Page 48 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

He nuzzled his head against mine. “We can wait a week or two. But we do need to talk to him.”

“Fine,” I relented.

We stayed silent for a few minutes, watching the clearing as it slowly got swallowed up by shadows.

“Let’s run back. Our mates are waiting,” Jeremy said, standing. And then we ran home, my chest feeling lighter than ever.

I had my brother back in my life and no one could take him away from me ever again.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Darius

My armor was forgotten as I escorted Milo up the hill. My parents would get a new kind of flower for their grave today, something I appreciated Milo even more for. He’d picked out the most beautiful pink roses, just because his only memory of my mom was of her in her white and pink rose apron. I seriously loved that man.

“Are they close to that willow tree?” Milo asked, his grip on my hand tightening, almost as if he could feel my emotions as we approached my parents.

“Yeah,” I rasped, feeling nervous and excited all at once.

“Lovely place for them to rest,” he said, no doubt noticing my emotions.

“They got engaged there,” I explained. “It was a spot they came back to each year for their anniversary. It was also where my mom told my dad about me.”

“You couldn’t have picked a better spot, then,” he smiled. “I would love for us to have a spot like that in the future, too.”

“We already have,” I reminded him. His confused expression had me explaining further with a chuckle. “The waterfall.”

“Oh.” His confusion turned into sadness.

“You don’t agree?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I see the waterfall as something you and Jeremy share. I don’t think I can ever see it as being ours.”

It hurt to hear that, mostly because Milo was the one I often thought about while visiting the waterfall.

“I remember sitting on the stone where we shared our first kiss, wondering how I would tell you we were fated,” I admitted, knowing he needed to hear this. “I went there alone often, trying to come up with the best ways to ensure your happiness. I would spend hours imagining our future. Seeing you smile as I pictured what you’d look like when I got you flowers, or told you how much I loved you.”

Milo wiped his eyes with his free hand. “I can’t believe I meant that much to you even then.”

“You always meant a lot to me. It just took me some years before I realized you were mine.”

“And me much longer,” he grinned.

I returned his smile, feeling my insides warm with his happiness. Once I noticed our surroundings, I realized we were already on the top, just a few steps away from their graves.

Milo smiled knowingly and tugged me along, like he knew I needed the push. My mate could lead me anywhere and I’d follow. If only he knew the power he held over me.

The graves were shaded from the sun, the flowers I’d left were still there but no longer fresh and vibrant. I contemplatedremoving them now that Milo had brought them fresh flowers, but I’d never taken flowers away before and it felt wrong doing so now.

“It truly is a beautiful spot,” Milo said, his gaze lingering on the willow tree.

“We’ll find a spot that’s just ours one day, too,” I reminded him, saddened that the waterfall couldn’t be it. Although he was right. Jeremy and I had spent too much time there together for it to be a place for Milo and me.

Milo kneeled in front of Mom’s grave, his fingers tracing the carved lettering with gentle fingers. He whispered something I couldn’t hear, then placed the flowers between their graves before moving over to Dad’s stone.

I should’ve introduced them, but Milo must’ve known I needed his help with this. I still had no idea why it was so hard being here in my human form, but it was. My parents didn’t deserve to only see my wolf form. If they could see me, they’d want to see both sides of me, both versions. I would need to visit them more often as human, too.

Milo stood and moved to stand next to me. “Thank you for bringing me here. I hope you won’t mind me tagging along next time, too.”