Chapter 2: Suspicious Behavior

-Celeste-

My brother looked stunned, as did the rest of the group.

“You look so confused right now,” I pointed out.

“I am a little,” he admitted.

“Why?” I questioned.

“I hadn’t heard about any expansion.”

“But how come? You should be part of any meeting regarding changes to the territories, especially since you live so close. Dad is getting older. You’re going to take over soon.”

“I know. Why do you think I feel confused?” he replied, and I fell back on the couch, crossing my arms. It made no sense. Why was Zack discussing expansion when my family knew nothing about it? “You think Dad is in on it?”

“Dad is home,” he replied. “So is Mom.”

“None of them are at the meeting?” I asked in disbelief.

My brother shook his head, and I could see a strange emotion flickering in his eyes, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. I was about to ask when he suddenly stood up, telling me to wait there.

“Wait, where are you going?” I inquired.

Some of the others followed my brother, always staying close to their future alpha, and the room began to empty. I thought they had all gone to figure out this strange expansion idea my mate had concocted, but then I noticed someone was still in the room.

“Great,” I mumbled as I realized Brendon was still there. To my surprise, he was watching me with an unpleasant expression on his face. I braced myself for him to hit a sore spot. He always knew how to make me grit my teeth in anger. However, he didn’t speak. He merely watched me.

“Have something you want to say?” I asked.

“No,” he replied, one arm slung over the back of the couch as he turned slightly toward me. Despite his answer, he seemed poised to say something.

“Go on, we both know you always comment on everything I do,” I snapped.

“You want me to comment?”

“No, you just do it whether I want you to or not. Or do you not remember the last time you were dissatisfied with my mate?”

“You wore a dress shorter than any of your shorts. I knew he made you wear it because it wasn’t your usual style. It made you uncomfortable, but you wore it for his sake so he could parade you around,” Brendon reminded me.

“You made me uncomfortable by practically calling me a street worker,” I snarled.

“I did not call you a street worker.”

“I said practically, meaning you didn’t say it directly. I liked that dress.”

“You hated it, but you’re too kind to say no to a gift.”

“That’s common courtesy!”

“Not when the dress makes you look like a street worker,” he said, a smug smile spreading across his lips.

I grabbed a pillow and flung it at him. “Asshole!”

He glanced down at the pillow that hit him in the chest before shifting his deep blue eyes back to me, a strange anger swirling within them. It always made me nervous. He had a certain power that only a very skilled warrior possessed. I slid a little to the side on the couch, trying not to let his gaze intimidate me.

“Your mate is the one making a fool of you. I think you’re the one who doesn’t realize who the real asshole is,” he snarled. Then he grabbed the pillow and tossed it back onto my couch without aiming at me.

“He is my mate. He wouldn’t make a fool of me,” I reminded him.

“Sometimes the bond just isn’t enough.”

“And why would you say that?” I inquired.

Brendon shrugged, clearly refusing to answer my question, which piqued my curiosity. I hadn’t spoken to him in quite some time—probably not since I got mated when I was twenty, a year ago. Though I couldn’t say I had missed our conversations.

“It’s fine,” I assured him, changing the subject. “Maybe Zack isn’t even expanding that much.”

Brendon shook his head. “And that’s why you’re the fool.”

“What?”

“You always believe the best in him when there isn’t much to believe in.”

“I don’t get it. Why do you hate him so much?” I questioned.

“It’s not just me. Have you asked your brother what he thinks?” he pressed.

“My brother was happy for me. He is happy for me.”

“He put on a smile because he can’t fight a true bond, but I know he hates him.”

“That’s not true,” I insisted.

“It is true,” Brendon replied. “We are best friends. We always have been, so I know what he thinks.”

“No, it’s not true. My brother is happy for me. I’m certain of it.”

“And yet you had to add ‘certain of it’,” he mocked.

“You’re the one putting stupid ideas in my head, as always.”

“If I could truly put stupid ideas in your head, you wouldn’t have gotten mated to him,” Brendon said, standing up and looking at me with that same dissatisfied expression as always. It angered me to see it.

“What is your problem?” I snapped.

“Clearly, your mate,” he replied, just as my brother returned with the whole group. Even though he tried to hide it, I could see something was off.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said.

“No, there is something. Talk,” I demanded.

My brother shook his head and instead waved me along. I stood from the couch, glancing briefly at Brendon before following my brother to the front door. He opened it, and the gesture was clear, but I felt confused.

“You want me to leave suddenly?”

“I have some things to do with Dad today,” he said. “I thought I was free, but it seems I’m not.”

“Just talk to me. What’s going on?”

My brother leaned closer, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. “I will tell you when I can.”

“No, tell me now.”

“Just wait, Celeste. Please.”

“Why am I always the last one to know?” I snarled, crossing my arms.

“Just go home, and I will call you.”

“You better!” I spat, turning on my heel to head to my car.