When we reached my room, I dropped my bag by the desk and took a deep breath before turning around.
I reached to take my duffel from her and set it next to my school bag.
“Were you really just going to leave? No fight at all?” She looked shocked.
“He’s my brother, not my boyfriend.” I was growing tired of repeating it. “There’s never been anything like that between us. I might be human, but I’ve known him my whole life, and we’re tight. I get how mates work, how important they are. He’s an Alpha, and an Alpha needs his Luna. Nothing is more important for the pack’s future. I’m not going to get in the way out of selfishness. So yes, I was going to leave, because you don’t want me near him. You don’t want me here.”
I rubbed my face and sat on the bed, patting the space beside me.
“I’ve never once run at my brother like that. I’m usually more likely to throw something at him.” That broke the tension, and I let out a strangled laugh.
“But how close are you and your brother? I mean, in age?”
“Six years apart. He’s 26, I’m 20.”
I nodded. “Jer and I are the same age**literally. We were born on the same day in the same hospital. That’s how close our moms were. My mom was visiting when they both went into labor at the same time. We’re basically like twins, raised that way.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “That explains some things. Not why he sleeps in your room, but we’ll get there. What about the other guys?”
“What about them?” I tried to steady my breathing now that she wasn’t growling at me. My head throbbed from all the crying.
“Oh, come on. You didn’t leave all those hot guys alone! No mate yet? And they’re all so protective of you. Anyone can see you’re close with all of them.”
“What do you mean ‘no mate yet?’ I’m human. Do you know the odds of me being mated? I can’t even be inducted into the pack because the elders think it would kill me. Being marked would probably be just as bad.” I chose not to respond to her other comment**I didn’t know her well enough yet.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before. We don’t have any humans in our pack right now, so I’m not sure how that works.”
“No idea. Aunt Beth won’t even consider it. So I’m a human living in a werewolf pack with no real connection, staying with the Alpha’s family but not blood-related,” I said darkly.
“So…I’m guessing you’ve never had romantic feelings for Jeremiah. It’s written all over your face.” She giggled, sounding like a little girl. “But you dodged my other question**that means you’ve given the other guys a test drive.” She winked, and I glanced toward the door, sure someone was eavesdropping.
“‘Test drive’ is a strong phrase.” I tried to dodge the question.
“Oh, give it up! I want to know these guys. I’ll get some of that in my own time here, but I want to see what kind of team the Goddess put around my Alpha. How they treat a woman says a lot about who they are.” She giggled again.
‘My Alpha.’ She’d already made the mental switch.
“They’re all great, but I might be biased.” I shrugged and smiled faintly.
“So, which one are you dating right now? I feel like each of them would bring something different. Who was your first?”
– Kennedy
My eyes suddenly widened in surprise. “First what?” I asked, still trying to dodge the question. I was certain everyone chatted about these things in private, but it was never a topic we openly shared as a group.
“Yes! I knew it! So, who was your first kiss?” she pressed eagerly.
“Huh?!” I blinked, caught off guard.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Any red-blooded, unattached woman would be foolish not to accept whatever attention came her way. And you’re beautiful**everyone’s noticed. So, tell me. Who. Was. Your. First. Kiss?”
I hesitated, then whispered, “Jason.” I covered my face, feeling a blush creeping up. I wasn’t sure why I felt embarrassed to admit it. It was a sweet memory, and everyone was around when it happened. “But just that one time, during a game of spin the bottle. It’s not really something we talk about.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What about Tommy? He doesn’t seem like the kind to stop at just kissing. But somehow, I don’t think you slept with him.” I shook my head in denial. She grinned mischievously, like a Cheshire Cat. “Yes! So, how far did it go?”
“Are you some kind of mind reader?” I asked, sitting back as she simply stared at me, waiting expectantly. That alpha confidence was unmistakable**she was used to getting her way. I sighed and finally gave in. “Far enough. Look, the guys and I don’t really discuss this stuff. I don’t know how much Jer’s been told, and I don’t want things to get weird between us if he finds out by accident. Or worse, a fight**he’s fiercely protective, if you haven’t noticed.” I glanced at her again, and she just lifted an eyebrow, silently urging me to continue. Her patience was maddening. “Fine. It was during a game of seven minutes in heaven, and honestly, it didn’t mean anything…” I looked down at my lap, twisting my fingers nervously.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.