chapter three

CHAPTER THREE

Cisco's POV

"Why do I need to go on this shitty trip again? I could be cuddled in my bed with Estella right now." Caden, my younger brother whined for the upteempth time since I started driving.

Rolling my eyes, I ignored him and focused on the road.

"Cis! Why couldn't you let me stay back? I don't even know anything about the tribute bullshit."

I let out a deep sigh.

"Caden, this is not about knowing anything. You know how important it is to show our faces at this pack especially since they haven't given us the tribute due for three months."

"I know but..... Why can't those three go instead? Why do I have to go? I have no interest in this like they do."

"Enough!" I snapped at him and he pouted, making him look even more babyish than he usually did. I narrowed my eyes at him.

Caden was the youngest of my brothers and it showed in his every action. Although we were only two years apart, he acted like a literal baby when he wasn't beating someone down with his insane strength. Well, maybe spoiling him had something to do with his he turned out but this wouldn't do at all.

It was about time he stepped out and took up some responsibilities. Hopefully, it would shape him into more of a man.

"Those three are busy enough with the pack as it is. The least we can do is collect tributes. Stop whining or goddess help me, I'll stop this car and whip your ass into shape. And no, I couldn't have gone alone either. It's about time you learned. We can't always be there for you."

"I know. I know. Sorry." He said cheekily and I rolled my eyes and ignored him, turning my eyes back to the road.

Caden, ever the chatterbox obviously wouldn't be able to stay without talking.

"So bro, I heard that there's a settlement around here for runaway pack wolves. Kinda like a black town. Why hasn't it been taken over by someone? I mean, the people there are probably weak ass wolves. Why don't we do just that?"

I turned to glare at him from my side eye.

"Can you hear yourself? When have we ever attacked weak people? Did we ever teach you to prey on the weak?" My voice was stern making Caden flinch and cower into himself.

"Sorry. Obviously I won't do that. I'm just making conversation."

I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled warily at me.

I barely ever got angry so he knew to not overstep once I did. The three, as powerful as they were also acknowledged that I was a walking minefield once I became angry so they avoided me.

After a while, I focused back on the road.

"To make it clear, the only reason some other Alpha hasn't taken over the settlement here is because they have some hidden and unknown forces hiding there. Even today, if they face an attack by a stupid and overconfident Alpha, the settlement will still remain."

"Wow."

"Yeah. So don't ever entertain such a stupid thought again. We mind our business and they do theirs."

Just then, a shadow appeared right in front of the car followed by a loud thud.

I tapped into my wolf and i could feel my vision become sharper as I watched the woman I just hit fly across the road like a broken string.

I stepped on the break almost immediately and then I shared a look with Cade who's eyes was wide.

I nodded and then both of us rushed out of the car in haste.

The cold evening air hit me first followed by the thick scent of blood.

For some odd reason, my heart skipped a bit and my wolf slowly began to churn within me.

I took a step closer to the woman and then another and with each one, my wolf grew even more restless. Everything fell silent around me and I felt a pull unlike anything I had ever felt before.

My heart raced and my mouth grew dry as my whole body thrummed with that feeling.

I kept walking in a trance like state until I eventually reached the woman.

The moment I saw her face which was ethereal even when smeared with blood, it felt like something that had always been missing clicked into place.

My wolf growled something in my head, something that I knew already.

Mate.

What suprised me was Caden also said it at the same time.

I turned to him almost immediately and both of us stared at each other for a long while.

And then with an understatement bred from years of brotherhood, we nodded and then I went off to pick our mate up.

Yes.

Our mate.

Because I had four brothers and all of us were open to sharing.

Even if that person was our mate.

I carried her until the backseat and then settled in besides her, placing her head on my lap. Caden went around and entered the driver's seat without so much as a word.

With that, the car turned back and headed towards the pack.