But he can’t be my mate!

Chapter 2

Ben decided hard rock was the only genre he wanted to listen to on the way to College today. I swear he did it just to wind me up.

I glared at him from the passenger seat, intending to send all my fury down my gaze. But that seemed to just egg him on and he was now smiling bigger than his face could handle and head banging to whatever cat was being strangled in his sound system.

As big brothers go Ben wasn’t all bad! There are only 10 months between us so we’ve always been super close but also fought non stop. I was a surprise baby, Mum didn’t even know she was pregnant with me until she went into Labour. She was still nursing Ben, and put all the signs down to that. So I don’t blame Ben for feeling like I get in the way sometimes. I guess I have been doing that since I first showed up!

We couldn’t be more different really, he’s sporty and cool and popular and I’m a book worm who prefers to stay home and watch Netflix dramas instead of going to parties. Everyone flocks to Ben, his Alpha Aura automatically makes people want to be near him. He was made for all the attention … literally. Me on the other hand … not so much. Don’t get me wrong, Alpha born females can carry Auras just as strong as any guy, but not me! People pretend to be nice to me, but when no one is watching, I’ve always been the butt of everyone’s jokes and people make snide comments all the time. I pretend not to care, but it’s hard not to.

As we pulled into the car park, I could already see the groups of girls waiting eagerly for Ben to get out. Strategically positioning themselves in the hope he’d accidentally bump into them and suddenly declare his undying love! Pathetic.

That was definitely the worst part about being Ben’s little sister, being treated like the postal service for all his admirers. They’d leave notes for him in my locker, begging me to pass them on. I’d lost count of the amount of girls who had tried to be friends with me to get to him.

I didn’t get it!

I mean sure, even as his sister I could appreciate that he was conventionally attractive. The type of guy you’d expect to be cast as the love interest in the next book to TV series adaptation. But he was just so boringly obvious about it!

He was still transitioning from his leaner teenage body into that of a built man. His shoulders were squarer now and his upper body muscles were filling out so his chest and arms stood proud. His once boyish face was now chiseled with a strong jawline and a slight shadow where his stubble was starting to show. He hadn’t lost his dimples, if anything they were more prominent now. His sea blue eyes popped against his soft tanned skin and his freckles still broke through on the surface. His hair was turning darker so his former blonde was growing out and just sat at the ends. Although his hair was shorter at the sides it still sat in thick curls on the top of his head. And I swear he grows an inch a week, he’s definitely at a comfortable 6ft 4 now.

Whatever he looked like to others didn’t matter, to me he was just another cookie cutter alpha, and a total pain in my arse!

I shut the car door behind me and Ben clicked it locked and shouted “Later Loser” as he walked off to the entrance. He turned and gave me a wink that let me know, no matter how much we tease each other, we love each really and he’s always got my back. I flip him off with a smile and he chuckles as he heads towards his fan club.

I took a deep breath and headed towards the doors. As I walked in, I could sense the side eyes from Ben’s hoard of piranhas. They didn’t know what to do with me anymore. When I was shyer and frumpy, they knew what box to place me in, how they thought they could treat me. Ever since I started dressing different and felt more confident in myself, it unsettled them! It wasn’t just the girls either, the guys looked at me different now too. Not in an obvious way, but I saw the double takes I got, and the lingering stares from across the hallways. If a guy ever did have to have a conversation with me in class or something, their eyes were always locked on my cleavage, not my face. However, no one dared to be the first to treat me different. Nobody was willing to be the one to transition me from social pariah to someone worthy of their attention. That was fine by me! I liked my own company, and I liked who I was. There were very few people at College who I would want to spend time with anyway.

However walking through the corridor today I couldn’t help but look with curiosity. Any one of these guys could end up being my mate tomorrow. My stomach did a flip just thinking about it. I whispered to the air “Goddess, just please make him kind" and headed for my first class.

…

The morning was pretty standard which meant it dragged on. By the time lunch came around, I was kinda pleased Mum was picking me up early today so I could get out of here!

I sat at a table hugging a coffee and eating an apple. I was still stuffed from our mammoth breakfast!

Ben plonked himself in the seat opposite me. I frowned at him mid bite. He never sat with me. I finished biting into my apple and continued to glare at him.

“If the wind changes, your face will be stuck like that” he said like an old man.

“Why are you here?” I asked confused.

“Can’t a brother sit with his little sister for lunch” he asked back.

“Not when you’re the brother, no. What’s going on?”

His playful smile dropped a little into more of a genuine one.

“I just wanted to see how you were feeling about tomorrow, everything will be crazy tonight so didn’t think I’d get a chance to talk to you”.

I eyed him suspiciously.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m being genuine here. I know you don’t have many people to talk to about tomorrow and … well it’s a big deal you know”.

“This feels like a trap” I stated.

He let out a sharp laugh through his nose.

“No trap Nell. Real talk for a moment?”

I nodded.

“I may act all confident, but it’s been 10 months since my birthday and I haven’t met my mate yet. Dad and I have done 3 pack tours and still nothing. Being the kids of an Alpha, there’s loads more pressure on us to find our mates and for it to be a ‘good match’. Even more for me as my mate is the future Luna of this pack. I woke up on my birthday so confident it was going to happen for me. The fact it hasn’t yet, to be honest, it’s killing me a little. So, knowing how I’m feeling, I just wanted to check in with you” he finished his eyes locked on mine.

It wasn’t like Ben and I didn’t talk about the important stuff, but deep and meaningful chats weren’t our normal for sure.

I took in a deep breath.

“I’m terrified” I said on an exhale.

He smiled at me.

“I don’t know if I’m more scared of not finding my mate, or of finding him and him being an i***t from here that I can’t stand”

He smiled a knowing smile again.

“People here don’t get me, they still see me as the shy little kid from years ago. If my mate is from this pack, I’m worried he won’t think I’m enough and will reject me” I confessed.

He nodded in understanding “I was terrified mine was gonna be ‘shagged the whole school Sophie’. Can you imagine her as Luna”.

I did a dramatic full body shudder that made him laugh.

“I don’t think that will happen to you though” Ben said softly “I know I teased you this morning, but anyone would be lucky to be mated to you Penelope, don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise”

My heart swelled as I looked across at my brother.

“Plus, you’re kind like a mega babe now” he finished shoving a handful of crisps in his mouth.

Moment ruined.

“One, ew! And two, I thought I was disgusting” I imitated his voice on the last word.

“Oh you are … to me. But I’ve heard the lads in the locker rooms. You’re on the ‘top 10 girls I’d f**k from college' list" he said matter of factly.

I pulled a disgusted face, firstly at the fact that such a lists exists, and secondly that my name was on it.

“I hate literally everything you just said” I jabbed.

He just shrugged.

“Own it Nell!”

Just then ‘shagged the whole school Sophie’ herself along with her gaggle of clones sat themselves at the table either side of Ben. He looked both ways down at them all then turned to face me and rolled his eyes.

“Ben, I’m literally so excited for your party tomorrow. I’ve bought a really sexy dress to wear, I hope you’ll like it” Sophie said seductively, leaning into his arm as she did.

Ben carried on eating completely unbothered by her presence.

“It’s not my party, it’s Nell’s” he looked at her with a fake smile “and I’m not sure you’re her type”.

I snorted out the sip of coffee I’d just taken and coughed to try and cover it up.

Sophie looked taken aback but then recovered herself quickly.

“Oh Ben, you’re so funny!” She giggled. Then she turned to me.

“Have you got a sexy dress for tomorrow Nell?” She asked condescendingly. “You’ve not got much to offer a mate, but I’ll give it to you, you’ve got a great set of t**s” she smirked.

Ben pushed his chair back and stood up.

“And that’s my cue to leave” he stated to the group.

I stood too.

“Yeah me too, thanks for the chat bro”.

“Any time kid".

We both smiled at each other and walked off in separate directions leaving Sophie to sulk with her friends.