The Alpha's Brother's Mate

I stood silently in the corner as I watched my adoptive mother, Lydia, move around with her unusual busy schedule.

My mother, a werewolf doctor, found me near the border of their territory when I was yet a newborn, and took me in without second thoughts. I spent most of my life inside the doctor’s house, barely daring to step out to be confronted by so many other werewolves. I am now 20 years old and yet, I still refuse to step out. My mother persists on reminding me how important it is to socialize with others in order for me to properly fit in the pack. However, we both are perfectly well aware for why I deny any closeness or for why I should yet avoid getting too involved into the pack. It is within me and it cannot be changed. It is part of who I am.

“Axe, sweetie, give me a hand here.” - My mother struggled to lift a box filled with many medical supplies. I quickly but smoothly got to her and easily held the box in my hands. - “Thank you darling. Take that to the storage room please.” - I complied to her command and silently made my way to the storage room, which was not far. Honestly speaking, all these people circling in the house were getting me unsettled and quite annoyed. I just wished everyone would deal with their war issues somewhere else and leave me and my mother alone.

Both of us don’t go out as frequently as other people would do but information is easily reached when we have constant pack members bursting into the doctor’s house. Apparently, a strangely oversized group of rogues had recently showed up near the pack’s borders demanding their territory. Our alpha was all but enlightened by the simple fact some mere rogues dared to trespass their limits and threaten him. With the warning of a certain near attack, the whole pack went on preparation mode. There were wolves running every way, either to provide medical supplies, safe escapes for the mothers and the pups, patrols and so on.

My instincts screamed to run away from there as it was a fight we did not belong to. I had no connection to the pack and never even met the alpha or his luna, if he even had one. The only thing still holding me back was the only purpose of my life. My dear and frail mother. She was not young and she wasn’t near as strong as any of those wolves outside. On the day we got to know about the potential attack, I was sure to suggest my mother to flee and leave the fight for those who belonged to it. Deep inside me I already knew her answer would be a big fat no. She praised mostly her loyalty towards her pack and her alpha.

Sighing, I adjust my hoodie, making sure it was properly covering my entire hair and slowly return to the main room, where my mother was discussing something with a pack member. I looked away to avoid catching anyone’s attention. I looked out of the window imagining myself running around freely without fearing someone to catch me and demand my departure.

Hours were spent doing basically nothing. I’d help my mother once or twice but then; she’d manage to deal with everything by herself. It was near the late afternoon that finally the last person left the house. A sigh of relief inevitably escaped my lips to the silence.

My mother’s chuckle echoed through the now empty house, and it was like a soothing melody to my ears that never failed to calm me down.

“I noticed you couldn’t stop sighing the whole day.” - Her soft hand moved my hoodie away from my head, for it to find its way towards my hair afterwards, caressing it in slow moves.

“Do they even know when they will attack?” - It was the first thing that came to my mind. I was just praying for it to end soon. - “I’m wondering what the rogues are even waiting for.”

“They are expecting them to attack in a few days. That’s the reason why there was non-stop movement today.” - I could see in her eyes and sense in her voice how worried she was. She obviously didn’t know what to expect or what to do. As far as I knew, she had never been through such a situation before. I nodded and kindly pulled into a hug, making sure to take deep breathes of her motherly scent while she’d keep caressing me. My anxiety was rising and negative thoughts persisted on trying to creep in. Not even my mother’s scent seemed to sooth the storm that was starting to form inside me.

The rest of the day was the usual silence we both cherished. Nevertheless, this night was spent with both of us sleeping in the same bed, the same way we used to when I was just a small defenseless boy.

…

The following morning was a complete nightmare. We wore woken by the sound of screams, yells and cries from the fighting. Apparently, the rogues decided to do a surprise attack while everyone was still sleeping.

My mother rushed me to get ready and prepare a bag with some necessary stuff. I was confused but did as ordered while she was doing the same.

“One of the warriors of the pack told me they were waiting for back up from another pack and if things didn’t go smoothly before they’d get here, they would be warning the whole pack to run.” - I wasn’t sure why she was telling me all this but I could tell by the way she was rushing everything, that she was utterly worried and fearful.

Suddenly, everything went into a deep silence as a long howl was heard. I sensed in the air the grieve of loss. The alpha had fallen and now everyone was to escape the rogues. Everything was happening so fast I could barely think. Just a few weeks ago everything was okay. Everyone was happy, in harmony and at peace. Now it was all ruined. There was disaster everywhere I could think of.

My mother got a hold of her bag and I followed her and so we proceeded to flee from what I once called a home.