Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 191

Lia

Now that I’ve spent all this time with my mates, I wanted to spend time as a whole with everyone in the pack. This was why I let myself into the house my brother now lived in. See I had a key and he had a key to the place I had with my own mates. We were part of a pack so if we didn’t want to let the other in we would say something ahead of time.

I found Michael in the kitchen, his head buried in the fridge like he was on a mission. “Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.

He grunted in acknowledgment, pulling out a container of leftover pasta and giving it a suspicious sniff. “Who made this? You?”

“Gabi,” I said.

He immediately popped the lid and started digging in cold with a fork. “Then I trust it.” I made a face. “Cold pasta?”

“Don’t judge me. I’m a man of simple pleasures.” He took another bite, then finally looked at me properly. “What’s up?” “I was wondering…” I hesitated, then sighed. Why was this suddenly awkward?

Michael raised an eyebrow. “You okay? You look like you’re about to ask me for a kidney.”

I snorted. “No, it’s-ugh. So, the pack is getting together later. Kind of a low-key thing. Bonfire, food, and probably a few awkward bonding moments. I thought maybe you’d want to come. Bring Gabi and her sister too if you want. It’s open-invite style.”

Michael blinked. “Wait-you’re inviting me? To a pack thing?”

I rolled my eyes. Michael was acting like he was surprised when he didn’t have to be. I sighed softly, giving him a look but if he wanted me to play along then I was fine with playing along.

Shrugging, I nodded and gazed into Michael’s eyes.

“Yeah,” I muttered, fidgeting with my sleeve. “I mean, you are technically part of the pack. And… it’d be nice to have you there.”

Michael smirked. “Technically?”

“Michael, come on. How much longer are you going to force me to play along with this bullshit?” He laughed.

He slowly set the container down and leaned on the counter, arms crossed, studying me. “This isn’t some weird sibling trap, is it? Like, I show up and everyone throws marshmallows at me until I confess my sins?”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh my god, no. I just thought… we haven’t hung out, like, normally. No teasing, no chaos. Just… people and fire and maybe s’mores?”

Michael’s lips quirked. “S’mores, huh? That’s your selling point?”

“Maybe,” I said, trying not to smile. “That and watching Rain try to roast a marshmallow without setting his hair on fire.”

Michael let out a real laugh at that. “Okay, that’s worth the trip alone. All right. We’re in. I’ll tell Gabi, and we’ll bring something. Chips? Drinks?”

It was hard to stop myself from smiling. To think we were finally going to have a chance to spend some quality time together after the crazy past few months we faced. Plus, it didn’t help that Michael was also trying to raise twins. This was never easy, especially when they were toddlers at this point.

“Drinks would be great,” I said, a little surprised he agreed so fast. “You don’t have to bring anything, though.”

“Nah,” he said, waving it off. “Gabi will insist. She’ll probably show up with a homemade pie and a pitcher of something’ refreshing and seasonal.’ You know how she gets.”

“Honestly? That sounds amazing.”

Michael grinned. “She’s too good for me, I know.” “I wasn’t going to say it out loud,” I teased.

He gasped, putting a hand over his heart. “Wow. The betrayal.” I snickered. “You’ll live.”

Michael shrugged. “Well, it’s not every day my little sister wants to hang out with me willingly. Gotta takes advantage.”

“Don’t ruin it,” I warned.

“Too late,” he smirked. Then he paused, more thoughtful this time. “But seriously… thanks. Gabi’s been saying we should spend more time with the pack. Especially you.”

“Me?” I blinked. “Why?”

“She likes you. Think you’re strong. Quiet, but kind. Says she sees why people follow you.” I felt my face warm. “That’s… nice of her.”

Michael leaned in slightly. “She also said you look like you could bench-press a moose.” “Okay, now that sounds like Gabi.”

He laughed again, grabbing the pasta and taking another bite. “So what time’s this bonfire of awkwardness?” “Seven. By the old trailhead.”

“Cool. Want us to bring chairs?”

“Only if you don’t mind sharing with everyone else. You know how Rain gets when there’s a ‘limited seating situation.”

“Oh god. Last time he sat in Jesse’s lap.”

“Jesse didn’t even blink.” “Because Jesse is terrifying.”

I grinned. “He’ll be there too. It’s a full circus.” Michael gave a mock salute. “Then I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Like toddlers. Or rogue witches.” “Or you.”

“I’m okay, fair.”

We stood there a moment longer, a comfortable silence between us.

Then he nodded toward the door. “Go on. I’ll see you tonight.” “Try not to eat all the pasta before Gabi gets home.”

“No promises,” he said, already heading back to the fridge.

As I walked out of the house, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. Maybe things weren’t perfect, but this? This was good.

Sighing, I left the house and then went back to mine to start planning. It was going to be great to hang out with everyone. For us to have fun and just enjoy time as a pack

It was rare when we had a chance to just hang out. I blamed business in our lives. Everything was always so crazy, forcing us to keep up a schedule that made us feel like we were doing a hundred things at once!

I’ll say it again, I don’t mind being in politics because it is clear that is how I can help people the best, but it does take a lot out of me. If I could go back to school and try to achieve a different goal, I would.

Originally, I wanted to be a teacher. Maybe one day I would go back to school to do that, but right now, this was my life. I was going to do what I could best for my pack, neighborhood, and city. As long as I was able to do right by them, then I knew I was going to be okay.

Still, nights like this reminded me why it was all worth it. Just being around my pack-laughing, eating, sitting by a fire and arguing about who made the best chili-it grounded me in a way nothing else did.

We were a mess. Loud. A little chaotic. But we were family.

And yeah, politics drained me. The endless meetings, the double-speak, the pressure to be everything for everyone-it wore me down sometimes. But when I saw how our city was starting to change, how the old walls between species were beginning to crumble, even just a little… I knew I was helping build something better. Something lasting.

Still. Teaching. That had always been the dream before the world flipped upside down. Before fated mates and magical bloodlines and near-apocalypses. Back when my biggest worry was facing a test, not navigating interspecies peace treaties.

I smiled to myself. Maybe one day, I’d stand in front of a classroom-hopefully one without any surprise shapeshifters or enchanted chalk

But until then, I had a job to do. A pack to protect. And a bonfire to get to.

One step at a time. That’s how change happened. And I was here for all of it.