my rival my stepbrother my mate

Nathan

"Buddy, I need some help in picking something decent to wear."I frowned when I heard my dad's words because I couldn't remember when was the last time he was this nervous about looking good.

I lifted my gaze slowly from the papers spread across the desk. My father stood near the doorway, running his left hand through his blonde hair for the third time in a minute.

I could smell the unsettling scent radiating from him.

“You already look fine,” I said evenly.

He huffed out a breath, something between a laugh and a sigh as he crossed the room and sat heavily on the wooden chair beside me.

“She’ll be here soon with her son.” he said while gripping my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

I nodded.

Aah, no wonder he's so unsettled.

Lexi was coming, I could help but laugh inwardly.

She was my dad's girlfriend. I met her a few weeks back when she came to the house, dad wanted to introduce us to each other. She was soft spoken and beautiful I must admit, I had measured her and she had passed every silent test my instincts had thrown her way.

Her soft almond scent still lingered faintly in the house from the last time she’d visited, it was still unfamiliar to me but not unwelcome.

However, I can't say that much about her son because I have never met him. I just hope that he’s someone easy to get along with…

My dad had begun dating Lexi two months ago, and they were in love with each other. I could tell he should be used to her by now but that didn’t stop him from pacing holes into the floor with his thoughts.

I wasn't used to my father fussing over a woman like this, at least not since mom died.

My Mom Larissa died when I was only a pup, I was still seven. She died protecting me from a war that broke out between our pack and the Shadow clan pack, many members of our pack died that day, though I was young I still remember the cries. She hid me in a compartment on the wall and covered my scent so that our enemies wouldn't trace my scent. I still remember how she kissed my forehead and rubbed my cheek with hers to scent me one last time with her eyes filled with tears, she looked pitiful. I cried for her not to go but she only kissed two of her fingers with her mouth for a long moment, then pointed them out to me, then she whispered,” I love you,” with a broken voice before closing the compartment. That was the last day I heard her sweet voice.

After the war, our pack defeated the Shadow clan, despite the fact that the win dad was devastated, he had lost his love, who was his Luna and his mate, and worse of all he thought that he had lost his heir. He was kneeling in his bedroom, his face buried to the floor when he caught a familiar scent and heard a heartbeat from the wall.

I remember him opening the entrance to the compartment and the look of surprise on his face. Was it a relief? His eyes sparkled with something I couldn't quite comprehend when he took my pitiful little state into his arms and began sobbing. He promised to protect me, he thought he had lost everything, but seeing that I was alive, it gave him the motivation to continue living.

Despite the wounds in his heart, dad tried his best to mask the pain because he needed to be strong for me. He took care of me single-handedly and gave me all the love he could ever offer because he didn't want me to feel the hollow that my mother had left in my fragile heart.

Over the years he has taught me how to defend myself, how to move on impulse and how to behave as a King because I'm his successor and the Alpha to our Crescent moon pack’s throne.

“ Dad, you've got this,” I assured him, dating to the present.

He glanced at me, his blue eyes sharp despite the tension swirling beneath the surface.

“Easy for you to say. You don’t know what it’s like to open old doors.”

“She makes you happy,” I replied. “That’s all that matters.”

His shoulders eased, just slightly.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked quietly.

I turned fully toward him then, letting a fraction of my authority bleed into the air—not as a command, but as reassurance.

“I’m not a child, Dad. And I trust your judgment.”

That did it.

Relief crossed his face, raw and unguarded, before he masked it again. I reached out and gripped his forearm, holding it for a second longer than necessary. He needed to feel my support, and certainty.

Mom had been gone ten years. The wound never vanished, but it no longer bled.

He’d carried the pack. He’d carried me.

Now it was my turn to stand solid, and wish him happiness because he deserved it.

“How do I look?” he asked later.

I studied him critically.

His blonde hair was neatly brushed back. His white shirt neatly tucked in his ironed black pants as he stood in a straight posture, though his heartbeat gave him away.

“You surely clean up well,” I said dryly, wearing a smirk. He chuckled, shaking his head.

“Nate,” he called out in a serious tone,

"I don't want you to feel as though I'm trying to replace your mother. Your mother will always be in my heart and I will forever honour her memories,” he assured.

I just nodded, I knew he wasn't lying cause I've seen the sacrifices he had made all these years, he had worked himself to the bone, to build the pack from ground up ever since the war, the old man deserved a vacation to himself.

"Don't worry about me, old man. I'm not seven anymore, I can take care of myself." I growled.

He nodded in understanding.

"I'm glad that you're moving on from the past. It has been ten years already. All I want is to see you happy. And if your girlfriend is making you happy, that's okay with me."I shrugged nonchalantly and my dad looked so happy when he heard my words.

"Bud, you can tell me if you're not okay with the idea of Lexi moving in with her son,you know. I can prepare another house for them if you don't feel comfortable having them around.” My dad said worriedly.

"It's okay old man, ease up,” I teased him.

“I'm not that old,” He growled and chuckled…

I figured having two more people around could be interesting. I already respected Lexi, and I had no doubt I’d get along with her son…my future stepbrother. I intended to make it work, for my Dad.

_________

Hours passed by pretty fast and now it was in the evening and they were nowhere to be seen. I was on the verge of giving up and my dad looked so nervous but I tried to calm him down. Lexi called a few minutes ago and informed us that the car broke down, so they had to fix it first.

Another twenty minutes passed and they were yet to arrive.

When I was about to give up and go to my room, a soft knock pierced through the quiet air and I hurriedly walked to the wooden mahogany door to open it. I was quite sure that Lexi and her son were too tired and I didn't want to keep them waiting.

I twisted the handle, my lips curling into a controlled smile when I was met with Lexi’s face. However my smile faded away,my grip tightening on the doorknob when I laid my eyes to his son...