Aiden’s POV
The next morning, I woke up early, took a bath, and dressed up for school.
“Hey, Ethan! Wake up and get dressed. We will be late for class!” I yelled, tossing the blanket off him.
“Hey, man. Allow me to sleep more,” he mumbled as he covered himself with the blanket.
“Stand up now before I make you.”
“What? Brother, what’s your fucking problem? Won’t you allow me to sleep in peace? I’ve been out there partying all night without having a rest, and here you are, trying to piss me off to death. Let me be, Aiden,” he growled, announcing his Lycan was in control.
“How dare you bare your teeth at me?!” I roared, grabbing his throat. “Get your ass up now. I will be waiting for you downstairs.”
***
Ethan’s POV
I had no idea what was wrong with Aiden. He was a different person now, and he was irritated by the smallest things I did. He completely changed his attitude toward me. Ever since I told him about Ava catching me while I was kissing my bitch, he’d been supporting her and forsaking our brotherhood.
Shit! I hate this. I want my brother back.
I stood up as he ordered before he ravaged me. I dragged myself to the bathroom. I quickly washed and dressed, ready to meet my brother, who was waiting for me.
“I’m here, brother,” I announced my presence.
“Get your ass here and eat your breakfast before we leave for school.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, brother? What happened between us?” I asked, perplexed.
“You already know the answer to your question,” he replied, sarcastically smirking.
“Know what? Is it about her catching me with a girl? Remember, brother, we rejected her. We both rejected our mate!” I retorted.
“Yes, we did. We both rejected her, but I regret it now. I regret everything, Ethan. I love her. I want to cherish her. I want to be her man.”
“Brother…”
I was shocked. I’d never seen my brother get so emotional like this. He was clearly in love with her, and it was written all over his face.
“Brother, what can we do? We both know we’re trying to protect her by rejecting her. We have no choice,” I murmured.
“We have a choice, Ethan. I will protect my mate from any danger. She’s mine, and I’m done torturing myself in the name of not being strong enough,” he said. “I promise to protect her in exchange for my life. Anyone who stands between us shall pay with his life, and I have already linked our imperial mother in my mind. I’ve already told her about Ava being our fated mate and about her identity as a human.”
Aiden’s conversation with his mother earlier.
Mia, The Lycan Queen’s POV
“Mother.”
I was surprised when Aiden suddenly mind-linked me. His voice sounded clear in my head.
“It’s good to hear your voice, son. How are you, and how is your brother Ethan? I hope you’re doing well.”
“Mother, we’re both fine,” he said, but I could sense he was anxious and unhappy.
“What’s the matter? What happened to you, guys? Is there a problem? Why are you unhappy?” I asked, worried.
“Imperial mother, we have found our mate,” he revealed. “Ethan and I share the same mate.”
“Oh, really? That’s wonderful news! Congratulations, my darling son!” I exclaimed. “Who is she? Why do you sound glum?”
“Mother, her name is Ava. She’s a lovely lady, and I am in love with her, but…” he paused in the middle of his sentence.
“But what, Aiden? What is wrong with her? Did she reject the two of you?”
“No, she did not.”
“Then, tell me. Why are you not happy? Tell your mother what’s wrong,” I inquired, feeling groovy and concerned for my son.
“Like I said earlier, we met our mate. My brother and I share the same girl as our mate, but she is a human,” he whispered.
“What? A human?”
I was beyond shocked. I was speechless for a few seconds, fumbling for words.
“Are you there, mother?” Aiden’s voice echoed.
“Yes, Aiden. Mother is here. Knowing your father’s behavior, it will be difficult, but all I wish for is your happiness. I will be in support of you. Go after her. Go find your happiness with your mate. Mother will support you,” I assured him, knowing full well that convincing the Lycan King to accept their mate would be difficult.
“Thank you, mother,” he said happily.
Aiden’s POV
“So, Ethan, mother is on our side. She asked us to find our happiness with our mate, so let’s find it together,” I told him. “I’ll talk to her today at school.”
***
(Flashback)
The Lycan King’s hatred towards humans.
King Miller Reid Jones is my name. I was born a Lycan. My father was the King of the Lycan. He was courageous, noble and the most powerful king in the world, but he was destined and mated to a human. A despicable woman who wrecked his own kingdom.
Patricia, that woman was my mother. She was mated to my father. Despite being a human, my father loved and cherished her, and she gave birth to me but died during the delivery.
It was pathetic how frail she was…
***
The King’s hatred towards the werewolf.
I was wandering through the trees in the town when I smelled the most intoxicating and appealing scent I’d ever smelled. The smell was foreign to me. It was astonishing that it made me drool.
My Lycan was dancing and shouting happily inside my head, howling desperately. Then, I heard my Lycan say a word. The word I loathed the most.
“Mate.”
Oh, shit! I met my mate, and she was a weak she-wolf. I hated the idea of having a mate. A she-wolf who would diminish me. I hated the idea of having a mate who would share my throne.
Having and acknowledging a mate meant I’d no longer be able to keep my whore. I didn’t want to be emotionally attached to a woman. I was content with my whores because they would do anything to satisfy my lust and desire.
I was the strongest monarch, accepting and claiming her as my mate would be a disastrous thing to do. It would only tarnish my reputation. I didn’t need a weak she-wolf, and I would never accept her.
She must die…