Page 36 of Unknowingly Adopting the Alpha
Milo made a gagging sound. “Please stop.”
Wanting to test my theory from before, I let Jeremy know what Milo and I had discussed before Red jumped me. “Milo and I were just talking about the ceremony when you came running,” I began, smiling innocently Milo’s way.
“Oh,” Jeremy’s brows furrowed.
“And I can’t wait,” I said, leaning down to kiss him, just realizing how this would look to those innocent cubs as our lips met, but it was too late, his lips held mine with an invisible force, making it impossible for me to let go of him.
Milo let out a sigh. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
Chapter Nineteen
Jeremy
After shifting back into my wolf form and locating my clothes, Cass and I helped out in the kitchen. It seemed to only be Marcus and his son who had issues with Cass and I hoped they would either leave the pack, or do something stupid so I could kick them out. Just as long as it wouldn’t hurt my mate.
“Milo acted weird before,” Cass whispered once we were done with the dishes and walking back home.
“How so?”
“He told me it couldn’t be easy for me, finding out shifters were a thing and then finding out I had someone I was fated to be with.”
I stopped dead, then watched him with worry. It seemed Milo truly didn’t care what happened between us as brothers. He’d only told Cass that to cause tension, something I really didn’t feel like I deserved.
I’d promised myself to be honest with Cass, and there was a difference between waiting to tell him stuff and then evading it completely. This time, I couldn’t evade it.
“Youarefated to be with me, Cass,” I began, resuming our walk. His hand in mine was firm, showing me he wasn’t about to bolt. “Some of us shifters are lucky enough to be blessed with a fated mate, someone that is our perfect match. The day you adopted me as Red, was the day I knew you and I were meant to be.”
“Seriously? You can tell these things?”
He seemed intrigued and happy by the news, which made me sigh in relief.
“When I got my senses back, I could smell that you were different, but I didn't know for sure until I looked into your eyes.” I looked into said blue eyes and smiled fondly. “And then you went and adopted me. I was a goner, then, simple as that.”
His eyes got a bit glassy hearing it, but he laughed and moved closer to my side. “I wish you’d told me sooner.” He took in a deep breath. “When I started knowing you as Jeremy, I got scared of my own confusing feelings. It didn’t make sense why I couldn’t be apart from you. But now it’s starting to make sense in my head.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, releasing his hand but only so I could place my arm around him, pulling him fully against my side. “I feared you’d run off if I started throwing more information your way. You already had the whole shifter thing you needed to deal with.”
“True. But knowing now helps. Even if Milo was out to cause trouble.”
“Yeah, I truly didn’t think he’d be cruel enough to tell you about the fated thing.” It still hurt to think about how little he cared about me. “Everyone in the pack knows about you being my fated, but they also know youdon’tknow. Or didn’t know. Milo telling you really wasn’t cool.”
“Now that you’ve explained it, I feel angry on your behalf. And mine, to be honest. He wanted us to what? Fight? For me to getmad at you? Have you done something to earn that kind of ire from him?”
Shaking my head, I spoke the hardest words I’d ever had to. “I don’t think he’s ever loved me. We didn’t grow up like normal siblings do, we tended to always challenge each other, always wanting to one up the other. I’ve never told our dad, but he was the reason for a lot of it, always reminding us as we grew up that only one of us would be Alpha one day. I would be okay if Milo was chosen, but even I have to admit that it would sting knowing Dad found Milo to be the better Alpha. I think Milo is feeling the rejection of it, and in turn is taking his anger out on me.”
“I mean, he could be doing that, sure, and I get why he would blame you, even if it isn’t your fault. But this seems like something way bigger.”
“Milo always wanted to be Alpha. He’s made that very clear,” I said, thinking back to when he was thirteen and did push-ups until he’d faint. “I think it might be because of Darius.”
“Darius? His boyfriend? Or mate, I mean?”
“Yeah, Darius and Milo are fated mates.” My mate needed to know all the details. He deserved to know it all. We were already at our house, so I led him out back and sat on the loveseat overlooking the garden.
“But…you told me that you hadn’t done anything with Darius?” His voice sounded so unsure now.
“I haven’t! But I’d been in love with him since we were teenagers. And Milo knew that.”
“Oh.” Cass looked pointedly down at the wooden deck.
