Chapter 5 It's You

“Mate,” my wolf growls, recognizing the scent before I do. But my world shook as a similar face came into view—the one I thought I would never see again. My heart raced with a mix of emotions, unsure of how to react after all this time apart. “Henry...” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. The memories flooded back, both painful and beautiful, as I struggled to process the sudden connection that had reignited between us. Henry’s eyes held a mixture of regret and longing, mirroring my own conflicted feelings. Henry is my mate. How can this be possible? I thought to myself in disbelief. The bond we once shared seemed unbreakable, yet here he was, standing before me. As our eyes locked, I could sense that he, too, was grappling with the same overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume us both. But before I could say anything, Henry ran away from me, leaving me with an overwhelming thought of our new connection and the unanswered questions that lingered in the air between us. “Alpha…you okay…,” One of the packmates called out, breaking the tense silence that had settled in the air. I took a deep breath, trying to push down the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me as I struggled to make sense of this unexpected reunion. “Everything is fine,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I am going to my office in the pack house; bring the omega wolf Henry for me; I want to speak with him privately.” With that, I turned and walked away, my mind racing with thoughts of what this new connection could mean for the pack. I brushed my hair out of my face, wanting to appear composed and in control, even though my heart was pounding with uncertainty. After five years of being apart, I never expected to have such a bond with my brother. I closed the door behind me, taking a deep breath to steady myself before facing Henry. This unexpected connection brought a mix of emotions that I needed to sort through before our private conversation. But thumping in my heart and a tingling sensation in my fingertips reminded me that this newfound bond was worth exploring, no matter the outcome. No matter what, my wolf wants to put a claim on him. But the human side of me makes me think twice before acting on impulse. He is my brother, and I can’t have conflicting feelings about him. Stepbrother, my mind is quick to remind me that He is not blood. I clenched my fist, wanting the tingling sensation in my fingertips to go away, but it only intensified as I struggled to make sense of my emotions. I punched the wall in frustration, feeling torn between my wolf’s desires and my human conscience. But the sensation of pain in my hand brought me back to reality; it wasn’t enough to distract me from the inner conflict raging within me. I kicked the table in frustration, the sound of it crashing to the ground echoing through the room. My heart raced as I tried to push away the confusing mix of emotions swirling inside me, knowing that this internal battle was far from over. A knock and familiar scent linger in the air, reminding me of his presence. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of conflicting thoughts in my mind. The scent of him only added to the turmoil, making it even harder to resist the primal urges tugging at me. “Come in…” My voice came louder than I intended, betraying my inner turmoil. As the door creaked open, the smell that could make me lose my train of thought enveloped me, and I knew that this conversation would not be easy. “I…I…” Henry stammered, his eyes avoiding mine as he struggled to find the right words. I turn my head, staring at him, feeling the tension between us thickening with each passing moment. My eyes were scanning him from head to toe, seeing him all grown up and an adult now. “What are you wearing?” I blurted out, trying to break the awkward silence. His shirt seemed worn out and torn in places; his jeans were faded and frayed at the hems. Henry looked down at himself, a sheepish expression crossing his face before he finally spoke. “I didn’t think it mattered,” he mumbled, clearly uncomfortable with my scrutiny. “Why are you wearing all that old stuff?” I asked, genuinely curious about his choice of clothing. Henry shrugged, avoiding eye contact as he mumbled. “That’s the only clothes I have right now.” His words made my mind race with questions. “What?” I walked over to him, my height towering over his slouched form. “Why don’t you have any other clothes?” I asked because, as far as I know, I always send him money and resources to take care of himself. Henry shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the room before he finally whispered, “Why do you care?” I could see the vulnerability in his eyes, and it struck a chord within me. “Because you are family,” I replied softly, realizing that there was more to his situation than met the eye. “You are just my alpha, and I am the omega.” Henry’s voice cracked as he spoke, revealing a depth of emotion that I had never seen before. It was clear that there were underlying issues that needed to be addressed, and I was determined to dig into the issue. I walked around to round the room before sitting on a chair while he stood in front of me, his hands clenched at his sides. “What day is it?” I asked, trying to break the tension in the room. Henry hesitated before answering, “June 15, why?” I put my hand on my chin, my wolf howling inside me, being so close to him. “You turn 18 today?” I said softly, realizing the significance of the date. Henry’s eyes widened in surprise. “I completely forgot,” he admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. I smiled softly, feeling a rush of affection towards him. “Well, happy birthday,” I said sincerely, hoping to ease the tension between us. I grabbed his hand, pulling him close to me and making him stand in between my legs. “Do you know 18th birthday you are supposed to find your mate?” I whispered, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest. Henry’s eyes met mine, a mix of curiosity and anticipation shining through as he nodded slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Did you find your mate yet?” I asked playfully, hoping to lighten the mood even more. Henry’s eyes widened, staring at me as he shook his head slowly, a hint of vulnerability in his expression. “I don’t know,” he admitted softly, his voice barely above a whisper. I chuckled at his innocence and reached out to squeeze his hand and pulled him even closer to me, with our faces mere inches apart. “Guess what? I found mine,” I whispered, my heart racing with excitement. “And it’s been right in front of me this whole time.” Henry’s eyes searched mine, a mixture of shock and realization dawning on his face as he leaned in closer—a mere move and our lips would have touched. It felt like a sin to even think about kissing him, but the pull was undeniable. Henry’s breath hitched as his eyes flickered down to my lips, a silent question hanging in the air between us. “Do you want to know who is my mate?” I asked, barely able to contain my own anticipation. Henry’s eyes widen in disbelief as he shakes his head, unable to comprehend the revelation. I smiled and closed the distance between us, knowing that our connection was deeper than we ever imagined. “It’s you,” I whispered, sealing our lips in a kiss that felt like coming home.