The Royal Brothers' Mate

Chapter 4

Chapter 4.

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I woke up at three having tossed and turned all night until I finally gave up and got out of the bed I had slept in. Rowan’s clothes were slightly too big for me and I had to roll up the sleeves of the jacket and the hem of the pants, it kept sliding loose anyway because of the texture of the silk until I gave up and tucked the pants into my socks and did not even bother with the sleeves. I slipped my sock-covered feet into my sneakers and began to make my way out of the room moving as quietly as possible, ignoring Corin’s voice in my mind telling me to stay because I was thirsty and did not want to wake him to ask for water. With his stone-cold eyes and face the thought of waking him seemed a little scary. I did not want to wake either prince because I did not want to start a fight. I tensed every time I heard the wind blow as I slowly opened the room’s door and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. I could hear mumbling down the far-end of the hallway and I could feel Rowan and Corin in their rooms beside each other. I pulled the door shut gently and looked around wondering where to go, or why I had even gotten out of bed.

Deciding it was too late to go back, I turned and made my way down the hall silently. I peeked around the corner of the hallway leading down the stairs and was happy to see it empty all the way down before I attempted to step forward.

“What are you doing?” The whisper in my ear from behind me made me jump but a hand covered my mouth preventing my scream from being too loud.

I turned around and punched his chest. “What is wrong with you?” I hissed before I realised what I had done and stepped back wide-eyed.

“What?” Rowan asked lowly as he stepped forward following my steps backward, he looked and sounded angry and his light brown eyes seemed to have somehow darkened to the same shade as his brother’s. As I continued to step back, I knew I was getting closer to the top of the stairs, but it was shoved to the back of my mind because I had just hit him and he kept coming closer and I needed space.

“Uhm – s – sorry – wa – I – I thought –” I whispered looking at the chest I had just punched. It had felt quite hard and toned. It reminded me of seeing him shirtless the previous night, it made me wonder what his chest felt like beneath the silk…

Crap. What if he was reading my mind like Corin had?!

“Ah, that hurts.” He groaned as he rubbed his chest. I bit my lip. Luckily he was not reading my mind.

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled. “You - you snuck up on me.” I added in an almost inaudible mumble.

“Are you saying you hit me on purpose, Eden?”

“N – ah!” I gasped as my foot slipped off the edge of the stair and I tried to grab something to prevent my eminent tumbling but he caught my waist drawing me back onto the second floor as he pulled me against him.

I sighed in relief as I dropped my head against his chest. “You’re just trying to kill me.” I groaned, my adrenaline from the almost fall hiding my fear for a moment.

He laughed, his body vibrating against my own as he slid his arms further around my waist.

“Or are you trying to kill me?” He whispered into my ear. I furrowed my brows confused before I realised I was still clutching onto his shirt – the only thing I could reach when I was trying to prevent my falling, and my head was still on his chest. I gave an awkward half-laugh as I pushed away from him, stepping down off the stair that I had just slipped from to create space between us, it made me seem so much shorter than him. I looked up at him and noticed his eyes were turning red again, as if he was about to shift. I swallowed feeling uncomfortable with the look in his eyes, I must have almost drew his wolf out again.

“I-I’ll go back to bed.” I said softly. He blinked and the red was gone from his eyes.

“Ah – yes, you may go.” He said. I nodded and began to make my way back up the stairs past him but I froze when I heard voices downstairs and cars outside.

“Is that my Parents?” Rowan looked downstairs, “They’re not supposed to be back for a few more days… and it’s so early.”

“Right.” I jumped as Corin appeared beside me before I sighed as the brothers chuckled. This sucked. I was beginning to hate how much stealthier they were than normal werewolves – and we were incredibly stealthy. “Definitely them though… Ny, will you wait in my room?”

“Your room?” I asked in unison with Rowan.

“Yes, my scent will hide yours from them – I hope. Until we’ve gotten you something to meet them in.” I looked down at the pyjamas I was wearing. Right…

“M-meet them?” My eyes shot back up to him.

“Well…” Corin drifted as we heard the front door click open. “Wait, we’ll talk about this in a second. Come.” Corin grabbed my hand before I could argue and began leading me to his room.

He pulled me into a room that looked exactly like the one I had slept in, there were no little trinkets, ornaments or anything that personalised the room to show whose it was if I had not already known because he had just led me into it. Well, it smelt like him and that was enough to make me nervous that I was in his bedroom. He let my hand go to shut the door behind us before I felt his hands on my shoulders. I looked over my shoulder to find him staring at me.

“What?” I asked, his cold stare making me more nervous.

“Could you not talk to my brother? It is hard enough trying not to tear him apart when he looks at you.” He said.

“I’m sure the feeling is mutual.” I mumbled, I mean I could feel that Rowan had not moved from the spot we left him since Corin led me off. He was obviously waiting for his brother to join him and I could feel his wolf’s rising jealousy the longer Corin stayed with me.

“How did this happen? Ro said everyone has a single mate.” He growled. I watched his eyes, even with his evident anger they stayed the same shade of black they always were, he seemed to have better control of his wolf than Rowan did, probably because he was always in the public eye so he had to be able to control his wolf incredibly well.

“Ro said?” I asked confused. Rowan told him about mates? “Your parents.” I added remembering why I was in his room.

“Oh, right. Stay here, okay?” I smiled. He said the exact same thing last night before he went to bed. “I did, but listen to me this time.” He frowned.

“Corin.” I almost whined his name and he chuckled raising his hands in surrender.

“Sorry, I keep forgetting, people do not usually have the authority to tell me when I may link to them...” He said. “But stay?” He asked.

“Okay.” I replied. “G-o.” I gave a laugh when he did not attempt to leave and just stood smiling at me. “You’re so weird.” I added under my breath as I shook my head and looked towards the window, I knew it was impossible for him not to hear it.

“How dare you? I am going to be king.” I laughed as I dodged his hand when he tried to grab my arm.

“You –” I began but a throat clearing loudly from down the hall interrupted me.

‘We have to go downstairs now or they’ll come up.’ I heard it, so I figured rowan had linked to the both of us.

“Right.” Corin responded to his brother before looking at me, “Stay.”

“I’m not a dog.” I pouted. “You don’t say stay like that to people.”

“People tend to so whatever I say without question – or argument, Eden.”

“So?” I asked. I had been around both princes for less than 24 hours and there was no way I was acting like I had at the beginning because they proved to be completely the opposite of the image Corin constantly showed at the restaurant, press conferences and other public appearances before that. They – mostly Rowan – seemed like immature boys around each other. Corin still sort of scared me with the cold, serious look he always had on his face.

“Oh my God. Corin! I think Mother and Father are back!” Rowan yelled.

“Are they?” Corin smiled at me, his eyes studying my face for a few seconds making my cheeks heat before he finally backed out of his room and shut the door behind him. I bit my lip as I sat down on his bed and listened to the prince’s footsteps descend down the stairs. I could not hear much of what was happening downstairs because there were so many sounds covering the voices.

I looked around Corin’s room and still saw nothing that would indicate that the room was anything other than a guest room. Was this a royal thing? Did Rowan’s room look the same? I get that they probably could not stick posters all over the walls but he did not even have a picture frame anywhere or a teddy or any other little artefact. My eyes moved to the bathroom but I shook my head; that would be weird… right? Besides, what would he keep in a bathroom that would make it more personal?

Sighing, I looked back at the door wondering how long I was going to be in Corin’s room. Yeah, the smell was great and comforting but I was getting bored and I was still thirsty, my phone was also in the room I had slept in. Corin had a clock above his door, right across his bed and watching it really seemed to make time go slower so after half an hour that felt like an eternity, I leaned back until I was laying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. I widened my eyes as I remembered I was still wearing Rowan’s pyjamas. I guess my own sweat pants and t-shirt would not be much better attire to meet the leaders and most powerful wolves of our entire country in either. Did I even have clothing that was appropriate to meet them in? Would I even be meeting them? I hoped not. Part of me was grateful I was hidden up here right now, the other part was disappointed that my mate… mates had to hide me. Usually people were just ecstatic to show everyone their mates. I jumped up when there was a knock on the door.

I stared at it with wide-eyes trying to figure out whether I should hide or reply. The first option seemed to be the right one, I was sure that if it was either of the princes’, they would not even have knocked and I would have felt them coming. I stumbled off the bed and into the bathroom mostly closing the door slowly once inside, but leaving it slightly ajar so I could peek out.

The door across the room opened to reveal Edwin, he held what looked like clothes in his arms as a pair of heels dangled from his hands. I did not recognise it. He shut the door behind him and looked around.

“Eden, are you hiding?” He called out sounding amused.

I let out a squeak, embarrassed that I actually was and he looked at me and laughed.

“Um… Good morning.” I said as I stepped out of the bathroom. It was half past four now. Did everyone at the palace wake up before 3 AM or something? Oh right. Alphas usually trained very early in the morning.

“Here. Corin sent me to fetch some clothing from your house, I would but –” he gave a chuckle, “I thought this would be more suitable.”

“You – you bought that?” I asked looking at the clothes in his arms. He nodded. “It’s not even 5 AM.” I added. There were no stores open right now.

“I have my ways. Here. Put this on and meet me in the hallway, Corin requested that I bring you downstairs.” My heart stopped.

“Wha-what? Why?”

He raised his brows at me, surely I knew why. I was hoping I guessed wrong though. They could not expect me to meet their parents right now, it was not going to turn out well. They were not going to be happy. I opened my mouth to protest but Edwin lifted his hand.

“I’m sorry, Eden. I cannot help, Prince Corin made a request and I just have to follow through on it. You will have to speak to him downstairs if you wish to disobey him.”

Disobey?

“Get dressed.” He gave me a small, sympathetic smile as he put the clothes on the bed and the shoes on the floor.

He left shutting the door behind him, but I did not hear him leave any further. I walked over to the clothes feeling my stomach turn. He had no reason to feel sympathy for me if he did not agree with what I already felt. This was not a good idea and even Edwin knew it.

I decided to shower before I got dressed and stepped back into the bathroom. There was a clean white towel that smelt nothing like Corin beside the bath so I knew he had never used it before, he must have gotten a brand new one every day. The shower was a large granite room a few steps away from the unnecessarily large bath and I used it quickly. The clothes were much more formal than the clothing I usually wore. It was a white blouse with tailored cream coloured pants and heels that matched the pants. It also felt much more luxurious and expensive than I was used to. Had Edwin bought or rented it? Should I be careful while wearing it? Probably. Though I really sucked at keeping white clothing clean…

I bunned my hair and then tied the lengthy pieces that hung around the neck of the shirt into a softly draped bow on my chest before I made my way out of the room slowly. It was half past five.

Edwin smiled at me once I stepped out of the room and gave me a thumbs up, I guess he could tell from the look on my face how nauseatingly anxious I felt.

“Follow me.” He walked down the hall, faster than I was happy with because it was hard to keep up with him in the stiletto heels I wore. Eventually we made it downstairs and I heard talking, the voices became clearer with every step and my steps seemed to be becoming heavier the closer we got.

“Is that her?” They heard my footsteps, an older man’s voice made my stomach drop, my palms were sweaty but I was afraid to rub them against the pants because that would undoubtedly ruin them.

“Yes, Father.” Corin’s voice was a tad bit comforting. I was stopped just outside the room they were in when Edwin put his arm out to make me stop walking.

“Is it Cassandra? I quite like her. Her family is quite powerful as well.” I heard a woman’s voice. I bit my lip feeling my jealousy surge with the mention of another girl’s name. I frowned. It’s the mate bond and my wolf. I have not known him long enough to be jealous of some girl he probably had dinner with at my uncle’s restaurant a few nights ago. Still, knowing that did not make me feel any less jealous, especially because she seemed to already have his parent’s approval.

I leaned slightly forward and could see into the room.  I could not see the King or Queen’s faces, their backs were facing the door I was behind and I could see Rowan and Corin looking quite relaxed despite their attentive posture.

“No, it is… someone better, Father.”

Corin and Rowan stood a couple of feet apart as they spoke to their parents. The playful brothers I had seen last night and earlier in the morning seemed like they never existed, apparently they only acted like immature boys with each other. In front of their parents, they both stood tall with their heads slightly bowed at the older relatives before them. Every word they said seemed carefully thought out and respectful.

“Can you stop this and get to the point? We have to get ready to leave and from the looks of it neither of you have trained yet. Who is the girl, Corin? Where is she?” The king’s voice was cold. Corin looked past his parents as Edwin waved with his hand.

“She is right outside.” I looked at Corin pleading with my eyes as he walked over to me, his parents already sounded annoyed and they had not even met me. I knew it would only get worse from there. He gave me a reassuring smile as he held his hand out to me, the smile resembled the one he had given me last night and I felt myself calm down just a little bit. ‘It’s okay.’ I believed him, even though I did not want to. I took his hand slowly and I looked at Rowan. He had not moved, but his eyes were glaring at our hands, his fist clenched. I felt the need to let go of Corin’s hand but my fear would not let me because it was the only bit of comfort I felt in the moment. “Mother, Father, this is Eden, my mate.” I looked at Corin as he announced me and lead me out of hiding.

I immediately tensed under the king and queen’s gazes as they turned around, my stomach tightened and I felt sick with nervousness as they studied me. Corin brought me to a standstill between him and Rowan. I felt more relief as Corin did not let my hand go and instead just slid his fingers between mine to hold onto it tighter.

I kept my eyes on the floor, avoiding the eyes that were burning into me and gave a bow. From what I had read, staring at royals was seen as disrespectful unless you were given permission. I did not know if it was true, but I was not taking any chances.

“Your Majesties.” I said softly, carefully. They were silent for a while more, and the silence was deafening, I could practically feel my heart pounding in my throat.

“Is this a joke?” I looked up hearing the king finally speak and stepped back slightly as I met his angry glare. Should have kept my eyes on the ground, his black eyes seemed to intensify his cold glare.

Corin’s answer was a simple, “No.”

“Your ‘mate’?” The king did not look away from his son, and I was glad.

“My mate.” Rowan’s growl made me want to sink into the ground even more, even though the possessiveness in his voice made my heart flutter.

“What?” The queen spoke.

“She’s my mate.” Rowan growled again and I looked at him trying to beg him to calm down.

“No, she is not.” Corin’s anger was rising as Rowan’s was, his voice was a terrifying calm as he spoke looking at Rowan.

‘Stop.’ I linked to both of them. They were making this worse, it was already bad enough. Two was worse than one.

“Both of you?” The king spoke. I kept my eyes down, certain that he was looking at me and I was too terrified to meet his eyes.

“Not for long.” Corin muttered.

“Right –” Rowan began.

“Be quiet.” The king’s words had both of them silent instantly. He stepped forward until he was in front of me and I tried not to shrink back as I held onto Corin’s hand tighter than I had held onto anything before. I felt his hand tighten around mine as his anger began to feel different, darker. “Look at me.” It was a command. I held my breath as I looked up slowly until my eyes met the king’s. His eyes had me frozen as they glared into mine. “Who do you think you are?” He asked. I felt my eyes burn as he stared at me. He let out a humoured scoff. “‘Mate’” He chuckled. “What a joke.”

“Father –” Corin began but the king cut him off.

“Being mated to two people is impossible, so stop this nonsense, she’s obviously a fraud. We chose perfectly suitable brides for you with the best qualities, family histories and upbringing. You will choose one of them, Corin.” He said to Corin before he looked at Rowan. “You are here for less than a week and you are already messing up. When you wed, it will be to someone worthy of a royal, someone of our choosing, do you hear me?”

“Father… No.”

“Corin.” I whispered looking at him, he did not look away from his father.

“Excuse me?” The queen looked at her son. Corin’s jaw clenched and I squeezed his hand asking him not to reply again.

“Corin.” Rowan muttered slowly, he seemed to feel the same way I did.

Corin bowed his head.

“No.” He repeated. I tugged his hand lightly trying to beg him to be quiet, not to argue with them but he just squeezed my hand again and clenched his jaw. “I will not wed with one of the women you chose. Eden is my mate and I will not be rejecting her.”

“Or is she your brother’s?” The king raised his brows almost looking amused as he glanced between his sons. “Corin,” I watched as the king and Corin looked at each other, both trying to seem bigger than the other, both refusing to back down, the power radiating from them in ridiculous amounts and it was terrifying, “Do you even  know what a mate is? You will not disobey me. Son… You do not want to play this game, you will not like how it progresses.” I felt Corin’s breathing stop at the threat.

There was a knock on the door that made relief wash over me and I let out a shaky breath realising I was not breathing either.

“Enter.” The king called still staring at Corin.

“Your Majesty, the guests have arrived.” Oh no.

“Guests?” The king’s brows rose and I felt my breath catch in my throat again, this time in panic.

No. No. No. I felt light-headed as I pulled my hand from Corin’s to clutch them together. Would it be rude to walk away from the king and queen right now?

The king looked at me, I did not look down this time because I was distracted by my uncle at the door, before he looked between his sons.

“Oh. Guests.” He smiled.

“Father.” Corin said speaking lower than he had been the entire conversation, it sounded almost like a warning.

“We will entertain it. Follow me to our guests, sons.” I felt a knot in my throat. I did not want them speaking to Brandon and Liana the way they had to us, but it was too late to tell my uncle and aunt not to come.

“Eden, come.” Corin spoke to me.

“No, she can stay here with your mother.”

Corin looked uncertain but as his father left the room, he looked at Rowan and they quickly stepped out after him, Corin linking to me that he would be right back as he disappeared out of the house. I looked down nervously again as it went quiet and I watched the Queen’s white shoes step to step closer to me.

“Sweetheart,” I looked at her, the name did not sound warm at all as she smiled at me. “If you continue to lead them on, you will regret ever laying eyes on my sons.” I felt a chill run down my back and arms as the queen looked into my eyes before she stepped back. “See you in the dining room.” She gave me a smile as she turned and walked away.

I felt cold as she walked away and let out a breath I did not know I was holding. Her threat felt like it held so much power…

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