#15

Evander POV
The siblings sat at the table and I stepped into the sitting room and grabbed a quilt off the loveseat. Coming back into the room. Engulfing her slight form in the blanket.
"The rouges are skirting the territory a few have tried to enter, after you left," he explained as I sat down. "It’s not a handful, it's nearly a hundred. I don’t know why, here of all places; no one here would be a target for them. “Who are rouges? Who do they target?” She asked curiously. It was a good, fair question for someone from the outside. “A rogue is a wolf who has alienated themselves from a pack by choice or by circumstance.” “Some turn feral due to a traumatic event, or they denounce their pack leaders out of spite or greed.” I answered her the best I could. “They are not to be confused with lone wolves who choose to live out of pack life for their own reasons. However, our kind typically doesn’t do well away from others like us. We thrive within our communities and established goals and working together.” “As for who would be the target? Many things could come to play for that. First, someone who wronged them or their mate before they turned, 2nd a pack or individuals they saw as a threat before they turned, 3rd blind rage. These wolves have no reason to fear you and you've harmed none of their 'mates,' whatever that is?” Diablo eyed me, realizing I hadn't explained everything to her. “No, there has only been one rogue created from this pack when his mate died from a tragic accident.”

“Are they acting irrationally like rage is driving them?” “No,” Blake stated, “it’s like they are waiting for something, staying on the outskirts none of them ventured in until you left. It was as if they wanted to cross the territory, but we chased them off.” She pondered this. “They backed back off throughout the day today.” my beta finalized. “It’s all very strange.” I added. All her questions were valid. I noted. She had a very strategic mind.
"I may need to 'sleep on it," she nodded at her brother. He shrugged, tilting his head from side to side like he was weighing the pros and cons of whatever she suggested. “Well, we should get you settled and get some rest. Come along Sis, I’ll take you home,” Diablo/Blake/Raven… I didn’t even know if I knew him anymore.

I let out a feral growl. He growled back meeting my stare with zero shits given. Not even my brother could challenge me like this. He would feel my aura if I forced it, but that wasn’t who I was. His dominance my beast respected which was a rarity. His stature had nothing to do with it. He could be the smallest Alpha in existence and I would still hold him over all the others. He was simply being protective of his sister. However, I was not going to enjoy being away from her. If that was her choice.

She looked at him, confused. He looked at me, daring me to protest. She glanced between us, sensing the tension. “I’m not going anywhere.” She stated firmly. Her expression steeled. Pride swelled in me at her words. My mate wanted to be with me.

Diablo looked disgruntled. His little sister was going to be staying with his best friend, even though he clearly knew how the mating pull worked. “You sure Roury? You barely know this guy.” He tried to reason, his voice edged with anger. I braced myself for the wild, more unpredictable, dominant wolf to strike. I let out a rumble in a warning. She stepped back, placing a hand on my chest, and giving me a small smile. She smiled too sweetly and straightened, eyeing him. Looking up at him in a way that conveyed, ‘as if you have rights.’ “I’m not a lil girl anymore Blake, I’ve been making my own decisions just fine for the last 6 years”.

I grimaced at the sting that must have left as I glanced at Diablo. He shook his head, absorbing a blow he felt he completely deserved. “Besides, our souls have linked, and we hardly know each other. We need time to ourselves,” she said hesitantly. His face dropped, and fiery anger crossed his features. “What?” he spat out. His chest heaved as he looked like he was fighting the shift and I braced myself for impact. “Are you insane Aurora?” “You met the guy like two days ago!” “What were you thinking?” “Do you have any idea how dangerous that could have been?”

She sat back, leaning instinctively back on me as if she knew her touch, however slight, would have the desired effect to keep me calm. My hands settled on her hips, prepared to toss her behind me if he lost his shit. “I, dear brother, do not need your approval,” she threw her words at him. “bha feum air turas na ma`thar!” (‘The Mother’s journey required it’) She glared at him, giving him the ancestrial language as a token of how grave and seriously she took her actions, that he should not question their goddess.

“Aggh,” he growled out, running his fingers through his unruly hair. He seemed to be stifling the shift, as the muscles bunched and settled beneath his skin. This was when I realized that what she did with me had been bigger to them. It wasn’t simply something I thought had happened between us as mates. I’d have to ask her later. I didn’t want to stir the pot more than we already had. Seeing my dear friend go through so many emotions during a time he should be joyous to be united with his sister was telling. He let out a heavy sigh. “Tha na tha air a dhe`anamh air a dhe`anamh” (what’s done is done) he said with a defeated voice. "I’m staying here tonight but I do want to meet the person who you are keeping from me." She said trying to appease him while pointing out he was no saint. He smiled fondly through his frustration, most likely thinking of his mate. “I'm not keeping her from you. In fact, I may as well tell you, you’re going to be an aunt soon.” He admitted.

She squealed, catapulting forward, and hugged him as if all was forgiven. " I'm so happy for you!" She kissed both his cheeks, smiling from ear to ear, eyes shining. I about fell to my knees at the sight of that smile. I wanted that every day for the rest of my life. But the jump in her personality from hot to cold made me a little nervous to be on the receiving end of her fury. “Come by tomorrow after breakfast. I have some confessions to give my mate tonight.” He sighed. “Nobody knew about you. I was trying to keep you safe. However, you are here now, so I think the cat is about to be out of the bag. So, those closest need to know.” He stated. She nodded. “Evander already knows most of it,” she confessed. He nodded, looking up at me. “I’m trusting you to do right by that knowledge,” he said, eyeing me. “But I’m glad you know what you are getting into,” he smiled, glancing teasingly at his sister. She playfully smacked at him to stop it.
“Besides,” he whispered to her, “This Alpha will die for his Luna so I know for a fact you are in the best place you could be.” “And I can tell already you’d do the same for him.” He grinned at her. Caught off-guard by his confession. She glanced shyly at me. “I’ve been in your shoes, Sis,” he said with a smile. “So, let's be open,” he grimaced. “Ok, not entirely open, and try to figure all this out together?” Blake offered. “Let me sleep on the rogue problem,” she said. I raised a brow, not knowing what she was trying to say. “Are we sure that’s wise?” he asked. Eyes searching hers for confirmation. “I’ve had more practice,” she stated. “Ok,” he said hesitantly. “But be careful.” He cautioned. “OK, but if something happens or if it’s serious, expect a slumber party?” she interjected.

At the least, I was hoping she was kidding. A slumber party with my sister, her mate, my mate’s, brother just wasn't exactly how I had pictured the night. "I'll leave you two," he said. Eyeing me. Knowing this routine. I'd had played it on him and he had every right as her older brother to pin me in my place. Alpha or not. I raised my hands in surrender and nodded. "Fear not, my friend. The ball is in her court, not mine." He eyed me a moment more before giving her a long hug and kissing the top of her hair. "I'll see you tomorrow, if not sooner." He promised. Before he slipped out the door.

Turning her focus to me. "Mates? Luna?" she questioned. "Let us get cleaned up and some food, then we can talk. I have questions too." Taking a metal pitcher out of the cabinet, and scooped it full of the warm water. "I’ll show you where the towels are." Taking her wrist as her hands still clutched the quilt to her and began to lead her up the stairs. She followed and nearly tripped over the stairs. Which was the darkest part of the cabin, away from the glow of the kitchen. When I realized she couldn't see in the dark as I could. “Here,” I held out the pitcher to her. She took it after tucking the blanket over her elbows, and I gently scooped her up.
Careful not to spill the water as we moved up the stairs. I set her down in my room. Laying the blanket over a desk chair, she brought forth energy into the palm of her hand. Emitting light from a sphere. I was realizing when she did different things the energy felt well, different. She surveyed the room. While I pulled towels and washcloths out of the closet. She set the pitcher on the dresser and moved to the fire, placing a few logs. She lit the fire with her intent, allowing her to see better, and she extinguished the light in her palm, filtering the energy back where it came. “you truly are a gifted bana-bhuidseach” ‘witch’ I stated. “If you want to call hiding your entire life a gift,” she said sadly. “You are free now and safe here,” I said. Wrapping her in an embrace and kissing the top of her head. She nodded into my chest as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

She sighed big as she pulled away after a few moments. She glanced about, observing the room. Landing on the towels with the clothes, I pulled out for her. "If you want to put all your clothes in the hamper, I’ll have them washed in the morning." She nodded, scooping up the towels and clothes along with her pack. "I’ll be downstairs if you need anything." "OK, I'll be fine." She responded, shimmying into the washroom.