My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 30

Emily's

POV

I was restless all night. I had another dream. It was short, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. The only thing I remember was fire. Hot, burning, blistering fire. I woke up in a sweat. Unable to get it out of my mind, I tossed an turned for the rest of the night, only drifting off every now and then. When I wasn't thinking about my dream I thought about the note from 'B' and about the prophecy. When I saw the sun making a break in the night, I got up. I needed to get this day over with.

I can't believe I have to pretend my way through this. How can I even look Mike in the face? How can I look the Alpha and Luna in their faces? I've learned they are more involved than I originally thought. It sucks being surrounded by people you know you can't trust. I make my way to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. As I'm drying off I hear a gentle knock at the door. It's a little early for anyone to be up, I wonder who it could be. My body tenses up at the thought of it being the man with the pale blue eyes. Did he find me? Why would he knock? I slowly make my way to the door hoping that maybe I can hear the stranger and figure out who it is if I get closer..

"It smells like Carol." Sam says. Whew! All my muscles relax, I let out a sigh of relief. All this drama is really taking a toll on my nerves. I could really go for a run. Sam could use a good stretch. I open the door to Carol.

"Hey wh-" She walks past me and closes the door behind her. She pauses for a moment. I look at her confused I'm about to ask her what's going on when I pause. I can hear foot steps down the hall. I close my eyes and listen. They're walking further away from us. My body tenses up again. Is it the man with the pale blue eyes? I listen intently, and I hear the front door squeak open. I run over to my window to see who just walked out of the alpha pack house. It's an omega. He must be going to get some ingredients for breakfast. My body relaxes again. I let out a sign of relief.

Carol looks at me like I'm crazy. "What is going on?" She whispers. "No! What is going on with YOU?! I reply in a sort of whisper yell. "Why are you awake so early Carol?"

Carol tiptoes back to my door and puts her ear against it.

"I think I'm being followed." She whispers back.

"Is that why you're here so early?"

"Yes. I couldn't sleep. It's been happening for the past two days."Carol closes her eyes as if to focus. "I think we're in the clear." She walks over and sits on my bed. Then Carol says at a normal volume, "So what's wrong with you? Why do you look so.. frazzled?" I glance over at my mirror and see tufts of my still wet hair outlining my face like a lions mane. I pat the hairs flat.

"Oh, I Uh.. couldn't sleep either, I was just washing my face when I heard you knock.."

"Why were you so concerned with that omega?" Carol asks.

"It's nothing! I'm just a little.. stressed." I walk over and sit down next to Carol. "So a stalker? What's that all about?" Carol loves talking about herself, and I'm happy to change the subject away from me.

"Well two days ago I was sitting in the cafeteria for breakfast, you know how much I love waffles," I nod in agreement. "I have my ear pods in and I'm sitting at my favorite little circular table, you know the one in the corner?" I nod in agreement. "Well, I was listening to this great new podcast. I can't get enough of it by the way, It's about this woman who goes on this year long journey to de-clutter, organize, and update her home. She just got divorced-" "Carol! Back to the stalker"

"Oh, right! So I'm eating my waffles when I look up and see these two guys eating about two tables away. One of them was staring at me. When I looked up he looked away quickly, and tried to act like he wasn't just staring me down." "Who were they?" I ask.

"I don't know, but they looked like warriors. You know how warriors usually keep to themselves. Anyway I look down at my plate, but I was watching the one guy with my Perfifiuls." "You mean peripherals?" I say.

"Yeah, right like the sides of my eyes, like looking but not REALLY looking."

"I get it."

"So yeah, and I see this guy keeps glancing over at me, like over and over again. So I'm thinking do I have butter on my chin or something? So I wipe my face but the napkin is CLEAN!" "What did the guy look like?" I ask, trying to keep Carol on track.

"Oh, He was cute! In a sort of 'I work out a lot and I watch what I eat. Kinda way."

"What color hair, how tall?"

"He had light brown hair, Umm not sure maybe 5'10. I'm not good at guessing height. He was definitely taller than me." Carol is short, everyone is taller than her.

"So you saw a warrior watching you eat your breakfast?"

"I wasn't done yet! Anyways, I finished my waffles and I went to go help my mom at the shop in town. So I got in my car and I drove over there. When I got to the shop I got out of the car I noticed this blue car pull into a spot across the lot. I SAW THAT CAR PARKED AT THE PACK HOUSE. I remember it cuz it had this rust stain that sort of looked like a puppy. So I crouch down to see who this driver is and it was the guy from breakfast."

"Ok that's a bit odd."

"Right!? I watch him and he heads down the sidewalk away from the shop. I'm thinking okay it was just a weird coincidence. So I go in and try to forget about it. I help mom stock the shelves. All the while I just keep listening to the podcast. Suuper inspirational by the way," Carol's mom, Aunt Becky, runs a general store in town.

"By the time my shift is over, I've actually forgotten about the guy. Mind you it's been like 6-ish hours. I go out to my car and start driving home. I'm vibing to my music when I notice the blue car like a hundred feet behind me! I floor it! By now I'm back on the pack lands. I speed over to my house and park. I am like totally FREAKING OUT AT THIS POINT!"

"Shhh." I remind her. It's still pretty early. I don't want Mike coming in here.

"Right sorry. I don't know what to do, I don't know what's going on. It could still all be just a big coincidence at this point. So I put it to the test. Later that night, I sneak out and go into the woods. I shift into my wolf and go for a run. I run to that cave we found that one time under that cliff. Remember? The weird curvy one?"

"I remember." I say

"I knew I could duck in there without anyone seeing, so I ran to the cave and waited inside. It took a few minutes, but just when I thought I was crazy. Two wolves ran by!"

"Wow, okay that was.. A LOT. Uhh, yeah it doesn't sound like a coincidence to me. Did you see them any more after that?"

"No. I ran home and stayed inside for the rest of the night. I've been trying to keep a low profile since. Although I did peek in at warrior training yesterday. I saw him there, but he didn't see me. Do you know who this guy is? Light brown hair, glistening 6 pack? Any of this ringing any bells?"

"No it doesn't sound familiar, but we can find out. I have a plan, and we can do it at breakfast."

"Thanks Em' man it feels good to get that off my chest!"

I wish I could get a few things off mine.. I think to myself.

"The Announcement is tonight, right?" Carol asks.

"Yeah, I'm not looking forward to it."

"How come?"

I ponder if I should tell Carol about everything that's happened. "We'll get there. But first let's deal with these guys. Okay so here's the plan. All you need to do is go to breakfast alone. Put your ear pods in, do exactly what you did the other day. When you see them, mind link me and let me know where they are. I'll take care of the rest." I tell her.

"Can I stay here until breakfast?"Carol yawns

"Of course you can." She crawls under the covers and lays down. It's a few hours till breakfast so we watch some tv. Carol falls asleep. I'm envious of her sleep. Maybe I could sleep better too if I wasn't so stressed out. I wish I had Liam here with me right now. My mind wanders thinking about him. I feel a ping in my heart. What happened to him? Where is he?

I don't realize how much time has passed, but I start hearing people wake up and go down for breakfast. I wake up Carol.

"You ready? I ask.

"Let's do it!" She says.

Carol heads down to the cafeteria alone, while I wait upstairs for her to tell me when she sees them. I sit in my room waiting to hear from her. After a few minutes she mind links me.

"Em, they're here. Four tables in front of me."

"Ok, I'm coming." I head out of my room. I hear Mike's door open, but I'm already rushing down the stairs. I make it to the cafeteria and look for Carol. I see her.

"Two tables in front of you, and to the left." Carol says. I look to where she is saying. I see two guys sitting at a table. I grab a cup of coffee and walk right towards them. I plop down right next to the light brown haired guy.

"Hey guys, What's up?" I say to them. Carol mind links me,

"WHAT ARE YOU DO-" I break the mind link. I actually do recognize these guys. I've never talked to them before, but I have seen them around. They stare at me. The light brown haired guy shifts in his seat. They both look stiff and uncomfortable. "What? Cat got your tongue?" I joke.

"Hello Luna." They both say. Ah yes, very stiff.

"So what's going on?" The guys just look at each other. I notice Mike enter the room. He spots me and heads in my direction.

"If you come over here I will scream." I say in mind link. He stops suddenly and stares at me.

"So are you boys going to tell me why you're following my cousin around or am I going to have to cause a scene?" I ask the two guys at the table. They look even more shocked than they already did.

"Jacob is Carol's mate." The other guy blurts out. Jacob, the light brown haired guy, hits him in response.

Wow. It all makes sense.

"So why are you following her?" I ask Jacob directly.

"Well, She's my mate, and I just wanted to know what she was into and what she was like. I just turned 18 a few days ago." Carol turns 18 in a few months. It's typical to wait for both parties to turn 18 before revealing mates. "Well for one, she knows you're following her, and you kind of freaked her out. And two, you can just ask me. She's my best friend."

"She's freaked out?" Jacob says panicked.

"Well yeah. Who wouldn't be if they thought they were being followed? But don't worry, knowing Carol when she finds out you're her mate she'll probably take it as a compliment." "Could you not tell her. I just want her to find out when she turns 18." Jacob says quickly.

"Alright. That's in two months by the way." I could see him take a deep breath.

"I'm glad I don't have to wait too long. But please, Luna. Could you just keep it between us? I'll stop following her around, I swear. Oh God, I hope she doesn't think I'm some weirdo."

"Don't worry, I won't spoil it." I smile. Jacob seems sweet. I am SO excited for Carol. I glance over and see Mike still standing in the middle of the cafeteria. I forgot I told him not to come any closer.

"You can come over now." I tell him. He walks over to us.

"What is going on?" He looks mostly at me.

"Can I tell him?" I ask Jacob. Just then I smell Mike and I can feel the mate bond pull. I fight against it.

"I guess," Jacob looks at Mike, "Please don't say anything." Jacob begs. Mike looks at me confused.

"He's Carol's mate." I whisper. Mike laughs.

"Carol?! The girl who loves stupid movies and practically lives in her bed is Jacob, the elite warrior's, mate?" Mike laughs again.

"Stupid movies? Like what?" Jacob asks.

"Well I caught her watching The Cable Guy the other day. She likes Dumb and Dumber, Step Brothers. You know, stuff like that."

"I LOVE those movies!" Jacob says excitedly.

Aww young love. I think.

"Oh man, I can't wait for Carol's birthday! I'm definitely not gonna miss that one!" Mike says. Jacob looks relieved.

"What is going on over there?" I hear Carol say to herself. I mind link her as I get up and head over to where she is sitting.

"Oh girl, it's good news." I say in mind link.

"What?! Good news what do you mean?" Carol says out loud as I take a seat in front of her. I crouch in close.

"So I'm not allowed to say anything, but.. You'll find out in two months." I whisper and wink at her. Carol tilts her head in confusion. I see her trying to figure it out, her eyebrows are furrowed in thought. "Two months? Why so long? And why so specific?"

"What happens in two months Carol?" I ask trying to help speed along this process.

"Umm my birthday. OH! MY BIRTHDAY. I'll be 18. Oh goddess. He's my mate. Oh PLEASE tell me which one it is!" I shh her to keep it down.

"It's the light brown haired one. His name is Jacob."

"Jacob? What is he like? What kind of stuff is he into? What did his voice sound like? What does he do in the pack?"

"Woah woah woah. I can tell you he's a fan of the same movies you are into, and he's an elite."

Carol groans.

"An elite? He's going to make me workout and do fit people stuff. When have I ever?"

"I'm sure Jacob's going to love you just the way you are."

"You think so?" She glances over to the guys. Mike is still talking to them. I notice Jacob was staring at her again. He quickly looked away when Carol looked over.

"He's cute for a stalker." She smiles and blushes a bit. Then she lets out a big sigh of relief.

"Whew! Well thank goddess that wasn't.. You know more serious." I raise my eyebrows in agreement. "Thanks for helping me out Em."

"No problem Carol!" We spend the rest of breakfast laughing about the misunderstanding and talking about boys. I'm happy Carol's not in any danger. With everything that's been happening to me I've noticed that I tend to jump to the worst case scenario. It was nice to have a normal teenage moment. It almost made me forget about the Alpha announcement tonight. Almost!