Claws to the bone - Mated to her brother's best friend

Parent-trapped and forced to Party-prep

Jade

I pull on the strap of my dress for what feels like the hundredth time—yanking up my boobs and trying to package them so they don’t spill out of that thing. But in the dimly lit hallway, walking toward the stairs, there is only so much I can do.

The one trade I didn’t want to inherit from my mother…. Damn, when I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be a boy. It might also have to do with being the only girl most of the time growing up. But with time, I learned the perks of being a girl…. Wearing dresses isn’t one of them, though.

“If you pull on that again, they’ll be all out, piglet. HANDS OFF! Leave my work of art alone.” Khai slaps at my wandering paw and then smirks in that wicked way only my brother can. “All the boys might just love that, though...”

Which earns him a smack to the back of the head from Jordan.

“We know you keep your chastity belt far away in your closet—-

“The same one I escaped out of when I was seven!” Khai deadpans, winking.

“Wasn’t much of an escape.”, I hear Silas mutter.

“— but don’t corrupt our little sister. She’s eighteen. She’ll wait for her mate.”, my oldest brother finishes with a serious glare at the obnoxious one of the twins, and I turn beet red. Goddess, why? As if someone has ever been interested in me, with the five of them constantly looming over me like an ill-behaved bad weather cloud.

“Seriously ?!”

“Oh, I’m very serious, yes. Anyone getting closer than 5 feet will go through me.” And Jordan’s grim face is telling me he isn’t kidding. Just grant.

“Is that what you tell the groupies you f**k with that stupid dragon mask still on after the guys, and you play those shifty joints?” By now, Khai looks like the grinning cat from ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

“‘No, ma’am’… F*ck you, I can not. I’m waiting for my mate’. …” He slips into an offensively thick southern lilt, his dark green eyes as big as possible, giving ‘dear in the headlights'. Luca snorts, and I see Greer and Silas shake their heads.

The evil grin that plays around Jordan’s mouth doesn’t give me much hope that this is a line he hasn’t tried to use yet. “Don’t corrupt our little sister.” And then he shrugs. OK, I will vomit in the corner at those very vivid images of my brother’s s*x life. Ugh. None of them are angles… except for maybe Silas … and Greer, if you don’t count one girlfriend in Highschool. Luca never talks about that kind of stuff either, even though I’m closest to him. Never saw him with a girl, but that doesn’t mean anything. Jordan and Khai, though, sure have an...‘appetite’ and interesting (?) ways to go about it.

“What’s going on here, people? We’re going to be late! Não temos tempo para essa merda!” (We don’t have time for this sh*t.)

“Language!”

“Portuguese!” And there goes another light smack. Damn, no wonder Khai envies his twin so much. Most of us can't reach the back of Silas' head. Dad grins at his joke while Mom glares at him.

“Anyhow...are you ready? The car is waiting, and Emma will be here any minute.”

“Just little Si isn't done yet. He keeps tangling his man hands in the ends of his tie.”, dramatically throwing his head back, Khai points at our brother. “It’s tragic!”

“Let me help you, honey….” Mom trails off, looking up at her son and then around to find something to step on. All her boys are much taller than her (which isn't hard to do, given she barely scrapes at 5ft 3 ), but Greer and Silas stand the tallest at 6ft 4 and 6 ft 5. Not as tall as Dad, but still…. One thing that helps you tell the twins apart.

“Here, Mama.” Silas pushes a small bench from under a side table to his left in her direction. And I smile to myself. He’s the only one that still calls her that. Their relationship is just the sweetest.

Khai makes faces at his twin until Dad pushes the rest of us down the hall and tells us to wait downstairs.

“Motivo de todos os meus cabelos grisalhos. Mas eu os amo… Eu os amo.” (The reason for all my grey hair. But I love them… I love them.), I hear my Dad mutter to himself in affirmation.

Suppressing a snort, I link my arm with Luca's and let him drag me over to the stairs. We know he loves us, but they don’t shy away from telling us that we were a handful as kids. Hell, we’re a handful now. Even though everyone is doing their own thing.

That's what it has been like for a while. Jordan is pursuing music, Greer is in veterinary school, and Khai has his job at Blue Ridge INC. I would call it nepotism if I didn’t know how insanely talented he is and that my uncle couldn't have found anyone better suited for that position. Still unclear on what exactly my brother does, but don't tell him. Potty-mouthed and rude as he is, and even though everything he says has some kind of s****l innuendo, he is GOOD with anything IT-related. I remember how stunned Dad was when he told him he had a staff of 10 working under him.

Silas is living and breathing the Blood Forrest guard and his job as a mechanic and tank instructor. Got anything greasy and with wheels or a rotor? He can fix it. Luca is the only one actually interested in what my parents do. Best of both worlds. He started his law degree with a minor in political science last fall. And he is a really talented artist. Even if no one is supposed to know about that. He has shown me some of the comic strips he draws, and they’re amazing. But he’s set on following in Dad’s footsteps and started training with him a few months ago.

And then there is me … the last to flee the nest. I have had my eyes set on being recruited for the Blood Forest Guard since I can remember. All my summer holidays have been spent visiting my Aunt and Uncle there. Now I know that my parents tried to keep us away from the press and out of trouble we could get into at the palace... and they most likely needed the breather as well. Given the location of the base the shifter-run 'militia' uses, we all got some much-needed peace and quiet... and to spend time with our cousins.

I loved the structure and the idea of helping people with my work. So I applied, and after three trials, I finally got in and giddily packed all my stuff. I start next Tuesday so only four more days. And I couldn’t be more excited.

Once we get downstairs, Emma is already waiting for us.

“Emmi!” Khai throws his arms around her, and Emma chuckles, her brown curls flipping over her shoulder at the force of his embrace. He and our sister are the closest. She’s the only one that can somewhat control him.

He kisses her cheek and turns to look behind her. “Where is my all-time straight boy crush, huh?” Emma chuckles, going to hug Mum, Dad pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.

“Getting my jacket from our car.”

“Nope, he’s here.” Coming up to our right, Nasir puts his arm around her pulling my sister to his side. “Also, if, then I’m your all-time bi-boy crush…. Even though I don’t know if I would call myself a 'boy'.” He laughs before hugging Khai.

“35 is the new 15.” Khai winks and Nasir throws his head back, laughing, while Emma smirks, burying her hand in his jacket pocket, nestling closer. The two are high school sweethearts, and nobody was surprised when it turned out they were mates.

Mates. I'm shivering just thinking about it. And not for the first time. Because sure, Emma and Nasir, my parents and aunts and uncles- hell, even my grandparents- make it look like finding your mate is great. But-

I have a hard time seeing the good in that bond. The total submission to our most primal urge to continue our line, get stronger. I'm definitely too young to make those kinds of decisions. If you think I'm not responsible enough to have a glass of wine and not text and drive, what makes you so sure I could care for a kid? Or would even want to.

Plus, nobody can guarantee I won't get the short end of the stick. What happens when he's not ALL my spoiled mind makes him out to be, huh?

When he's not as devoted to making me laugh, never taking himself too seriously but always knowing when I need him to be the shoulder to lean on like Dad.

Or when he refuses to polish my butterfly knife collection with me every Wednesday (coolest thing ever, by the way), learn a whole new language for me, and accept my terrible taste in music and competitiveness like Uncle Theo did and does for Blanca.

What happens if I get bored because he won't constantly challenge me and push me to improve, reassuring me I can do anything, just as I watched Zeke do to Elodie growing up?

Mates. The word brings me back to all the case files I studied for the written entrance exam to Blood Forest and my chosen course. Mates tortured, mates mistreated and killed. And people not liking it, but often still accepting it because that's the way our world works. Our numbers are dwindling, and when you get the chance, even if it's the tini-tiniest, slightest chance ever, at a happy ending, you take it. … Which has me wish that the day I feel that 'snap' of the mate bond being pulled in place never comes.

'Please, Goddes, I need you to give me a sign that this all will work out or just cross me off your 'to be mated' list altogether.' I close my eyes.

'Please.'

When I carefully open them, nothing happens. Huh, disappointing.

“Alrighty kids, time to—Greer, are you OK, honey?” Mom looks over at my brother. He seems out of it and is leaning strangely against the wall. Looks like he is having a vision. Got that gift passed down from our mom. The whole family is really a mix of all kinds of genes. Mom's pure 'Alpha wolf', Dad's 'dragon born' and 'Alpha wolf', Grandpa's dragon blood canceling out the wolf part.

With us, the second/ third generation, you got the 50/50 split. Jordan, Greer, and Luca got the dragon-born genes… or at least in them, they’re strong enough to give them their ‘fires’ and let them shift into one. Not a full one yet, not until they meet their mates. Which comes with the added difficulty of a limited time frame during which they actually could. For that exact reason, the Blood Moon is their best friend.

The rest of us, Silas and Khai et moi, are wolves. Our abilities are slightly enhanced, but other than that, we are your usual shifters.

A minute later, Greer is back to normal and rubs his neck. “Sorry…I- that was weird.”

“Are you OK?” Mom looks at him worriedly, and I see Dad step closer in case he staggers.

“Yeah, I’m fine. That was just…intense. I have never felt like one of the visions was this… urgent.”

“What was it about?”

“S-some girl…”

Silas shuts Khai up with an elbow to the ribs earning himself a glare from his twin. “More than one girl, actually. It… was weird. They were tied up, and it was dark, and there- Some shadowy figure was watching them. And then there was - " Greer trails off, and I can feel myself getting a little worried. He's never this affected by anything he sees. And the visions have been happening for a while. I see him straighten, flexing his fingers. "I think someone was bidding on them… like at an auction?”

“Wow, that sounds dark….” Even Khai’s usual smirk is wiped off his face for now.

“Do…you want to stay here?”

“No, I want to come. I’m fine….” He gives Mom a warm smile and squeezes her hand reassuringly. That’s the thing about Greer: making others feel better is like a compulsion to him. And somehow, it comes effortlessly. His calm demeanor, his genuine smile, the baritone of his voice. Mom relaxes and smiles back.

Then she and Dad usher us into the three waiting cars, reminding me of herding cattle. And I’m not the only one. Tonight is the first time in a long time we’ll all be presented to high society again. So it really does feel like we're cows brushed, braided, and thrust up for auction, which is why Khai 'moooo’s a few times on the way to the car.

::::::::::::

The house is impressive. The Carters are a really old shifter family… the kind that's made of money. They throw this ‘ball’ annually to rub shoulders with everyone that matters in the shifter community. And to remind people they’re still one of the more affluent families... apart from mine. I grew up at the palace, but this can hold a candle to my childhood home. Everything is gold, brass shimmering wherever you turn—thick red velvet tapestries on the walls. The floors are all marble, and I can't count the number of chandeliers illuminating the monumental entrance alone. Stairs lead to the floor above, a smaller flight going toward what must be the basement, but both are closed off to visitors.

“Something’s off here,” Greer mutters next to me just before we are brought into a hall where all the other 180 guests have gathered. More are still coming in.

The moment the first person lays eyes on my parents, they’re swarmed. My brothers, Emma, Nasir, and I take a few steps back. Weird when this has been your life for ages. Still doesn't mean we have to like every photo OP. No one really gives a sh** about what we do anymore...well, except for maybe the ones that follow Jordan. He has all the female editors wrapped around his little finger, and the paparazzi can sell shots of him easily. And after Luca was announced as training to take over from our parents (or more like outed by an anonymous source), there were a few of him as well. The excitement is not as huge with the rest of us anymore. When we were younger and cuter or later in our teens, making our first mistakes, we would find someone shoving a camera in our faces more often. However, the older we got, the more boring it got for them. We had media training and didn’t make the same rookie mistakes, tight-lipped around reporters and private about what we cared about.

“So, who wants a drink?” Jordan scratches the back of his head.

“Oh yes. But we need two 'Shirley temples' for the underaged crowd.”

Khai smirks, and Luca flips him the bird.

“So c**ky since he turned 21.”, I muse. “Must be all the booze going to his head. C’mon Luca. Let’s go suck on a cherry.”

Linking my arm with his, I drag him toward the bar, Khai laughing behind us.

:::::::::

The evening drags on, and the only thing that keeps me from nodding off are my brothers’ antics. Khai comments on every hot guy that passes by us and ropes Emma into a game of ‘Hot or Not’ judging everyone’s dresses. Silas silently downs his drink, shaking his head a few times and looking over to the basement stairs whenever he thinks no one is watching. Greer still rubs his temples absentmindedly, and Jordan has his sights on a busty blond in a very tiny dress and ignores the rest of us.

I see Luca quietly toss shrimp into a glass he put up a few feet away and smile to myself. There is a weird feeling in my stomach the whole time, though. I feel like someone is watching me… like eyes follow me around, a shiver running down my spine occasionally. And more than once, I whirl around because I can almost feel them breathing down my neck. But when I do, there is no one standing behind me. The touch of that scorching hot gaze still burned into the exposed skin of my back.

“Greer!” Emma sounds worried, and my gaze snaps up.

“F**K.” OK… he never curses. Something is definitely wrong.

“Where is Jordan?” he presses out, turning to Nasir.

“Over there… what… what’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to Mom and Dad… can you get Luca? He can play with the food later. I… there is something wrong.” Greer rubs his hand down his face. “That vision… The room. That’s here. Somewhere in this building. I’m sure.”

Emma stares at him open-mouthed, and Khai is quiet for the second time tonight. Mmh, a new record. I shiver again, inconspicuously looking around.

“Y-yeah. They’re over there. Let me get them.”

And when she comes back with everyone, we huddle in a corner, Greer recounting his vision again and how, in this one, he was sure you could see the banister closing off the stairs. “There is something down there, I’m sure… I just have this gut feeling. I… Can we just check it out?”

My Dad looks at him, deep in thought, and Mom touches his arm. “OK.” He nods after a minute. “But we need a diversion. We can’t just all disappear. And we need to be quiet about it. If we find nothing… we won’t go poking around.”

Dad makes sure no one is staring at as and switches to Portuguese. We all understand it…except maybe Nasir, but he picked up enough to follow. Speaking… a totally different thing.

“Maeve, you will stay with Emma and Nasir, minha vida. Keep up appearances. Let’s wait till the speech starts in a few and hope everybody will be preoccupied enough. The ones that aren’t… rope them in. Lie if necessary. And Jade…”

“Yeah.”

“I want you to keep an eye on the stairs.” Excellent, I got the really important job. I pout but nod.

“You guys will come with me. We’ll split up.”

“I saw a second entrance just under the balcony. I’m sure I can get the lock open.”, Silas says quietly.

“OK. So Si, Luca, and Greer will take that one, and Jordan, Khai, and I will use the one inside. We can lure the guards away, but it would be weird if the king climbed over the balcony and trudged through the garden.”

“I see the women are conveniently kept from the actual mission.” I raise an eyebrow at my Dad and hear Khai scoff. “You’re just better at lying than the rest of us, piglet.”

I flip him off. No, I'm not.

“This is the more important job, Jade. We need someone to have our backs.” My Dad smiles at me, cupping my face. “Nothing interesting going on in that basement. And you will be able to hear everything through our mind-link. Then, the second we need more manpower, we will call you and your mom.”

“OK.”, I grumble. The six of them get ready, and I see Silas push a long bread knife into one of his boots. Refuses to take those off…well, they come in handy now.

A few moments later, Mrs. Carter enters the stage in a floor-length baby pink gown that makes her look a little like a cream tart. But I’m not one to talk. My tan dress with the pretty floral print doesn’t look any better. Giving ‘Forrest fairy goes to a wedding’- vibes. Mom liked it, though… and I wanted to make her happy. Also, it was the least atrocious one.

“Ladies and Gentleman…”

As soon as she opens her mouth, I see my brothers mold into the shadows near the balcony doors and my Dad trotting off quietly toward the staircase. I put on my best smile and step in front of the paparazzi closest to me I saw spot Dad.

“Hey there…”

Show time.