Infected Blood

Chapter Two

"Shut the hell up," I hissed, my brother only glared at my figure and I knew we were equally as freaked out.

"Don't tell me to shut up!" He shouted, clenching his jaw and pulling his hair, "you, my dear sister, are mates with a very hostile man! Alpha's are the worst thing that could've happened to us- to you!"

"Then I'll just steer clear of him! It's not that f*****g hard," I snapped, my brother stared at me like I was the dumbest b***h to ever roam earth. To be honest, I'm so wrong right now- it's not going to be easy at all, I'm just trying to convince myself that I have my life ahead of me. My brother and I both know that because I'm mated to him, means he will find out what I am and he will tear me apart mercilessly. He's the one that killed my entire pack and wiped my kind out, he's the most fearful and unloving Alpha in the country.

I'm so screwed.

"Yeah right! Have you ever seen an Alpha with their mate?" He wailed, "he will not stop until you are in his arms! This is BAD, Kate! When he gets to you, he will figure out what you are and you will be killed ruthlessly! He will certainly come searching for you after this stupid incident!"

I scoffed but deep down I knew there was very little chance of me escaping him.

••••••

The next morning rolled by quite quickly, unfortunately for me though, my brother needed to work today to cover someone's shift so he won't be attending school with me.

So, in other words, I'd be facing the one and only Alpha today alone.

I groaned, walking out the door but my brother grabbed my hair and pulled me back for a hug.

"Come here, asshole," he stated, squeezing me with a tight hug as I sucked at the air like a fish.

"Can't," I strained, "breathe!"

He released me and I grumbled.

"You're like a bear trap," I mumbled to myself, soon feeling a slap on the back of my head due to my brother's hand.

"You're not going to school today, I can't let you anywhere near that monster. Lock the doors and if you hear anything strange, go to the basement and hide."

I rolled my eyes at him for being overdramatic but nodded, "alright, alright! I will."

He gave a slow nod, patting my shoulder then took off. I turned around and went back inside, locking the door behind me and making sure every other door and window was locked as well before I started relaxing on the couch watching TV.

I put on a horror movie and of course it was showing a couple getting intimate, it made me heat up and my thoughts drifted to the Alpha.

He wouldn't possibly kill his own mate, would he? Maybe there's a chance he'd keep me alive and we could be together. It would be so easy too, we're mates and he'd crave to touch me just as much as I crave for him.

I hissed lowly, snapping myself out of the fantasy I wished were true. He would kill me, I can't be actually considering that he wouldn't all because I'm losing my mind over the fact I'm two years late to be mated to someone. It was supposed to be someone of my own kind because no other species would survive, we are venomous and one kiss would kill another instantly.

It turns into a curse when you're species is now extinct and the only other serpent left is your brother, I definitely can't kiss and mate to him so I'm going to die unmated. Serpents are very similar to werewolves, without mates you go insane and either kill yourself or you die naturally. Unlike werewolves, we don't go mad, we get strong urges of romance toward others we find attractive until we take our own life. Not once has a serpent died naturally by being unmated, it always ended with suicide.

I know my brother is worried about me because of that, it's why he doesn't let me date and he tries to find others like us, but I can't help getting so angry at him. He knows we are all that's left yet he carries false hope because he can't accept that I'm going to die.

I turned off the TV and went into the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror and scowling. If only I were older, then my brother wouldn't have to worry about me being unmated! He's mated already, he's better off without me! Sometimes I wish I were taken out of his life so he wouldn't have to worry about me anymore. I drag him down.

I just stared at myself, my hair was long, wavy, and black with green highlights, my eyes were the same green and my lips were as dark as an apple, my skin was lighter than most so people call me pale. I hated what I saw, the green in my hair and in my eyes represented that I'm unmated. It's like a timer of my life. The longer I go without, the more the green takes over my hair and I'm worried with how much green there is already. Once mated though, the green fades into black and my eyes turn pink.

I glared at my reflection and punched the mirror, it shattered and I wanted to break down in tears. I'm just a dead man walking, living on is so pointless but I do it for my brother.

As if my mind was read, the bathroom door flew open and I looked over with wide eyes at Marco, the Beta, who just broke into my house and has probably come for me as my brother said yesterday.

He looked evil, towering over me and I backed away from him. He reached for me but I fought back, throwing everything I could at him and I rushed to the window. I unlocked it and made it halfway out but he grabbed my leg then pulled me right back in, I was terrified so I kicked and punched, screamed even, he covered my mouth tightly and I stopped fighting. This was it, I could be dead by tomorrow.

I felt tears stream down my face and his hard expression didn't lighten, he pulled me up roughly and I continued to cry. After I stood up, my legs started weakening and it wasn't long until my vision blacked- indicating I was no longer conscious.

••••••

Groaning, I opened my eyes only to realize I was no longer in my house but in someone else's. Hell, I was in their bedroom! Wasn't tough to figure it out, I knew exactly where I was and I was filled to the top with fear and nausea. Crying was all I could do, I wanted to go home to my brother where I was safe instead of being here.

I stayed in the bed paralyzed with terror, the fear only shot out my spine when the door opened and in walked the most feared Alpha in the country- Tiago.

He was blank, no emotion portrayed on his face as he made his way over to me and sat down on the side of the bed next to me. I couldn't help but scoot away from him, he snarled at me and I trembled being so close to him.

My body wanted him to touch every inch but my brain made me petrified. I longed to kiss him but he scared me terribly. This man killed my entire pack, no reason but to prove he is and forever will be feared. Well, that and he hated our species. We killed the people in pain to end their misery but so many people started suffering that he couldn't allow us to kill everyone who was hurt. He believes we were the monsters that never should've existed.

"You don't have to fear me," he finally spoke, his eyes meeting mine and I wanted to melt in his lap but at the same time I wanted to be as far away from him as possible, "I'd never hurt you, love."

He thinks I'm just human, but once he figures out what I am he will hurt me.

I shook my head, he growled and I stiffened, "take me home..." my voice was urging to break down, just hearing it he frowned at me.

"I can't do that," he replied, no longer frowning but just emotionless as before, "you will stay here, you are mine and I will never let you go. Not after just finding you."

Before I could think, my body reached out to him and grabbed his hand to hold. The tingles went crazy in my hands, going all throughout my body and I held back the exhale of pleasure from escaping my lips.

It felt so damn good but we can't be together, I'd kill him with a kiss and he'd kill me if he knew what I was. I'm just straight toxic, literally.

He let me hold his hand, I was reluctant but after seeing he didn't suddenly snap at me again I couldn't help but reach out for his face where I noticed he had a big scar from just above the eyebrow to just below the cheek bone. It looked like it would've been an unbearable pain to have when it was fresh, I was curious to know the feeling.

When my hand got near his scar to feel it his expression hardened when he realized what I was doing and he ripped away from me with a low growl, I was taken by surprise and retracted my hands like he burnt me. I looked up at his now standing figure and curled in a ball, hands to my chest as well as my knees.

He was tense and clearly mad, I frowned at his muscular body and refrained from reaching out to feel the pleasure again, "I-I didn't mean to! I didn't know it was a sensitive issue, I'm sorry! Please, I just want to go home..."

"No," he said coldly, "you're mine so you're staying here. You do as I say!" He demanded, his tone causing me to cower but he didn't seem to care because instead of apologizing he just left the room without another word.

My body wanted him to come back, I wanted to be against him but my brain was telling me I'm in danger and that I needed to get out of there. One more day here with me being unmated is incredibly risky- I can't help but touch him as much as I can because of the immense s****l tension inside me but I need to get away from him all at the same time! It's so hard for me to do. If I kissed and killed him I'd still have to worry about the entire pack, which is another reason I'm panicking. What if I mess up and kiss him? There's not a chance in hell the Beta would let me live.

I cautiously slid out of bed, fearing the slightest bit of noise would be heard, so I gently made my way to the window and looked out- I was disappointed as soon as I saw the fall. We were higher than I could risk without getting hurt and being slowed down. I had to find another way.

I turned around and walked to the door, slowly opening it and looking down this giant hallway that was dead silent. I tip-toed out of the room and down the hall, making sure to check around so I knew it was clear.

"Orders were to watch her- you know, he said she wants to leave. We have to convince her to stay and you're charming, she might just listen to you," a voice said, it grew louder with each passing second and I had no choice but to turn back and retreat.

There's no way I could outrun a Beta, especially when I knew my body wouldn't want to get away from his touch. It's so much harder when my body craves any male's touch- except my brother.

I made it back to the room and jumped on the bed, it was comfy which only made it harder for me to gain the motivation to get up and leave. It was a matter of life or death, unfortunately, so I knew my objective was pretty clear.

Not long after, the door opened and in walked the Beta and another male, they were the ones at the school yesterday but this time the male next to the Beta was staring at me with a soft look on his face.

He looked harmless, more trusting than the Alpha and Beta anyway. He then made his way over to me with a smile, he seemed happy but I was too uncomfortable to speak to him with the Beta staring me down in such a way.

Noticing this, he scowled deeply and left the room without a word. I was left with the happy one and my tension withered away quickly, I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"It's okay to be scared," he spoke, "I get it. We took you from your home, so trusting us would be insane for you to even consider- but I want you to know that we're going to keep you safe and I believe you should be comfortable here since this is now your home. Marco and Tiago can be quite terrifying, I'm definitely aware, but the Alpha would never hurt you and neither would Marco. There are things you don't understand and I'm afraid you can't be made aware just yet- people will come for you since you are the only weakness Tiago has. Though he comes off too strong," he laughed lightly, I watched him curiously, "he can't let you leave because he needs you here- we all do- he just has this funny way of expressing himself. I promise you, Luna, this is probably the safest place for you."

Yeah, until you find out my secret.

For some strange reason I wanted to be honest with him, tell him everything from the start even. I felt I could trust him yet I knew things would go to hell if I did, so I started small.

"You remind me of my best friend," I replied sadly, he almost was shocked that I responded but allowed me to continue, "she was amazing. Never let me down, made sure nobody around her was sad, she made everything alright."

"If she's anything like me, then I bet she was more than amazing- I bet outstanding," he smirked, his arrogance hit me as a blow to the chest and I genuinely let out a laugh. He isn't half bad, but I guess we'll see what I still think in a moment.

"But she had this secret," I continued, his smile faltered, "she was this snake creature, but it never changed that she was my best friend so I-"

He cut me off, his expression was now dangerous and his eyes were a darker color, "is she alive? Where is she? She's deadly- she must be killed! Never speak to her, understood? If she's alive the Alpha has to know! They're supposed to be dead- no pulse, no breathing- DEAD! Extinct!"

He was fuming at this point and I've never felt more fear crawl on my skin, they seriously hate my kind and the more I figured out the worse I felt being in the same room as these wolves- let alone being trapped in a whole mansion with them!

"No! She died..." I replied to him, ice hugging my heart as I began to hold back tears.

"Those things aren't worth your tears," he added, I looked up at him with the frown implanted on my face, "they're savages. I lost my little brother to them," he scoffed as if remembering the moment, "he was just a kid, no eight year old is truly sad! They'll throw a fit and cry because they can't get a cookie past a certain time but they're never truly sad! They don't experience true pain! Those f*****g reptiles carved his heart out and by the time I reached them it was too late! They dropped his heart on him and slithered off before I could kill the bastards! I was supposed to protect him! They even left Tiago an orphan, he had to run this pack at twelve years old- twelve! He didn't have a fair childhood- he couldn't have one considering he was an Alpha's son. Somebody had to take his father's place and it had to be him."

I felt sick after hearing his words, oh my god... his little brother- the little boy with glasses and blonde hair... and the Alpha's father- the nicest Alpha I've ever heard spoken about.

My brother killed that little boy and my father killed Tiago's father.