My Brothers Best Friend

Chapter 5 - Suprise!

I blink away the cloudiness, my vision now clearer. I can see in the dark, my wolf can see in the dark. The pain has now ceased and I am in wolf form.
I run through the woods, the feeling of wind running through my fur feels amazing - this is awesome. Chatter from the long gone house still makes its way to my ears.
I can see in the dark as well as hear further, could this get any better?
Out of no where I am tackled to the ground, my brothers wolf playfully pins me down.
'Looks like you need to learn how to fight in wolf form now' he smugly mind links me. I growl playfully at him as we wrestle through the forest. Our fighting ceases as a low, powerful growl sounds, my brother and I stop, frozen in place.
'What is the meaning of this?!' My father angrily mind links us.
'We were only play fighting dad' Adrian responds in our three-way mind link.
'That doesn't matter' Dad replies.
'Let them have some fun Caleb, gosh when did you become the fun destroyer. This is very unlike you' Mum says as she appears next him.
'It's the mate thing Cora, I just know she's going to find him tonight, my wolf can sense it' Dad mind links the four of us.
'Don't be ridiculous' Mum replies.
'I haven't even met my wolf yet, I can sense she's here, she just hasn't contacted me yet. You have a good 10 minutes at least until I meet my wolf and she tells me who my mate is' I mind link to my father teasingly. He doesn't like that and growls at me warningly.
Not wanting to waste anymore time I run off deeper into the woods, seeing what other cool things my wolf can do. So far she can see in the dark, hear really well, run super fast and...
'Smell' An unknown female voice says in my mind.
'Excuse me?' I reply.
'We can also smell very well. All our sensors are enhanced in wolf form, mmh talking about smell, can't you smell that amazing scent'
'Yeah I can, who is that mmh'
'That's our mate'
'Our what?!'
'Our mate'
'So you're telling me I have a mate before telling me who you even are?'
'Oh right sorry, I'm Skylar your wolf and that amazing scent belongs to our mate'
'But I don't want a mate'
'How can you not want a mate?! Mates are the best things in the world'
'They're controlling, I don't want my life to be controlled by some guy I don't even know'
Skylar sulks and goes quiet. I continue to run deeper and deeper into the woods.
'Ah Skylar?' I question after a while of wandering aimlessly through the forest.
'What?' She asks still mad.
'How do I shift out of wolf form?'
'Take control of your body again and you should shift back'
'How do I do that?'
'Use your mind, your of strong status I'm sure you can do it'
'I'm only the Alpha and Luna's second inline heir. I'm nothing special'
'But your mate is of high status and him being near is making your power shine. Now just use your mind and shift back'
I try using my mind to shift back and finally it happens, the pain only slightly when shifting back.
I look down over my bare body, I'm lost and have no idea where my spare clothes are.
I mind link my mum to bring me clothes.

I wait alone in the woods.
"Imogen?" A masculine voice calls out. I hide behind a tree covering myself with my hands as much as I can.
'Just shift again' Skylar says sassily. I shift again into my wolf, bracing myself for the pain that never comes. From behind a tree, my medium sized, black wolf slowly makes its way to the approaching person, sticking her head out first.
My cousins head snaps in my direction,
"Imogen?" He questions. I step out from behind the tree fully.
"Your mum sent me to bring you clothes" he says holding out a pair of loose fitting shorts and a t-shirt.
I take them in my mouth and walk back behind the tree, shifting back and changing. Once again I face my cousin Henry,
"Thank you so much for bringing me clothes, I kinda got lost" I say.
"It's fine" he replies hugging me. We start walking back,
"So, have you met your wolf?" He asks.
"Yep" I reply happily.
"What about your mate?"
"Fortunately not"
"What's with the not wanting a mate business?"
"I already have my controlling father, I don't want a controlling mate as well"
"You know your dad never used to be like this"
"Really?"
"Yeah, he was always pretty good with controlling his overprotective-ness until you came along"
"Oh"
"It's not your fault, he just wants to protect his little girl, maybe having a mate will fix that problem?"
"Maybe, depends who it is"
"What do you mean?"
"What if my mates someone my father hates?"
"I'm sure that won't happen"
"But what if it does?!
"What ever happens, happens"
I stare nervously at the now familiar path.
"Excuse me while I deal with my Delta" Henry says annoyed, his eyes glazing over as he mind links.
"What's happened?" I ask. After Henry finishes mind linking him he responds,
"We left my new Delta in charge of the pack and he's been mind linking me constantly about everything. Ah, now my Beta isn't responding"
"Probably because you're not the Alpha yet"
"Next full moon I'll be the Alpha, they should sense that and reply"
I laugh at his damaged ego.
"Finally, someone replied"
"Who?"
"Dean, he's going to finish escorting you the rest of the way, while I quickly duck home and deal with my Delta. I'm sorry I have to leave but I'll be back I promise."
"Escorting me, huh?"
"Your dad told me to, cause you know, mates"
"I can't believe him"
"He only does it cause he cares about you-"
"Alpha Henry" Dean addresses and bows his head.
A whirl of emotion hits me, Dean's scent strong and sweet in my nostrils.
'Mate!' Cheers Skylar. My eyes widen and my jaw drops. I can't of found my mate straight away, no, not me. Dean is only my friend, he can't be my mate, there has to be some mistake here.
'But the moon goddess doesn't make mistakes' Skylar replies.
Dean's face holds a shocked yet knowing look, did he know and not tell me?
Henry's voice snaps me out of my trance,
"Imogen, are you alright?"
"Hmm?" I question prying my eyes away from Dean, the already strong pull between us making it difficult for me to keep eye contact with my cousin.
Henry laughs knowingly as he observes the scene between us,
"Have fun you too" he says walking away.
"Henry!" I call out to him, he looks back at me. I hold my pointer finger to my lips, indicating for him to stay quiet about the mate thing. He nods and runs, shifting into his wolf, disappearing into the forest.