her. She can’t imagine having to leave. She was more tethered to him.

“And miss the chance of meeting my wolf? No way. I want to see her!” He laughed.

“Do you feel her?”

“Sometimes. I think she’s lonely and restless. But for whatever reason whenever you’re around she’s calm.”

“It’s the bond. Whether you acknowledged it or not she knew. She’s always known. She’s just waiting for you to shift so she can see her mate.”

“Does your wolf go crazy every so often around me?”

“All the dang time.” The way he said. She laughed. He sounded so annoyed at his wolf. “Stop laughing. There’s a reason I’m away at some retreat when you’re on your period. He has very little self control with you.”

“Wait. Seriously?!”

“Your period smells like what you would smell like if you were in heat. Once you shift and we mate and I mark you your heat will start. It will last up to a week.”

“That sounds awful.”

“It’s your period times 30.”

“Will you be there?”

“No.” What?!

“Why not?”

“It’s family tradition that the alpha after he mates leaves his mate while she goes through her first heat. I won’t be able to resist you. I can still call you though. But once you’re done I will be back.”

“Why do you have to go away?”

“One if I do have s*x with you on your heat you will get pregnant.” Ew. That thought grossed her out. “Two it is a sign of strength. Resisting my one weakness. Means I will be a stronger alpha and other packs won’t want to mess with us.”

“Did dad do it with mom?”

“He tried.”

“He failed?”

“Took him two days.” She laughed.

“Maybe we should just not talk to each other. Maybe a good morning and good night text only.”

“That might be wise. He called mom up and she was crying. Let’s face it most of us alphas are weak for our mates.”

“Still weird to me.” She laid her head on his shoulder.

“Trust me I’m six years in and still trying to process how my sister smells so good to me. How she calms me down. How my wolf just gets so excited at the look of her. You don’t know what power you have over me.”

“So like after you shifted you came back. What was your exact thought when you realized I was your mate?”

“Well I didn’t realize it right away. I came back and you and Erica were together. I thought it was Erica not you. I smelt two distinct smells. Once smelt better but since you guys were rarely away from each other I couldn’t pin down who it was. Eventually she left. She was over for the weekend. I went to do some training. I came back home and mom and dad were gone. I knew you were here. The smell got so strong. But I didn’t smell the two smells. I thought Erica might be here and you were in the garage or something. So I walked upstairs and the smell was coming from your room. The door was opened. You were doing homework. I asked if Erica was around and you said no. My exact thoughts were hell no. Not her.” She laughed. Jared laughed too. “I had a mini heart attack and linked up with mom and dad. They came home early and explained everything. They said I wasn’t allowed to reject you. It will kill your wolf and possibly you. Losing your wolf at a young age can kill you. So I did nothing. I just went about my life and never thought about you being my mate. After you got your first period it was obvious to me that I had no choice but to accept the bond. It will make everything easier on you. So I did. That night my skin started burning. I felt like I had a fever. You were in so much pain my wolf was going crazy. I had very little rest.”

“So that’s why you woke me up and took me to the beach.” He was also insanely attentive at the time. He paid so much attention to her. He kept grabbing her hand or being up against her. “I remember thinking that day was weird. You kept grabbing my hand. Sitting up against me.”

“You cooled me off quite literally. I was still a new wolf so I didn’t have much control over McAllister at the time. He kept trying to come out. The things he would do to you.” He shook his head. She laughed.

“Maybe he will get a chance to.” She saw the slight blackness fall over his eyes. Then they turned green again.

“Don’t tease my wolf. He still has little self control with you.” She laughed.