Chapter 6: "Get out."

Brother?

My eyes open wide and my hands turn clammy.

I…… I fucked my husband’s brother?

The room threatens to spin as I think of it but I keep a tight hold of my sanity. 

No, that.. can’t be. 

I heard that the old Alpha of the Spineridge pack had two sons.

One of them is Ulric, the son the Alpha had with his Luna,

But there was another child…  a boy the Alpha had with an Omega.

I know the boy was accused of stealing something from the pack, something valuable that made the Spineridge Alpha kick him out, but I don't know more than that. 

I didn’t dive too deep into my investigation because I felt it would be disrespectful to do that, both to my husband and to his family.

My chest seems to become tighter the more I continue thinking of it because hells…. I had a one-night stand with him.

My husband’s brother?!

“I said, what the fuck are you doing here!”

Ulric’s snarl ripples through the room and snaps me out of my thoughts immediately. I see his brother chuckle and move the chair I just stood up from to the side.

He’s taller than Ulric.

I unconsciously noted that last night but right now, with two of them present, the difference is more than clear.

Ulric is handsome, but… this man takes the word to a whole new level.

I slap myself immediately because am I really thinking about that now? 

“I said, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE CAELUM!”

Ulric is finally given a reply this time, the deep raspy voice carrying a hint of mock niceness as he responds.

“I only dropped by to see you, brother.” The sneer in his tone is more than evident. His handsome face is in a mocking sneer as he stares at Ulric, “Won’t you welcome me back properly?”

Ulric looks like he’d do anything but. He growls.

“Get out.”

The word is so direct that I'm a bit surprised but his brother’s dark chuckle has my stomach clenching in trepidation. He asks calmly, “Repeat that will, you?”

Ulric looks away, a hard clench to his jaw. He calmly grits out instead.

“You don’t have any business here, Caelum. Not in this company and not in the pack, so leave. My father kicked you out a long time ago because you were a thief, you stole from him and you’re not even a Spineridge full blood!”

“We both know what happened that night, Ulric!”

Ulric’s mouth snaps shut immediately and I see the trepidation that enters in his eyes. He tries to hide it, but eight years with him has taught me how to spot things like this.

Ulric’s brother asks, ever calm yet menacing in a way that screams danger.

“Do you want us to bring back old issues Ulric, or are you going to be sensible and ask why I'm here?”

I hate the way my mind immediately tells me to butt in and inquire why but my heart backs out of it.

I can’t say anything even if I want to.

I slept with him.

He’s my mate.

My second chance mate and the brother to my husband! How does something so vile and awkward happen to me of all people? He could expose me.

He could use me as an opportunity to get back at Ulric. That’s probably what he’s already done. He slept with the wife of his brother and now he’s here to gloat.

I slip out of the office quietly. 

If any of them see me they don’t say a word about it. I couldn't care less about Spineridege affairs and Ulric’s family problems if they didn’t happen like this. I don’t stop walking until I am out the door of the company building and in the car park. 

Otsana whines in my head, urging me to go back up and continue staring at our second chance but I suppress her and slip into the car instead.

I send the driver out and panic when I'm alone.

Shit!

I hit my head against the steering wheel.

Shit, shit, shit!

Why? 

Just why? 

Is life trying to play a joke on me?

Ulric’s brother! I let him do all those filthy things to me yesterday!

I pick up my phone and speed-dial my private investigator, he picks up immediately. chuckling jovially as he responds. 

“Sophia! Long time no see, how’ve you been?”

I ignore the sultry notes to the tone of his voice and ramble off the only thing that comes to mind.

“Ulric.” My voice sounds breathy and panicked so I try to calm down as I go on,  

“Ulric has a brother, I need to know who he is. Get me things on him, where he’s been living, if he’s been in jail… his phone number. Just get me anything.”

Eras must hear the panic in my voice because his tone turns concerned immediately as he asks, “Are you okay, Sophia? What’s wrong?”

I ignore his questions and cut the call, breathing heavily instead as I try to calm down. He’s right, I am not okay.

I and Ulric haven’t even been properly divorced, yet this is happening. I’m meant to resolve the company issue tomorrow. This could ruin all of that.

Otsana whines again, this time in response to my panic and I feel her send notes of calm through me. I let it flow heavily and I tell myself it’s okay.

It’s okay.

This is the 21st century. Sex is just sex.

No one prefers their fated mates anymore. They all prefer their chosen mates so this doesn’t change anything.

He and I are still strangers. Strangers who had a one-night stand… but still strangers.

All I have to do is call him so I can make sure he understands this too.

I nod as I settle on that.