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My tummy flipped in anticipation. I read on. This morning, my brother replied.
Beta Kris: Kezia is MY sister. I am her pack. This is her pack. You have done enough. She is where she belongs.
Twenty minutes ago, Cannon answered.
Alpha Cannon: We’ll see.
I looked up at Kris, who was watching me with his old familiar suspicion.
“What? I didn’t do anything,” I protested weakly.
“I know, but what makes him think he can go against me? I am your brother!”
Picking up the cloth, I wiped my hands again, now hot and clammy with fear and, if I was honest, anticipation. “He’s…” I coughed. I needed a drink. “Arrogant, right? You remember that?”
“He’s a dick.” Kris took a seat in his old armchair. “When you left, and I came back, he was on me right away. I got hauled up in front of all the alphas, and he asked question after question about where you were. Where would you go? Had you planned it? How much money you had?” Kris shook his head, glancing at me briefly. “To be honest, I didn’t have answers to some of them because I hadn’t thought of how vulnerable I had left you. I’d been rash, making you go with no plan. I panicked. I owe you for that.”
“You owe me nothing,” I told him honestly, moving the phone so I could read Cannon’s messages again without bringing attention to myself. “I needed to go. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been gone.”
Kris grunted, and I hoped he agreed. With a sigh, he pushed himself out of the chair, coming over to watch me knead the loaf. “You do make the best bread,” he told me. “Are you making this for Landon?”
I blanched, and my brother saw my reaction.
“What is it?” he asked with concern. “Talk to me.”
All I’d done was talk to him, and yet I didn’t know how to say these words to him. “It’s nothing.”
“You’re scared?” Kris nodded thoughtfully. “Cass said you would be and that Landon would understand.” Kris gave me a sympathetic look. “You’ve been gone a while…it was bound to happen.”
“What was?” I asked in confusion. Cass thought I was scared? Did she also know I wasn’t her twin’s mate? Did she think he would understand? Hope rose within me.
“Landon has been no saint, I can tell you,” Kris said gruffly. “He has had sex with some of the pack, so he will understand that you have too.”
“Had sex with some of the pack? I haven’t had sex with any of the pack.”
Kris flushed. “Obviously not,” he said with an eye roll. “But he’ll understand you are no longer a maiden.”
My eyes popped. “A maiden?” I burst out laughing. “Oh my Goddess, a maiden!” I laughed harder as my brother became more uncomfortable. “Who says maiden?” I teased, wiping my eyes, feeling bad for teasing him, so I controlled my laughter.
“All right, all right. You’ve had your fun.”
“Have I?” I waggled my eyebrows as I transferred my dough into a bowl, covered it to proof, and started to clean the counter.
“Kezia,” Kris scolded. “You don’t need to worry. Your mate will understand you have had sex with another. Others.” He looked away. “I don’t need details,” he added hastily.
Only I was still a maiden, but if Landon thought I wasn’t and I was ashamed, would he stay away longer before I had to tell him I wasn’t his mate?
Kris let out a sigh, mistaking my frown of thought for one of fear. “How do you feel when you think of Landon?” he asked gently.
Sick.
I couldn’t say that. “Sad,” I blurted instead. “I’m sad my friend is gone.”
Kris nodded in understanding. “It’s a huge change, but that goes away because he will be your best friend. He will be your everything.”
“Good Goddess, you make me want to hurl,” I told him with disgust. “He will be my everything? What kind of greeting card rubbish is that?”
“Stop fighting it,” Kris snapped irritably. “That prickly feeling you have when you see or think of him, it’s a good thing. It’s the bond wanting to connect. Let it do what it needs to do.”
