Page 4 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

It wasn’t as if I needed something to wake up to anymore, not since I quit a week ago at the garage. The Garage was our packs’ Auto Shop Repair. I’d worked there since I was sixteen, a way to feel closer to my father. After years of doing something I felt no love towards, I was now unemployed. Being unemployed wasn’t terrifying for me because of my pack. We owned all the houses we lived in and since they were paid off, we truly didn’t have many financial burdens. Still, I wanted to work, especially now that I had to focus on something other than Milo’s lips and how I wouldn’t be able to claim him for the foreseeable future.

Our packhouse could always use a helping hand in the kitchen. So I figured while Milo matured, I would help the pack with whatever they needed, busying myself as much as possible so my thoughts wouldn’t wander to my fated and his blue eyes that had filled with hurt when I’d left him yesterday.

After showering and watering my beloved plants, I ditched breakfast knowing pancakes would be in my near future at the packhouse.

My house was my sanctuary. It wasn’t huge, but definitely not the smallest of the pack houses either. I preferred a cozy looking home with lots of personality so I’d made my own shelves and tables, all from wood around the forest. I never locked the frontdoor. There truly was no need with my pack living around me. All of us looked out for each other.

The best part of my house was that Jeremy lived five minutes away, which was also the reason that he was the first one I saw as I walked towards the packhouse. My body relaxed instantly as I closed in on my best friend. It was just what I needed, some time with my chosen brother.

“Hey, there, Alpha,” I greeted, winking and bumping my shoulder onto his.

“Don’t flirt with me!” Jeremy snapped.

Stopping my walk my eyes widened with realization. Fuck, Milo had told me Jeremy liked me, and here I was, winking at him. Talk about jerk behavior. But to my defense, I always winked when I teased him.

Considering he didn’t know that I now knew of his feelings, I asked, “Wow, who bit your tail this morning?” Hoping it would brighten his mood a little.

He shook his head like I was a nuisance and admitted in a soft whisper, “I saw you with Milo yesterday.”

I internally winced. Fuck, now I had to talk about it.

“Yeah, don’t worry about that part. We aren’t together.” I hated that he knew, and had seen us. Talk about badfuckingtiming. But he should know the truth, even if talking with him about his little brother wouldn’t be fair to either of them. I truly wanted to talk to my best friend about it. I simply couldn’t.

“What?”

“He’s not ready for something serious,” I explained, keeping it at that. “I guess I should’ve realized that, with his age and all.”

He frowned as we continued walking. “But why did you kiss then?”

Shrugging, I admitted, “He kissed me, took me by surprise.”

“And?” he prodded.

I sighed. “And, we found out we’re fated mates.” I wasn’t about to admit that I already knew, that would have to wait.

He stopped walking and blinked at me before demanding, “That’s a bad thing?!”

I quickly shook my head. “No, not that part. His um,” I sighed again. “His reasoning for kissing me led me to believe he isn’t ready for something as serious as a mating bond. Not yet at least.” Not that I would ever tell Jeremy the real reason. He didn’t deserve to be betrayed by his own brother like that.

“Oh, are you okay with that?” he asked, walking again.

“I will be. I told him I would wait until he got mature enough for something serious.”

He winced. “You didn’t.”

“Oh,” I mirrored his wince. “I did indeed.”

“I suddenly get why you aren’t together,” he chuckled with a forced smile

“Yeah,” I smiled, but wasn’t feeling it. “’Don’t call Milo immature’ is hereby noted for the future.”

He patted my back and it was like that small touch told me things would be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day.

“On your way to do some work?” he asked, both of us walking in a casual pace.

“Yeah, figured the kitchen could use some help.”

“You’re bored already, aren’t you?” he laughed.