Broken Mates

Chapter Four

Katelyn was sitting on the edge of Kaiya’s bed looking at an old photo album of them growing up. Before the great heartbreak of Sophomore year, the two families would go camping together and Kaiya would insist on bringing Katelyn along with them. Pictures of them all fishing, swimming, making s’mores, and whatnot filled the book. There were also several pictures of the four of them just being kids playing around and having adventures, attending one another’s birthday parties, and so on.

“Kay, how’s this one? Is it too much for the movies in the park?” Alex was taking Kaiya to the movies in the park, basically a large outdoor picnic with a classic movie. Attendees usually took blankets to sit on or chairs. It wasn’t formal by any means, so Kaiya had put on a black, v-neck mid-thigh cotton dress with a faded and distressed light wash jean jacket. The dress wasn’t very form fitting but hung off of her like a long t-shirt. She put on a long diamond pendant her father got her for her last birthday and black wedges showing off her red painted toes.

“You look adorable! How do you want to do your hair? I’ll help you out.” She put the photo album back on Kaiya’s shelf along with her other books and keepsakes she had collected over the years.

*****

Thirty minutes later the doorbell rang.

Kellan and Callum had just come back from training and were sitting in the kitchen eating. Growing up, the Beta house had always been where the kids all hung out, especially Callum, who wanted to be apart from his father, especially the older he got. His dad was a good man, it just seemed like Callum had a lot to live up to and there was usually less supervision at the Beta house throughout the years. There was more freedom and he felt like he didn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations until someone pointed out his immaturity the night before.

Katelyn came racing down the stairs and Kellan noticed her immediately. “Katelyn? I didn’t know you were here.” He felt that usual racing of his heart, but, as always, needed to conceal his giddiness at seeing her in his house. She rarely came over, and when she did, it was always when he was gone. Intentional, it had to be. Sure, they would cross paths but usually it meant a three-minute countdown until she left. He cherished every moment he could see her, but knew the countdown would start so he didn't approach her, hoping maybe this time, she wouldn't leave.

Katelyn looked in his direction for a moment and gave a silent, dismissive nod before proceeding to get the door. The boys leaned back to see who else would possibly come by. Their top guesses were either some girls looking to get together for the night or Katelynn and Kaiya ordered food to be delivered. This is exactly why Callum nearly choked on his water and Kellan dropped the bit-off piece of sandwich he almost started chewing. Katelyn had opened the door a little wider gesturing for the strange guy at the door to come into the house.

“Hey! She’s almost ready and will be down in like two minutes tops. Do you want to come in?”

“Uh, sure. Thanks.”

Katelyn led this stranger into the house to wait in the living room across from the kitchen where the stairs landed just between the two rooms. Alex noticed the two sweaty guys sitting in the kitchen staring at him. One with an intense glare and the other sporting some sort of look of bewilderment.

As awkward as it could get, Katelyn ascended the stairs after leading Alex to the living room and without an introduction to the two other beings in the room. “Umm, what’s up? I’m Alex.”

The one with the intense glare scoffed and stormed upstairs without a word. The other watched him go up the stairs before turning to this Alex dude. “Hey, I’m Callum, that’s just her protective brother, Kellan.”

“Ah.”

Cal caught the subtle recognition of the mention of Kai’s brother, so he knew about Kel, but what exactly did he know? How well did Kai know him if neither of them had even heard of this guy? She left the night before and they assumed she just went to Katelyn’s for the night. Maybe not? Now they’ll have to keep an eye on her, apparently.

“You guys going somewhere?”

“Yeah, gonna take her a couple places tonight.”

“First date?”

Alex had a slight smirk to himself. “Uh yeah, just took a while to get to it.”

“That so?”

Loud voices could be heard from upstairs. Definitely the guy that stormed off and probably Kaiya’s voice. He sounded more frustrated and she sounded defensive.

Both looked to the top of the stairs as if the three people upstairs would be making an appearance any second.

“Don’t mind them, he’s overprotective of her.”

“Funny, considering he hurts her the most.”

This caught Cal by surprise. Exactly what and how much did this guy know about Kellan? “Well, I’d say they’ve been doing it since the womb but they never actually fought until tenth grade and haven’t gotten along since.”

“She mentioned that last night.”

Oh just keep opening your mouth, you’re giving me all the information I need, Cal thought to himself.

Upstairs, the voices got louder. “You’re in absolutely no position to tell me what I can and can’t do, especially with your track record!”

“My track record?! I don’t blindly trust people like you do!”

“Kellan Anderson Thompson! You are NOT my father and are by no means in charge of me! Get out of my room, shut up and don’t talk to me. I told you last night not to come near me for the remainder of the weekend!”

With that, a door slammed and down came Kaiya and Katelyn. She took notice of Cal sitting at the breakfast bar before he immediately turned around after a nanosecond of eye contact. She then turned her head to Alex, taking in his dark wash jeans, white t-shirt showcasing the pecs and abs she knew he had hiding under the delivery uniform, and black leather jacket.

“Hey,” was all he could say, struck by her innocent and beautiful look.

She blushed and looked down for a second before meeting his gaze, “Hey yourself,” she barely got out.

“You are so beautiful.”

“Okay lovebirds let’s go. Alex, do you mind dropping me off at home?”

“Uh-what? Yeah, no problem, it’s on the way anyways.”

Cal was listening to the exchange while pretending to be involved on his phone. Without looking up, he registered three things. First, this isn’t some guy she just met recently, they had obviously known one another and Kai kept him to herself. Second, Kai was completely enamored by this guy. Third, he wasn’t human.

He looked over at the three heading out the front door while Kai apologized for her brother’s behavior, and caught a glimpse of this Alex guy interlocking his fingers with Kai’s.

“She gone?” Kel somberly asked from the stairs.

“Just left. You know, I’m the alpha here and even I don’t get that possessive and hotheaded and she’s basically my sister too.”

“Yeah, well you’re not her greatest disappointment. Besides, who the f**k is she to preach about waiting for her mate and here she’s going out with some strange human guy. I get it, but it’s more serious to her than it is to you and me when we go out with girls.”

“He’s not human.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I haven’t sensed that scent before, but it’s not human at all.”

“What the f**k is he?”

“We’ll just have to find out.”

Kellan had returned to his plate, having lost his appetite to finish his food and just tossed it into the garbage. “Wanna call up some girls? She made it sound like she’s not coming back early at all and so we won’t have Judge Judy on our asses.”

“You think we should start getting serious about our roles? You’ll be seventeen in two weeks and next year we’re inheriting our roles. Maybe we should stop screwing around a bit.”

“What’s into you?”

“Just think we should probably start getting serious about this soon. I think we should look into the academy for next year.”

Kel stood there staring at Cal wondering how last night his friend left a party with three girls in his lap, one hand up two of their skirts and his face in the third one’s chest is now talking about being serious. “Sure thing, Cal.” Kel rolled his eyes.