My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 3

Emily's

POV

Mike and Liam's mother, the Luna of our pack, looks at me with concerned eyes. She walks over and places her arm on my shoulders, then leads me around the pack house. "Oh dear I'm sorry about Mike. I know he had his heart set on you. He's always felt the shadow of his brother no matter how much we've tried to make up for it." The Luna says. "He was so mad." I say.

"I know hun. Give him some time dear. He'll come around." She says.

"Also, congratulations on replaceing your mate. I know it doesn't feel like it, but the moon goddess knows what she's doing. You're gonna make an excellent Luna someday."

I stop in my tracks. Oh goddess I hadn't even thought about that. "I can't be Luna. I don't,- YOU are an amazing Luna. How could I,- I can't, - Luna?! Me?" I say panickedly.

"My dear. Breathe." She gestures her hands up and breathes in. I join her. "Thank you for the compliment." She continues, "I try my best to be a good Luna. And don't worry you'll have plenty of time before the duties fall on you. It will be a smooth transition. I will teach you everything I have learned." She emphasizes her words. "You are smart, and you are kind. I've watched you grow from a small child into a beautiful young woman... You have a beautiful soul Emily." She hugs me and I hug her back. Everything has changed, just like I knew it would. I might have lost my best friend and now I'm going to be the Luna of a pack. I cry and Luna holds me. Before I know it my mom is outside with us and pulls me into a hug.

"Shhh honey it's going to be ok." She whispers to me. After a few minutes I take a couple of deep breaths and pull away from my mom.

"I'm sorry I just feel a little overwhelmed by everything." I say.

"Oh honey I understand it's a lot to take in. Take your time. Do you want to go back home?" She asks. I nod. She wraps an arm around my shoulder and we walk towards our home. I see my dad and the Alpha standing on the porch looking at us. I know my parents are mind linking about what happened, I don't care. I just want to crawl into bed. When we get to the house I immediately headed up stairs. I go into my room to change but before I can I hear a rock hit my window. I go over and pull back the curtain, it's Liam. My heart skips a beat when I see him. I open the window.

"Hey Em I just wanted to check on you and make sure you're ok." He whisper yells.

"I honestly don't know how I am." I say. Liam has always been nice to me, always looked out for me, like a big brother. But not anymore. Before I can stop myself I blurt out. "Could you just come up here please." I'm embarrassed at my words. Liam looks a little surprised but nods and heads for the door. I hear his steps coming up the stairs and then there he is at my room door. His smell fills the air and I take in a deep breath. I've never looked at Liam in this way before, but he was handsome. Long black hair he has pulled back. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt, his top three buttons undone. And the scruff, it suits him. I take a step towards him and he takes a step towards me. He has a few inches on me and I tilt my head up to look at him. He moves a strand of hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear. His hand runs across my check and I feel the tingles of our mate bond and I can tell he feels it to. I close my eyes and enjoy the touch.

"Liam." I whisper

"Yeah Em?" He whispers back

"I'm worried."

"I know Em." He says taking my hand.

"I'm sorry." He adds

"For what?" I ask

"For making things complicated." He places my hand on his chest.

"We can do or not do whatever you want Em. If you want to reject me and be with Mike I will understand." He says. I am shocked at his offer. I know I can reject him but that takes a toll on the rejected wolf. I've even heard of wolves dying from being rejected. He's willing to risk that for his brother. He is going to make an amazing Alpha.

"I can't do that to you." I whisper. I can't fight it anymore I wrap my arms around him and hug him. He hugs me back. It felt good to be this close to him. We stand embraced for awhile. It calms me down to my core.

"We can't hug all night." He says and I let out a little giggle.

"I know it just feels so... right" I say. "Like I don't want to be anywhere else right now."

"It's the mate bond." He says into the top of my head.

I continue to hold him and press my cheek into his chest savoring his scent.

"So we just going to stand here all night then?" He asks.

"Don't leave Liam. Stay with me?" I ask, I don't know why I ask. I've never had a guy stay over before.

"If that's what you want." He looks down at me. I nod.

"I'm just going to wash this makeup off my face and change. I can get you something to change into if you'd like."

"Yeah I think you'd prefer it if I slept in clothes." He said with a smirk.

My mind wonders at that thought for a second, but I stop myself "Yes I would. I'll be right back." I step outside my room and see my mom standing right there. "Mom" I say surprised.

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok hun." She explains

"Mom I need something for Liam to change into, he's staying the night." She looks a bit surprised but goes into her room and comes out with one of my fathers shirts and a pair of basketball shorts. "You sure about this honey?" She asks.

"I need him here tonight. He helps calm me down, I don't know if I'll get any sleep without him." I say and she nods and hands me the clothes. I go back into my room. Liam has taken his jacket off and is sitting on my bed. I could see his muscles through his shirt, I could tell he works out a lot.

"Here." I hand him the clothes and grab some for myself as I head to the bathroom. I wash my face and change. I look at myself in the mirror and start to think about everything that happened tonight. The things Mike said and how angry he was. Will he ever talk to me again? Did I seriously just lose him? A tear falls from my eye. I hear a knock from the door.

"Em you ok? I can feel you're sad." I hear Liam behind the door. I open the door and grab him in a hug again.

"I'm sorry. I feel like I'm using you for our mate bond." I say. And I mean it. I was using him to calm myself down.

"It's ok Em whatever you need I'm here." He says hugging me back.

"You ready for bed?" He asks. I nod.

We head to bed and he pulls me to his side and wraps his arm around me. I take in his smell and calm down. I feel his warmth flow over me. I let the warmth lull me to sleep. Liam's POV

I close my eyes and focus on nothing but her sweet citrus scent and the sound of her breathing. There's nothing more comforting. When her breathing slows to a continuous rhythm, I shift my weight and adjust my leg. I can tell she has fallen asleep. I never thought I'd replace my mate, and so close to home too. I have known Emily most her life. She was annoying growing up but she quickly grew on me. I never thought we would end up like this, but if I'm being honest, I'm not mad about it. She is smart and caring, I know she will make a great Luna. I just don't know how Mike is really going to handle all of this. I take in a deep breath of her vanilla scent. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep with my mate in my arms.

I wake up, and I am alone in bed. Lucas panics, for a second I sit up and look around. Then in walks Emily holding a tray.

"Good you're up. I brought us some breakfast. I thought we could eat up here for some privacy." She says placing the tray onto the corner of the bed. I smile and lift up the tray as she gets comfortable next to me. I place it in between us. On the tray are two breakfast sandwiches and potato hash. It look delicious.

"Thanks for breakfast." I say picking up a sandwich. She grabs the other and takes a bite.

"So what now.?" She says to me chewing.

"You mean with us?" I ask. She nods.

"Well that's up to you Em. What do you want to do?" I ask.

"Well what happens when normal people replace their mates?" She asks.

"Well I guess they would meet the families, start a relationship, move in together, mate and mark each other, and live happily ever after." I say.

"Well we already know each others families, so that's done." She says.

"Haha true."

"So the next step would be to start a relationship?" She says looking at me.

"Is that what you want?" I ask.

"Well I'm not going to reject you, and I have a feeling you aren't going to reject me, so that makes us mates. And the sooner we both jump in the easier it might be for everyone." She explains. And

I agree with her.

"So.. now we're in a relationship?" I confirm.

"You are now my boyfriend?" She asks back.

"I have a feeling this is still going to take some getting used to." I say and she giggles.

"Yeah you're probably right. But no time like the present." She says. We finish our breakfast.

"Well I have to get back to the pack house for some training. Can we meet up after for lunch?" I ask.

"Yeah I'd like that. Just let me know when you're done." She says. "I'll walk you out." She adds.

We walk out of her room and down the stairs to the front porch.

"I guess I will see you later beautiful." I say. She smile at the compliment, then hugs me. I kiss the top of her head. "See you later Liam." She says and turns to go inside. I take a deep breath and head to the pack house thinking only of everything that's happened the past 8 hours. I head inside and go to my room. Candy is sitting on my bed arms crossed, tapping her foot. Damn I completely forgot about her. Yikes.

"Where the hell have you been?" She asks standing up.

"Candy look I'm sorry, but I'm going to need you to leave." I say. She did not like that.

"What!? You bring me home to meet your family, then ditch me and now you're asking me to leave?!" She yells.

"I didn't bring you here to meet my family. I brought you here to be my date for the party. The party is over. I need you to leave." I say more firmly.

"Fine, whatever. You're a d*ck." She says and storms out. I watch as she heads downstairs and out the front door. Man I am a d*ck. I think to myself.. I get dressed for training and head out to the field.

When I get there Brody runs up to me.

"Hey man" I say

"Hey Liam. Thank goodness you are back." Brody is my future beta, he's one of the best warriors we have.

"Glad to be back." I say, shaking his hand.

"Well your brother is in a mood this morning. He's over there kicking everyone's a**" He points over to my brother on the sparing mat. He looks pissed and I know why.

"How's he been doing." I ask. Brody is in charge of training.

"He's been a bit preoccupied the last few months. But he seems to have found his focus today." Brody says

"You want to spar?" I asked him.

"Sure, I don't want to get my a** kicked by your little brother." Brody says with a laugh.

"Oh so you don't think I could kick your a**?" I say and raise an eyebrow.

"Even if you do, you're the alpha. Your supposed to." We make our way to a mat and start sparring. He's gotten better since the last time. But I've gotten faster. We spar a few times and then run some training exercises with the men. When we are wrapping up I link Emily to meet me at the pack house in 10 mins.

"Hey Liam wait up." Brody runs up to me.

"Whats up man." I ask

"Are we going out tonight? Maybe meet some ladies?"

"Oh man I just thought everyone would be talking about this, but now I realize no one knows. Dude I can't do ladies anymore." He looks at me confused.

"Tell him why Liam." Mike says walking past us giving me a look.

"Tell me what?" Brody asks.

"I'll tell you but keep it quiet until the announcement." I say

"You found your mate dude?" He looks excited.

"Yes I found my mate."

"Oh wow what pack is she from?" He asks

"It's Emily." I say. His excitement drops

"Wow. I guess that makes sense. No wonder Mike is so pissed." I nod in agreement. "That's a rough spot dude, have you spoken to Emily?" He asks.

"Yeah I stayed over her place last night. Nothing like what your thinking. We just slept. We talked this morning and we're going to do it. The whole relationship mate thing." I say

"But hey I'm meeting her at the house for lunch I have to go, see you tomorrow." I say as I run to the pack house. When I get there I see Mike and Emily talking on the porch. I stop to look at there interaction. I'm glad they are talking but they look uncomfortable with each other.

Emily's POV

I walk to the pack house, just as I get onto the porch I see Mike is walking up. I stop and I see Liam waking towards us about 10 yards back, but then he pauses to give us a moment. Mike walks over and stands right in front of me.

"Em.... I'm sorry for getting angry last night. Even though I said I wouldn't be. I wasn't being a good friend to you." He says without looking at me.

"I'm sorry it didn't work out like we planned." I whisper "Everything changed just like I knew it would."

"Em I'm still your friend. I just need some time to wrap my head around this whole thing.. What are you doing here anyway?" He asks. I look over at where Liam. Mike turns to see Liam and says "Oh. Well I'll leave you two to it." He goes inside. Liam walks over. "You ok?" He asks. I nod and catch sight of his shirtless torso glistening with sweat, not a bad look.

"Are you checking me out?" He asks with a stupid grin on his face. I snap my eyes up to meet his gaze and narrow them.

"Well you are my boyfriend after all." I say. He laughs

"I'm joking babe. You can check me out whenever you want." He says as he opens the door for me. "I'm going to go shower and change. Do you want to wait in my room or.."

"Or I could steal her for a moment while you do that." His mother interrupts him. He looks at me and I nod telling him it's alright. He heads up stairs and I join the Luna in the living room.

"Just give me a moment to finish this page."

"Sure." I say and sit next to her. I look around the living room while I wait for her to finish. After a bit she sighs and closes the book.

"Hello dear how are you doing today? Better?" She asks grabbing my hands.

"Yes better. Still treading lightly but embracing the mate bond." I tell her. She smiles widely.

"Oh that is so good to hear my dear. I know it's difficult to navigate through but with time it will get easier." She says

"Any ideas when you might want to make the official announcement?" She asks.

"Mom we've just started dating. Can you give her a moment to wrap her mind around it?" Liam says as he makes his way down the stairs.

"I know dear, I was just wondering. You know we have to send the invitations out early." Luna says.

"Two weeks?" I interrupt. They both look at me. "If that's ok with Liam." I add. Luna smiles and looks at Liam who to my surprise is also smiling.

"If that's want you want beautiful." He says in a husky voice.

"Perfect! Well then I'll get started on the arrangements, I'll leave you two. Oh! and sweetie, welcome to the family." Luna says and kisses my head and leaves. Liam joins me on the couch.

"You sure you're ok with this?" He takes my hand and looks in my eyes. He has the most beautiful green eyes.

"Liam I'm all in this." I say. His hand runs across my cheek and I feel the tingles across my face. His hand wraps to the back of my neck and pulls my head up to met his, our lips collide and warmth crashes over me. I close my eyes and get taken away in the kiss. It was nice and gentle. It felt like my soul was becoming whole.