My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 32

Emily's POV

After breakfast, I went to visit my mom. I found her in the kitchen cleaning.

"Hey mom!" I say.

She turns around and smiles.

"Hey hun." Your father is still home. She mind links me.

Noted. I respond

"Well Mom, I was hoping you'd help me get ready for the Announcement tonight. Oh! and I have some juicy gossip."

"Oh yeah, what's that?" My father says from upstairs. I hear him walk down the stairs. He joins me and mom in the kitchen. "Well, do you guys know Jacob? Light brown hair, fit, just had a birthday a couple days ago? He's one of the elite warriors." "Yes, he's a very skilled warrior. Very dedicated." My father says.

"Well. You didn't hear it from me, but.." I look around and pause for effect.

"HE is Carol's mate." My mom bursts out a loud 'HA!' then she quickly covers her mouth.

"Carol? As in your cousin Carol? The girl could take a 9 hour nap and still get 8 hours of sleep!" My mom laughs again.

"How did you replace out about this? Carol isn't 18 yet, is she? When is Carol's birthday?" My Dad asks.

"She turns 18 in 2 months. And it's kind of a funny story. So Carol comes to me this morning thinking she's being followed by these 2 guys. She was pretty freaked out about it. So I come up with this plan to get to the bottom of it. So at breakfast I confronted them and that's when Jacob told me. He said he wanted to get to know her better and he thought it would be a good idea to literally follow her around!" I say in disbelief.

My mom shakes her head. "Men." We laugh together about it.

"Who was the other guy?" My dad asks.

"It was Jacob's warrior friend. I don't think warriors realize how intimidating they can look." I say.

"We'll that's gonna be a sweet story one day." My mom adds.

"Yeah. It will be. The moon Goddess sure does work in mysterious ways." I say jokingly.

"That will be an interesting match." My dad responds. "Well I'm headed out. I need to go meet the guests as they arrive and finalize the security plans. You girls have fun getting ready. I'll see you tonight bug." He kisses my mom on the cheek and heads out the door. "Wow, Carol with an elite warrior." My mom says.

"Yes! But they do have some things in common. They both like the same movies." I giggle.

"Well that will be interesting."

I'm listening to my dad walk towards the pack house. His steps are getting quieter. When I'm for sure my dad is out of ear shot. I get to the real reason I came over.

"Have you heard anything from the Tribrids?" I ask.

"Yes, we are to go there tomorrow. They think they've come up with a way to replace Liam. But they can't do it without you."

I get chills at the thought of seeing him again.

"I just need to get through this stupid Announcement to keep up appearances."

"Speaking of the Announcement," my mother interrupts. "I think it's going to be a bigger deal than they are letting on. At Liam's Announcement, there were nowhere as near as many guests. I have a feeling something is going to happen tonight." "Like what?"

"I'm not sure. There are so many possibilities, it's hard to be sure. Someone could challenge the appointment. There could be an attack. Honestly, I'm worried."

"Mom there's a few things I need to tell you." My mom gestures to sit at the table. She brings us some water and sets the glasses down in front of us. Then she sits down across from me.

"Mom, I got a letter last night. Someone slid it under my door. It said to meet them in the original meeting spot after the Announcement. It was signed B."

"B? Who's B?"

"It's Brody."

"I haven't seen Brody in awhile. How do you know it's him?"

"He had wanted to meet with me before.. I showed up but he never did. Mike told me that he sent him away for 2 weeks." "That's odd."

"Yeah. But there's more." My mom raises her eyebrow.

"It's about me becoming the tribrid." I take a deep breath, she might not want to hear this but I feel like she should know.

"For me to become the full Tribrid, I have to die." I study her face to see her reaction. She was silent for a moment.

"I guess I always knew that. It's the only way someone can become a vampire. It's hard to hear it being said it out loud." She stand from the table. And walks over to give me a hug.

"I'm so sorry Emily, I had no idea this would happen when I.. I'm just so sorry you have to bear this burden."

"It's okay mom. You just wanted a normal life. You love dad I know that. And I know you love me. I just felt like I needed to tell you."

"We'll how do you feel about it."She looks at me.

"Well I'm not THRILLED at the idea of dying. But I guess I'll do what I have to do." I say in a lighthearted manner. Trying to lighten up the mood a little bit.

My mom chuckles

"Oh and one more thing." I say.

"Yes? What is it." My mom sits herself back down. She has a serious look on her face, as if she's preparing for even worse news.

"I really do want your help getting ready." She smiles at me. I see she shoulders relax.

"Of course sweetie." I get up and hug my mom again. She always smells like wild flowers and vanilla, it's my favorite scent. Well second favorite. I tuck my nose into her hair and let her scent surround me. "Come on. I've got a surprise for you." My mom leads me upstairs and into my old room. She goes to the closet and brings out a beautiful gold floor length dress.

"Mom." I walk over to the dress and touch the fabric. It has a fitted waist and delicate sparkles all over. I love it.

"It's beautiful." I say. My mom smiles.

"Just like you. I thought you would like it."

Over the next few hours my mom and I hang out together just kill time before we have to get ready for the nights events. Around an hour before the announcement, Carol and Mary stop by. "Oh Em your dress is so sparkly." Mary says.

"I know. I love it. I'm going to look like a golden disco ball."

"You girls know nothing about disco balls." My mom chimes in.

"There are so many people here. I actually can't remember the last time I saw this many people at the pack lands." Carol looks out the window towards the pack house.

"I'm sure this is just like all the other Announcements." I say as my mom zips up my dress.

"Actually, I'm with Carol on this. The number in attendance is pretty extensive." Mary adds.

"Well let's not make her nervous girls." My mom pats my shoulder.

"Oh of course you'll be great Em. You were made to be Luna." Mary says. Mary finishes my hair as I finish my make up.

"Em, you look perfect." Mary says when she's finished.

"Yeah, you look great." Carol says.

"Where's Mike?" Mary asks.

"He's getting ready at the Alpha house. We will meet him over there." My mom says.

"We should head over there ourselves. Don't worry about a thing, you got this." Carol grabs Mary's hand and they head out. I glance out the window at all the cars arriving and start to get nervous. "Don't worry. Like Carol said, you got this. And plus they don't know you have magic now. If you absolutely need to, use it."

"Ok mom. Let's go." We both head to the Alpha house. I have butterflies in my stomach and my palms are starting to sweat. I catch sight of the front door and the constant flow of people entering. "Let's take the back door to avoid the crowd." I say to my mom.

"Ok" and we head for the back of the house. As soon as I go to open the door, it swings open to Mike.

Two Days Earlier

Cyran's POV

I am sitting at my desk when there is a knock at the door.

"Come in." Samson, my personal body guard and number two for everything, walks in.

"My lord." I have tried to get him to stop addressing me like that.

"Samson, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"It is time." Samson was always a man of few words. He has been my friend since as far back as I can remember.

"For?"

"Your daughter." I knew this day would come, I just thought we had more time.

"Is she ready?"

"I don't think they will wait for her to be."

"No, I don't think they will. We will head out immediately." I stand from my desk. Samson bows and leaves. I hope we are not too late.