Mated to Her Alpha Brother

Chapter Five (edited)

DOVE

When we arrived a few hours ago, I filled in Marmee and Dad about what happened with Daniel.

Dad was almost as devastated as Daniel was, while Mom gave me a small smile of understanding.

She knew my feelings—or rather, my lack of feelings—for Daniel. She had always advised me to back out of the relationship if I wasn’t sure, but for Dad’s sake, I had held on.

But now, that was all over.

No more pretending.

Marmee had Delilah and me go to my room so she could fill me in on everything I needed to know for tonight—all the people I should be wary of and all the ones who could be trusted.

And, most importantly, how to morph into my mature wolf when the time came.

My wolf had always been with me since birth, but she had remained in her pup form. That’s how it always was until one’s 18th birthday—the age when we truly became adults, old enough to recognize our mates and start a family.

It was also the age when our physical aging slowed down dramatically—almost to a halt.

Like my Marmee. She was in her late forties, but she looked no older than her late twenties.

Still, the one thing I really wanted her to tell me was what would happen when I met my mate.

But all she gave me was a vague, You’ll know when you find him.

She had left us a few minutes ago to do some last-minute checks on the venue, decorations, and other preparations. Guests had already begun arriving, and the entire building buzzed with excitement. The usual guards had quadrupled in number, each of them donning sleek combat uniforms and dark glasses—looking like bodyguards straight out of a movie.

I had never seen them so serious before.

Their intimidating presence made me nervous in a completely different way about tonight.

With so many guests, how many were friends—and how many were foes?

“Luka just called in,” Delilah announced from my closet as she got ready. “He and Bella will be here in a few.”

She had to get ready earlier than me and head downstairs to help Mom and Aunt Adeline, her mother.

Meanwhile, I was stuck in my room. Bored out of my mind.

Luka and Bella were the ones tasked with helping me get ready.

They were two of our closest friends. Luka was a vampire—one who claimed to be much older than all three of us combined but refused to specify his exact age. Bella, on the other hand, was Fae royalty—a breathtaking Midnight Elf, second in line to the throne of Azarath.

And they were also mates.

“Can you send up Levi while you’re down there? I haven’t seen that cheeky boy all day,” I said to Lilah as she stepped out of the closet—only to have my jaw drop when I took her in.

“Wow,” I breathed.

She was stunning.

She wore a gorgeous high-neck blue dress that stopped just an inch above her knee. The exact shade of her electric blue eyes, it looked breathtaking against her pale skin. Her face was bare, except for a bold red painted on her lips, and she wore dangling sapphire earrings that glinted under the light.

“I assume you love it, then?” she grinned, twirling to give me a full view.

“It’s gorgeous—you look beautiful,” I squealed, reaching for my phone.

“No pictures, please,” she laughed, snatching a pillow to hide behind.

Ah, Delilah—ever the technology hater.

She believed that taking pictures was akin to getting her soul captured.

“Come on, Delilah! Just for today—pleeease?” I whined.

“Fine. One picture. Later tonight,” she relented with an indulgent smile.

I cheered at that, then waved her goodbye as she exited the room.

With a sigh, I flopped onto my bed.

Picking up my phone for the first time today, I found hundreds of unread messages.

Most of them were birthday wishes—half from family and pack members, the rest from friends at school.

Unable to go through them all, I selected a few to read and reply to.

Then, I came across one that made me pause.

Happy birthday, my Dove.

I didn’t even need to check the sender.

A wide grin stretched across my lips as I eagerly typed out a reply.

“Thanks, Callum.”

My big brother, Callum.

Simply the best big brother out there.

Tough and terrifying to most, but to me? He was the gentlest, kindest man I had ever known.

He wasn’t always around—his rank as Head of Warriors kept him busy, protecting the pack lands and handling missions outside our borders.

But when he was around, he was always there.

Caring. Attentive. Protective.

I wouldn’t wish for a better big brother.

I looked forward to seeing him tonight.

He should have been here by now, but I figured he was just busy with security matters.

Still, I knew I’d see him tonight.

“Hellooooooo!”

A loud voice bellowed from outside before my door was rudely slammed open, banging against the wall.

I jolted at the sudden sound and intrusion.

What the hell is with people and banging my door open?!

Before I could react further, I was tackled by a small, soft mass with chubby limbs tangling around me.

A flash of long, curly silver hair and midnight-black skin was all I needed to recognize Bella.

“Girl, I love you, but if you are not off me right now, I swear I will kick you off,” I groaned, my body aching from where her elbows and knees had landed.

“Sorry,” she chuckled before sliding off me to sit beside me on the bed.

“Hey, Dove,” another voice greeted from the doorway.

There stood Luka, in all his pale glory.

He had a tall, lanky frame, with skin so pale it looked white, his jet-black hair a stark contrast against it. His eyes were a deep blood red, his lips a lighter shade.

In his hand, he held a garment bag.

Marmee must have given it to him on their way up.

“Hey, man, come in,” I invited, moving over to make space for him.

“And thank you for greeting me like a sane person,” I added, throwing Bella a pointed glare.

She pouted, blinking her long silver lashes at me, her chubby cheeks puffed with air.

The overload of cuteness had me squealing, reaching over to pinch her cheeks.

Instant forgiveness.

Cute things would forever be my weakness.

That, and wolf’s bane.

“Luna Thea says we have thirty minutes to get you ready and downstairs,” Luka announced, placing the garment bag on the bed and unzipping it.

Bella was here to help with my dress and fitting, while Luka was in charge of my hair and makeup. He had an uncanny talent for the arts—makeup, hairstyling—you name it.

He always claimed he’d “been around long enough” to pick up a few things.

“Gosh, I love what you did with your hair,” Bella gushed, reaching over to run her fingers through it.

“Yeah, we went to the salon this morning. Feel my skin!” I said excitedly, attempting to pull up my shirt sleeve.

“Ehem.” Luka cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Right. Sorry,” I muttered before whispering, I’ll show you later, to Bella.

“Now, Bella dear, can you hang this up while I start on her makeup?” Luka asked, pulling out a breathtaking, sparkling green chiffon A-line dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline.

I gasped, running my fingers over the soft fabric.

It was designed so I could shift into my adult wolf and back without tearing it.

I had worn it once before at the tailor’s, but even now, I marveled at its beauty.

A thought flickered through my mind.

Would my mate love it as much as I did?

Would he find me beautiful in it?

Will I even find him tonight?

Shaking my head, I pushed the thoughts away.

I would not be pessimistic.

With hundreds of wolves here tonight—every major clan and pack attending—if I didn’t find him now, I never would.

So no matter what…

I will find you.

Whoever you are.

And I will make you mine.