Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Alexia’s POV

“Derek,” the woman named Gracie nodded and turned towards Amos. “Brother and ah, Lucas.”

“What?!” I blurted out loud. Lucas grabbed my hand to calm me but the shock was too overwhelming. Uncle Amos and Gracie both shared the famous curly brown Awbrey hair and charming blue eyes.

“Amos, Derek,” the stranger behind Gracie said.

“Brandon,” they both said at the same time.

“What brings you here Gracie?” Uncle Amos asked, sipping his water as if nothing was wrong.

“I just wanted to visit you guys. It’s been lonely since you two left,” Gracie trailed on, letting the silence take control.

“How on earth did you find us here in Michigan?” Derek asked. There was sorrow and sadness in his eyes that I could never imagine Derek to hold.

“Were you trying to hide?” Gracie said a little sad but forced a smile and looked at everyone around the table until her eyes came onto mine. “Who are you?” she asked, looking directly at me.

“This would be my mate,” Lucas said, giving his best smile to Gracie. I could tell that he didn’t really feel comfortable around them but he tried to put on a show. He was great at hiding his emotion but it was easy for me to decipher what he felt.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she smiled at me and nodded respectively at Lucas.

“Do you have a place to stay for tonight?” Derek questioned.

“No, we don’t.” Gracie smiled timidly.

“If you’re looking for a house to stay you and Brandon are welcomed at my place,” Derek offered as a nice gesture. Gracie beamed in happiness and relief.

“That would be very kind of you,” Gracie smiled but Derek only nodded stiffly and tried to return the smile but it was weak.

“You’re welcomed to sit sister. You too, Brandon,” Uncle Amos smiled, making more room for the two. “Well, aren’t we just one big family?” Uncle Amos chuckled nervously when everyone settled down in their seats.

There were many ‘hellos’ afterwards and after a while, the tension in the room melted away and regular conversations took place. I didn’t get much of what they were talking because they seemed to join Uncle Amos and Derek reminiscing about the past so Lucas and I sat back and relaxed.

[This is definitely a weird turn of events,] Lucas chuckled in my mind. I smiled as he wrapped his hand around mine. It felt good to be with him in public and be able to do whatever we pleased. Just a little over a month ago, Lucas and I would have never dreamed of being this close and sometimes when I thought of those times, it brought tears to my eyes.

You got that right. I grinned. [I never knew Uncle Amos had a sister. She’s your cousin too, right?]

[Yes, she is my cousin. They don’t exactly have the clearest childhood memories together.]

[What do you mean?]

[When they were little, hunters attacked their forest behind their house and shot Gracie. Derek found Gracie and took care of her for eight years until they found her family and pack again. I don’t know the rest of the details but I know it must be awkward between the four of them.]

I soaked up what Lucas had explained. Looking at the four, they seemed like four regular friends hanging out and catching up on what they had missed in each other’s lives.

[I hope we can be older like them and still have Travis, Jessabelle, and Zane to hang out and reminisce about the past.]

[You want to get old quicker]? Lucas laughed in my head. I closed my eyes and listen to his melodious laughter ring in my head.

[I want to stick with the people I love but they don’t seem to think that way. I just hope that our paths will all meet someday.] I sighed, smiling to myself.

[We will Alexia. Don’t worry.]

I shrugged off the weary feeling I’ve been getting from thinking about everyone when suddenly something internal in me made me struck with alarm and awe. My eyes widened in shock and I felt my heart rate rapidly rise and hyperventilating.

“Alexia,” Lucas whispered, shaking me but I couldn’t feel it. I felt like I was in a whole different world, quite indescribable.

“Alexia!” I heard Derek’s voice yell in surprise and the next thing I knew it, he was beside me, checking to see if I needed blood but this wasn’t starvation I was going through. It was like I was being zapped into someone else’s place.

“Take her back to my house now,” Derek ordered and a pair of hands that belonged to Lucas swept me up but even his touch had no effect on bringing me back.

Flashes of black showered my vision and I caught a glimpse of a girl in a mask. She was in a golden mask, her brown eyes glowing and her sandy brown hair blowing in the slight breeze. I had no idea who the girl was or what was going on but I knew one thing.

“Zane,” I gasped. “Zane found his mate.”

Zane’s POV

“Who are you?” I whispered, feeling life and energy coursing through my body. I have seen mates and how well they connected. Dad even tried to explain the feeling but actually experiencing it was one thousand times different.

“I-I-Someone you don’t know!” she said, quickly turning away.

“Hey, wait,” I called, grabbing her hand which made us flinch again from the warm shock. “At least treat me with a dance.”

“Go die in a hole,” she said bitterly and started to walk away. I stood there shocked at her response but shook my head and chased after her.

“Did you feel what I felt?” I asked desperately for her answer.

“Yes,” she replied bluntly but she couldn’t stop staring at me either.

“We’re mates,” I said softly, finding the term so foreign in my mouth.

“Well you’re too hot and I’m not so, no,” she said too quickly and covered her mouth, blushing madly. “Did I just say that?” I held in a grin but didn’t let the flattery get the best of me.

“And you’re beautiful. Not just the outside but there’s something about you when you helped me. It’s your soul that’s beautiful,” I said, speaking from whatever came from my heart. I was barely thinking at this point. “Please dance with me,”

“Fine,” she stuttered and I took her hand just in time for a slow dance. The tingling feeling wouldn’t stop between us and we were both on high alert but as the song continued we relaxed the tension that was between us.

“So, will you ever reveal yourself to me?” I asked, pulling her closer to me. She frowned, undecided about what she should do.

“It’s embarrassing,” she said truthfully.

“Do you know who I am?” I asked instead.

“Yes,” she answered quickly and looked down to hid a smile. “Fate has a twist doesn’t it?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

“Um,” I said confused.

“Want to go out to the balcony? The stars look amazing at night,” she smiled and I couldn’t even answer because I was so entranced by her movement and how she carried herself. Everything she did baffled me.

She led me to the balcony where the night sky opened out above us. The stars were out and shining a lot brighter than back home. The night air was cool and it was refreshing just to breathe.

“Why you?” she sighed and I turned to her and noticed her warm brown eyes. They inched closer to mine and I felt my head tilt just a little. I wanted to kiss her so badly and I wanted her to be mine.

The desire was so overcoming I couldn’t even stop myself as I began to realize who it was. Those eyes were so similar, like I’ve seen them before on another person. More shivers rolled through me and not just because we were mates but because finally knew who it was.

“You…You’re Reagan,” I barely whispered before our lips met and we had any reaction to my words. The kiss was soft and tender, both of us trying to get used to such foreign lips. My hand went for her mask, slowly and carefully lifting them up so I could get a better look at her face.

“Zane,” she muttered between kisses. Our kisses began to deepen and her arms wrapped around me, tugging my hair and I had no trouble doing the same. Suddenly, I was shoved off by a powerful force and slammed into a wall.

All I saw were piercing green eyes flashing in anger before a punch diluted my vision with black dots. I shrugged the person off my shoulder and went in for a punch but he was stronger. He easily sidestepped my attack and held me by the neck.

I finally realized who it was. Wyatt. What the hell was he doing here?

Reagan put herself between Wyatt and me, looking at Wyatt in the eyes. “Wyatt, he’s my mate, can’t you see that?” she said and his grip started to loosen.

I gasped, filling my lungs greedily with precious oxygen. “What the hell was that for Wyatt?” I spat.

“You have no right to address me like that!” he boomed, going for another punch but Reagan stopped him again.

“Please brother, stop your nonsense,” Reagan said, touching her brother’s arm.

“Brother? I thought you were an only child,” I asked confused but as they stood next to each other, I saw the resemblance. Although their eye colors were different, they had the same sandy brown hair and porcelain skin. Their cheekbones were equally set high giving them a regal look.

“No, I’m the Alpha’s only daughter. Wyatt is my brother,” Reagan said plainly but she looked confused. “Wait. How do you even know each other?”

“He’s an Elder. Of course I would know him,” I shrugged.

“Oh please don’t get so full of yourself,” Wyatt scoffed and gave me a warning glare. “He’s not an original Reagan. You deserve better than him.”

“Brother, what do you have against him? You would never have judged the way you have just judged. You have the gift of understanding people. Use it now and understand me,” Reagan pleaded, speaking with determination. She placed her hand on Wyatt’s cheeks and he grimaced at her touch but began to relax as he soaked in everything she felt.

Wyatt sighed, stepping back, letting Reagan’s hand fall back to her side.

“You don’t understand me, Reagan,” Wyatt said grimly, looking at his sister with silent grief.

“Wyatt. What are you even here for? Aren’t you all supposed to be with the Elders?” I asked. He grew uncomfortable and I prepared myself for the worst. “Is something wrong with Alexia?” I instantly became worried and felt guilty for letting my own private thoughts cloud my quest.

“Amos is still with her and the last report I received was that everything was going rather smoothly.” Wyatt began to understand my anxious worry. It was written in his face because he had a sister of his own. We had one thing in common and I hoped it was enough for him to accept me.

“Brother what are you doing back home?” Reagan butted in, wanting explanation.

“You don’t seem very happy to see me, Reagan,” Wyatt said, making his way back to his sister.

“The last time I saw you, you were at mother’s funeral.” Reagan hesitated at her brother’s touch but she wasn’t afraid of him but afraid that it will change her thoughts about him.

“You know I try and visit but being an Elder doesn’t really make it all possible.” Wyatt sighed and noticed that I was still around. He growled lowly and frowned as he turned back to the party. “Dad will hear that your mate is a rogue. He has no pack and father will definitely never let him mark you.”

“Is this true?” Reagan questioned me. Her warm brown eyes begged me to prove Wyatt wrong but I couldn’t utter a response.

“I’m going to excuse myself and see if father is around,” Wyatt said amused and walked back inside the party.

“Who are you?” Reagan asked and I found myself asking the same thing. Who was I? Who is Zane Elijah Maxilum?

If anyone asked me that same question a few months ago, I would’ve answered within a heartbeat, ‘Alexia’s brother’ or ‘the Alpha’s son,’ but they were merely just titles. I had a title belonging to someone but never myself.

I looked down at my shaking hands not fully knowing the answer. Who am I?