Mated to Her Alpha Brother

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 (edited)

DOVE

Delilah was on top of her game, as always, making sure we stuck to our schedule and got everything done at the salon in exactly three hours. She had me endure a torturous waxing session, pampered my hands and feet with a manicure and pedicure, gave my hair a treatment, and trimmed my eyebrows.

By the end of it, I felt refreshed and ready to take on the world—or at least tonight’s plans.

I had looked into the mirror at the salon and wondered, Who’s that foxy lady with the luscious brown curls and spotless skin? Oh wait, it’s me!

“I have to say, Delilah, this was a brilliant idea,” I gushed, grinning from ear to ear at her as she steadily drove, her hands gripping the wheel of her Ford Mustang.

“The only downside was having to drive there,” Lilah grumbled, her eyebrows scrunched up in annoyance.

“There’s no way I was gonna run miles in the cold morning air. And what’s the point of getting my nails done if they’re just going to get wrecked on the run back home?” I shrugged.

“I get it,” Lilah sighed. “I just can’t stand sitting in this… metal death trap,” she grimaced.

“You need to embrace technology, babe. It’s not going anywhere,” I said, trying to console her. After all, who wouldn’t want to cruise in a Ford Mustang with their bestie by their side?

“I envy the Fae,” she mused, her tone wistful. “They’ve lived for thousands of years without the corrupting influence of human and dwarven technology. It makes me wonder why we can’t be the same.”

I couldn’t resist a sarcastic response. “Maybe it’s because we don’t have magic and can’t cast spells,” I said, rolling my eyes.

She wasn’t deterred. “Wrong. Werewolves are magical beings,” she emphasized, determined to make her point.

“Okay, fine,” I conceded. “But let’s be real—technology has made everything a lot simpler. Just look at this,” I said, waving my perfectly manicured nails in front of her face to remind her of our earlier conversation.

She swatted my hand away, laughing. “Stop that,” she chided.

“I wish I was a Fae,” she pouted as we neared the pack house.

“Even though you look the part, you’d be miserable without your wolf,” I pointed out.

As cool as magic was, I couldn’t imagine being anything other than a werewolf. Being able to shift and experience the world from my wolf’s perspective was too incredible to give up.

Werewolves were just one of many magical beings that existed. The supernatural world was full of all sorts of creatures, some more powerful than others. Among them were the five notable races known as The Supremes—Fae (elves and faeries), werewolves, vampires, witches, and dragons.

The dragons, once the most divine and powerful of all beings, were thought to be extinct after disappearing following The War of the Lost—the devastating conflict that tore the magical world apart. Though rumors claimed they still lived, most were willing to believe they had died off.

Only one dragon was said to have survived, shrouded in mystery. He was considered the most powerful being in existence and the head of The Supreme Council. The council was composed of the most competent and powerful beings from each race, governing all magical matters and holding immense influence over the human world.

It was easy to understand why most people doubted the existence of multiple dragons. A single dragon could flatten mountains with its roar, clear forests with a wave of its wings, and had impenetrable scales that could only be marked by the claws of another dragon.

Dragons were better off as myths and legends—meant to scare disobedient children.

Humans, naturally the physically weakest of all races, had no semblance of magic and were easily susceptible to it. Yet, they dominated the planet with their ever-increasing population. Some of the more powerful and influential humans were aware of magic and our existence, but the majority lived day to day in ignorance.

Even the vast territory of our pack lands was inhabited by a few human cities and towns—none of whom knew we existed. The salon we had just come from was located in a nice human town not far from here.

“So… are the invitations all sent out?” I asked after a long stretch of silence.

“Yeah, we’re expecting nothing less than 800 people—wolves and others alike,” she perked up at the mention of tonight.

“Wait, what? That’s too many people,” I gaped in disbelief.

“Who asked you to be the only daughter of Alpha Vidar—the most influential Alpha and leader of the largest pack on the continent?” she teased, her voice filled with pride for her Alpha and pack.

But all I felt was dread.

I wasn’t that nervous about tonight before, but now I sure as hell was.

I had always been a public figure because of who I was, but I had never had to entertain such an outrageous number of people. I think I was more nervous about that than meeting my mate.

“Guess who,” Delilah said, jutting her chin in the direction of the pack house.

Standing there with an impossibly wide grin was a shirtless hunk of muscle in tight shorts—otherwise known as Daniel.

My boyfriend.

He was waving excitedly at our approaching vehicle, his bronze skin glinting under the high sun, obviously having just shifted back—judging from his outfit choice.

“Oh no,” I groaned from the back of my throat, though I kept a small smile on my lips, knowing that even from this distance, his vision could capture my every expression—just as I could his.

Daniel was the son of my father’s best friend and kind-of friendly rival. He was the Alpha of the Crimsonhaven Pack, situated far across the Atlantic.

Our parents had pushed us toward each other, eager to strengthen their relationship through our union. We had gone along with it, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t love him the way they wanted me to.

And part of me feared the heartbreak if I turned 18 and he wasn’t my mate.

But our parents, especially our fathers, seemed convinced that he was.

We had kind of started dating—or not dating, actually, because he never officially asked me out. But since everyone behaved as if we were together, we did too.

I still wasn’t sure how he truly felt about me, but we had yet to do anything real couples did. The farthest we had gone was a peck on the corner of my mouth.

“Hey, you…” I trailed off awkwardly as the car slowed to a stop in front of him. I wasn’t sure what to say, but keeping quiet while he waved at me like that felt even more awkward.

His body stiffened for a second, confusion flickering across his face.

The wide stretch of his lips faltered, his expression squeezing into a frown.

“Happy birthday,” he said softly, his voice sounding sadder than I had ever heard. The excitement in his eyes dulled, his shoulders sagging with heavy disappointment.

“Thanks. I’ll see you tonight, yeah?” I said, stepping out of the now-parked vehicle into his welcoming embrace.

And that was when I knew why he was stricken.

I felt nothing.

My wolf did not stir.

My body did not burn with need.

My heart did not pulse out of beat.

Nothing.

We were not mates.

Although we couldn’t be certain until I fully matured at the exact hour of my birth that evening, if there was a pull—we would have felt it by now.

When Daniel had his 18th birthday a few months ago and didn’t meet his mate, everyone assumed it would be me.

But now, it seemed I was not his.

Nor was he mine.

He tightened his grip on me, leaning down to bury his face into the crook of my neck, snuggling into me and trailing soft kisses along my jaw.

I froze.

A violent need to recoil at his touch shot through me. To scrub myself clean of his scent.

“Please,” he whispered—a cry, or perhaps a plea.

He abruptly pulled away, his face clouding with deep remorse.

“A-am so sorry… I just wanted to be sure,” he croaked, clearing his throat as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured.

He glanced at me, hurt flashing through his eyes at my lack of grief.

Forcing a weak smile, he turned to leave.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said softly before walking away.