Her Brother, Her Mate

Parker POV

Basking in the afterglow of our mating, I’m running my fingers lightly up and down Carli’s arm, mesmerized by her beauty as she snores softly on my chest. Almost midnight on the dot, she woke up, affected by the full impact of the mate bond. I thought my pull towards her couldn’t have been any stronger. I was so wrong.

She’s mine. Fully and completely mine. And I’m now hers. When I marked her, and felt the rush of her emotions, I could barely contain my satisfaction and relief feeling that she truly loved me too. It wasn’t just the pull from the bond. She fully accepted me as her mate and the finality of her decision brought tears to my eyes.

It’s almost time to wake up. Her dad will be here in an hour if we don’t start getting ready. I need to run up to get my clothes for today and grab the gift I got Carli for her birthday. A garnet and emerald studded infinity necklace; the birthstones for both of us on an infinite loop. Simone helped me pick it out and I hope she likes it. Her dad has an even bigger surprise for her and I hope mine doesn’t pale in comparison.

“Wake up birthday girl,” I whispered against her skin, kissing her face.

She g****s softly, rolling her face into my chest, “No.”

I laughed quietly, rolling to wrap my arms around her. I know she won’t get up for presents. I can’t entice her with that. I know what will get her going though.

“You get to kill the vampires today,” I taunted her.

She turns her head, peeks up at me with one eye and smiles.

“Okay, I’m up,” she stretches out beside me, her naked body rubbing against mine. I rain k****s on her face, down to my mark on her neck, making her m**n with desire. I nibble on it, teasing her as she starts pushing her body into mine. “5 more minutes,” she tells me in a husky, heated voice before straddling me.

30 minutes later, we’re both rushing to shower and get ready. I ran up to the alpha floor to get my clothes and almost ran right into my dad as he was coming out. It’s Saturday. I figured he and mom would still be asleep.

I didn’t even acknowledge him, glaring as I slid past him.

“Parker, wait.”

“I’m in a rush. If you have anything to tell me, you can text me later.”

“Don’t be like that. I know you’re upset, but I’m still your dad.”

I sighed, turning to face him, “You’re the a*****e that won’t quit harrassing my mate. Seriously, save it. I’ll come get the rest of my s**t from here later, but right now I need to go.”

“I’m stepping down,” my dad blurts out as I turned to walk away. I froze, turning to look at him again.

“What?”

“I’m stepping down as alpha. I don’t want to fight you, Parker. You’re my son. Even if you don’t believe me now, I do love you and want what’s best for you. I’m going to step down and relinquish the title to you. You don’t need to call grandpa. I already talked to him last night. He’s coming next week to perform the oath, then you and Carli can plan your ceremonies together. I don’t want to fight you and lose you, son.”

I stared at him, weighing his words. I know my parents love me. That was never the issue. But what kind of mate would I be if I overlooked their treatment of Carli just because they love me? That doesn’t excuse their behavior towards her.

“Let me know when grandpa is coming.” I started walking towards my room, leaving him behind.

I find Mary sitting on my bed, staring at a picture of me and Carli that Thomas took on her 11th birthday. Thomas and Elena took her out for ice cream and she asked me to smell mine, saying she thought hers was spoiled. When I sniffed it, she shoved the cone in my face. Thomas caught the picture right when she leaned in, laughing, and licked some of the mint chocolate ice cream off my nose.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked in a hard voice, startling her.

She brought her hand to her chest and jumped slightly. “You scared me.”

“What are you doing in here?”

She looks back at the picture, then sets it on my bedside table. “Nothing. I just realized this morning when we were getting ready that I didn’t have any pictures of your sister.”

I growled quietly, the vibration barely leaving my throat, “She isn’t my sister. She’s my mate. It’s your fault you never took any. Please get out so I can change.”

“Parker, please don’t-”

I sighed deeply, cutting her off. They’re not going to give me a moment’s peace to get ready. I slipped into my closet, grabbing what I needed and shoving a few more outfits into a duffel bag, then went to leave. She’s still sitting on my bed, waiting.

“Don’t ruin Carli’s birthday. You guys have done enough damage. Leave her alone. I’m sure she doesn’t want you there anyway,” I told her coldly before grabbing my bag and walking out of the apartment.

When I got back to Carli’s apartment, I heard her still shuffling around in the bathroom, so I got dressed in my slacks and thin linen shirt out in the living room, giving her space. I was waiting on her couch patiently when I heard a knock at her door.

“Can you get that?!”

I laughed, “You do realize that’s your dad coming to kick my a*s for making you late?”

“I’m sure you’ll survive,” she calls from the bedroom.

I chuckled to myself, shaking my head, and opened the door for Tommy. He’s glowering at me with Elena smiling behind him, a glint in her eye.

“My daughter?”

I held my hands up in surrender, “It’s not my fault. She’s still getting dressed.”

“I’m right here!” Carli came hopping out of her room, pulling the strap to her chunky-heeled sandals on her feet. My mouth drops. She looks….wow!

“Oh! I knew that dress would look great on you!” Elena clapped her hands excitedly.

“You bought her that?” Tommy turned his glare to his mate.

She does look great. Too great. The white mini dress makes her tanned skin glow. It’s hugging her body, accentuating all the right places and making her loosely curled hair stand out in contrast. Breathtaking. She is absolutely breathtaking.

I grip the Tiffany’s box in my pocket, walking over to her slowly, waiting till she meets my eyes and c***s an eyebrow in question.

“You look amazing, but I think it’s missing something.”

“What?” she looks down, “I have my cap and gown I’m wearing over it. I didn’t want to be hot.” She probably thinks I meant she needs more clothes on. Her cleavage is rising with each breath and I can faintly tell she isn’t wearing a bra.

F**k. That means she’s not wearing underwear again. I push my hair back, trying not to g***n out loud at the thought.

“I’m not talking about that. Close your eyes.”

“Why?” she eyed me suspiciously.

“Entertain me,” I smirked at her. She rolls her eyes, but complies.

I pulled the box out, making Elena gasp softly. I lifted the necklace from the box and fastened it around her slim throat, pulling her hair through the chain and off to the side, kissing my mark on her neck afterward, ignoring the growl coming from Tommy.

“Happy birthday,” I whispered.

She opens her eyes and looks down at her chest, touching the pendant in surprise. “It’s beautiful,” she touches it lightly and smiles up at me. “Is it Christmas themed?”

I laughed at her question, “No. It’s our birthstones. It’s an infinity loop. To remind you, I’ll love you forever.”

Elena cooed from the open door and Tommy rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. What a f*****g charmer. We’re going to be late.”

“I don’t have to be there for another hour, dad.” Carli is still looking down at her necklace, smiling softly as she touches each stone. I can feel through the newly formed bond that she really does love it. My heart swells with pride.

Thomas shifted nervously on his feet, making Elena chuckle and pat his arm soothingly.

“I may have a present for you too….”

“Where is it?” Carli asks, looking up and examining their hands and finding them empty.

“Outside. Let’s go. Nate’s probably getting it ready now,” Elena encourages us to get moving.

“Do you know what it is?” Carli whispered to me on the way down the stairs.

“Yep, but I’m not telling,” I teased her, kissing her pouty lips.

She huffs and pushes past me to walk next to Elena. So adorable.

I was against this gift, but I know she will love it. It’s so Carli.

Outside, right in front of the packhouse on the curb, is a brand new, massive Yamaha MT-10 SP with shiny red accents. Gamma Nathan is standing there with Courtney, who is jumping up and down, just as excited as if it was her gift.

Carli looks at them in confusion, then turns to her dad, “Is that….is that mine?”

He laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head, “Happy birthday, Carli. It’s the first one I get to spend with you as your father. I wanted to get you something special.”

“It’s mine?!” Her excitement makes her voice rise 5 octaves as a brilliant smile spreads on her lit up face. She doesn’t wait for his answer; just jumps up and throws her arms around his neck, making him bob up and down as she jumps excitedly.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!” she squeals, letting him go and running to the motorcycle.

Elena sighed happily, “It’s nice that he found a way to use all that money we saved to move to make her this happy.”

“You should get one too. We can all get one and start our own motorcycle club,” I joked with her.

“Don’t tempt me,” she laughs.

Tommy won’t let Carli drive the motorcycle yet until she takes a safety course and gets her license, which I’m grateful for, but Gamma Nathan does drive it and Carli rides on the back.

We pull into the parking lot for her school’s football stadium and instantly are on high alert. It’s game time.