"I didn't expect it to be you as well," I swallowed. "Tyler."

I heard him chuckled. "Well, who would?" I could now see his face clearly as he moved closer while I took a step back. "The last time we had an encounter, you rejected me." He said with a hint of pain in his voice despite the smile he is putting in his facade.

I didn't know exactly what to say or what to do. Then with his free hand, he took my right arm. I knew I had to snap his hand away but I couldn't do it.

He held my gaze with his. "Do you know what this means?" He asked. "If before I had given up because I thought you will never look at me the way I look at you, now it seems that the world is giving me a second chance to prove what I feel."

I just stared at him and saw in his eyes that he is seemingly sincere.

He smiled. "I'm not going to back out like before. I'm going to fight for you Allen and prove you that I like you, hell, I love you."

I was taken aback with his words. This guy is nuts.

He placed the oranges in my arms. "And guess what? Fate is giving me the upper hand because it arranged you to be my neighbor. Isn't it amazing?" He said while looking up as if he is so pleased with what has happened.

Before I could even answer he made my arms closed around the oranges and said "From now on expect that I will be with you." He uttered.

I took a deep breath and talked.

“Tyler, I think it’s best for you to stop this right now. Find someone else to-“

He chuckled and thumbed my chin up that stopped me. Then he made his face closer to mine. With just a few inch in between, he whispered, "Not gonna happen. I'm not gonna miss this chance."

I waved away his hand and gave him back the oranges that he picked. "I don't know what you are up to and I don't have time for your crap. So I'm begging you to leave me alone." I said and turned around to get back inside.

But before I could step in, he grabbed my hand so I could be facing him. Then he gave me back the oranges so much to my frustration. And the nerve was smiling. “No can do. Expect to have me every now and then.” In a swift motion, he kissed me in the cheek. And then he left and jump above the low fence towards the other lawn.

He winked at me then disappeared in the dark.

I couldn’t make up what to do. Yeah, I know, this is not the first time Tyler had done this but it is still so frustrating. Especially now that I know I can do something about it.

I rolled my eyes and stomped inside and put-no, more like threw the oranges in the sink.

I was about to go upstairs when the main door opened, revealing Kendrick with his messy hair, his broad shoulders and his perfect body covered by his leather jacket. His face tells me that something has made him angry. But that didn’t stopped me from looking at his eyes, his nose, his lips-basically all of him, I just can’t seem to have control over my body when he is near me.

Because he is your mate.

And that answered it. And thankfully, it snapped me out of my gawking business. I pretend to ignore him and head out to the room.

“Hey.” He snapped.

I stopped but didn’t turned. “What?”

“Where have you been?” He asked as he walked towards me.

“In the kitchen.” I said and then started walking upstairs. I just hate my body the way it reacts when Kendrick is around. Ugh, damn pheromones!

“Wait.” He grabbed my hand and made me turned around towards him.

“What?” I snapped. Irate with myself for wanting to hug him, kiss him and irate with him for stopping me to go towards the room for I don’t know if I will be able to contain myself. I’m gonna burst. I so hate this mate thing!

But what he did next surprised me. He pushed me towards the wall and put both his arms beside my head. Then he sniffed me!

I have no idea what he smelled on me but to me, as he moved closer to sniff my neck, I smelled the manliest musk ever. And my knees swayed. The F?

Yet, before I dropped on the floor with my weak knees, he grabbed me by my shoulder then snapped at me. “I told you not to go out!” He glared at me.

And that was enough to wake me up. I stared at him for a moment and then rolled my eyes to the side.

“Why are you so f*cking stubborn?” He said and after a moment of silence, he barked. “Someone has kissed you!”

I looked at him in surprise. He knew!

“What’s it with you then?”

And that was wrong move because he grasped my shoulder harder. “I am your mate. No one can have you except me!” He snapped.

…

I miss Drake.

I miss his naughty smiles as much as I miss his playful cuddles. If he’s only here, I wouldn’t be this melancholic. I’d rather stay in the stinky pack house, as what Loraine had put it, than to stay here with Kendrick.

I stared outside through the window and saw Kendrick with nothing but his gray trackie pants, exposing his well-toned body with the black markings and with sweat dripping from his pores. Envious to his drop of sweat, I swallowed and gaped at him. And the longer I stare, the hotter my body feels.

With great effort, I managed to look away. When I saw my reflection, I noticed my wolf eyes morphing back into its human counterpart. I sighed. I guess it’s only me who feel that way. My wolf is acting crazy whenever I see Kendrick or even when a fraction of his essence reach my senses.

I rolled my eyes. Why do I have to be the one? And why is this mate thing so difficult? I just can’t understand the will of the moon. I just can’t.

“Hey Ken!” I overheard from the outside. My head snapped at the direction of the source of the voice due to its familiarity.

“Tyler!” Kendrick said.

I ran down the stairs and concealed myself behind the curtain as I watched them from the windows.

“Been a long time huh?” Drake said.

“Yeah, it’s been a while and you’ve changed a lot man.” Kendrick commented.

“Nah, just doing some gym lately. Have to be in shape. By the way, nice tats you have there.” Drake said referring to Ken’s black markings.

Kendrick just smiled.

Tyler stared at the windows where I hid and asked Kendrick “By the way, do you have someone with you here?” Tyler gestured with his head, pointing the house, particularly, my guess, is the window.

“Uh, yeah.” Kendrick said. “My stepbrother.”

I was taken aback with his word. “Stepbrother.” I murmured. Then Kendrick quickly tilted his head and looked at the window. I, of course moved on the wall beside it to hide. He must have heard me.

But the more I contemplated, the more irritated I become. Why do I have to hide myself? After all, I’m his “step brother.” I walked towards the kitchen and just as I was about to turn left towards the fridge, I heard the main door opened.

“Hey.” Kendrick stopped me so I did.

I resorted to pause breathing because his scent is trying to take over my senses and I don’t want that. I turned around and saw Tyler standing behind him who, by the way, is smiling like a child who just won a game. And he even winked at me.

“What?” I asked, trying hard not to let Tyler distract me. Apparently, it was Kendrick who was distracting me.

“I want you to meet Tyler.” Kendrick said as he gestured towards Tyler behind him.

“No need for that.” I said and for a short moment I saw a change in Kendrick’s expression but it disappeared as fast as it surfaced. “I knew him.” I said and was about to distance myself because Kendrick’s presence is disturbing my whole body.

However, before I do, Tyler talked. “He’s right Ken. He does know me. I know him too. Let’s just say that we have been very intimate before.” He said to my surprise.

“Excuse me?” I snapped. “What on earth are you talking about?” I said, raising my voice.

Tyler chuckled that heightened my irritation. “Remember the locker room were we used to…” He trailed off.

“What?” Kendrick snapped and looked at me. And I realized he was angry.

I rolled my eyes. “Think whatever you wanted to think Tyler. But it never happened!”

“What? You really don’t remember, do you? I even gave you a hickey.” He said.

And that’s it. I moved across the distance between me and Tyler as quick as I could just to smack him. But Kendrick was able to catch me before I could.

Tyler moved backward but with a teasing grin on his face. “Well, I guess I have to go. Your step brother is in a bad mood today.” He said and went out, laughing.

“Thank you for ruining my day! Don’t come back!” I screamed.

Then I felt Kendrick’s arm move around my waist. And that’s when I realized that he was holding me-he’s touching me!

But then he removed it. If’ he’d asked, I wouldn’t deny that I was disappointed. My skin is craving for his touch.

Realizing my thoughts, I snapped at myself. Darn you Allen.

I started to walk away but he started talking that stopped me on my tracks “Was it true?”

“The what?” I asked.

“Did you and Tyler really have a past?” He asked and I was not expecting the growl he let out.

I sighed. “Even if we did, you won’t even care anyway.” I answered and started walking back upstairs.

“Don’t you dare turn your back on me when I’m talking to you!” He snapped.

I turned around and saw him with his eyes slowly turning into red. And his black marks were moving, rapidly covering his body.

“Do you have a past with Tyler?” He asked. Containing his anger but failing.

“If you are referring to an intimate past-no.” I said.

“That’s-good…” He clasped his chest. “Good to know.” He said then sat down on the couch. His face is telling me that he’s bearing something painful.

“Are you feeling well?” I asked as I made my way towards him.

I was just a few step away when he grabbed me towards him. Had I not regained my balance, I would have had fallen down. Damn my clumsiness.

He looked at me, with pleading eyes. “T-touch me.”

I stared at him wide-eyed. Not sure exactly how to deal with what he just said.

“Please.” He said with difficulty then he removed his hand from mine and clasped his chest again. Then I realized what he was talking all about.

I put my hand on his chest and as soon as my skin touched his, my hand began to glow. No, not just my hand but rather my whole body. I was filled with white marks in my skin. They were flowing, following some pattern.

But what amazed me was the marks on Ken’s body. They were slowly retracting back-disappearing. His eyes began to go back to normal. And I just realized that he was staring at me as I touched him.

I swallowed and just looked away. His black marks vanished so do the marks around my skin.

But I didn’t remove my hand immediately. I lingered for a moment and felt his heart beats against my hand. I wonder how it would feel to listen to them with my head pressing against it while I am lying above him.

He cleared his throat. I removed my hand and walked away.

I closed the door of my bedroom. And I was able to breathe appropriately.

The bastard. He didn’t even say thank you.