CHAPTER 5
1374 Words
KADEN
IT SCARES ME.
“It’s for the den,” Noam says, moving forward to kiss her cheek. “Hi, Mum.”
We all follow suit.
“Is that why you all missed dinner at your respective homes?” she asks.
It’s not unusual for us to do this. Same way it’s not when we decide to eat at someone’s house without informing their mom.
With my mom, she will have all of us wash the plates and clean the kitchen. Punishment for not informing her.
The other mom’s, especially Thal’s mom, Aunts Nicole and Tina, are more understanding. They don’t complain and make food available for us.
That’s if you remove their mates from the equation. Something about not stressing their mates.
Yet, they don’t dare punish us.
Thal’s already speaking before I can stop him. “A certain someone was drowning…”
“Thal,” I warn.
Aunt Nicole’s eyes move between us. “Was Kaden with Macy?”
“Yes, Aunt Nicole,” he says with joy.
I swear this witch is not only a snitch but a gossip.
Aunt Nicole tilts her head my way. Her usually soft eyes grow firm as they settle on me. “I’m sure you know that as the future Beta of the pack, Macy can’t be your mate.”
“I’m not planning on taking her,” I say, hating the talk about mates. Or my relationship with Macy
My parents can’t stop talking about me finding my mate, getting serious with my life and settling down.
She nods. “Then end things with her before your next birthday.”
I’m turning eighteen soon. Couple of months.
“The earlier the better,” she continues. “Girls like Macy don’t give up easily.” She says in a tone that shows she knows what she’s saying.
She has history with Alexa’s mom and aunt. Both of them fighting her for her mates, the current Alphas, Vince and Vance.
Adrian throws a hand over his aunt’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Aunt Nikki. We won’t let him mess up.”
“Can we go now?” I say. Tired of this talk about me.
We say our goodbyes, taking our stuff with us. And as we file out Aunt Nicole stops us
“I want that den spotless before you leave,” she warns. “And no bribing the staff to do it for you.”
“Yes, Luna,” we chorus.
She snatches a pack of chips from Noam, kissing his temple as he passes her. He groans at this.
The den fills quickly with our presence and noise — chairs scraping, snacks ripping open, soda cans snapping open, bottle covers flipping off, tv control being tossed and caught. Everyone knows their place without saying a word. No one’s sitting on anyone’s chair.
It’s memory from years of practice. Years of hanging out together. Years of just letting ourselves feel the bond of brotherhood.
Each of our homes harbors a den for all of us. Built by each of our parents when they saw how quickly their sons bonded.
Not that our sisters aren’t friends too, but ours came up first.
The den at the pack house is the biggest. An unused car garage, big enough to contain all of us and all the games we love to play.
And no girls are ever allowed in when we are inside. Sisters, girlfriends, mummies…no female.
This is where we are ourselves, talk, share what we can’t go to our parents for. As we grew older our talks bordered on how to make the pack stronger and safer, maintain the order we have presently and our roles as future leaders of the pack.
“May the best wolf win,” Adrian says, cracking his knuckles as the game starts.
Each one of us has a game pad in hand, eyes glued to the massive screen on the wall.
“Or the best witch,” Thal adds smugly.
I can’t help the sigh that escapes me. I love him, but must he always be so witchy?
Lucius bumps his shoulder. “Quit being witchy.”
“I’m wiping someone tonight,” Noam snickers. “Or everyone.”
The usual banter goes on.
“Like someone got wiped at school,” Nathan adds, his lips twitching.
Everyone give me a side glance.
“She did no such thing,” I counter immediately, knowing who they are talking about.
“Oh, she did,” Lucius grins. “That brain comment?” he clicks his tongue.
“Savage,” Adrian says in a sing song manner.
“Clean hit,” Thal adds. “Didn’t even hesitate.”
“Didn’t hold back,” Lucius joins in.
Melvin, the quietest one among us, adds as well, “Right from the brain to the tongue.”
“Are we playing,” I snap, irritation creeping in, “or obsessing over someone who isn’t important?”
That earns me another round of laughter, but they let it drop. And we return to the game.
But my focus doesn’t stay there. My brows furrow in irritation and anger as my thoughts keep drifting away.
Green eyes. Blonde hair. The way she stands straight even when she’s cornered. The way she never backs down. The spark in her eyes that makes something stir in my chest.
How when she rolls her eyes at me, I want to punish her for doing so.
And for smiling at other guys. How come she never smiles at me? Why can’t she smile at me?
I don’t remember when I started noticing Alexa.
Only that it happened.
Three years ago, maybe.
She was always early to school. Always prepared for class. Always got the answers right. Making the best grades.
Always quiet, but never invisible. She didn’t try to be seen — and somehow that made her impossible to ignore.
To me.
And it pissed me off.
That she never seemed to notice me. See me.
I disliked how the guys look at her. The way their eyes lingered too long on her body, face, lips, legs. Making me want to bash their faces in.
Just like today at practice. Especially with how she looked in her gym clothes. And when she bent to pick the ball.
A low growl tears out of me before I can stop myself.
“Are you okay, K?” Nathan asks.
I glance down and realize my hands are clenched tight around the controller.
“I’m fine,” I lie. “Lucius is cornering me.”
“Maybe if your head’s in the game and not on Macy’s monstrous boobs.” Noam coughs into his palm, fist-bumping his brother.
“Enough,” I cut in.
They grin, knowing exactly what they’re doing.
“You’re all just jealous,” I say, forcing a smirk. “While you sleep alone, I don’t. I have a warm body pressed to me all night.”
“I don’t care how big the boobs are,” Lucius shrugs. “I’ll wait for my mate. I’ll take my chances. Sleep alone till my mate shows up.”
The others nod in agreement.
“What if she takes forever?” I ask. That’s a possibility in our world.
“Then forever it is,” Thal says quietly, with more certainty than any of us. Surprising me for a second. “But I know it won’t be forever.”
I scoff. “Suit yourselves. I’m getting laid till she comes.” Then continue with the game.
Planning to win, spend more time with them before heading to Macy’s. To apologise and hope she has the window open like she promised.
Yet even as I plan those things, my thoughts drift back like a magnet to someone else entirely.
The girl who doesn’t see or chase me like the other girls do. Or need to.
Who doesn’t laugh too loud or cling too tight to me.
Who holds my gaze like she’s daring me to make her look away. Daring me to blink first. Unafraid of me. Even with all the things I’ve done to her.
Something about how she challenges me touches a place in my heart. Welcoming it.
And it scares me.
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