The Alpha’s Hideous Mate

Chapter 6: Stay Away From Her

Sebastian’s POV

“Who?” I asked innocently. “I have no idea who we are talking about.”

“Cut the crap, Sebastian,” Tristan grunted, running his hand over his hair. “I know you came back for her.”

Hmm, interesting…

Let’s find out how much he knows. I wondered if my brother is smarter than our dad.

“And why would I do that?” I asked, no longer denying that I had returned for a reason. I, however, wanted Tristan to admit who he was referring to and acknowledge that Aitana was his mate.

That said, I wonder how much he learned and discovered over the years.

Does he know she is mated to me as well?

It is not common for brothers to be mated to the same woman; that usually happens with twins, but what can I say?

The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways.

She let me get cursed after all.

Tristan rolled his eyes. “Because—" he paused. “You came back for my mate.”

I almost chuckled, but instead, I decided to play a fun game. “I wouldn’t touch Tina with a ten-foot pole,” I said with disgust. "She is not bad-looking, but her physique doesn’t match her soul.”

“I’m not talking about Tina, and you know that,” he growled this time.

I lifted my legs and put them over his desk. Clearly, testing his patience.

“Then who? Brother?” I pressed.

He only needed to do it. Aitana was our mate; he should have cherished her, but instead, he made her life a living hell and would continue to do so.

She is still not of age, so she hasn’t felt the cheating pains as she should, but once she turns eighteen… it is going to become unbearable.

I’m going to make Tristan break, and he will regret ever hurting Aitana. I don’t even understand why he does it.

Because she is supposed to be an omega? That would be a stupid excuse.

“You know who,” he growled even louder.

All I did was shake my head. “I don’t,” I shrugged. “I returned because I thought it would be fine. You are taking the Alpha position, I’m not a threat to anyone anymore.”

“You are not going to fight for my position?” My brother asked with an arched eyebrow.

Of course, he didn’t believe me.

I mean… if this pack had treated Aitana fairly, then I would have returned and kidnapped her, but since they decided to treat her as a slave… I had to return the favor.

I don’t know how my brother could become the Alpha with so many bad weeds surrounding him, including Tina.

“No, I won’t. I will leave peacefully and perhaps take an omega or two to help once the homes are up,” let’s see what happens.

My brother squinted his eyes, analyzing me. “Which omega?”

“You’ll see, I haven’t decided yet.” That was a lie. Aitana would come with me, perhaps first as an omega, but later as my Luna.

Once I finally get everything back.

“Aitana is off limits,” he declared.

“Like I would—"

“Why? She only works here because her parents don’t want her at their home, right?” Come on, Tristan, just admit it already.

I know you felt me that day. You are an Alpha, after all, and not as weak as our father is.

His jaw clenched, and he was trying not to snap at me. “You know the truth about Aitana, and don’t lie to me.”

Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.

“Sure, I do, but she never delivered, or have you seen anything relevant recently?” I asked Tristan.

He didn’t answer me, of course. This meeting would not get us anywhere, so I sighed.

“Is that all?” I asked, now feeling irritated by the stupid way he is behaving. “I have houses to build and talk to my men before returning for your announcement.”

“Are you seriously going to sleep here?” Tristan pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a long breath.

I finally dropped my legs and instead leaned closer. “Of course I am, at least until I have everything set up. Worried about something, brother?”

I was teasing again, but at the same time, I was subtly telling Tristan I would be all over Aitana.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Sebastian,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “Aitana is not yours to claim.”

I leaned back in my chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “So she is yours to claim? I definitely don’t see a mark on her neck.”

“Stay the f**k away from her, Sebastian, I’m—“

“Warning me?” I cut him off. “But why, brother? If she is not your mate, then she can be claimed by anyone, perhaps even another mate.”

His fists clenched on the desk, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge at me; he was even shaking from anger.

“Stay. Away. From. Her,” he warned, making sure he paused at each syllable.

If I were a normal wolf, I would submit to his aura, but that was not the case.

“Oh, like hell we will, who does this pup think he is?!” Azrael was seething, but I decided it was time to back down.

If I pulled the rope too much, it might break and hurt Aitana.

A threatened Alpha is a dangerous Alpha. Tristan never had trouble controlling his wolf, so he doesn’t have as much control as I do.

If I threatened their bond, he might find her and mark that beautiful neck of hers. I couldn’t allow that.

Unless he apologizes, on his knees, otherwise, he can kiss Aitana goodbye.

“Okay, I will. But hear me out,” it was time to let him know I was aware of his little secret. “I saw you that day. I knew she was your mate since that day, but let me tell you one thing," I paused. "You've done a stellar job of pushing her away, Tristan. She's not even of age yet, and you've already made her life miserable. She works as a slave in this house, and you let people belittle her even though she was supposed to be your Luna."

"She—"

"That is enough for any woman to give up on the bond, but that was not all, was it?" I squinted my eyes. "You are choosing a Luna today, and still haven’t severed the bond with her.”

“I tried,” he mumbled.

“I know, but—“

“You don’t understand,” he cut me off. I saw something in his eyes I never expected to see.

Fear.

But that was not all, there was something else, something deeper.

Regret?

“Stay away from her, Sebastian. If you are trying to seduce her to make me pay for taking the Alpha position, then stop. She doesn’t deserve it.”

That surprised me; it even left Azrael in complete shock.

Tristan was hiding something from me, something I would intend to find out.

“What are you hiding, brother? Are you hurting Aitana on purpose? Because that is not what a mate does. You have f****d your bond and after tonight she will hate you even more.”

“No, she won’t,” he shook his head.

I scoffed. Was he serious? "Of course, she will. You are going to betray her. That is the worst you can do to Aitana. Whatever you think you are doing to protect her has the opposite effect,” I tried to reason with him.

If Tristan had a good excuse for treating Aitana the way he did, I could forgive him, but I needed him to talk to me.

We were brothers after all.

“You don’t understand, you don’t know what you are talking about,” he growled, but his voice wavered.

“Don’t I?” I stood up, leaning over the desk to meet his gaze. “I’ve seen the way she flinches when you’re near. I’ve seen the way she avoids your eyes. You think that’s how a mate should act around her Alpha? You think that’s how she’s supposed to feel? You are not protecting her, Tristan. You are losing Aitana.”

Tristan didn’t respond. He just stared at me, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. I could see the wheels turning in his head, the realization dawning on him that he might lose her—to me.

“I’m not here to fight you for the Alpha position,” I said, my voice softer now. “I don’t want it. But I won’t stand by and watch you destroy her, Tristan. She deserves better. And if you can’t give her that, then I will.”

For a long moment, the room was silent. Then, finally, Tristan spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “Get out.”

I didn’t argue. I just turned and walked toward the door, pausing with my hand on the handle. “Think about what I said, brother. If you don’t, then you might ruin your life forever.”

As I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn’t help but smile. This was far from over, but I’d planted the seed.

Tristan knew I was interested in Aitana. He might now know I am her mate as well, but it doesn’t matter.

This would be enough to make him realize his mistake, and let’s hope, postpone this stupid announcement.

As I left his office, I smelled that sweet vanilla and chocolate flavor, which could only mean one thing.

Azrael instantly purred. Aitana might be the only person to calm him down, which is why I’m not worried.

Unless someone hurts her, that is. If that happens, I might lose control, but I’ve never seen anybody get physical with my mate.

Mean comments, sure, but nobody has laid a hand on her, and let’s hope it stays that way.

Azrael will separate heads from their bodies otherwise.

“Let’s go find mate,” he urged, but I had a better plan.

“Let’s find something for our mate first.”

“You are evil,” he smirked because he already knew what my plan was.

“Why? I am only doing something nice for her,” I replied, playing innocent.

Azrael laughed. He loved this plan, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on my brother’s face.