2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Darius
Ever since Milo turned eighteen, I’d been bouncing on my feet, not knowing when to approach him, or if he’d even realized we were fated.
The way he’d avoided everyone after Jeremy was chosen as Alpha yesterday hadn’t seemed right.
It was no surprise that Milo wanted to be Alpha, everyone knew as much.
He was always ready to help out at the packhouse, cooking, cleaning, whatever was needed he’d do.
He was basically the packs People Pleaser, unbeknownst to him, of course.
But the pack loved him for it, even if he never seemed to truly take in the thanks he’d get whenever he did something.
Milo seemed broken in some ways, rarely smiling and whenever he did, it seemed forced, fake.
I’d seen his real smile, not often, but I had, and there was no smile like it.
The fake ones didn’t light up his eyes. They didn’t make me feel like I’d won the grand prize just by looking at him.
No, they were dull and lifeless, something I wished he wouldn’t do.
I wished he’d smile for real. All the time.
Sniffing the air, I followed the lingering scent of my fated, hoping to catch him alone.
The more I waited, the more agitated my wolf became.
We longed to claim our mate. To make him ours in every way possible.
I’d known Milo was mine since he was seventeen and his scent had drifted my way.
It’d been obvious, but it could take a while for his wolf to catch up and it was rare for shifters to scent our mates before we turned twenty.
I’d promised myself to wait until he turned eighteen and would be an adult, grown enough to consent to the mating bite and a life with me forever.
I also knew Paul—Milo and Jeremy’s dad—would prefer for Milo to be an adult before he was mated, so I’d waited. But I couldn’t hold off anymore.
So, with my heart beating faster than normal in anticipation, I entered the waterfall area where Jeremy and I spent most of our time together, just lazing about and watching the water.
On the biggest stone sat my fated, looking so small and hurt.
I intentionally made some noise so as to not startle him as I approached.
His head snapped up and turned, his worried gaze met mine and his blue eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears.
After I’d talked him into staying, I sat next to him on the rock, feeling the warmth radiate from his body.
It was almost enough to make me groan. Milo already held my heart and everything that I was.
He seemed so clueless of my reaction as I sat there, vibrating with the need to kiss him, to rip the baggy clothes off his body and worship him in front of the water, not allowing him to feel the cold as my own naked body would protect him while we both basked in the pleasure of each other’s presence.
Unable to stop myself, I tilted his chin up, shivering with the small skin to skin contact. His eyes met mine again, so vulnerable and beautiful as they searched my own. His eyes were the perfect shade of light blue with a dark ring in the middle, making them seem otherworldly.
To my utter surprise and joy, he leaned in, closing the distance between us. I met him eagerly, placing my lips on his, feeling the soft gasp that left him as his warm lips connected to mine, sealing us together.
I groaned, unable to stop my hands from gripping his neck and chin, holding him in place, afraid to let this moment end too soon.
He whimpered, his hands holding on to my jacket, like he wanted me as close as possible. I smiled internally, preening as I finally got to feel my fated lips on mine. Finally.
Breaking apart to look into his eyes, we smiled at one another. His smile, the genuine one I was missing, like the sun, warmed me up from the inside as he giggled softly. I knew the look on my face must’ve been ridiculous, but I couldn’t care less. I was happy.
“I can’t believe it,” he whispered, then giggled again. “I truly did steal you for good.”
My happy expression morphed into confusion. “Steal?”
“Yeah,” he giggled again, his eyes shining with happiness. “I selfishly wanted to steal you from Jeremy, and it worked.”
I sat back a little, making him frown with confusion. “Explain,” I demanded, feeling unease creep up.
“Well,” he rubbed his neck and blushed. “I know Jeremy likes you, and I felt angry at him. Then you showed up here looking like you wanted to kiss me. I thought I could finally get him back, you know, and kiss the guy he likes. But now I know we’re fated, and how cool is that?
! So, I guess I stole you for good.” He giggled again, but unlike the other times where his laugh would’ve filled me with pleasure, it only grated.
“You… You only kissed me, to get back at your brother?”
“Well, yeah,” he shrugged, like it was nothing. “But it worked out perfectly! I never would’ve found out we were fated had I not kissed you.”
He hadn’t kissed me because he wanted me.
No, I was just a means to get back at his brother, who, by the way, didn’t deserve to be treated like that.
Gods, this meant Jeremy liked me? I hated that for us, how could I tell him I was meant for his brother?
I’d told Paul about it, but he’d been afraid Jeremy might let it slip to Milo so I was told to keep it to myself.
If I’d told Jeremy a year ago, would it have changed things?
My heart was breaking as I watched the smile falter from Milo’s face. “What’s wrong?” he asked looking truly concerned.
“I thought you wanted me,” I admitted. “But I was just a chess piece in your petty games.”
I stood, and went to leave the waterfall behind, the area forever tainted with this new memory.
“Wait!” he called, running up to me. “It might have started like that, but we’re fated! We belong together.”
“Perhaps, but you just proved how immature and petty you are.” He gasped indignantly. “And I obviously never meant more to you than to be used to hurt your brother, a man I love as a brother myself. So fated or not, we won’t be mating anytime soon.”
“What do you mean?” he snapped. “Because I’m too immature you don’t want me? Is that it?”
I just stared at him. “We will forever be fated and I’m willing to wait until you’ve grown more mature and confident in your skin before we mate. Mating is for life, Milo, and you truly aren’t ready for forever.”
He just gaped at me, so I turned and left him there, my heart in his hands as I wandered back home, hoping I wouldn’t have to wait forever for him to truly want me.
The tears caused by my breaking heart fell freely as I hid between the trees, avoiding every possibility someone might see me.
I’d barely slept, which meant I was up way too early. It would appear that I was not a morning person.
It wasn’t as if I needed something to wake up to anymore, not since I quit a week ago at the garage.
The Garage was our packs’ Auto Shop Repair.
I’d worked there since I was sixteen, a way to feel closer to my father.
After years of doing something I felt no love towards, I was now unemployed.
Being unemployed wasn’t terrifying for me because of my pack.
We owned all the houses we lived in and since they were paid off, we truly didn’t have many financial burdens.
Still, I wanted to work, especially now that I had to focus on something other than Milo’s lips and how I wouldn’t be able to claim him for the foreseeable future.
Our packhouse could always use a helping hand in the kitchen. So I figured while Milo matured, I would help the pack with whatever they needed, busying myself as much as possible so my thoughts wouldn’t wander to my fated and his blue eyes that had filled with hurt when I’d left him yesterday.
After showering and watering my beloved plants, I ditched breakfast knowing pancakes would be in my near future at the packhouse.
My house was my sanctuary. It wasn’t huge, but definitely not the smallest of the pack houses either.
I preferred a cozy looking home with lots of personality so I’d made my own shelves and tables, all from wood around the forest. I never locked the front door.
There truly was no need with my pack living around me. All of us looked out for each other.
The best part of my house was that Jeremy lived five minutes away, which was also the reason that he was the first one I saw as I walked towards the packhouse. My body relaxed instantly as I closed in on my best friend. It was just what I needed, some time with my chosen brother.
“Hey, there, Alpha,” I greeted, winking and bumping my shoulder onto his.
“Don’t flirt with me!” Jeremy snapped.
Stopping my walk my eyes widened with realization. Fuck, Milo had told me Jeremy liked me, and here I was, winking at him. Talk about jerk behavior. But to my defense, I always winked when I teased him.
Considering he didn’t know that I now knew of his feelings, I asked, “Wow, who bit your tail this morning?” Hoping it would brighten his mood a little.
He shook his head like I was a nuisance and admitted in a soft whisper, “I saw you with Milo yesterday.”
I internally winced. Fuck, now I had to talk about it.
“Yeah, don’t worry about that part. We aren’t together.
” I hated that he knew, and had seen us.
Talk about bad fucking timing. But he should know the truth, even if talking with him about his little brother wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
I truly wanted to talk to my best friend about it. I simply couldn’t.
“What?”
“He’s not ready for something serious,” I explained, keeping it at that. “I guess I should’ve realized that, with his age and all.”
He frowned as we continued walking. “But why did you kiss then?”
Shrugging, I admitted, “He kissed me, took me by surprise.”
“And?” he prodded.
I sighed. “And, we found out we’re fated mates.” I wasn’t about to admit that I already knew, that would have to wait.
He stopped walking and blinked at me before demanding, “That’s a bad thing?!”
I quickly shook my head. “No, not that part. His um,” I sighed again.
“His reasoning for kissing me led me to believe he isn’t ready for something as serious as a mating bond.
Not yet at least.” Not that I would ever tell Jeremy the real reason.
He didn’t deserve to be betrayed by his own brother like that.
“Oh, are you okay with that?” he asked, walking again.
“I will be. I told him I would wait until he got mature enough for something serious.”
He winced. “You didn’t.”
“Oh,” I mirrored his wince. “I did indeed.”
“I suddenly get why you aren’t together,” he chuckled with a forced smile
“Yeah,” I smiled, but wasn’t feeling it. “’Don’t call Milo immature’ is hereby noted for the future.”
He patted my back and it was like that small touch told me things would be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day.
“On your way to do some work?” he asked, both of us walking in a casual pace.
“Yeah, figured the kitchen could use some help.”
“You’re bored already, aren’t you?” he laughed.
Groaning, I admitted, “Yes, like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Maybe it will be a good thing for you. Now you have more free time to figure out what you want to do with your life.”
“I guess.”
Jeremy never had to think too hard on what he wanted to do in life, he’d either be Alpha or the Alpha’s second. His life was planned out for him. I could only try and with trial and error hopefully find something that would bring me joy.
“Until then, please help in the kitchen. With Diane ready to pop any second, they’ll need all the help they can get.”
“Perfect,” I smiled. “I’ll gladly help.” Even if I already knew cooking every day would bore me in the end. At least I was helping my pack.
I just hoped I would be too busy to think about Milo and how he wasn’t where he needed to be.
By my side.