Whatever Vega thought of their bond, he’d grown distant, no longer coming by the house, chatting amicably with Keon. Vega became a ghost, while Teowulf became irrationally happy and stopped picking on Keon. As if someone had opened his eyes, he’d remembered Keon was his brother, and Vega tried to pretend he wasn’t his true mate.
In gaining his brother he’d lost his mate, and couldn’t fathom why.
*
LYING ON THEgrass at their camp site, Teowulf rolled a cigarette, and Simeon took a drink of water from the flask.
“I’m off to find some fun. Don’t start without me,” Simeon said, tossing the bottle to Teowulf and sparing a wink for Vega. Glaring at Keon, he bit out, “Don’t be here when I get back.”
Keon flinched and turned to Teowulf, who shook his head. Not in denial but in exasperation. No one spoke as Simeon left, though Vega started a fire and snuck glances at Teowulf. When Teowulf slotted the cigarette between his lips and lit it, they shared a look, unspoken words Keon couldn’t hope to be privy to. A look to churn his stomach.
Vega had recently celebrated his nineteenth year, the same age as Simeon, but Teowulf was sixteen. If Keon understood Simeon’s warning, he was leaving to buy alcohol? Find girls? Something he classed as ‘fun’ to share with the others.
Something he wouldn’twant toshare.
If this was what their camping trips consisted of, Keon could understand why they returned home wrecked and exhausted. Why they’d never let him come. Did Simeon see this as a warning, or an initiation? Did he intend to scare Keon away from asking a second time?
“You can stay till the sun sets,” Teowulf said, despite their father insisting they take care of him. “You better go straight home. You don’t want to be here.”
Whatever was planned, Keon wouldn’t be party to it. He didn’t want to know how mad Simeon could get, if he discovered he’d stayed after his warning. One problem remained: it wasn’t long to dark and Keon was afraid.
“Why don’t you get firewood?” Teowulf suggested, taking a puff of his cigarette. Vega sat beside him, exchanging another meaningful glance. “You’ll need to keep warm tonight.”
Confused, disappointed, and frustrated, Keon nibbled his bottom lip and took a risk. “Vega,” he said, barely above a whisper, “will you go with me?”
Vega looked to Teowulf, for his approval or permission, and the shame had Keon scrambling to his feet.
“Never mind.” He walked into the trees, then ran. Scared Vega would learn about his fear of the dark, afraid they’d make fun of him. Ashamed of his mate’s rejection.
He trudged through the trees and dense foliage littering the ground, searching for twigs, branches, and moss to make a fire. He scouted a spot in the hollowed base of a tree where an animal had been nesting. His m’weko pheromones would scare it away, but if it was brave enough to return, he wouldn’t mind sharing. Anything to escape his brothers.
When he returned to the camp, barely ten minutes had passed. Hoping he’d be welcome, he stopped at the treeline beyond the camp. Being m’weko meant privacy and modesty were foreign concepts. They lost their clothing somewhere during the shift between forms, naked in front of family, strangers, and everyone in their pack. One fact of being foame he hated was seeing more naked bodies than he cared to.
These two brought a new emotion…raw, unbridled jealousy. Hatred.
Vega stood tall and proud, hips thrusting as Teowulf knelt, Vega’s cock in his mouth. Their noises unmistakable. The dirty words falling from Vega’s mouth a clear indicator this wasn’t their first time. Which explained Teowulf’s new happiness, and why Vega remained distant.
Keon stood frozen, watching his true mate spill his seed into Teowulf’s mouth. Defiling his brother, who was classed as underage. Academically, he knew this was a sin and the Alpha wouldn’t tolerate their behaviour. Vega was older and an influencing figure in Teowulf’s life because of the age difference. But Teowulf’s smile when Vega kissed him broke his heart. He wanted this. Teowulf was a willing participant, though Grier would question his ability to consent.
When Teowulf lay in Vega’s arms, Keon’s mate snuggled against his side, whispering and sharing touches, he understood the meaning of betrayal. What Vega had done was a betrayal of his friendship with Teowulf. A betrayal of the trust Teowulf had given. A betrayal of his true mate bond with Keon.
“These past months with you,” Teowulf said, adding another dagger to his heart, “have been the happiest of my life.” He linked his fingers with Vega’s to draw his arm around his bare waist.
Vega’s smile didn’t meet his eyes as he kissed Teowulf’s neck and whispered, “Mate with me, Teowulf. You’re the one I want to submit to.”
The words cut deep. Keon stumbled to the nearest tree, realising what Vega was saying. He thought love, mating, was a submission? A weakness? He thought Keon wasn’t worthy.
Teowulf’s hand raised to Vega’s head when he was kissed, and Vega rolled over him, his intentions clear. Keon refused to watch it happen, as tears covered his cheeks. His feet stuck, rooted to the spot, unable to escape the awful sounds. He wanted to put his hands to his ears to make it stop, but they clutched the tree in desperation, m’weko claws digging deep into the bark.
“By the Fates and the Gods of our people, I mate with you, Vega Phery,” Teowulf recited, the sacred words sealing him to Vega, as Keon closed his eyes and prayed Vega wouldn’t be vicious enough to continue.
They came despite his hope, those dreaded words.
“By the Fates and the Gods of our people, I mate with you, Teowulf Linwood.”
A keening cry rose in Keon’s throat, but he fastened a hand against his mouth and swallowed it. How could this have happened? How could it be allowed? How could Vega have done this?
*
