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When I opened the door, I saw Jared’s face for a second before a hammer hit me in the stomach. At least, that’s what it felt like. Jared got off several blows before I rolled to the side and caught my breath. He lunged at me swinging his fists. I needed to get on the offensive. He would tire out, but I might not be able to dodge his blows for that long. I swung and connected with his chin. My fingers stung like I hit a concrete wall.
“Stop it! Both of you stop it!” Jen screamed.
My head began to pound. Jared was much stronger than me. I was going to need to outsmart him and use his arrogance against him. I backed up. If he came to me, he was going to expend more energy. I needed to keep him dancing. Keep him showing off. Bobbing and weaving, I backed up until Jared started running towards me. I stepped to the left at the last moment. He went tumbling into the couch. I backed up again to the corner. Jen stood clutching the fabric of her sweater around her like a hug. She needed to get the hell out of the way. I couldn’t be sure that we wouldn’t run into her and hit her.
“Jen, I need you to go somewhere else. I can’t be watching you and him at the same time.”
She stood frozen in her place. Jen’s eyes were fixed on Jared. Please tell me he wasn’t affecting her. How could she be my mate if I couldn’t influence her the way my brother could?
“Jen! Move out of the way.”
I walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and smiled at me. “Listen I need you to move honey.”
“I’m so tired. I want to go to sleep.”
“That’s a great idea. Go to sleep honey.”
Jared charged and tackled me in the shoulder. He knocked me sideways. Jen stood and watched. She wasn’t listening to me. Who was she listening to? Did he want an audience?
His fists rained down on me, socking me in the gut and chest. I kicked and bucked like a mule. I was able to wiggle my hand free and press it to his face. Scratching felt below the belt, but I knew he hated it. If he was pissed off he might make a mistake. I dug my fingers into his face. Someone as vain as Jared wouldn’t give me a chance to maim his perfect face. Even if he was an excellent healer. My fingernails dug into his flesh. At the sight of blood my stomach turned. I couldn’t do this. Even if he was going to kill me. I couldn’t be this guy.
“I’m done Jared. I can’t do this. I can’t hurt you.”
I lay back on the ground.
My breaths were ragged. He looked over me for a second with fire in his eyes. I expected the blow to be swift and painful. But instead, he reached out his hand and grabbed mine.
“Get up. You’re a loser, but you’re my brother. We shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves. There’s something bigger we need to deal with.”
I allowed him to hoist me up.
“What’s that.”
Jared tossed his head towards Jen. “What are we going to do about her?”
She stood staring at the couch. “You need to stop doing that to her.”
“If she’s my mate, I can do whatever I want with her. You know that. She’ll be mine.”
“I understand that’s how it works, but I don’t think it’s right. It’s an unfair advantage and it’s not a fair fight. All I ask is that you let her choose. If she chooses you, I’ll be fine with it. But I don’t want her to be magicked into it.”
Jared’s eyes narrowed. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Well. I guess I can back off for my baby brother. If she comes to me though, I’m not going to refuse her. But I’ll ease up on the mind games.”
“Why are you so damn soft all of a sudden?”
“I’m feeling sentimental. I don’t know if you could smell it or not.”
“Smell what?”
“Man, you really are closer to a human sometimes. You need to get back to your roots little brother. Go smell Jen. Let me know what you detect.”
What was he squawking about? Sometimes I really hate him. He’s such an arrogant prick. I went to Jen and leaned my nose into her neck. She always smelled so good. I took a giant whiff of her. She smelled like her normal self, but there was a different note. Something, subtle. But different. I took another inhale. It couldn’t possibly be. I turned back towards Jared.
“What are we going to do?”
