Page 3 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

Chapter Two

Darius

Ever since Milo turned eighteen, I’d been bouncing on my feet, not knowing when to approach him, or if he’d even realized we were fated. The way he’d avoided everyone after Jeremy was chosen as Alpha yesterday hadn’t seemed right. It was no surprise that Milo wanted to be Alpha, everyone knew as much. He was always ready to help out at the packhouse, cooking, cleaning, whatever was needed he’d do. He was basically the packs People Pleaser, unbeknownst to him, of course. But the pack loved him for it, even if he never seemed to truly take in the thanks he’d get whenever he did something.

Milo seemed broken in some ways, rarely smiling and whenever he did, it seemed forced,fake. I’d seen his real smile, not often, but I had, and there was no smile like it. The fake ones didn’t light up his eyes. They didn’t make me feel like I’d won the grand prize just by looking at him. No, they were dull and lifeless, something I wished he wouldn’t do. I wished he’d smile for real.Allthe time.

Sniffing the air, I followed the lingering scent of my fated, hoping to catch him alone. The more I waited, the more agitated my wolf became. We longed to claim our mate. To make himours in every way possible. I’d known Milo was mine since he was seventeen and his scent had drifted my way. It’d been obvious, but it could take a while for his wolf to catch up and it was rare for shifters to scent our mates before we turned twenty. I’d promised myself to wait until he turned eighteen and would be an adult, grown enough to consent to the mating bite and a life with me forever. I also knew Paul—Milo and Jeremy’s dad—would prefer for Milo to be an adult before he was mated, so I’d waited. But I couldn’t hold off anymore.

So, with my heart beating faster than normal in anticipation, I entered the waterfall area where Jeremy and I spent most of our time together, just lazing about and watching the water. On the biggest stone sat my fated, looking so small and hurt. I intentionally made some noise so as to not startle him as I approached. His head snapped up and turned, his worried gaze met mine and his blue eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears.

After I’d talked him into staying, I sat next to him on the rock, feeling the warmth radiate from his body. It was almost enough to make me groan. Milo already held my heart and everything that I was. He seemed so clueless of my reaction as I sat there, vibrating with the need to kiss him, to rip the baggy clothes off his body and worship him in front of the water, not allowing him to feel the cold as my own naked body would protect him while we both basked in the pleasure of each other’s presence.

Unable to stop myself, I tilted his chin up, shivering with the small skin to skin contact. His eyes met mine again, sovulnerable and beautiful as they searched my own. His eyes were the perfect shade of light blue with a dark ring in the middle, making them seem otherworldly.

To my utter surprise and joy, he leaned in, closing the distance between us. I met him eagerly, placing my lips on his, feeling the soft gasp that left him as his warm lips connected to mine, sealing us together.

I groaned, unable to stop my hands from gripping his neck and chin, holding him in place, afraid to let this moment end too soon.

He whimpered, his hands holding on to my jacket, like he wanted me as close as possible. I smiled internally, preening as I finally got to feel my fated lips on mine.Finally.

Breaking apart to look into his eyes, we smiled at one another. His smile, the genuine one I was missing, like the sun, warmed me up from the inside as he giggled softly. I knew the look on my face must’ve been ridiculous, but I couldn’t care less. I was happy.

“I can’t believe it,” he whispered, then giggled again. “I truly did steal you for good.”

My happy expression morphed into confusion. “Steal?”

“Yeah,” he giggled again, his eyes shining with happiness. “I selfishly wanted to steal you from Jeremy, and it worked.”

I sat back a little, making him frown with confusion. “Explain,” I demanded, feeling uneasecreep up.

“Well,” he rubbed his neck and blushed. “I know Jeremy likes you, and I felt angry at him. Then you showed up here looking like you wanted to kiss me. I thought I could finally get him back, you know, and kiss the guy he likes. But now I know we’re fated, and how cool is that?! So, I guess I stole you for good.” He giggled again, but unlike the other times where his laugh would’ve filled me with pleasure, it only grated.

“You… You only kissed me, to get back at your brother?”

“Well, yeah,” he shrugged, like it was nothing. “But it worked out perfectly! I never would’ve found out we were fated had I not kissed you.”

He hadn’t kissed me because he wanted me. No, I was just a means to get back at his brother, who, by the way, didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Gods, this meant Jeremy liked me? I hated that for us, how could I tell him I was meant for his brother? I’d told Paul about it, but he’d been afraid Jeremy might let it slip to Milo so I was told to keep it to myself. If I’d told Jeremy a year ago, would it have changed things?

My heart was breaking as I watched the smile falter from Milo’s face. “What’s wrong?” he asked looking truly concerned.

“I thought you wanted me,” I admitted. “But I was just a chess piece in your petty games.”

I stood, and went to leave the waterfall behind, the area forever tainted with this new memory.

“Wait!” he called, running up to me. “It might have started like that, but we’re fated! We belongtogether.”

“Perhaps, but you just proved how immature and petty you are.” He gasped indignantly. “And I obviously never meant more to you than to be used to hurt your brother, a man I love as a brother myself. So fated or not, we won’t be mating anytime soon.”

“What do you mean?” he snapped. “Because I’m too immature you don’t want me? Is that it?”

I just stared at him. “We will forever be fated and I’m willing to wait until you’ve grown more mature and confident in your skin before we mate. Mating is for life, Milo, and you truly aren’t ready for forever.”

He just gaped at me, so I turned and left him there, my heart in his hands as I wandered back home, hoping I wouldn’t have to wait forever for him to truly want me.

The tears caused by my breaking heart fell freely as I hid between the trees, avoiding every possibility someone might see me.

I’d barely slept, which meant I was up way too early. It would appear that I was not a morning person.