A/N So, tbh I've been stocking up on chapters just in case I don't have any for you for that week and I am sad to say but this is my last stockpiled chapter. Chapters will probably be updated weirdly. Also, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, LOVES! Although I don't got a valentine, lol. #singleawarnessday
Chapter 8
Kaelen's P.O.V.
"Oh, honey. By the way, Darren is here. He came back a little bit before you and ran into his room. He locked himself in and won't tell us what's wrong. Will you go and try to talk some sense into him for me, please?"
"I'll see what I can do, Ma. Although, I'm not too sure I can do much more than you can."
The truth was, I knew Darren was most likely not in his room. He was my little brother, so I knew him more than anyone else. Whenever it was dark and scary, he would always come to my room, crying. When he got lonely, he went into my room. When it was a sad time, he would come and cuddle with my blankets. I'm pretty sure after a while, I would know if he was in his room or not.
I mean, he usually went to my room to make life-changing decisions, or to just be there. That made me happy, it meant that he needed me in his life. And what big brother didn't want that to be him? Unless you were a big dickhead.
I quickly walked to my old room and opened the door. There sat my little brother, criss-crossed and bundled in one of my old blankets. His eyes were red and puffy, indicating that he cried. HIs brown hair was ruffled and... I don't know. He just looked like a complete mess. He also seemed to be watching a movie on Netflix and seemed to enjoy it.
I lightly knocked on the door and he looked over with wide, shocked eyes.
"Hey, you got here before me and you didn't come down to say hi?"
I smirked and Darren stood up, letting the blanket fall to his ankles. His eyes teared up and he jumped off the bed into my arms, sniffling quietly. I patted his head and cooed softly. He rubbed his head into my chest and started sniffing it.
"I haven't seen you in forever! How come you didn't come and visit me, you stupid big brother?! I missed you so much!"
"Haha, sorry, sorry. I was busy doing something for the company. Come on, sit back down. Let's have a talk."
"About what?"
"Anything we feel like. Whatever we want."
"Can we talk about your mates? Wait, you have found your mate, right? I mean, judging from the new and not completely disgusting smell on your clothes, you found her, right?"
"No, it's a he. And, oh my gosh! He's so cute!"
Darren stared at me in shock and I sat in shock. Dude, I can't even believe that I had said that! Since when the hell did I ever use the words 'oh my gosh' and 'cute'? Never, that's when. What the hell is happening to me? Darren knocked me out of my stupor with his giggles. Hm... I wonder how my Angel's giggles would sound. Pretty sure it would be beautiful.
"What about his name? Do you know it? Do you know where you came from? What about his birthday? And his favorite color? Where and how did you meet?"
"Slow down, goddess. Okay, yes I know his name. It's amazing! Dhairya. He came from Arizona, bless that state for giving me a beautiful as fuck mate. Oh my goddess, I also went there once and it was amazing. The Grand Canyon was awesome, you should take a helicopter above it one day. His birthday is on December 18th and his favorite colors are forest green and light turquoise. Oh yeah, we met just today but I'm gonna tell you right now. He's is the most beautiful thing ever!"
"So you actually do know quite a lot about your mate."
"Yup, we talked. Alright, now how about we talk about something a lot more serious. Like your relapse."
Darren sat in silence with his head hung low and his bangs covered his eyes. I suddenly felt bad about bringing it up, but I knew that if there was one thing that we needed to talk about, it was his relapse. It wasn't very healthy for him or for Vincent.
Darren had depression throughout high school and when he left to go to college, we all thought that it had gotten better. We let him have his own apartment and he lived there. I was supposed to go and visit him one day, but Vincent had to go in my place. The scene that Vincent saw wasn't very pretty.
They never met after Vincent turned 18 and started helping me out with the company, so they both had no idea that they were mates. Finding his mate with both wrists cut and bleeding out to death was probably the worst way to meet.
I was in a meeting and when I got the call from Vincent, I quickly rushed out of the meeting that I was in and raced there just in time to see Darren being carried into an ambulance. Vincent was a mess and I was worse. I distinctly remembering crying a lot that night and ignoring everyone.
"Kaelen..."
"No, Darren. We will talk about this."
"But, I really, really don't want to talk about this, Kaelen."
"Hmmm...."
"Please, Kaelen."
"Fine. But, in return, you have to promise me that you will go and talk to Vincent about this tomorrow, got it? If you don't, we will hire you a therapist."
"Okay, I promise I will talk to Vincent about it. I'll tell him everything."
"Alright. Now, come here. I want cuddles before going to sleep."
Darren giggled and crawled over, climbing in the blanket that I held up for him to climb under. I hugged him to my chest, but for some weird reason, this simple gesture no longer felt right. He didn't fit exactly and it didn't feel as comfortable as it used to. Dhairya came to mind and I cursed in my head.
Why did I ever say that having a mate would be a burden? It's so amazing, Dhairya was amazing. Speaking of Dhairya, I miss him. I wonder what he's doing right now...
-------------------------------------------------------
The smell of burnt cooking wafted into my nose and I jerked my eyes open. Oh no. My mom was trying to cook again. That never boded well for any of us. I glanced over at the window and stared longingly. Maybe if I jumped out the window right now, I could run and make it back to the pack house in time for breakfast that were made by people, not my mom, and were delicious.
But then, I thought about Darren and my dad. I thought about how they would have to suffer the pain of tasting her food. I thought about how cruel it would be if I left them and I sighed. This was difficult to do, but I guess I'm staying and enduring the disgusting food that Ma makes.
"Kaelen?"
"Morning, Darren."
"Is mom cooking?"
"Yes."
"And you haven't run away yet? What is wrong with you?"
"Thought of you and Dad. If we're gonna die, might as well die together, right?"
"Aww...Thank you! You're so sweet!"
Darren got out of bed and walked to his own master bedroom, quickly unlocking it from that facade that he had put up last night. It had it's own bathroom and all of Darren's clothes, so I guess it's natural to go back to his own room. I sighed and went to my own bathroom to freshen up as well.
After finishing my business, I got out and changed into a pair of slacks and a black dress shirt. I tucked in my shirt and put on a belt before walking down the hall. I arrived in the little dining room and sat down in the last available seat.
"Kaelen, you knew your mom was cooking and you stayed? Do you want to eat this food? Do you need a doctor? Should I go and get you the pack doctor?"
"Haha... Whatever are you talking about?"
My dad raised one brow and stared down at me. I just continued pretending to be innocent with a smile on my face. My dad opened his mouth and closed it quickly, squeezing his eyes shut as well. He opened his eyes and his mouth hang open in a silent scream.
"Connor, do not insult my cooking! I am freaking amazing!"
Ma turned around with a hopeful look on her face and stared straight at me. Her lips started to pout a little and her eyes watered up. Her perfectly sculpted face shone with hope and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing that she knew I couldn't resist that face. I cringed.
"Sorry, Pa. I've got to disagree with you there. Ma's cooking is just great."
Darren giggled and Ma turned around with a triumphant smile in Dad's shocked face. He quickly recovered and groaned before covering his face with his hands. We all chuckled when he began banging his head on the table. My mom giggled again before beginning to eat the green slop that she made for breakfast. I think it was meant to be oatmeal.
"Oh yeah, Kaelen? What time are you going in for work today?"
"Hmm... Right after breakfast. Why?"
"Well, Darren needs a ride to college so I was wondering if you could drive him?"
"Yeah, sure."
The rest of breakfast was eaten in a comfortable silence. When I finished, I put my dishes in the sink and washed my hands. I patiently waited until Darren finished eating so we could leave the house. We shifted and ran pack to the pack house where I had left my car. It was a nice, little compact car that I have had for 7 years now. I loved the little beauty. We got in and I started the car, reveling in its purr.
"How's college going so far?"
"Kaelen, why is college so hard? Why couldn't I just become a dang doctor already?"
"Work hard and attain your goals? I don't know, man. I took over the company right after high school. But, if it's your dream, then you should never give up on it. I know that much. Work hard and make your dreams come true."
"Thanks, Kaelen."
"No problem, kiddo. Wow, that made me sound old as fuck. Anyways, here we are."
"Bye!"
I waved and smiled at the little man before carefully reversing and driving to the company. I can't wait to see Dhairya. Wait, would Dhairya even come? How could I get George to let him come to the company everyday. This is pretty much an impossible thing. I shook out of my thoughts once I realized that I had already arrived at the company.
I walked through the company doors and frowned when I saw Vincent there with his arms around MY mate.
>What the hell are you doing with my mate?!<