Between Blood and Bond

Three days after the healer told me I was terminally ill, Keith Bradford—the alpha's heir—finally completed his training and returned to the pack.

Rumor had it, he was back for his future mate.

The alpha had chosen a perfect match for him—a well-bred, talented girl, two years younger than Keith. Sweet, gentle, never even had a boyfriend.

The complete opposite of me, with exes as countless as the stars.

It was not until a week after Keith returned that I finally saw him, outside the treatment room.

He had not changed much—sharp features, high nose bridge, deep, defined eyes. Just as impossibly handsome as he was the first time we kissed.

I could not help but whisper in my heart, "It's been a while, Keith."

Almost as if sensing my gaze, Keith looked up, sharp and alert. Our eyes met—and for a second, it felt like the air froze.

I stepped forward, calm and composed, a faint smile on my lips. "It's been a while… my dear brother."

...

Five years back, my mom got together with an alpha, making Keith Bradford my so-called "brother."

The moment he saw me, Keith's expression turned to ice.

However, I just grinned, acting like I did not catch the chill vibes. "You're back and you didn't even drop me a line?"

Keith gave me a hard look for a few seconds before looking away, his voice flat. "I got rid of your number ages ago."

He was all cool and distant, like I was just some random she-wolf. Totally not the Keith who used to flip out if I even mentioned another guy.

I squeezed my hand tight behind my back, keeping up my smile. "My number's still the same, and you've got that killer memory, right? No way you forgot it."

Keith just clamped his mouth shut and went silent.

I swung the treatment room door open and chimed in cheerily, "Ms. Rogers, how's your day going?"

The woman in the bed looked frail and worn.

That was Keith's mom, Silvia Rogers, the ex-Luna to the alpha.

Yeah, she was the one who lost it because of my mom and the alpha.

She did not even flinch at my words, her eyes shut tight.

I did not let it bug me and told the healer, "Keep her on schedule with the meds, and make sure she's eating, okay?"

Before the healer could even answer, Keith yanked me out of the room.

The door slammed with a bang!

Keith's eyes were like ice daggers. "I told you to stay away from my mom, forever!"

My hand by my side was shaking a bit, but I kept my smile. "If I don't come here, how else am I supposed to bump into you?"

While Keith was gone from the pack, the alpha did not give two hoots about Keith's mom. It was just me popping in every now and then to check on her.

It was out of real worry for him, and yeah, maybe a tiny bit because I hoped to see Keith again.

Keith's lips twisted into a sarcastic grin. "Really? You're so thoughtful."

He let go of my hand, which was then red from his grip, and pulled out a cigarette. He did not light it, just toyed with it between his fingers.

However, I reacted without thinking, like my body remembered before my brain did, and I snatched the cigarette right out of his hand.

We both just stood there, stunned.

I used to do that all the time when we were a thing.

"Oops, sorry, don't get it wrong, I just…" I stumbled over my words, feeling the weight of Keith's stare. "I don't want you smoking yourself into an early grave."

The silence crept back in. I snapped out of it, managed a weak smile, and bolted.

After leaving the treatment room, I stuck to my routine and hit up the Starry Night Bar, accepting a friend's invite.

Even with my health in the dumps, I was not about to quit my booze-fueled escapes.

Mid-sip, someone stepped in front of me.

"Elsie, it's been ages."

I looked up, and there he was, eyebrow cocked. "Daniel?"

The guy was easy on the eyes, built nicely, and kind of had a Keith vibe going on.

That was why I started helping him out, this kid with no one in the world.

However, college turned Daniel into a gambler, and he kept hitting me up for cash.

I caved a few times, until he started stealing my stuff to fund his bets. That was when I cut him off.

He did not take it well, started trash-talking me, spreading rumors about my love life.

There was Daniel, playing the victim, but with a chill in his eyes. "Elsie, you promised to look after me forever. Now that your main squeeze is back, you're just gonna ditch me?"

I just stared back, stone-faced.

In a heartbeat, I chuckled softly, grabbed the bottle of firewater next to me, and stood up. "Looking for cash? Down this and it's like hitting the jackpot for two whole months."

I gripped his chin tightly and tipped the bottle into his mouth.

He coughed and spluttered, fighting for air, while I laughed, a picture of mischief. "So, still a fan?"

The crowd around us burst into cheers and hoots.

Just then, the blinds of the upstairs VIP room snapped open, and a bunch of curious eyes peered down at the spectacle.

"Isn't that Elsie?"

"Figures. She's practically part of the furniture here, always with a new guy. Elsie's got that sweet, innocent look, but she sure knows how to stir up a storm."

"She's a legend for her wild streak. You could line up her exes from here to the end of the block. She's easygoing, but she's got one rule…"

A sharp elbow jabbed from his buddy cut him off mid-sentence.

Keith, lounging on the couch, glanced up with a smirk that did not quite reach his eyes. "And what's her rule?"

"It's, uh, to be like you, Mr. Bradford."