Reunions and Boundaries

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Alex's POV

After I tackle Briana in the best big brother bear hug I can manage, I step back admiring how grown up she looks. "Toot, I can't believe you came for a visit!" I exclaim reaching my hand up to pull one of her silky locks. She swats my hand and rolls her eyes at me, clearly not amused.

"Stop calling me that, Bones. And I knew what time of month it is, I had to come check up on my brother." She claims, going to fix the lock that wasn't even out of place.

James laughs at the stupid nick name I've had since Bri and I were kids, ignoring my scowl completely. "So, where did you go this time, Bri?" He asks, tucking Cody closer to him with one arm as he slides the napkin of chips that was apart of lunch towards him with the other. Cody reaches out and alternates between feeding himself and feeding James, though the latter eats twice as much.

"First I went to France and settled in a pack right outside Paris, the wolves there are breaking down social barriers and they finally got the rights for equal pay while I was there. It was beautiful. After that was backpacking through Italy, Portugal and Greece. They were so amazing."

"I'm glad those wolves are heading in the right direction and I'm proud that you were there to witness it." I tell her giving her a light shove on the arm. She grins at me but her eyes hold someone else. I turn my head frowning at the small form of Chloe hunched over his chair poking at the food in the table. I turn back to see Briana wearing a smug grin on her face and instantly I know something isn't right.

     Then again, maybe Chloe is just still sore from his heat. Cody told me to invest in a heating pad or two or book him a massage when I called him this morning and maybe that exactly what my little pup needs.

     James brings my attention towards him as he asks, "How was your first real Rut? You feel like a big kid now?" He asks chuckling and of course his little bean is giggling too his hands fluttering in delight.

      "You're laughing now, Cody but I'm ninety- seven perfect sure that my balls dropped way before his." I scoff sending Bri and Cody into a fit of adorable giggles.

     "Lemme see!" Cody says, squealing in laughter when James growls at him and beings to pepper kisses all over his face with little "mines" in between. I grin at the loving pair, happy for once to see the PDA instead of disgusted or jealous. I look over at Chloe who's looking at the floor still, a frown on his face and if I didn't know any better tears were forming in his eyes.

     I go to walk around the island towards him, but Bri is quick to step in my way making me frown, annoyed. "Watch out, Bri." I say trying to side step her but her body follows.

      "Come on, leave the runt alone." She says making me pause and look as her, drawing my body back as if that will help me make sense of the words that just spewed out of her mouth.

     "What?"

     "I mean come on, he's an incubus, he's probably only pouting because he can't use you for sex at the moment. Stop babying him." If my momma didn't raise me right my sister would've been stomped out before she could even get halfway through the first sentence.

     "Briana Haven, I'm going to give you the chance to apologize and take that shit back now." I tell her seething at the idea that the very person who knows how it feels to have judgment passed unfairly on her, is doing the same thing to someone who has to deal with it from the rest of the world as well.

     "Why should I he's only a sex t-" I step back in surprise as Cody comes up and slaps my sister in the face hard before he gets more angry than I've ever seen him in my life.

     "Get the fuck out you hypocritical self righteous bitch. And don't come back until you're ready to apologize." He all but yells at her. I see James out the corner of my eye holding Chloe close as Cody thoroughly tells Bri to kindly fuck off. 

     She looks at me in shock as if she can't believe what's happening. "You heard the bean." I tell her. "Get out." I growl, Tobias right along with me. She huffs a breath before storming out the kitchen but none of us sag in relief  until we hear the door slam. I immediately rush to Chloe's side, hating how hard his ears are pressed into his head.

     'Why is it you're so worried about getting hurt, but Chloe is always the one that ends up in pain.' Toby asks and I hate that he's right, but I ignore him, my main priority to get to Chloe and make sure he's okay. I try to be gentle about pushing James out the way but he's a big boy I'm sure he can handle a little shove.

     I bend down trying to catch my sniffling Mate's eyes as he hangs his head dejectedly.  "Hey, pup. What happened?" I ask him but all I get is silence in return. I recognize that this is not going to be an easy conversation so I do the best thing I can do for him at the moment. "James, Cody I need you guys to go to Chloe's apartment above the brothel. Apartment 3B, it's always open. Get some clothes for him to stay the week, please." I barely pay attention as the duo leaves the room and even less when I hear the door close again.

Instead, I quickly pick Chloe up bridal style and carry him to my room, angry at myself for being so ignorant to my little pup when he was clearly in distress, the angry words of Tobias ringing in my ears. I quickly reach my door and shut it behind me with my foot as I enter the room, walking towards my bed to lay Chloe down softly. I make quick work of my clothes, only leaving on my boxers before I slide into bed beside him, cuddling him close to my chest and tucking his head beneath mine.

"Talk to me, pup." I tell him letting my hand stroke along his back. His tail comes up to wrap itself around my arm seeking comfort and I feel bad once again when I notice the tear he had to make so that it could fit through. I should've been paying more attention to him. How is he supposed to believe in true love of the one he's supposed to get it from isn't caring for him? My thoughts halt in their tracks as my pup finally speaks up.

"Why didn't you want to Mark me, Alex? Is it because you don't think I'm a good match for you?" He asks quietly and the emotion in his voice, the fear in it has tears pricking to my eyes wishing I could go back in time.

"You're perfect, princess. Perfect in general and perfect for me. I didn't Mark you because you were in your Heat and I wasn't sure you would still want my Mark without our Monthly clouding your judgement." I tell him honestly as I take deep full breaths of his calming spicy scent.

Chloe tries to pull away from me but I hold on to him, hating the emotions that are emitting from him in waves. "I knew I was a bad Mate. You don't think I care enough to want your Mark." He tells me, his struggling melting into sobs as he curls into my chest. And I hate myself for agreeing with him. He already told me from the beginning he would never reject me and I still didn't believe him, feeding into the degrading enigma that surrounds his species while claiming I'm fighting against it. Disgusting.

"Not at all. If anything it's me. I haven't been trying as hard as I should. We both have things to work on and if you're willing to except my love and let me love you I promise we'll make this work, princess." I tell him, swearing not only to the other half of my heart but also myself and Tobias.

He nods his head into my chest and brings his body closer, wrapping around me tightly as he lays there. In no time his breathing is even and the tear stains are replaced by happy sighs that leave his lips every time my arms tighten around him. I don't take my own nap this afternoon, instead my thoughts keep circulating around the fact that I was generalizing my Mate, stereotyping him subconsciously when I'm supposed to be the one to protect, cherish, and love him without exception. I stare up at the ceiling as my own tears begin to fall.

I swear, princess. I will do whatever it takes to make this up to you.

~~~~
I just want to leave y'all with a message. The reason this story doesn't really have a villain that's coming after them is because sometimes in life, it's your own mind and self that destroys the things you love

Thoughts?

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QOTD: how many hours of sleep did you get last night?

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