Alpha Brothers - the Lonely Brother (book 3)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7
Tarna
Who are you Little Wolf?
I wanted to answer him. I wanted to tell him everything.
Why are you so determined on being my mate?
Because I'm so tired of being alone.
My eyes flicked opened to a room of chaos. How the hell did I get here?
The last thing I remembered was being tortured by that sick alpha. I don't remember anything about going to a room where old things lie. I frowned when I looked down at myself. I was lying on a mattress, covered by a doona.
I wasn't bleeding. Flicking off the doona, my eyes widened at the sight of me. God, I looked worse than Frankenstein's monster. Then who the hell was Frankenstein?
I stood, taking the blanket with me. I got a better look at my surroundings and realised that I was in an attic, not a room. The attic was cluttered with old furniture and objects that seemed to have gathered here from years dating back to when the house was first built. You could barely move in here. There was a small space that was made for the mattress and a walk way that led back to what I think were stairs, but that was it.
They were seriously a part of history. Paintings of people, old dusty chairs, dressers, there was even a box of jewellery.
I took in a breath of air, recognising Malcolm's smell. Did he sleep here? Why on earth would he sleep in the attic of some house when he was werewolf royalty? I mean, I'm pretty sure he was the heir. He should be bathing in luxury.
But he wasn't. He was sleeping on a mattress that was worse than mine and in an attic that was more dust than room.
"You're awake,"
I jumped at the sound of another's voice before wincing when my stomach burned.
"Still sore?" Malcolm unhelpfully asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling a surge of anger. And already, I was beginning to blame him for all my problems.
"Aye, I am, Doctor Frankenstein. You try bein' sliced like a tomato."
He turned his head away and for a second I swear I saw a smirk.
"Did you stitch me up?" I asked, remembering that I didn't sow my stomach back together.
He nodded.
"And if you don't mind me askin'. Why was your stomach a pile of ribbons?"
I bit my lip, trying not to lose it. I didn't know what made me more angry. The memory of that sick Alpha or the fact that Malcolm was asking questions and expecting answers when he didn't give me the same courtesy.
"You know what, I don't need to explain myself - ahh," I groaned, causing my stomach to burn when I moved too fast.
"Hey, easy," he snapped stepping forward.
If I didn't know any better, I would say that he was angry.
"It's just thread that's keepin' your insides, well, inside of you."
I rolled my eyes, "thanks doctor. I'm so glad that you care."
"Hey don't -."
I raised my eyebrow, trying to force the end of that sentence out of him.
He sighed, hitting his thighs in frustration.
"What I meant was, just because I don't want a mate doesn't mean I..."
"How does the end of that sentence go?" I asked him.
"It doesn't, really," he admitted, muttering
I couldn't help but snicker under my breath at him. He frowned but relaxed, probably for the first time since he had met me. But it felt good to know that he was growing comfortable around me.
Looking around at my surroundings again, I asked, "Where are we?"
"The attic of Faol Coillie."
That one name caused my mouth to drop and eyes to pop out of my head.
"Faol Coillie? You took my back to the castle," I couldn't hide the shock that dripped from my words.
He frowned, "where else did you think I would take you?"
"Honestly," I started, "a ditch. I'm surprised that you even did anythin' seein' that I'm just a rogue."
"That's not what I -."
"What did you mean by that?" I asked him, stopping him from taking another step further towards me.
He sighed, avoiding my eyes, "I guess, you wouldn't believe me if I said that it was just in the heat of the moment."
I thought about it for a moment coming to one conclusion.
"Only if it's true. Is it true?"
His silence and lack of eye connect gave me my answer. I shook my head, disappointed in him. He couldn't even tell it to me straight.
"Look -."
"Tarna," I buttered in.
He frowned, not knowing what to do. Once he had realized what I had said, his features softened and it was no longer the wolf that was an alpha in his own right and the rogue that had been put through a paper shredder.
"What were you goin' to say?" I asked, not wanting us to stay silent.
He sighed, "I don't want a mate but that doesn't mean I don't want..."
I frowned when he couldn't even say the words. What was he so afraid of? Admitting that he wanted a mate with a rogue. I bit my lip, forcing myself not to say anything I would regret. In the silence I made the quick decision to allow him to live his life, however he wished and if that meant that my dream of having a pack was ruined, then so be it.
"I brought you clothes," he stated, waking me from my thoughts, "there my sister's but I'm sure they'll -."
"I'm not a charity case," I snapped, "I'll get out of your hair now."
Bitting back the pain, I moved off the mattress and onto the cold floorboards.
"No don't," he said, taking a step forward, stopping me in my tracks.
He was now two feet away from me, reminding me that the last time we were this close it ended with me falling to the ground. My legs took a step back without any command from my brain. He read my movements all wrong and immediately disappointment was on his face.
"You're afraid of me," he stated, "of course you are."
"What, no," I snapped, annoyed that he would even suggest that, "the last lad that was near me made my body his canvas."
He didn't seemed as happy as I thought he would. Actually, he was pissed.
"Who was it?" He asked almost growling.
I shrugged, "he was just some alpha."
"And what, in god's name, were you doin' on his territory?"
I frowned. Now, he was deciding to be all high and mighty?
"Excuse me? I was just runnin' and didn't realise I was passed the boundary."
"Why were you runnin'?" He asked.
My eyes narrowed at him, "your jokin' right. I was tryin' to clear my head," he groaned at me, "if this is your idea of carin' for me, I would rather not hear it."
"Oh you're goin' to hear it. You came to me, remember," he reminded me.
I scoffed, "full of yourself, aren't you? I was dyin' okay. My wolf was the only thin' keepin' me alive. She would have thought, hey, I know a guy that can -."
"Stitch you up and send you on your way?" He finished.
I shrugged, "you got it, Doctor Frankenstein."
Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes at me.
"Wow, you almost look hurt by that," I stated.
"I don't know how I feel," he muttered to himself, "I do, then I don't. I'm just confused."
I couldn't say that I knew how he felt. I was the sort of person to make up my mind and my emotions a soon as I felt them. But I was tired of his mood swings. They were just as confusing as him.
"Well, when you've figured it out, come find me."
Just as I went to walk past him to leave, he caught my arm. The quick movement caused my 'stitches' to pull. Malcolm's hand immediately let go of me, his eyes dropping to where my hands clutched my belly.
"Sorry," he quickly said.
I bit my lip, trying not to let the pain affect me. He took my arm, more gently this time, and led me back to the mattress.
"Let's have a look," he stated, sitting me down and crouching in front of me.
Carefully, he took my hands and placed them on the mattress before pulling away the doona enough to see the damage.
"Damn," he groaned, "you broke the stitches."
"You broke the stitches," I corrected like a pouting child.
"There's no need to be so precise," he told me.
"You don't need to be so precise," I said making him chuckle.
I flopped my head to the side, feeling so tired all of a sudden. My body hadn't fully healed and was struggling to function without the blood I had lost earlier today. All I could focus on was the feel of my mate's rough fingers against my skin as he fixed his handy work.
"Why so many?" he asked, probably to himself but I decided to answer.
"There were a couple of reasons. Main one, he wanted to send a message."
At that, Malcolm stopped touching me and frowned, "What message?"
"The usual," I sighed, "he's a new alpha in town and he wanted me to be a message to other rogues that want to trespass on his territory."
His frown deepened.
"Callum hasn't –," he stopped.
It was my turn to frown.
"Care to continue that?" I asked.
"Oh it's nothin'," he stated, coming back to the attic, "I just –."
He paused again.
"Do you at all know how to finish a sentence?" I asked him, making his eyes narrow at me.
"Aye, of course, I do. Now, tell me the other reasons?"
I knew that he was trying to change the subject but I didn't have the energy to fight him on it.
"I wouldn't scream," I told him, making him stop again.
"Wait. He tore your stomach to pieces and you didn't scream?" he asked.
I nodded, frowning at his shock.
"You're a strong Little Wolf then," he stated, mostly to himself.
I dropped my head, finding my cheeks start to burn at his nickname for me. Little Wolf. That was new.
"I wasn't goin' to give him the satisfaction. Bastard chained me to a tree – ow!"
"Sorry," he said, letting go, "sorry."
I groaned, feeling the pain only growing.
"Lie down," he told me, "it will make you feel better."
I did as he told me, feeling just the support on my back alone start to make me feel better. I felt him move the doona completely off me taking a better look at my stitches.
"Not a shy wolf either, I see," he stated.
I shrugged, "animals don't care that their naked and I'm half animal. Why should I care?"
"That is one way of seein' it."
I showed him a smile but that was all I could manage. All I could do was focus on the feel of his fingers, gently grazing the thread that held my skin together. I couldn't remember the last time a man had touched me with such care and tenderness. It caused me to relax and close my eyes.
"Don't go fallen asleep on me," Malcolm said, causing my eyes to flick open before I groaned.
"Just do what you have to do, just don't wake me up," I told him making him chuckle.
"With an invitation like that, you should be careful, Little Wolf."
I couldn't help but giggle.
"I think we can take the thread out now," he stated.
"I can do it myself," I told him, sitting up, "Like I said, I'm not a charity case."
"This isn't charity," he said, looking hurt that I had even suggested it, "can't you just allow someone to look after you?"
"Malcolm, in the three other times that we've met, you have been determined to shoo me away like some unwanted cat –."
"But you're not a cat, you're a wolf," he corrected.
"Oo, wow, so much better," he rolled his eyes at me, "Why now suddenly a change of tune?"
He grew silent, which made me dread his answer. Twice now, he had seen me naked even if it was to stitch me up. For the first time in my life, I felt the need to cover myself, pulling the doona over my shoulder, avoiding his eyes like he did mine.
"Oh I get it," I said finally speaking, "You're just like every other man. Of course you've changed your mind. Now that you've seen all what your little damn mate has to offer."
He frowned, "Do you think I'm that narrow minded? If sex was what I wanted from you, I would have shagged you when you were asleep."
I opened my mouth to tell him that he was lying when I realized that he wasn't. But it only confused me more.
"Then what the hell do you want?" I snapped.
"I don't know," he growled standing, "My mind is slipt."
"Well, pick one side," I told him.
"Oh, if only it was that simple," he stated.
"It is!" I yelled, "It's as simple as sayin' yes and no."
"Only when sayin' yes isn't breakin' a vow to a –," once again, he couldn't finish his sentence.
It only made my frustration with him grow.
"You should get some rest," he stated, changing the subject once again.
"No, I'm goin' to go," I said, standing, wincing in pain.
"No, I want to take the thread out."
"And like I said, I know how to take stitches out," I reminded him, "I'm not a hot water bottle. I'm a simple person and try not to complicate thin's. But there's only so many times I can be rejected before the wounds stop healin'."
I went to leave but he caught my arm.
"What if I was just a guardian?" he suggested, his breath blowing on the side of my neck, sending shivers down my spine, "Lookin' out for you when you're in trouble."
His very proposal caused my wolf to stir.
"I've been lookin' out for myself for a while now," I told him, hating the idea that he was just feeling sorry for me.
"I can see that," he stated, "but I don't want you comin' upon ruthless alphas that would hurt you like this."
"Unlike your brother," I argued, turning around in his grip, "I'm trespassin' on your territory, I have been for a year. What's stoppin' him from doin' the same thin' to me as the other alpha did."
He frowned, "My brother isn't like that. He doesn't torture rogues that are just tryin' to find their way. And you being my..."
He couldn't even say the name.
I scoffed, "You say that, by being your mate, you can give me protection but you can't even say the word."
"Well, I –."
"Malcolm, it's rather you want me or you don't. I can't afford it to be in between," I told him.
"Well, I can't afford it bein' any other way. I'm doomed if I do and I'm doomed if I don't. I can't choose yes and I can't choose no."
"And what do you expect me to do?" I asked him, "Choose for you?"
"Well, I –."
"Malcolm," I warned him.
He groaned and finally let go of my arm.
"Just accept my offer," he groaned, "Just say aye, I'm in full agreeance with you. You can look out for me if you wish."
I scoffed.
He was arrogant and a smartarse. Bloody brilliant.
"How many times must I say it, I'm not a bloody charity case."
"Just one more time and maybe I'll believe you."
"I'm not a bloody charity case!" I yelled before groaning and bending to clutch my stomach.
Instantly, Malcolm was by my side.
"Tarna."
I swallowed at the sound of my name rolling off his tongue. He made it sound so much more interesting than it really was.
"Just take it easy," he told me, making my eyes roll.
"Thank you, just now I was thinkin', boy, I should take it easy."
My eyes landed on his smirk, before it quickly disappeared.
"Are you sure there wasn't another reason the alpha did this to you? A sharp tongue like that could send some men mad."
"Some?" I questioned.
He nodded, "Aye, some."