Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 85

Colby

When I found a message in my inbox from the werewolf association. They accepted our application and gave us a date for our full mating ceremony to take place in about three months.

I felt my heart start to beat a bit faster.

How could it be so soon?

It might sound like my fears were getting the best of me and I was facing cold feet, but it wasn’t that. I just couldn’t believe we had gotten to this point.

A part of me always feared that something was going to go wrong or Lia was going to take off running. In the beginning, this was almost guaranteed. She couldn’t stand being around us. The more time she spent around us the more Lia hated us.

But we tried to bond with her in our way.

It worked and it didn’t work. Fast forward months and months later, we’ve managed to all become a unit or a pack if you will. I had never imagined myself becoming a pack leader, but here we are.

I headed downstairs, pausing at the sight. Michael and Gabi were downstairs. They had finally ventured from their bedroom, joining us for breakfast. So far, there had been no talks for them to return to their apartment and I think all of us were fine with having them here.

But with a pup on the way, this place was starting to get crowded.

It was normal in these modern times for us to live apart. This was how wolf clans worked today, but the urge for all of us to live under one roof was strong. I needed to talk to my mates. It was the only thing on my mind.

With a quick text message to the group text, I encouraged them all to meet me downstairs. Most of us spend time in the house since we never knew when some of the other Rosewater Coven members were going to try to attack us.

I hoped they would stay away and continue licking their wounds.

Imagine a powerful coven being taken down by a werewolf pack… and a vampire clan. I couldn’t forget the clan. They were the main reason we were able to succeed that day. Guarantee that without them we would have died or gone home very inured.

“So why are we here so early?” Rain asked, barely stifling a yawn.

“We got a date for the mating ceremony,” I said, not bothering to beat around the bush.

Everyone turned to look at one another and then back at me. Rain burst out into tears, rushing over to Lia, and pulling her into a tight hug.

“I’m so happy!”

Lia coughed, patting Rain awkwardly on the shoulder.

“It’ll be okay Rain.”

“These are happy tears!” he insisted, rubbing at his eyes. “Guys aren’t you happy too?”

Everyone was showing happiness in their own way. Matt was flushed, thinking of what it could mean and Rain was crying. I was smiling with a silly smile on my face.

Then there was Jesse. He was… being the typical Jesse, sitting there with an impassive look on his face.

“We have time to plan everything so don’t worry about it,” I assured the pack.

Everything was going according to plan. We had Gabi back and we were on track to do the ceremony.

But it felt like something could go wrong at any moment. I almost wanted to hold my breath for fear that something could go wrong.

“Jesse?” I asked, turning my attention to him.

He blinked. “Yeah?”

I chuckled. “Never mind.”

It wasn’t surprising this was how Jesse was being. This was his usual reaction to things. He did feel some types of emotions stirring in his chest, but he didn’t show it say like Rain was or I might.

Then again no one showed emotions as much as Rain did. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, showing them as easy as someone breathed air.

***

Jesse

“Well, it’s happening. No turning back now,” Colby said, breaking the silence.

Rain clapped his hands. “This is exciting! Right, Jesse?”

I looked up, barely reacting. “It’s fine.”

Rain tilted his head. “You don’t look happy.”

I just exhaled and sank deeper into the couch, my thoughts still swirling. Then I gave him a long look, not entirely sure if he was serious. “You’ll be waiting a while then.”

Rain threw his head back, exasperated. “You’re impossible, Jesse. Seriously.”

I shifted in my seat, crossing my arms again. “Just because I don’t put on a show doesn’t mean I’m impossible. I’m just… not into all this performative excitement.”

Matt leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “You’re still saying you don’t care about this, huh?”

I stared at him, silent for a moment, before finally responding. “I didn’t say I didn’t care. I just don’t care the way you want me to.”

Colby scratched his chin. “So, you do care?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Of course, I care. How can I not care that I’m getting mated to Lia? I don’t need to be jumping up and down for something that’s already been decided.”

Rain leaned back, his expression was a mix of frustration and amusement. “You’re like a walking contradiction. You act like you don’t care, but you do.”

I shot him a glance, half-smiling. “Maybe I just don’t like showing it.”

Matt raised an eyebrow. “Then when are we going to see the real Jesse? The one that doesn’t hide behind that cold exterior?” I paused, wondering how to answer. “Maybe when it matters.”

Lia knew I was happy to be mated to her soon. When it came to Lia, I did let my cool demeanor fall and what replaced it was something softer.

But I wasn’t one to show this much excitement at all, even in such a situation.

Yes, I loved Lia. I’d said that to her many times and she understood how I was. It didn’t matter that I was more subdued than the rest of the guys. All that mattered was that I expressed that I cared about her.

“So we all good?” I asked, looking around the room.

Lia laughed. “Guys lay off Jesse. You know that he does things in his way. I know he cares so you should know that too.” “See, Lia is on my side.”

“I’m on the side of logic and logic dictates this is how Jesse is going to be,” Lia said. “It also doesn’t bother me so I want all of you to keep this in mind.