Chapter 16-

Lucas:
I feel her pain and confusion, I feel her wild heart beating, I feel her heartache. This is killing me, I feel so out of control right now. I want nothing more than to barge into my brother’s house and challenge him again. I know I can’t, I love my brother, but I hate that his hands are on my mate, and that she is hurting. I promised to protect her, and I’ve never felt so useless in my life. Why did I have to lose to him, if I would have been able to overpower him then none of this would be happening.
I choose Ava because I know Ember was scared for her friend, and I want to show her my devotion in any way possible. I knew Ava didn't want a mate, and I only would ever want Ember. When I brought Ava home, she seemed happy to be shown to her own room. I let her know I have no expectation of her, and that I just want her to be safe and comfortable. Since she went to bed, I’ve been running in the woods not being able to stay still in my house knowing my brother is defiling my bride. The woman who gave me her body is now being claimed by another. If I get far enough from them then maybe I won’t be able to feel her turmoil. There is a part of me that wants to just run and start new somewhere else, but I can’t leave my pack, my family. Even if I did find another pack I knew I couldn't leave without Ember.
I run throughout the night awful murderous thoughts running through my brain, plans to steal Ember and run away. When I reach our boarder in the morning looking at our quiet little town, I feel the most unbearable thing possible my mate in ecstasy with another. My mate being filled by someone else. The person I swore my allegiance to. I can’t stop my wolf from howling, crying out to the moon goddess and cursing her in my heart for giving me a mate I can never have. I don't care if he is fucking her, or if she likes it, I still love her, I still want her. My body is weak when I shift back into my human form, drained from running and now the caving in on my chest that makes it hard to breath or think. I’m almost home when I see him sitting on my porch. He was my best friend, but now the only thoughts I have towards him are hatred. “Brother. I heard you and was worried.” “James you are the last person I want to see right now, please go. I am exhausted and need sleep.” “Why were you gone all night and not home with your mate?”
My eyes flashed red and I screamed out. “My mate was in your bed last night! I couldn’t be here feeling her pain, and then worse her pleasure. Now unless there is something you need from me, go!” James stood tall and moved closer to me and said quietly. “Ember is mine. Let go and let her be happy. I don’t want to fight anymore. I need my Beta and my brother. Mate the beautiful young woman in your house. This feeling will pass.” As James began to walk away, I told him. “The feeling I have for Ember will never fade and I will not take another. My body, my mind, and my heart belong to her. No matter how many times you crawl on top of her that wont change. I love you brother, but I love her more. Ava is my guest and has my protection, that is all. We will never be anything more.” James growled out but left before his temper go the better of him. Ava’s window sat directly above the front porch, and I hoped she didn’t hear our conversation.
Ava:
There was a part of me that was glad to not be claimed and forced but another feeling started creeping into my heart, jealousy. I knew about Ember and Lucas, but after he picked me, I felt glad it had been him and not one of the other scary men. I thought eventually we might fall in love, especially with how kindly he treated me last night, making sure I was comfortable and had everything I needed. Now I felt like an unwanted burden. For now, I will be safe and that’s what I needs to focus on. Ember is my friend and I can’t let these new feelings destroy that.
Ember:
When James returned home, he found me in the kitchen washing up the last dish in the sink. “I made breakfast if your hungry.” I smiled at James and pointed to the table that held two pates of hot food. He came up behind me and kissed his mark on my neck and gave me the flowers he picked on the way home as he was clearing his mind. “These are lovely, thank you.” I quickly put them in a vase and sat down at the table with James. We ate together in peace until I asked. “Is he okay?” I knew I shouldn’t mention it, but I was worried. I had figured that’s where he went, to check on his brother. “What do you mean Ember, who?” “Lucas…I heard him this morning before you left. I’m worried about him he sounded so…so broken.” Tears began to spring up in my eyes. James moved to me wrapping me in his arms. “How did you know it was Lucas?” “I felt him. I felt his agony. I broke his heart by giving myself to you, didn’t I?” James held me close, but I could see the fear and anger on his face.
James:
How could she feel him? She was my mate I knew that I felt it before, and I feel it now. How can she be my mate and feel Lucas too? Lucas has been convinced that Ember was his mate and I thought it was just his lust for her clouding his mind. She can’t belong to us both. “He’s okay Ember. Just working through things. I have some pack business to deal with but later I want to take you and show you around town.” “That sounds great until then I’ll settle in and get to know the house.” I kissed her and left, I wanted to check on the new couples and make sure all was well with my new pack members and honestly, I needed time to think.
Ember:
I busied myself by getting familiar with my new home. Things were tidy, organized and cozy. I guessed that James probably didn’t spend much time here outside of sleeping because everything looked almost new like he didn’t touch anything other than the things in his room and in the office. Seeing the other rooms in the house filled me with both fear and excitement. I didn’t know James well enough to love him or want to start a family with him, but I loved the idea of being a mother and filling a home with children. I also knew that giving James children would further take me from Lucas. So many feelings were consuming me how can I be drawn to both men? I knew I loved and wanted Lucas and would choose him if I had the opportunity. James had been a brute, but I also felt like a part of me craved that and loved how powerful and desired he made me feel. There is no doubt in my mind I want both brothers.
James:
I spent the morning checking up on the new couples in the village and all seemed to be going well. As well as could be expected anyway there was bound to be an adjustment period and awkwardness in a new place. I have my own situation that I need to figure out and soon. There is a large part of me that wants to dismiss the possibility of my brother and I having the same mate; true mates are so rare for us now that Lucas and I to both have a mate given by the moon goddess, and that she is the same woman seems impossible. Even if she is both of our mate there is no way that I can fathom us sharing her. I haven’t heard of this happening for generations and the few times it had, it was almost always twin alpha’s that had shared one mate. I will make a point to speak to the elders and seek their knowledge of the subject. For now, I just want to be close to Ember and get to know her. I want her to myself. I want to prove to her that I am more than a monster that took her from someone else. I want her love, not only her willing body.