Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 185

Colby

It was strange that even though I had won, I felt like I had gotten my ask kicked. But I couldn’t be happier. I was black and fucking blue but I was happy.

The problem was that everyone was fussing over me. I was just trying to enjoy the fact that my fight had been a success and Matt’s pack was going to be getting the fuck out of here. It was all I wanted to hear.

Sighing, I wished everyone would stop fussing. “Lia, I’m fine.”

“Are you?” Lia asked, bringing me something to eat.

I sighed, sitting up in bed so I could get some of that delicious-smelling food. “Oh, by the way, why did I smell something burning before?”

“God, that was Rain. He tried to cook again, and it didn’t go well.”

I paled. “Why the hell would he try to cook? I thought we got it into his head that he should never cook under any circumstances because he could burn the house down?”

“Yes, well, apparently he didn’t agree and wanted to do something for you, so he started to cook something. And you know what he was trying to cook, Colby?”

I sighed. “It was pasta, wasn’t it? The guy burnt pasta. I can feel it in my bruised bones.”

Lia snorted, clearly trying to hold back laughter. “Not just pasta. Mac and cheese. From a box.”

I groaned, flopping back on the pillow dramatically. “Rain managed to burn water. Again. That’s talent.” “Honestly, I think the stove is traumatized.”

“Well, tell the stove it’s not alone.” I winced as I shifted my leg. “Do we still have a kitchen?”

“Barely. There’s a suspicious black mark on the ceiling now. And a smoke detector that’s still recovering from the trauma.”

“Great. So I win a fight, lose three brain cells from inhaling smoke, and now I have to live in a house that smells like burnt regret.”

Lia smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed with the food in her lap. “You’re lucky you’re cute when you’re grumpy.” “I’m lucky I survived. Not the fight-Rain’s cooking.”

She handed me the plate. “Eat. And if Rain ever offers to cook again, we’re hiding all the pots and pans.” “Deal. And maybe the matches too.”

After eating, I let Lia take it away. The two of us did talk, but I had done a lot of talking with all of my pack members. They were great, always wanting to be there for me.

But again, I felt a little smothered.

“Just a little bit longer, Colby,” I muttered to myself, trying not to smirk

I had done an awesome fight. Like, I’m thinking back about my job, and it was amazing. That other wolf had been difficult to fight, but I was the victor, something I was going to keep reminding myself.

Groaning, I shifted and decided to bury myself under the covers. It was time to get some ready. This was what I wanted, and it was what my body needed. Just a little longer for this healing process, and I’d be in tip-top shape.

***

Two days later, Michael decided to talk to me. He had spoken to me before, but this seemed to be a more serious talk for him. “I told you so,” Michael said the second he walked into my room.

I didn’t even look up from the ice pack on my side. “You’re not even going to ask how I’m doing first?” “Nope. Because I told you so.”

I groaned and leaned back further against the headboard. “Which part? The part where I challenged them? Or the part where I won?”

He pulled up a chair and sat down, arms crossed like he was about to deliver a lecture. “Both. You went in swinging when you could’ve walked away. And you still came out on top. Which, annoyingly, proves your point.”

“So what you’re saying is… I was right.”

It had worked out in the end. I suppose I was lucky for the most part, given what could’ve happened to me.

Shrugging, I didn’t know what else I could do other than lie there on the pillows and relax. At least I was going to have people doting over me for a while. This was one of the silver linings I was realizing was a part of the situation.

He gave me a flat look. “I’m saying you’re stubborn as hell. And lucky.”

“Skill,” I corrected, wincing as I shifted.” Mostly skill. Some luck. Maybe, like, ten percent dumb luck.” “Ten?” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re made of dumb luck. You run on it.”

I chuckled. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

Even just that gentle pat hurt. It was because of how many burials I had. I sighed softly, wishing that my werewolf instincts would be kicking in and letting my wounds heal. The reason they were taking so long was that I had been in a super serious fight. Eventually, they would, and I would be on my way to leading the pack again.

“Next time… just let me have your back, okay?” I met his eyes. “Always.”

He hesitated, then smirked. “Even if I’m just there to say ‘I told you so’?” I grinned. “Especially then. It’s tradition now.”

Michael rolled his eyes, but there was affection behind it. “Great. I’ve become a walking caution sign with a coffee addiction.” I snorted. “You’ve always been that. You just added the lectures recently.”

He pointed a finger at me. “That’s because someone keeps giving me material to work with.”

Yawning, I stretched out in bed, deciding that I was going to get some sleep. While I was sleeping, I did hear people coming in to check on me. At one point, I caught Lia’s scent. Rain and I shared a room, so it wasn’t any surprise to smell him in here.

What was surprising was when I opened my eyes and found him right in my face. I yelped, jerking backwards. It shocked me to the point I almost rolled out of bed. “Rain, what the fuck was that about?!”

He moved back towards his bed, smiling nervously. “Sorry about that, Colby. I was just worried and wanted to make sure you weren’t dead.”

“I’m not dead. I was just sleeping. Why are you being like this?” “I’m worried.”

I sighed. “Rain, once again, I am not dead. I’m fine, and it’s okay if you want to look after me, but please just don’t hover over me like that like a weirdo. It’s very strange.”

Eventually, Rain did walk out. When he did return, I was already fast asleep. It was nice to be resting because again, my werewolf healing was taking a while to kick in.

According to the doctor, it was going to kick in any day now. I was just going to wait and see.

Rain and everyone was just worried about me. I couldn’t blame them for being worried about me because it had been a huge fight. But the most important thing was that Matt was never going to have to worry about them again. They had run off with their tail between their legs.

Once I was healed, I’d be back to running the pack, which was a common thought I had in my mind lately. I was just so eager to get back to doing something rather than lying down. It just wasn’t something I enjoyed.

At least I wasn’t complaining about being bored like Rain.