SWNOVELS Chapter 3
I am currently sitting at a diner down the street from the fight, across from me is Emma my brother’s mate. “Micaiah, are you okay?” Dylan asks me quietly; they know my past and why I am afraid of this encounter.
“Ki, we thought you were kidnapped, or worse dead.” Emma says, she was teary eyed. “Why didn’t you come to us for help or even call us?” “Listen Emma, it is a long story it was better this way please just trust me.” “Better, Ki we lost our minds looking for, still to this day on your birthday your brother goes back to your childhood home praying to the goddess to bring you back.”
I gasped at the sound of my heart breaking for my brother. How could I be so selfish? Maybe because I killed my uncle who tried to kill me and didn’t want my brother or her thinking I was a murderer that is why. “I am sorry Emma, truly I am. I did what I did because I had to no choice.” I linked Cammy, Jake, and Dylan. ‘Guys, everything is fine do not worry.’ I see them staring as our conversation was getting loud, so I walked outside toward the alley with her screaming at me.
“Still, being selfish Micaiah. Do you even care what you’re doing to your brother or is this just a spoiled little girl not ready to own up to her faults.”
I was getting angrier and could not keep it at bay any longer. By now Dylan had come out and seen what was about to happen. “Are you fucking kidding me, of course I fucking care Emma. That’s why I did what I did to not break his heart. Do you even know what it is like to lose your parents, watch your brother be happy, never to come see you or visit? For your uncle to verbally abuse you for over a year and treat you as a slave; but continue to go on like your happy so you don’t disturb or be a burden to the one person you have left. For one day your uncle to come home and try to kill you, and all you can do to survive is kill him first.” By the time I am done yelling I finally realize what I have said.
“Ki, we I mean I did not know. I am so sorry.” Before I register to what is going on around me Emma wraps me in a hug, and I let it out I cried for the first time in years reliving what happened. “I had to Emma, he was a rabid animal, I had to. But who would believe me? I was young, no one knew he was losing it. I could not let EJ go around thinking his sister was a murderer. I could not have my older brother hate me, Emma I couldn’t.” She hugged me tightly crying as well. “Shhh, it is okay Ki, I understand. Your brother would never hate you.”
After a few hours of crying, I invited them back to our house. “So, Kiah, how long you been fighting?” Greg asked me as he grabbed another beer. “Four years, almost five.” “Ki, what is your life like?” Emma asked me, she was smiling so big. “Well as you met my amazing friends. I work at bar as a bartender five days a week, and us four take part in the fights three times a week. That’s basically our life.” “Um, Kiah, no you are not telling her everything.” Dylan chimes in. “Hi, I am Dylan her brother from another father and mother, and she is leaving out that once every week we go shopping!” He screeches excitedly.
“No, he goes shopping, I am his bodyguard that groans and moans the entire time.” Emma laughed hard. “Well guys I laid out more comforters, and pillows. I am going to hit the bed I am exhausted.” We all said our goodnights and headed to bed. I was bunking with Dylan so Emma could have my room for the night. I know EJ would be relieved she didn’t share the couch or floor with unmated males.
“Ki how are you after everything today. Are you really, okay?” Dylan asked his head at my feet. “Yeah, Dill I am okay for now, I just know EJ, and Emma will talk, and I will have to face him much sooner than later. I am simply scared at what he will think of me and say to me.” “Listen Kiah, you’re amazing and wonderful and super badass. He loves you and that will not change.” “Thanks Dylan, for always being there for me, you’re the best.” “Hey Kiah, do you ever think that I will find my mate?” “Yes Dylan, you will, and he will love you and you guys will be the most amazing couple ever.” “Kiah do you ever think about your mate out there somewhere?” “Yeah, sometimes I do.” “I hope mine waited for me as I do for them.” “Dylan, he will be amazing no matter what, and I wonder to. so, I guess you and I are the virgins here.” He laughed hard, “Yeah your mate better be ready you are a feisty one.” “Oh, come on I am not that bad, just free willed.” “Yeah, sweet cheeks, call it whatever you like, but they will love you because you are one loving caring badass bitch.” “Thanks Dill, let’s get some sleep.”
I woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, and a huge foot in my face. “Dylan Cole Barns, if you do not remove your huge, smelly foot off my face I will bury you.”
I hear groaning as he sets the other one over top of the other. “You know I have the best feet ever.” He whines back to me. “Dylan, I swear to the goddess above I will let Akiva have her way with you.” He jumped up so fast at the sound of me wolfs name he tripped over himself and fell on the floor, grunting in the process.
I laughed so hard I thought I was going to pee myself. “Kiah that wasn’t funny, you know how bad Vee, Vee scares me.” He said pouting like a child who lost his favorite toy. “Hey, I just got to do what I have to. You understand right Dill bear?” I went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.
When I enter the kitchen, I see Emma making everyone plates, and of course Dylan being the first one at the table as usual. I really was not hungry, but I did walk over and steal a few pieces off Dylan’s plate for fun. “Hey, listen we may share homes, rooms, hell one day maybe even a man, but no one touches my food. Kiah you know that better than anyone you’re the same way. Now I only have three pieces left.” “Oh, come on Dilly bear you wouldn’t want me to starve now, would you?” “Whatever, go away.”
He was pouting as I headed out to the balcony outside of the dining room. Breathing in the fresh air, and warm sunlight. “Hey Ki, can I join?” I nodded at Emma. “Your place is nice.” Thanks. They used to just be apartments, but after we found each other and started the side gig of fighting, with the extra cash we bought it off the elderly woman.
She moved away and we turned it into our humble abode.” “Wow, you have changed Ki, so much.” I just needed to get to elephant in the room sort to speak. “Emma, did you tell EJ you found me, and about everything.” I was silently waiting her responses it was secretly killing me not knowing. “No Ki, I did not. I cannot keep him in the dark about this though, you know that.”
“I know Emma, I do not expect you to.” “So, you don’t mind, I mean about me telling EJ.” “Listen Emma, we both know how it happened between us. I don’t want to have to go through that again with EJ especially. So, believe me I would rather you tell him.” I then took a drink of my Carmel frappe awaiting her response. “You, do know he will insist I bring him here, right?” “Yes, Emma I do, and you know where I live, where I work, and where I fight and when. I thought about this last night believe me long and hard. If EJ is going to meet me, he needs to meet who I am now. Not the little girl from the past.” She smiled knowing how I felt she didn’t push the subject anymore.
We ate and mingled a little more, I found that Greg and I believe his name is Kevin are warriors in Emma’s pack. This was an experiment to bring others here to train and learn new techniques. I told them it was a great idea because packs fight differently, every wolf fights differently. I don’t know if they listened, but I tried. Emma seems to be doing a fantastic job with EJ on Beta duties.
I found out I have a nephew, two years old. His name is Kyle Winters, after our father. I cannot believe I missed so much after all this time. “Ki, it is time we head back.” Emma said and I embraced her in a big hug. “I expect to be seeing you sooner than later.” Giving her a wink and her smiling, we both know EJ, and he is not going to wait any longer after hearing the story. “We will be back okay, I promise.” I watched them drive off.
“So, Kiah, time to go shopping my love.” Dylan yelled linking our arms together. “Will they be back?” I just stared at him giving him the, are your serious look. “Okay, I know better they will be. When will they be back?” “Shit, I forgot to ask how far their pack is from us.” I slapped myself in the forehead. “Guess we just have to wait and see then Kiah, now let’s shop until we drop.” I groaned in frustration, I hated malls. ‘You okay Kiah?’ ‘Yeah, Vee I am fine I guess we are about to find out if my brother excepts the new me.’ ‘He will Kiah, he will.’ ‘I hope so. Let’s just get this shopping over with and we will all go on a run it will be good to stretch.’ ‘Yes, it would, Thank Kiah.’ ‘Always Vee, Vee.’ ‘Hey, you know better than that.’ ‘You know you love it.’ ‘Do not tell Dylan that. Him and Kodah will never stop if they knew.’ ‘I won’t unless its life or death my Vee.’ ‘Oh, hush it lets go.’