7. Storm

Elena

What do I feel about what I just witnessed? I can’t even begin to grasp the mixture of feelings, the confused emotions and war between my thoughts and feelings. 

Both men are extremely attractive, but Noah is my stepbrother. Both have fated mates somewhere and it would be ridiculous to admit anything about how I feel about either one. Maybe they are fated mates and gay relationships are frowned upon so they hide it? I don’t even want to begin exploring how sexy I thought the kiss was and how I want to see more but my brain won’t stop replaying what I just witnessed!

I need to get a hold of myself! All of these men are off limits! I am wolfless, I won’t have a fated mate and they each have one, somewhere. But my mind and body react to them each and while Liam is hot, he is definitely the kind of fuck-boy I have always avoided, worse because he is expected to lead the pack one day and seems a bit spoiled.  I could picture him kissing Ryder or Noah, though, or all of them exchanging, hot sexy…No…No! I refuse to keep letting my mind play these games! 

I don’t fit in here! Olivia, Rolly and Rosie are about it…everyone and everything else seems designed to test, taunt or destroy me. How will I ever…

His scent draws me out of my thoughts and the sound of his footsteps on the dock, then his voice sounding a bit like I expect a concerned older brother, or I dunno…someone who actually gives a fuck about me.

“Wanna talk about that?” He asks as he plops down next to me.

“What? Boys kiss boys all the time,” I reply with a  snort.

“Wanna talk about what you saw and why you hate me?” He asks.

“I don’t…I don’t hate you,” I reply, taken aback. “I am not happy about this entire situation and you flirt with me, yet you know that somewhere out there you have a fated mate, then there is this thing with kissing your best friend. Are you and Ryder fated mates?”

“It’s complicated. Fated mates usually know once they both have shifted, but that isn’t the case with Ryder and I. We have always been best friends…even before my mom and your dad married one another. When I turned thirteen, I started noticing that I found both boys and girls attractive, or one boy in particular. He never paid attention to boys other than as friends, but he has had a few human girlfriends. As a rule Ryder doesn’t mess around with pack members, especially pack members with close ties, but today…something snapped. We were sparring and talking then we kissed,” Noah says. “I don’t know exactly where everything stands, but I love him…I just …I know I have a fated mate.”

“It’s a huge change for me. California is warm and sunny and here the air is chilled, the leaves are changing colors and storm clouds have been looming since yesterday. Then there is living with a man I never knew and his entire family and just accepting that suddenly I have a father, step mother and, no offense but step siblings who I didn’t know existed until just over a week ago. The pack has expectations, the teachers have expectations, my father has expectations and the students…I already have this girl, Cheri, declaring me as her mortal enemy or something, picking on me and giving me a hard time because her hunk of a boyfriend decided to flirt with me. I know Liam is the Alpha heir, but I avoid fuckboys and always have,” I rattle almost without pause as I unload most of what is bothering me, everything except for my embarrassing attraction and the way the kiss made something inside me light up and desire pool in my abdomen. 

“Let’s take on the challenges I can help with. Cheri is a snob and you would be best off not messing with her and Liam. They have an on-again, off again thing and she is Ryder’s younger sister. My only expectations are that you train hard and go to school, your father’s are likely similar, but he might add some rules like ‘no boys who aren’t your fated mate’, come to think of it, I might like that rule too,” Noah laughs, nudging my arms gently with his elbow. 

“How brotherly of you,” I shoot with an eye roll.

“Nah, it’s more…well…it’s more of a matter of not creating unnecessary pack drama. Cheri staking a claim on Liam creates unnecessary pack drama and there are others who would do that with me or Ryder,” Noah explains.

I don’t know why but it angers me that other girls like Cheri might try to claim Noah and Ryder if they allowed the behavior. 

“So about the kiss you witnessed,” Noah says. “Is there anything you wanted to ask me or maybe you want to tell me how it made you feel…you know, like did you like what you saw?”

“You're my stepbrother!” I gasp in mock horror.

“Do not quit your day job. You are not the best actress,” Noah teases with another nudge.

“Fine…it was hot! You are both really attractive guys and if you are into each other you should go for it, maybe you’ll even share a mate who will be into it. I never really thought about it before, but I always kind of liked watching guys kiss, but not usually ones I find attractive,” I say then cover my mouth when I realize what I just let slip.

“I see…you really don’t hate me! I get it! Maybe you could even like me,” Noah teases, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “There is no need to have all the answers. Take things one day at a time. It’s all new to you and I’m here for…”

**CRACK**

Lightning flashes across the sky, illuminating the entire area as it strikes just across the lake at the same moment the clouds open up and dump a ton of rain on us. I’m soaked from the downpour before I can even stand, but Noah helps me to my feet and we run together.