My Brother’s Mate

Emily and Mike at age 6. “Can’t catch me!” Emily shouts as she runs through the woods laughing. “Oh yes I can!” Mike shouts back running after her. Emily and Mike run through the forest laughing and playing tag. They have been friends since they could walk. Mikes father is the Alpha of their pack, Silver Leaf pack. Emily’s father is the Beta. Their parents are best friends and so are Mike and Emily. Emily runs until she gets to the river that borders their pack’s lands. She stops and kneels down to run her fingers through the water. “EMILY! MICHAEL!” She hears a voice yelling. “Thats Liam. We’re not supposed to be this far in and we’re not supposed to be by the river.” Mike says concerned. “Ok let’s head back.” Emily says, while standing up. “EMILY! MICHAEL!” The voice yells getting closer. “Hurry he’s coming” Mike says. Just then Emily slips on a rock and screams. She falls backward into the river screaming. Liam hears the screams and races toward the sound. “EMILY!” Mike screams. Liam makes it to the river and sees Emily in the water holding onto a fallen tree. “Emily?! Hold on!” Liam shrieks as he climbs down onto the trunk of the tree and out towards Emily. “LIAM I CANT HOLD ON!” Emily yells in fear. “I’m coming, Emily just hold on.” Liam says He continues crawling towards her. “Emily give me your hand!” Liam reaches out. Emily reaches but misses. “Come on Emily! You can do it!” Liam reaches again. Emily reaches and gets Liams hand. Liam pulls her up to him. He positions her on the flat of his back and crawls carefully toward the land. He climbs down off the trunk and away from the running water. He takes Emily off his back to look at her. She wipes tears from her eyes. She is soaking wet. Mike runs over to them. “Em, you alright? that was scary.” Mike says. “What we’re you doing by the river? You know you aren’t allowed out here.” Liam says sternly to Mike. Emily cries and wraps her arms around Liams waist. Liam is Mike’s older brother and the future Alpha of the pack. He’s 10 years old right now. “Thank you for saving me.” Emily cry’s into Liam’s shirt. Liam rubs her back. “It’s alright, you’re safe now.” Liam looks towards Mike, “Look, Mike, you have to look out for Emily. You have to be a big boy and take care of your friends.” Mike nods assuredly. “Now let’s get you some dry clothes.” Mike coos to Emily. We’ll say we were all by the lake and not a word of this to anyone ok? Mike, Em?” Liam asks them both. “Ok” they say as they head back to the pack. Emily and Mike at age 12 Emily is walking home after school when two older girls bump into her, causing her to drop her books and folders onto the sidewalk. “Watch where you’re going stick.” says Ginny,as she stomps on one of Emilys papers. Ginny scrapes it against the rough concrete, shredding the corner in the process. She and the other girls walk away laughing. Emily kneels down and starts picking up her things when she sees two big converse out of the corner of her eye. It’s Liam. He kneels down to help her. He picks up her math folder, opens it up, and then begins collecting the papers that go inside. He peels the shredded worksheet from the sidewalk and smiles toward Emily. “Girls are the literal worst.” He says as he hands her the newly assembled folder. “You know I’m a girl right.” Emily says. “Haha, yeah but you’re not like them.” Liam pauses as if to say something more, but then turns and abruptly walks away. “Keep your head up kid!” he yells back as he heads towards the field for football practice. Emily turns and sees Mike coming up to her. “What did Liam what?” Mike asks. “Oh, you know. Ginny and her ‘squad’ thought it would funny to knock my stuff out of my hands,” Emily says sardonically. “Liam was just helping me pick them up.” “Oh.” Mike says. Emily begins before mike can continue his thought “She called me ‘stick’” Emily and Mike laugh together as they start walking home. “Why don’t you just wait for me and we’ll go home together from now on.” He says to her with concern. “Oh, so you can fight all my battles?” She says playfully nudging him with her shoulder. “You know what I mean Em.” He tries to sound serious. “Fine. You can start meeting me at my locker and we’ll walk home together.” She smiles at him. “So are you going to come over and help me study math?” He asks with a plead. “Haha, and what do I get from this arrangement?” Emily teases “We’re ordering pizza for dinner.” He raises his eyebrows “Well then, I’ll be there.” “Sweet!” He says excitedly. The two laugh, and joke the whole way home. Emily and Mike age 16 “Em come on we’re going to be late!” Mike yells from down stairs. “I’m coming!” Emily yells back. Emily grabs her bag and runs down the stairs, She grabs a piece of toast and runs out the door flicking the lights off on her way out. “Finally” Mike exclaims. “It takes time to look this good, jerk” Emily says as she gets in the car. “Sorry Em of course you look beautiful. I just have to meet one of my teachers before class.” Mike says “Trying to beg them to not put you on Academic probation so you can play in tonight’s game?” Em asks. Mike was on the football team just like his brother was, but he struggles in English and Science so he’s a bit stressed. “Actually I’m begging for extra credit.” He clarifies. “Well Mrs. White loves you, so she’ll definitely give you extra credit. Just bat your baby blues at her and you’ll be fine.” “Oh so I have baby blue eyes.” Mike teases. They both laugh. “How’s Liam liking college? I haven’t heard about him in awhile.” Emily asks “Oh Liam is loving college, and the college girls.” Mike says “Gross” Emily adds and makes a face “He’ll be graduated by the time we turn 18, so he should be back by then.” Mike adds. When Mike and Emily turn 18 they will be able to find their fated mates. Everyone thinks Emily and Mike are fated for each other. It’s said you can sometimes feel the pull towards your mate prior to coming of age. Emily and Mike haven’t talked about it yet, but Mike wouldn’t be mad if Emily was his mate and neither would Emily. Emily and Mike age 17 Emily and Mike are sitting by the lake as the sun goes down. “Em what if we are fated mates?” Mike asks “What if we aren’t?” Emily asks back. “Em if we aren’t, we’ll still be best friends. I’ve spent more time with you than any other person. We know each other inside and out. That’s why I know you’re afraid you’ll lose me.” Mike pauses, thinking of what he’ll say next. “Em you won’t lose me.” Mike says throwing his arm around her shoulder. “If we are fated mates then my mate will also be my best friend. What could possibly be better.” Emily says looking at Mike. Mike leans in and kisses Emily. She reciprocates the kiss for a moment, then she quickly pulls away. “Mike I don’t want to start something only to find out it’s not you. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.” “I can respect that Em, but I’m glad I finally got to kiss you. Even if we aren’t fated, at least I got that.” Mike smiles “Dork.” Emily giggles and nudges Mike with her shoulder. “6 months. I can’t believe we’ll be 18 in 6 months.” Mike says “Why do I get the feeling like everything is going to change?” Emily looks up at Mike and asks. “Because I think it will Em. I think it will.”