Aiden’s POV
We were both at home, getting ready to tell Ava how we felt about her. I’d caught a glimpse of her and knew she was smitten with us as well. We finally attained what we wanted. My Lycan and I were both itching to hug and kiss our mate.
Ethan had always taken advantage of every opportunity he had to hug, kiss, and hold her in his hand, but I had yet to do all of those things. I wanted her to be willing to do anything for me, and today was the day that my wish would be granted.
I had been unable to sleep, praying and checking my watch, hoping that morning would arrive soon. I wanted to touch her flawless face. I wanted to look into her eyes and tell her how I felt about her. I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend first before thinking of making her the Lycan Queen, and I must find a way to tell her about my identity without startling her away. I knew it would be hard for her to easily ratify us, but I must build our relationship on trust.
Morning soon came, and I swiveled out of bed before dashing into the bathroom to get ready for school. Ethan was also awake. We were going to confess our feelings to our mate today.
We were dressing up when our father’s voice echoed in our minds out of the blue.
“Are you awake, son?” His deep, husky voice whistled.
“Yes, father. Greetings to you,” we both responded at the same time, puzzled as to why he decided to talk to us.
We hadn’t heard his voice since leaving the pack, which was not far from the school. Our father remained silent, and it wasn’t a good sign. It meant turmoil.
“Aiden, do you think he has found out about our mate?” Ethan asked, his voice crammed with terror.
“Maybe,” I tried to sound cool, but deep down, I was scared as well.
We hadn’t told her about our feelings for her yet. We had yet to start our relationship in the first place. How could this be? Father found out about her way too soon.
After a long period of silence, he finally cracked the silence. “Sons, the pack needs the both of you. The rogues have been trudging through my territory for a while now, and I believe someone is assisting them because they are nothing more than weak werewolf rogues if no one is secretly supporting them. How can an ordinary, weak werewolf endanger my kingdom?” he ranted.
We were shocked. It must be something terrible, hearing how hazardous our father roared.
“Father, you have to be at ease, and we have to plan and figure out who’s helping them secretly,” Ethan piped up.
“I agree, father. I think we should first find out who is behind their backs,” I suggested.
“I don’t care about who’s helping them. I will wipe out anyone who threatens my kingdom and my people, even if it means wiping out the werewolves who exist,” he erupted in rage.
“You don’t have to go far, Father,” Ethan said.
“Why is that, son? Do you think I should be afraid of those vulnerable creatures of a predator?”
“Father, I’m not asking you to be weak or afraid of them, but don’t you think you’re missing something here?” I asked.
“What am I missing?” he asked me, intrigued.
“Our mother. She is both a werewolf and the Lycan Queen. She’s a female wolf!” Ethan yelled. “Or are you plotting to murder our mother, your mate?”
“What are you thinking? How dare you! Why should I kill my mate?”
“I know you too well, father. Don’t start a never-ending war between you and your sons,” I warned.
“I’m not thinking of killing Mia. I can never murder her. I’m just saying. Forget it. The pack needs you, and you have to leave immediately for the pack,” he ordered.
“Father” Before we could argue with him, he cut off the mind link.
Today was the day we were both going to ask our mate to be our girlfriend. Why did this kind of problem have to arise out of nowhere?
I was certain that one of my father’s enemies was playing a game with us. Father imposed strict rules on his people. He executed many rogues, not just rogues, but anyone who stepped on his territory without being interrogated, creating a slew of enemies eager to bring him down. It was affecting us as his children. Goodness! We had to leave right away for the pack.
How were we going to inform our mate?
“We should call her on the phone,” Ethan suggested.
I picked up my phone to call her, but her phone was off. I dialed Oliver’s number as well. It was switched off.
We wouldn’t be able to call her if we reached the pack, and we had no idea when we would be able to return to school because there was no certainty how long this mission would take us.
***
Isabella’s POV
All my life, I had been waiting patiently to hit 18 years old so that I would be able to meet my fated one to experience all the sweetest of it with my mate.
My best friend, Victoria, was a year older than I am, and she had found her mate. Her mate was no other than the Beta’s son, Travis. Travis was a man whore. I expected him to reject her at first, but it was a way round. The first time Travis saw and knew Vic was his mate, he had been pursuing her around like a puppy ignoring the jealously gazes of the female pack girls he once fucked.
I was surprised. I never expected him to behave like that because I believed there was nothing good being a mate to a man whore. So, I discussed it with my sister, Anna, my brother’s girlfriend who every pack member wished they would end up as each other’s mate. Sister Anna loved my brother Aiden a lot, and she was willing to kill for him. Our parents both loved her, and mother already recognized her as her daughter-in-law. I loved sister Anna as well.
When I saw her sitting from a distance, I immediately walked over to her.
“Sister Anna,” I called her, grabbing a seat beside her.
“My little Isabella,” that was what she commonly called me.
“Sister Anna, I’m no longer little. I will be celebrating my 18th birthday tonight, and I will be able to meet my fated one,” I let out, feeling delighted.
“Oh my! My little Isabella is no longer a child. She will be celebrating her birthday tonight. Congrats, my dear Isabella!” she said.
“Thank you, sister,” I smiled, happiness absorbed me. “Ah! I heard from my father that my brothers are coming to the pack today. Don’t tell me you’re loitering for him here at this time of the day?”
“Yes, I know. The news is already replenished all over the pack. Pack members are chattering about them already, and I am here, dawdling for him. I missed him so much,” she shyly said.
If sister Anna can love my brother like this, what do you think it would be like if they ended up as each other’s mate? Wow. It would be so sweet.
“Sister Anna, I’ve been meaning to ask you this…”
“What is it, Isabella? What do you want to ask me?”
“What is it like to meet your fated mate? How can you know he is your mate? I mean, the feeling that you get to know that person is your chosen one?” I wondered out loud.
“Oh… Isabella, I’m afraid I don’t have an idea since I have never experienced it before. You know, meeting one’s mate,” she replied. “I’m sorry, you asked the wrong person.”
“It’s okay, sister Anna. Don’t be sad. I’m sure you will end up as my brother’s mate, and our future queen,” I tried to cheer her up. “I’m sorry as well for asking you such a silly question.”
“Stop it. It’s not a silly question, dear,” she said. “You can ask your friend, Vic. I think she’s the best one to explain to you.”
“No way! I don’t want her to know that I know nothing about the mate thing,” I refused. “Please don’t let her know. She’ll just tease me.”
She laughed before speaking up. “It’s fine, silly. I won’t tell her, okay? I think you should ask the queen.”
“Oh, right! Why did I not think of this before? Thank you, sister Anna!” I exclaimed. “I need to go and meet her right away. Goodbye!”
I walked straight to my mother’s cottage. Her servant was rummaging through her beautiful long hair.
“Mother,” I called her.
“Is that Isabella?” she asked.
“Yes, mother. I need to consort you on a matter,” I said as she dismissed all her attendants.
“So, tell me, Bella, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, mother. I just want to know how I recognize my fated mate?” I asked, intrigued.
“I forgot today’s your 18th birthday. My baby is thriving into a beautiful woman. I should have educated you on this earlier than now, but it is never too late. Mate is a beautiful thing. Your mate adores, loves, and cherishes you more than anyone will do. He will love you uncontrollably. He will treat you genuinely. He will never make you cry or see you in pain. Your mate is everything you’ll ever wish for in your life,” she explained.
I listened carefully to her as she shared with me everything about mates. We both talked for a long time until we were notified that my brothers had arrived.
I got up happily to greet my brothers. We were celebrating my birthday tonight, and I was happy. My brothers were here to celebrate with me even if it was not what made them come to the kingdom. I was still happy they were here.
“Brothers!” I shouted immediately after I saw them, but my snout sniffed something different, causing me to halt.
It was a delicious scent that made my wolf stir. Oh, I never told you. I was a wolf just like my mother. I never took after my father.
My legs took me as fast as possible to the delicious smell. It made me feel relaxed. I began to sniff my brothers who were surprised at my actions.
“Mate!” I howled.
Everyone who was present was shocked. I noticed sister Anna’s hands were all over Aiden’s body.
“Stay away from him, bitch!” I growled.
She was stunned. I had never spoken to her like that in such a rude manner before.
“What’s wrong, little Isabella?” she asked, perplexed.
“What’s wrong with me?” I smirked when my wolf Amber had taken over. “Do you even hear yourself? Don’t call me little Isabella again, and stay far away from my mate.”
I launched an attack at her, but I was stopped by my mother before I could do something to her.
“Isabella, what are you saying? Who’s your mate?” my mother asked.
I casted a glance at my brothers. My eyes were crammed with love and fondness. I had always admired them. Then, I pointed my fingers to them.
“They are mine,” I said as I moved towards them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” father roared. “What kind of forbidden mate is this?”
But I never listened to him and continued coming up to them to hug and kiss my mates, and to do everything mother told me, but she lied. Everything she told me was a lie.
The hatred I saw in my mates’ gazes was disastrous. They both disliked me. They should love and care about me, but such a thing didn’t transpire. The true love she professed we could feel for each other was a fib. Everything was a fib. I despised her.
“Drag that bitch to the dungeon and lock her up!” my father commanded.
***
Anna’s POV
How could this be even possible? Was this some kind of forbidden fate?
I was supposed to be his mate and queen. Why was Isabella chosen as their mate? Why was fate so cruel to me? Why?
After all these years of being in love with him, I thought everything would be fine. I expected the queen mother to be capable of settling the issue between Aiden and me.
He started changing his demeanor toward me. He wasn’t the same guy I fell in love with back then. He started changing his demeanor toward me. It wasn’t just any ordinary girl, but Aiden’s sister as well. It was impossible for me to take her life. I could never dare.
I needed to come up with a better solution. I could never be near Isabella again because she’d see me as a threat, her rival in love, and she’d never show me any mercy.
I was surprised when I saw the hostility in Aiden’s eyes. He glanced at her with a disgusting gaze. It was obvious that he wasn’t interested in her, and he wasn’t going to accept her. I guess I was lucky. I would be Aiden’s queen and mate.
***
Ethan’s POV
This was the most ridiculous joke I’d ever heard. My little sister claimed to be our mate. Why was she our mate when we felt what it was like to be in love with our mate, Ava? Isabella must be kidding.
No, I didn’t think so. The gaze in her eyes. The way she glared at us. Her desire, lust, and passion proved that she wasn’t joking.
But why? Why was such a thing happening to us? Ava was our mate, and having two mates was impossible. Should I kill my sister in order to be with my mate? Or was Isabella insane to miss the fact that we were her big brothers?
We had no feelings for her, even when she was close to us. I was sick to my stomach and wanted to puke, but her eyes glinted as she looked at us. Her stare said it all.
We were relieved when father decided to lock her up. We had to figure out everything as soon as possible. It would be cruel to reject her.
No one could replace my mate, not even my sister.