Alpha's Little Vampire Mate
24. Half brother.

Marcus's

POV:

I slammed the door behind me. On reaching outside, the guards were all staring at me and that didn't seem to help my already foul mood. "What are y'all staring at? Back to your jobs!"

They all went back to what they were doing and I went on my way to replace my mate. She couldn't have gone too far, she was probably at Mark's, or somewhere around in the woods. I had to replace her soon and clear whatever doubts she could be having at the moment. I wasn't about to let a spoiled brat such as Maggie ruin what we had built up.

Maggie and I had been childhood friends. Our parents; beings leaders of two neighbouring packs, had been friends even before we were born. We grew into teenagers and that was when the sneaking around began. I'd sneak into her room at night and we'll make love until sunrise. It continued that way until when we were twenty, Maggie found her mate.

I was heartbroken and depressed, I even went for days without food and refused to see or talk to Maggie, even when she tried to talk to me. After a couple of weeks, news went around that Maggie had rejected her mate. I was delighted and when she told me she did it because she wanted to be with me, I was overjoyed. I asked her out on a proper date to which she agreed. We were together and our love grew stronger or so I thought.

We were a hundred and seventy nine, when Maggie was seen having sex in broad daylight with another Alpha(which she knew was my sworn enemy from birth), in a cornfield.

And when I confronted her, she claimed that she was not in love with him but he could give her what she wanted and that was power. She wanted to be Luna and at the time, I couldn't make her one because my dad was still very much alive and was still Alpha of our pack.

I was heartbroken once again and I vowed never to fall in love with another she-wolf, not even my mate!

It took only a few years... The Alpha found his mate and dumped Maggie, then she came back running to me. I had so much anger in me and all the love I had had for her, was reduced to nothing but: pure, unadulterated hate!

I asked her to stay away but she kept forcing herself on me and after a while, I resumed bedding her. It had been that way for the past couple of centuries and after all this time, I finally got bored with her last year, when I heard that she'd tried to seduce Mark, when she knew quite alright, that he had a mate.

I kept my distance since then and she stopped coming around for a long time, only to show up now? How do I explain all of the situation to Chloe? She might not even believe me. I just hope Maggie's crazy stunt hasn't destroyed all we had developed with each other.

I could spot Mark's house. I quickly hid my scent, not wanting to alert Chloe or she'd run away from me again. I got to the stairs and just as I was about to go in, someone cut through the communication link and the following second, I heard Mark's voice in my head.

Where are you Alpha? Come over to the ballroom, there's an emergency!

His voice sounded urgent. What could trouble him so much, if it wasn't a matter of great importance. I looked from the house and back to the direction where the ballroom stood. Should I go to Chloe first? Whatever it is that Mark intended to show me, it could wait!

Alpha?! Why the fuck aren't you responding?!

Okay, I think I know where I should be...

****

"Mark!"

I walked further into the empty hall. I could perceive him, but he was nowhere in sight. "Mark!"

I heard him groan from somewhere to the left and that was when I saw the door of a restroom had been cracked open. I paused, focusing just to hear out for him again. "Mark?"

His head peeked out the door as she shut me a glare. "What happened to your nose Alpha? Can you no longer perceive properly?"

I gave him an equal glare, not liking his hint at an insult. "What about you? Can't you tell me you're in there or did you lose your tongue?"

He gave me a long stare, then I heard his voice in my head: I have my reasons Alpha, why don't you come over here and see for yourself?

I grunted in annoyance, but still went ahead to see whatever had made him act that way. When I got close enough, he pushed the door wider and let me through.

My feet halted at the door, as I stared down at the creature that was perched on one corner of the wall with its head slightly lowered. It took the form of a man... it was pale, had red eyes and long fangs sticking out of its mouth and it looked exactly like a .... vampire?

I cocked my head to the side, as I tried to understand what exactly was going on. How could he have gotten on my lands without me noticing? I turned to give Mark a questioning look and he shrugged.

"He wouldn't talk to me since I saw him and he didn't fight back when I pounced on him. All he'd say since then was: let me see your Alpha."

I turned back to the vampire who had been as silent as a rock. "Vampire," I said in a strict voice. "One thing is sure; you chose death when you thought of getting on my pack lands. But I can make it quicker, if you give me a tangible reason why you think you can walk into my land and request to see me whenever you like."

Finally, his red eyes turned to me and a mental picture of Chloe was what appeared in my mind and my heart raced up. Was he probably here for Chloe? My wolf growled, threatening to jump out and rip him to shreds, if he even went close to her. "Hello brother-in-law to be," he hissed just before his fangs sank in and his eyes adjusted gradually, until familiar green eyes met mine. "Finally, we get to meet in person."

Mark scoffed beside me. "Chloe's brother?" he asked, a hint of disbelief still lingered in his voice, though we could both see the clear resemblance.

"The one and only," he said in between chuckles. He quickly rose to his feet and just like me, Mark readied himself to defend in case the strange brother tried to attack. He stared from me to Mark, raising his hands in surrender. "I promise you, I am not the enemy..."

"What. Do. You. Want?" I said between gritted teeth, my patience beginning to wear thin. It also didn't help my frustration that I couldn't smell him. Either he didn't have one, or he knew how to hide it just like me. "How are you related to my woman?"

"Alpha Marcus," he bowed. I gave him a once over, wondering how he knew my name. "I came to see you.... we need to talk," he said without batting an eyelid. His eyes flickered over to Mark and he added; "in private."

Mark growled, "to hell with you! Anything that concerns Chloe, is my concern!"

"How are you related to Chloe?" I asked again.

"Half brother," he said without hesitation. "Chloe and I, both share a mother." He paused for a while, then added in a whisper: "she's in danger..."

"What danger?" I asked. His eyes flickered over to Mark and Mark growled back.

I wiped off the sweat that had started forming on my forehead. I was already worried sick, I didn't need all the drama. I nodded to the stranger, then softly pat Mark on the shoulder, he immediately relaxed. "What information do you have?" "How has Chloe been?" He started.

"And how does that concern you? You weren't there when she needed you and now you go all big brother on her?" Mark snapped, showing his clear dislike for the vampire.

"Beta Mark," he called in a soft voice and I heard Mark drag in a sharp breath. It was a good thing that I wasn't the only one in shock of the situation. "I am truly impressed with how well you've taken care of my baby sister, but that doesn't mean you can misbehave with me. Be careful..."

Mark glared at him but still kept quiet. The vampire looked at me once more, and the splitting resemblance between him and my mate was terrific. The only difference was: he looked older and paler, and he had a full head of black hair. "How is it that Chloe never mentioned you? And why didn't you take her in when your parents were murdered?"

He scoffed. "My mother wouldn't allow that, she personally instructed me to make sure Chloe was safe and that couldn't have happened by keeping her beside me."

"So you knew she was here all along?"

"I followed her all the way here and only left when the Beta queen found her. My mother told me something about her being a silver wolf and blah blah blah, so I was hoping you'd fall in love with her." "So... does she know you?"

He shook his head negatively, a sad look taking over his features. "The last time she saw me was when she was three, my mum would always sneak out to come see me and she'll bring her along." He paused, his eyes hardened slightly as he recalled an unpleasant memory. "That was until grandpa found out."

"Chloe has a grandfather too?"

He nodded, meeting my eyes with anger filled ones. I got the message even without him speaking and my body began to shake with anger. I was just going to enquire more, when a knock came on the door. "Alpha! Beta!"

"Shit!" Mark cursed, quickly looking from me to the stranger. "Hide, fast!"

Just as he levitated up to the ceiling and floated above, the door busted open and an omega ran in. She was panting too hard for my liking, being the weakest force in the pack, they were almost like humans... weak. "What's wrong?"

"The Luna..." she said.

My heart leapt and my eyes shifted up to her brother's, when I saw him out of the corner of my eye; stiffen. He looked just as concerned and I couldn't help but worry if Chloe had gotten herself in some kind of trouble." "And the Beta queen," she added.

"Lily?! What happened, speak!" Mark growled, exchanging a look of worry with me.

"Chloe, Lily and Maggie, are all in the palace fighting..." she broke off, shaking her head. "What I meant to say: Lily and Chloe are beating up Maggie. You need to intervene quickly, no one can stop them!" Mark chuckled and I gave him a dirty look. I dismissed the maid, telling her we'll be on our way soon. I looked up and the vampire was gone, nowhere to be seen.

"Fuck! He had to just vanish into thin air?" Mark muttered under his breath, his face contorting to rage. "We need to replace him..."

I nodded. "Chloe might be in grave danger for him to risk getting into a place like this, just to give me information. We have to work fast, but in the meantime, let's see what our girls are up to...."