Bloodlines

Dean

I walk out of the office and into the lobby where Bennett is. "How'd everything go?" He looks over my shoulder at the office.

"They're scared. They don't like that Sara and I are alphas to our own packs."

He rolls his eyes. "That's to be expected. I just wanted to tell you that Anna wants to see you and that her memorial is ready for tomorrow."

I nod. "Do you know why she wants to see me?"

"She didn't say. You're not nervous are you?" He hits my shoulder. I wince and grab my shoulder. "Shit, sorry."

"It's fine."

Bennett scratches his head as I pass. "Oh yeah, and the holes for the funerals were dug."

"When the moon rises," I say.

Tristan is in the kitchen. I'm still getting used to his scent. I haven't been too sociable with him but I'm going to have to start when they have their ceremony. I'm going to have a brother.

Anna comes rushing down the stairs. She's flustered. Her hair is falling out of her bun. She blows a strand away. Her green eyes are vibrant as they wash over me. She's in a baggy shirt and some shorts. She couldn't be more beautiful.

"Tristan, can you help Sara?" She pulls her eyes from me and to Tristan.

"On it." Tristan jogs upstairs. He probably senses me. I decided not to hold anything back. I was hoping she would stop holding back but I still get nothing more than 'nervous' from her. Sometimes I get anxious, like right now.

"Living room, c'mon." Anna jerks her head to the living room. She sits at the recliner and turns it toward me. I sit on the loveseat. She looks at her hands. "This is going to be awkward."

My heart quickens.

"Do you... remember... what you said before you passed out?"

Yes.

I furrow my brow. "What did I say?"

She rests her elbows on her knees, leaning on them. "You said," she looks away, "you said that we were mates." She looks at me. Embarrassment goes through her body. "I mean you were delusional, you were dying. You didn't know—"

"We're mates, Anna."

She pauses.

Please accept me as your mate. I want to make you happy. I want to make you scream. I want you.

"How do you know?" she says.

This is a good step. She might want to try to feel it too.

"It's kind of like a gut feeling—instinct. Open yourself up, don't hold it back." Please feel it.

"You're attractive, Dean." Pause. "I guess I've always had a crush on you, but that's all it is: a crush." She looks at her feet. "Maybe it's because I'm a half-breed that I don't feel it. I don't know. I don't really want a mate anyway."

"Anna—"

"No, look where it could've gotten us. You dead and I would've been collateral damage."

"Anna—"

"Dean, they tried to kill me." A tear falls from her eye. "What if Jessica wants you dead next? Will she come after me because I'm weak? I'm your kryptonite."

"You'll be my kryptonite regardless." I reach for her hand. "Mates are strongest together."

"We can't be mates." She pulls her hand away and wipes her eyes. "I'm sorry." She stands. "I have to help Sara."

I watch her leave.

She said we can't be mates, not that we aren't. She has to feel something. She's just afraid.

#

When the moon falls, the pack gathers at the burial site.

Four graves are dug for four wolves. I lost Daphne, Darryl, Aaron, and Brooklyn. When Sara told me what happened, I needed time alone. I lost Daphne and Darryl. Those two had been protecting me from the beginning.

I walk between the middle graves. The wolves hold candles and flowers. Sara and Tristan stand behind me as respect from their pack to mine.

Anna and Bennett stand in the crowd. The pack doesn't seem to remember that she was at my side at the last funeral. Their focus is more on the East Wolf behind me, holding hands with my sister.

Matt and Katie stand behind them. Julia is propped on Katie's hip. She wears a little black dress.

"The events of the past few days have been kept from you. I sincerely apologize for that, but I had to be the one to tell you." I take a breath. "Alexia, alpha of the East Wolves is no more. She was attempting to kill Anna and when I found out, I took matters into my own hands." An eruption of murmurs starts up. "Alexia took me down. Brooklyn, Aaron, Darryl, and Daphne tried to get to me, but were killed in the process.

"Sara was already there. She was with Tristan, her mate, and also an East Wolf. They killed Alexia and have since become the new alphas of her pack." I look down at the graves. "My actions led to the deaths of these wolves. I will never forget that. Let's have a moment of silence for these fallen warriors."

Everyone closes their eyes and bows their heads. I look over my shoulder. Sara nods and smiles. I smile back. She's going to be a better alpha than me.