The rival

~Nathan~

I don't know how many people wish their ex bad after a relationship goes sour. I happen to be among them. However, unintentionally. 

After Hannah broke up with me without a single thought, I was furious and off the top of my head wished that her marriage with my brother wouldn’t work out. 

Maybe my prayer was a little too harsh. I regretted it the instant I barged through that door and saw her at the mercy of her husband, my jackass brother. It was as if I knew something was going on because as soon as a servant informed me he took her to the old meeting room, my legs darted and I ran all the way there and barged in. 

It took me great willpower to not charge at my arsehole brother and knock off his teeths. I restrained myself not because of him, but because of Hannah. But then my heart fluttered. Truthfully it never stopped beating for Hannah in the last three years. However, I never showed it and I swọ́re to die with my feelings. She's now my brother's mate and wife and by tradition, out of my reach. But seeing her again made me happy to be back because normally being in the same space as Durks’ choke me the hell up. 

If only I had done things my way without listening to her. If only I had eloped with her as I wanted. If only I stopped her from getting married…then she wouldn't be in this mess. 

“I have other business that brought me back,” I say to her as cold as I can and immediately wheel towards the door. As I stride out, I wonder if I sounded harsher than I intended. 

Hannah is not weak. I know it. She tolerates a lot that will make anyone think she's weak but she's far from it. If anything, she's brave. 

I twist inside when she doesn't let me help her. I want to help her leave this abusive marriage but I can't even do anything because she wants to handle things her own way. It makes my blood boil to witness that not just that jackass Liam, hits her but also that woman. She's never liked me which I have already accepted but how can she treat Hannah this way too?

Three years ago when I had run into Hannah's house to see her wailing seriously. She'd called me on the phone to come meet her in her house and she was sounding grave. 

“What's wrong?” I had asked breathlessly as soon as I arrived. 

“I–I–have found my mate and he–he’s your brother Liam,” Hannah had said stuttering. 

To be honest, I was still for more than a minute. 

When I regained myself, I asked what she wanted to do. She’d stared up at me, her amber eyes swollen and shiny from tears and said, “I'm sorry, Nathan.”

I swallow painfully, pushing the memory aside. I am here to find out about my true identity and must focus. My wolf makes it a duty to remind me that each time I'm wandering off. 

My first stop is my best friend’s house. I did not drive and opt to walk instead. 

After three years I'm back in this place that gives me nothing but pain and hell. Carrow town. Harrow Wood Pack. Here reminds me of how insufficient I am and how I don't belong here. 

As I amble down the road, I get the usual irritated stares from people. Some are lace with surprise and pity.

Lady Durk wants me to help Liam become the Alpha. I scoff inside me, the thought rearing up in mind as I aim to distract myself from the stupid stares. Apparently the Alpha of this Pack, Alpha Norgad recently died after living for over a hundred and fifty years but without any family to take over his Alpha title. Now the elders of the Pack, which lady Durk happens to be among, thinks it's better to elect a new Alpha from the youngins this time around. I can't help but imagine it's all her handwork. I bet she suggested it. She's too power driven and wants the Alpha title to come to Durk at all cost. 

At the gate, the elderly gateman runs his eyes over me with disgust. Having grey hairs truly doesn't mean you are wise. Some are still children in older bodies and big arséholes. I could obviously read him: “Son of a slụ́t. Bàstvrd.” They hate me and they don't hide it. But I have gone past caring what anyone in this pack and town at large thinks of me anymore. Not like I can get them to change. Especially if what they think about me are all true. 

“I'm here to see Jaxon,” I tell him plainly. 

His thick brows gather. “For what reason?”

“I'm his best friend. What can I possibly be here for?”

“Nathan?” 

I look and see Jaxon. He is scantily dressed having nothing on top of his shorts. Broken bicycle parts in his arms. He's always been crazy about engineering. Unfortunately he's nowhere near good at it. 

He starts forward. “Holy shị́t! Nathan! Man! Where the hell have you been?” He shoves the parts into the gateman’s hands and hugs me. 

While everyone in the Pack hates me, Jaxon don't. I used to think he was only taking pity on me until he proved me wrong. What I particularly like about him is how he treats me like he'd treat anyone else. You'd expect he'd treat me differently to make me feel better. But that's not Jaxon. Jaxon always tells me I'm his friend and not some street dog in need of pity. He also tells me he loves me. I find it cringe though. While we have a lot of similarities, like coming from wealthy families, we also have our differences. He is a mọ́dafuvking playboy. 

“Can we go in?” I ask, mentally glancing at the nosy gateman who I know is keeping his eyes and ears wide open. Whatever I say will be carried all over the town and every Pack member and beyond will hear of it. 

“Sure why not! Shị́t bro! It's so good to see you but I'm mad at you. You just vanished without a word to me. Not fair!”

I wait until we enter the house before I speak. “I'm sorry, Nathan. It just happened.”

“Wait…did your brother send you here?” Nathan peers at me suspiciously. I look at him and demand he speaks plainly as I am confused. Why will I run errands for that jackass?

“Your brother hasn't told you yet?” He asks, his face relaxing. 

My confusion increases. “Told me what?” 

He shrugs. “Well, of course he wouldn't. You both never liked each other. Let me get you something to drink. What do you want? Or don't worry. I know exactly what will get you in the mood. I have this new…”

Jaxon’s voice trails off in my head. I look around the room. The familiar scent of this room I used to hang out all the time rushing in. Each time Durk house choke me unbearably, I always run here to breathe. Thankfully, Jaxon’s family is accommodating and understanding. They are the second most richest family after the Durk's in not just the pack but the whole town. 

Jaxon grew up in love. He is an only child. His parents always had so much love to give him and extended it to the people around him. When they didn't care that their son spoke to the boy, every family warned their children from associating with, that was when I knew. 

“Bro. What's in your head? Been calling you for like what?” Jaxon grumbles plopping down into the seat opposite. 

“Sorry. What's that?” I ask, referring to the unfamiliar round bottom bottle with no label he is holding. 

Jaxon smirk. “Boọze bro.” He uses his funny accent, drawling the ‘booze’. 

“No label. Whisky? Wine or what…could be poison…”

“Don't worry you won't die. At least not yet. Not until you watch me kick your brother's arse in the elections.”

Jaxon must have not realized when he said it because he looks up instantly, startled. 

“Election?” I ask. 

“Uh–forget I said that. Let's drink. Cheers!” 

He is acting weird. I look at him, my head spinning thoughts. Then I gasp, my brows arching. “Are you Liam's rival in the upcoming Alpha elections?”