Chapter 13

**Natalia**

I’ve known Cole my entire life, and ever since I’d been able to shift his attitude towards me changed. He became possessive, and I always assumed that it had something to do with my brother. Never in a million years had I thought we could be mates.
When he first told me, I’d become livid on the verge of shifting. He was a sexy man though with his messy, brown hair and don’t even get me started on those tattoos. He was always scaring the guys away and claiming my brother wouldn’t like it, but now I see why. It was him.
About a month ago, he’d come to my room and asked me to work out his kinks in his muscles. I shouldn’t have found him sexy, but I did. He was my brother’s beta and best friend. Day after day he would come to my room hanging out with me while Jaxson was preoccupied with Lana.
Every day we would hang out and I found myself lusting after him, but held back. My brother would’ve killed him most likely. I couldn’t act on these emotions because he would only hurt me in the end. The minute Lucas showed interest in me is when Cole started to act differently. He avoided me like the plague, and I never realized why.
I only took interest in Lucas because nobody seemed to like him around here. It wasn’t until after Cole and Lucas fought that I had seen his true colors. He had manipulated and lied to me. The minute his face inched closer and closer my body shook with panic. He was going to kiss me, and then it happened.
Cole grabbed him and pummeled his face. My brother wouldn’t stop it either. He’d said he had to pay for his actions. Later on, I heard Lucas tell Cole he knew I was his mate, and he didn’t care about that. I didn’t want to be around him anymore and that’s when he took me in the house away from the liar.
He took me to my room and found myself wanting to feel his touch. He looked like he was holding back. The beast inside him was begging to be let out and claim me. I got scared and panicked. I was still a virgin, and from what I hear is it hurts like hell the first time. Some of the she-wolves in this pack have already lost their virginity. Those are what we call the pack sluts. Nobody likes them, not even my brother. Cole feels the same way about them, or that’s what he always said.
The thought of that makes my wolf growl with jealousy. Those girls make me sick at how they parade around always trying to get my brother to notice them. They have no chance in hell now that he’s found his mate. I’m glad he’s finally given in to his wolf and accepted the fact he’s found his other half. I giggle at the thought and how he fought so hard to give in.
“What’s so funny?” A husky voice whispered in my ear.
His arm is still firmly wrapped around my waist and he nuzzles his face in my neck. I shivered when his lips touched my skin.
“Relax, I know you’re not ready. I told you before we’ll go real slow.” He nipped at my neck making me moan.
“I better go. Your brother wanted to talk to me about something.”
My body froze, and he chuckled as he pulled his pants up, zipping them.
“Don’t worry, it’s just about your other brother showing up. He’s cool with us being mates. Well, not cool, but there’s nothing he can do about it. Our fate is sealed.” He told me leaning down, giving me a kiss and winking before walking out.
I rose from the bed and yawned as I looked at my phone. Did I sleep until noon? It must’ve been from all the drama that unfolded earlier. My brother walked in without knocking. “Are you okay now?”
I nodded.
“Listen, I don’t like that you’re mated to him, but to be honest, I’m glad he is. He’ll be able to protect you.” He hugged my side and paused for a moment. “Don’t go downstairs, that’s where Duke is.”
I nodded knowing I should listen to his warning.
I knew I shouldn’t go down there, but I found my feet leading me down the steps. My other brother was always evil. One time, he came to my room and tried to choke me while I was sleeping. If it hadn’t been for Cole, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I don’t know why Duke hated me so much and that’s exactly what I’m doing going down these stairs. I need answers. My brother and Cole are going to be so angry if they catch me, but if they do I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Duke looks up and his lips curl upward grinning at me. He’s tied up and painted in blood with bruises scattering his body. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my dear sister.”
I scoff at him as his grin never falters. “Don’t call me that!”
“They don’t know you’re here. What do you think your mate would think about that?” I scoff at his question and roll my eyes.
“I’m going to ask you something, and I want an honest answer. Why did you try to kill me when I was younger?”
He creased his eyebrows and his eyes flashed up and down my body. He licked his lips, smirking. “You want to know what was going on inside my head? I wanted to take something from you. Can you guess what?”
I started to back away until I bumped into something hard. I gulped knowing who it was.
Duke smirks. “Cole, how nice of you to join us.”
I could feel his anger boiling off of him, and didn’t want to face him. He yanked on my arm, making me yelp. He forced me to look at him and his eyes weren’t his normal ones. They were gold and he was getting angrier by the second.
“I thought your brother told you not to come down here!” He yanked me by my arm leading me away from Duke.
“You disobeyed his orders! Do you know what could’ve happened to you?!” He yelled out pulling me up the stairs and into his room.
His eyes still were gold, and his rage was making his body shake. “I-I’m sorry.”
He held up a hand telling me to keep my mouth shut. His fingers were digging in my skin, and blood began to drip from my arm.
“Let me go! You’re hurting me!” I begged him, hoping for him to dominate his wolf. My brother’s voice made him loosen his grip, and I took the chance to yank it away and try to run out the door. I almost made it out, but then a hand gripped me by my hair yanking me back to him.
“Cole! What’s going on in there? You better not be doing what I think you’re doing!” My brother screamed from the other side. The door hinges came off as my brother busted through the door and he assessed the situation.
“Tell him,” Cole growled in my ear as I looked up to Jaxson.
“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have gone down there, but I needed answers. I wanted to know why he tried to kill me.”
My brother let out a frustrated breath but didn’t seem to be angry like Cole was.
“What did you find out?”
I opened my mouth to talk, but paused. “He said he wanted to take something from me. I’m sure you can figure out what. Just think about it.”
He closed his eyes, then opened them looking to Cole.
“Watch her while I take care of something.” I watched as he stormed out and Cole turned me around to face him.
“Do you know how worried I was when I couldn’t find you?” I looked down refusing to look at him. His fingers find the bottom of my chin, and I’m forced to look up.
“I’m sorry.”
I knew that going down there was a bad idea, but I still went. I just wanted to get some answers, and to do that I had to ask him. Now that I know the truth, it made me hate Duke even more. He is a sick and twisted soul. I just hope he’s suffering down there right now. I let out a shaky breath. “I hope he makes him suffer for thinking about me like that.”
“Trust me, he is.” He growled in my ear, holding me protectively in his arms. “He’s not going to touch you. Ever.”
He pulled me tighter as he growled out the words. I felt something spark inside of me. I couldn’t explain it, but he answered for me.
“The bond is getting stronger.” He told me running his hand up and down my back. I felt my body tingling, making me gasp in shock. “You can feel it, yes?”
Yes. I feel it and it’s making my body heat up. “Yes.”
Placing his lips on my neck, I hear him groan. “I can sense it. Your body heat is rising.”
He removed his lips from my neck and looked deep in my eyes.
“This is where I’ll put my mark.” He ran his fingers over the very spot he just kissed.
I felt a wave of confidence take over me. “Then, mark me.”
“Are you sure, Nat?”
“Mark me.”
His teeth elongated and grazed my neck as if he’s giving me one last chance to back out. I nodded and his teeth sunk in my neck shooting pain in my body. My screams echoed through the house echoing off the walls. It hurt, but at the same time, it pleased me. My screams began to turn into moans. His teeth went deeper until he finally withdrew them and looked at me smiling with blood on his lips.
“You’re mine now.” He said right as I felt my eyes closing, falling into the darkness.
I touched my mark as I looked in the mirror. I was only out for an hour and when I asked him why it happened, he responded with everyone is different. I applied the last touches to my lipstick when I felt a presence behind me.
“Staring is rude you know,” I told my brother, as he stared a hole in my back.
“Did you two…?”
I cut him off as my face blushed in embarrassment.
“No! Just marked me.” I blurted out as my face blushed even more.
“Okay. When it happens, I don’t want to be here. I couldn’t even bear the thought. Just gross. My sister and my best friend. Never mind.”
I know it’s hard for him knowing that his beta and sister were soon going to be having sex. He hated the fact but allowed it. “I just came to tell you that Lana was looking for you. She said something about needing your help with something.” I nodded and he left me standing there wondering what she would need to talk to me about.
I walked in and found her pacing back and forth upset about something.
“I don’t know what to do!” She cried, pulling her hair in frustration. “What’s wrong?”
She frowned and sank on the bed pulling her legs to her chest.
“I-I think…” She struggled to find the words, but couldn’t. “You can’t tell anyone. Please, don’t tell your brother. I think I might be pregnant.”