Her Brother, Her Mate

Simone POV

I feel like a mess. I didn’t even bother to do my hair this morning. I felt so hopeless knowing who my mate was, but also knowing he was infatuated with Carli. I’ve been doing research over the last couple of days and found out that vampires ‘imprint’ on the one they love, and it’s something extremely hard to get over.

Vincent must have imprinted on Carli. That’s the only explanation as to why he is so infatuated with a married woman who also has a kid. She’s the luna of our pack, and Parker is the alpha. An alpha who has been absolutely crazy about Carli from the time he thought she was his sister. There is no hope for him, but Vincent still seems to have that longing he can’t get over.

In my research, I read that vampires imprint when they have a deep, intimate connection with someone, which most likely means my best friend slept with him. My best friend had s*x with my mate.

She has been texting me and calling me, but I’ve been avoiding her. It won’t be long until she shows up at my house, pissed as hell, demanding to know why I’m not responding. I’m not sure what to tell her when that happens.

I parked my Jeep in the student lot at school and started walking towards my economy class, letting my wavy hair blow freely in the salty breeze. My sunglasses are hiding my makeup-less, baggy eyes, lined with dark circles from lack of sleep. I couldn’t get the mental picture of Vincent and Carli together out of my head long enough to find a moment’s peace. I know her. I know she used to use boys, and Vincent was probably just another of her victims and meant nothing to her, but for some reason that pissed me off more.

I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I almost run right into someone, stopping just in time as their Dolce & Gabbana sneakers come into view as I stare at the ground. I look up to apologize but end up grimacing instead. Aiden. Why can’t this guy get the hint? I scoff, rolling my eyes dramatically, and try to go around him but he sidesteps, blocking my retreat.

“What?!” I snapped. Aiden is tall and has lean muscles. He’s in line to become a fairy guard and has a graceful strength like all the rest of them. He’s handsome. Not anywhere near as gorgeous as Vincent, but his strong jawline and crystal blue eyes are striking under the mop of thick, shiny silver hair.

“You blocked my number,” he seethed, taking a step towards me so we’re only a few inches apart. I’m not in the mood for this today.

“Take a hint,” I glared at him, hoping he could see the menacing glint in my eyes through my sunglasses.

He sighed heavily, lifting a hand to reach for me, but I took a step back. “What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone?” I snapped at him.

“Mona,” he g****s out his nickname for me I’ve always hated. Sounds like an old lady’s name. “Why are you being like this? We were doing great. Why would you want to throw that all away? Everything we’ve been through?”

“We were just f*****g!” I almost screamed, “I told you, you aren’t my mate, Aiden. I’m not going to be more with someone I have no future with.”

“Did you find your so-called mate?” his eyes narrowed. I didn’t answer him. I did find him, but it’s not a simple yes or no. I don’t need to tell this freak anything anyway.

“What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone?” I sighed and repeated, pinching the bridge of my nose and I pulled off my sunglasses.

“Be with me,” he pleads in a cold voice, making ice run through my veins.

“Not going to happen,” I stated.

“I can be better than a mate, Mona. That wolfy nonsense means nothing to me. I know it means nothing to you either. This is just a power move on your part. You’re being a tease and I’m about done playing your game. You’ve had your fun, it’s time to drop the act.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. What the hell?! Does he think I’m just playing a game with him?

“A game?” I repeated his words in disbelief.

“You loved every minute of being with me. Your game of chase, pretending to be hard to get was cute, but I’m done playing it and waiting for you to get your act together. It’s time for you to stop being a w***e. I saw you out at the club that night. I saw the way you let those random men rub up on you, putting their filthy hands on your body. That’s not something I’m going to tolerate, Mona. Stop being a little b***h, and come back to me.”

No f*****g way. Goddess, I miss my brother. He wouldn’t think twice before putting a psycho like this in his place. I all of a sudden wished I was a fighter; a warrior like Carli. What would she do in this situation?

Kill him. She would kill the fucker, or at least knock out all his teeth. She would react first and deal with the consequences later. I’m not Carli, though, and my brother isn’t here. I need to deal with this on my own.

“I’m not playing with you. This is no game. You asked if I had found my mate. The answer is yes. You may not care about this wolfy nonsense, but a mate isn’t a menial thing and even if I still liked you even a little bit, which I promise you I don’t, I wouldn’t choose you over my fated mate, you freak. Leave me alone.”

Aiden’s hand snaps out before I see it coming, gripping around my throat and cutting off the air from entering my lungs with bruising force. The wolf in me snaps, and I have to hold myself back from shifting. I’m not a fighter, even in wolf form. I wouldn’t be able to do anything and there are too many humans in the area.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“WHO IS THIS MATE?” Aiden’s breath washes over my face, making me sick. I whimper in his hold but his hand remains firm. “WHO IS HE!?” he yells, shaking me slightly in his grip.

“f**k. You.” I grit out with the last of the air in my lungs. He throws me to the ground in his fury, and I suck in a lungful of air before it’s ripped right out of me. He got hold of my hair at the base of my neck and pulled me to my feet while trying to drag me to the parking lot.

People everywhere are watching, but no one intercedes. No one came to my aid. Aiden is menacing when he’s pissed, but still, I thought at least one person would be brave enough to save me from this monster.

When we reach the parking lot, Aiden pulls me in the direction of his Mustang, and I start to really fight against his hold, thrashing out and throwing my body to the ground in desperation. I don’t want to go with him. I don’t think I will survive if he gets me in his car.

“Please,” I started begging, pulling on his arms, and digging my nails into his skin.

“YOU. ARE. MINE!” he sneers so menacingly, that the b***d in my veins turns cold. I need to shift. It’s my only chance. If I shift, I can run away and have Parker deal with the consequences in the human world later.

As he drags me between 2 cars, I shift faster than I ever have before, my fur slipping through his fingers as he yells in outrage at me for breaking free. I made a mad dash for the treeline around the school’s marshy pond, adrenaline, and fear pushing me forward. There aren’t many places to hide in this form here, so I’m hoping he doesn’t chase me. I’ll have to expose myself even more.

I dove into a bush, ignoring the branches stabbing into my torso and paws, and turned around to see if I was followed. Aiden is speeding away in his mustang, and relief grips me.

Carli. I need to get Carli.

“Help me.” I cried out to her in the mind link.

“Simmy? What’s wrong? Where are you?”

“School. It’s Aiden. He….” I fought back the tears, knowing once they started, I wouldn’t be able to tell her what was happening.

“What did he do? Are you hurt? Is he there now?”

“No. I had to shift and run. He tried to take me, Carli. I don’t know what to do. I’m hiding in the trees by the pond.”

“We’re on our way,” She tells me, keeping the mindlink open so I can hear her as she rushes to get to me. I can hear someone talking to her. Matt? She’s not coming alone. Good. I don’t want her to face him alone if he ends up coming back. I pray he doesn’t come back.

“Hurry,” I squeak out as fear grips me.

“I’m coming as fast as I can. Matt is coming too. We’re on our way.”