MATED TO THE ENEMY BROTHERS

CHAPTER 2: Mates

OTSANA

“I can’t accept her as my mate...”

He muttered coldly, moving farther away from me. The weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks or maybe even a sledgehammer, which was heavier?

It rang through my head like a broken melody repeating the same melancholy tune. I could feel Maya retracting far back into my head, like a lone wolf in the woods.

Like he meant he was going to reject us? The thought made it feel like a dark cloud was hanging over me. It was like a knife to the heart, stabbing it repeatedly.

Just a few hours ago I got my wolf; I shifted and accomplished part of my wish list. I was happy a few minutes ago, but it was suddenly cut short, hearing that my mate would reject me.

It’s like being on cloud nine, feeling that intense excitement bubbling up inside you, and then suddenly, poof! It disappears in the blink of an eye, like a deflated balloon, leaving you disappointed. It was like someone was carving a hole in my heart with a chisel.

Was it not Alpha Adolphus Dimitri? Did he change? Was this even real?

“Alpha, you can’t reject her; you confirmed she is your mate,” my father countered with a concerned but broken voice.

I moved closer to Adolphus. “We’re mates, Adolphus; please don’t deny the bond,” my voice cracked as tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

I attempted to touch him; maybe he would feel the spark like the other time he did touch my face, but his reaction completely gobsmacked me.

He moved further away. “Don’t touch me!” He warned, his voice cold and mean. The warmth that used to comfort me in his eyes now sends a cold chill down my spine.

This wasn’t the Adolphus I used to know. He cares and listens to me. What changed all of a sudden?

He stood poised and expressionless. His hand was tucked in his pocket. “I, Adolphus Dimitri, reject you, Otsana Dolph, as my mate and future Luna.”

As he said that, I fell on my knees and doubled over in pain. It was like Adolphus plunged my heart out of my chest, squeezed it, and dropped it on the floor, then stepped on it repeatedly.

The pain was sharp and unbearable, but it suddenly stopped after a few minutes.

“Accept my rejection now so the bond can be severed completely,” he muttered without a hint of emotion in his voice. I stared into his eyes in search of any form of guilt, but I couldn’t find any, or maybe he hid them under his poker face.

Wasn’t he the one who told me that my mate was going to love me? Why was he going back on his words?

Wait… am I being delusional? Maybe his intention when he said that was to make me feel good. He doesn’t mean it. I get it now.

With tears still flowing, I steeled myself and raised my head, my eyes boring into his sharp blue eyes. I could see my father too, standing and not knowing what to do.

Well, what would he do? He was torn between being a beta and a loving father. My gaze darted between the pack members as they had gathered and were watching my humiliation.

My eyes fell on Nixie, who wore a satisfactory smile. I couldn’t blame her. You know, watching the person you hated most being humiliated by the person that had been protecting her.

I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me in tears, so I cleaned my eyes and took my eyes back to Alpha Adolphus.

“I, Otsana Dolph, accept your rejection.” I felt the bond completely disappear as I finished.

I saw his eyes flash with horror; maybe he was also feeling the bond severing. He deserved to feel the pain I felt too. But I think he thugged it. He wouldn’t let anyone notice he was going through the pain.

I can’t continue to be here in this pack after facing this humiliation from the alpha that had been protecting me. I can’t stand the shame and ridicule.

The one I had gone through before getting my wolf was enough. I will just run, far away from everyone, maybe to become a rogue or probably to seek shelter in a new pack.

Fear crept into me, remembering my father told me that the wood wasn’t safe for rogues, especially the new ones. This made my heart sink, but then I had my wolf now. I think I will survive it. I have survived being wolf-less. I have to be strong for myself and my father.

“Alpha, a man is trying to force his way into the pack.” One of our pack’s warriors bowed in front of the Alpha, making everyone turn their attention from me to him.

Earlier, their gazes felt like a million lasers piercing the whole of my body.

“Allow him into the pack,” the alpha ordered without sparing him a glance.

“Alpha, he is…”

“Do as I say!” Adolphus barked coldly, cutting him off.

The warrior scurried away without hesitation. No one would want to get on the bad side of the Alpha, especially now that he was angry.

Not long after, my nostril caught a whiff of a scent, and then a masculine figure emerged from the dark. All gazes fell on him as he came under the full moonlight.

Maya, who had retracted back into my mind earlier, gently walked back. It was like she was being energized again. But why? Could it be that…

I peeked at him from head to toe. He was around six feet and four inches tall. He had a broad shoulder and a cute-looking face. His eyes were green, like the color of emeralds. Like deep and bright green. I couldn’t tell who was cuter between him and Alpha Adolphus.

As he stepped forward, I could hear murmurings from the standing pack members. The old wolves were bringing their pups closer to themselves, acting as a shield. The fear on their faces was palpable, and the air thickened with tension.

My gaze went to my father. His mouth was slightly agape. I could see conflicts and confusions brewing in his eyes. My father wasn’t the type that gets intimidated by anyone, but I could see it. Maybe he was.

Alpha Adolphus was no different, but he was the alpha. He stood stoic. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his fist was balled in frustration. He was seeing red, and I think that was because of this unknown man.

Who was he?

“Isn’t that Fenrir?”

“The last pure-blood vampire.”

“What has he come to do in our pack?”

“He is the Alpha’s half-brother.”

“Maybe he came to challenge the Adolphus for the alpha position.”

Those murmurings were supposed to be between the pack members whispering among themselves, but I could hear them clearly, as I had gotten my wolf.

I have heard the rumor that the Alpha had a half-brother, but I think it was all rumor, and I never asked my father. Could it be true?

In my head, I thought everything had been going on for more than five minutes, but in reality, it was just a few seconds.

He took a confident stride forward as everyone's eyes followed him. His aura was different. He wasn’t afraid of anyone, not even the Alpha king. Like he didn’t even recognize his presence.

Looking at his eyes, I could see the spark within them. And I couldn’t place this unsettling feeling I’m having within the pit of my stomach. It was that same feeling I had earlier for Adolphus.

Could it be that…? I shook my head in disapproval; it can’t be. I pushed the thoughts away because I don't want it to be.

He turned and faced Adolphus. “I’m here for my mate,” he declared, his voice low and steady, like the first rumble of an approaching storm. Then he faced the standing pack members.

“And no one—no one—is going to stand in my way. Not even your Alpha.”

The atmosphere thickened with tension. Confused glances were exchanged.

His mate? Here? In this pack?

Aldophus crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “And who might that be, Fenrir?” His tone was calm but laced with amusement.

I think I got the answers to all my questions, as Aldophus confirmed the name mentioned by one of the pack members earlier. They were brothers. I could feel the tension between them. They hated each other, as rumored. They were sworn enemies.

Fenrir faced the pack members again, a light smile dancing on his lips.

“There she is, my beautiful mate,” he said, pointing in a direction, and when I traced his finger with my eyes, he was pointing to me.

"Otsana Dolph." He added, his voice dripping with certainty. “She’s mine to claim.”