41. Not my mate.

**Octavius**

My life just became a bigger mess than I could think it to be. First, the attack on the city, then Ocean's disappearance, and now this?

No, the Gods or whatever chooses shit for us has to be shitting me. No way in hell would I ever think of a possibility as such. 

The things happened too fast for me to grasp them. Here I am, thinking of ways to defend the home I built with my brother, when a massive, stinky dog man invades my personal space. 

In all honesty, the first thing I thought of was if I have any dog food around, for whatever reasons, but this thing had to be starving and looking for food if it's desperate enough to cross the walls of the Invictus. 

But then, it starts sniffing me and wraps its arms around me. He can't blame me for my fight or flight response. A dirty animal like that can't touch me. Not only am I a magnificent ancient creature, but also, consent- has he heard of it?

When I finally managed to push him away, the monster looked hurt and started muttering something under its breath. After a moment, he tried to approach me again, and I panicked. I hit him to get away, but apparently, that was a mistake because the blow to my jaw was fucking unexpected. 

"You can't hit your mate! Don't think I'll let you slide with shit like that just because the Goddess sent you. No way in fucking hell. I'm an Alpha; I tolerate no disrespect, even if it's coming from my friend's brother and mate. Pack your shit." 

As he growls at me, all I can focus on is the massive, pulsating vein that bulges on his neck. Sheesh, I didn't know those things could get that damn huge, let alone continue growing as one speaks. 

Back to the problem at hand: well, paint me a rainbow and call me dumb. I'm too confused to try and understand what this man is saying, so instead of listening; I focus on what I have to do. 

First, I need to check if everyone got to safety and if none of our servants are buried under the ruins, and then, I need to figure out where Ocean went. If Kieran returns and finds out I lost her, I'm as good as dead. 

"Why aren't you listening? Stop being so difficult, mate!" The man roars and tries to grab my arm, but I slap his hand away. 

Why does that word he keeps repeating annoys me so much? I'm not his friend, and I refuse to become one. Vampires and dogs don't play in the same playground. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you, dog? I don't have food to give you here; we don't feed on bones and shit, so get the fuck away from here. I have shit to do!" I snarl at him as I toss another brick aside. 

Clearly, the moron lacks some brain power because he's not dropping his attempts to grab me. One moment I'm trying to avoid him, and the next, we're both involved in a full-blown fist fight. 

A loud, pissed-off growl breaks us apart and right when I snap my head to the direction it came from, my brother's voice stops me from as much thinking. "What the fuck is going on here?"

Kieran is angry, very fucking angry, but I don't care. He's here; my brother is here, alive. The wave of relief passes, and intense anger burns inside me. Where the fuck was he that he couldn't let me know he's safe and sound? Was it so hard to fucking tell me instead of leaving me in the dark and letting me think insane shit? 

From the corner of my eye, I notice the dog grinning, which is another thing that pisses me off even more. He has no knowledge about what's going on here, yet he has the gall to act amused? I wish I would have ripped his head off his shoulders when I had the chance. 

I feel the dog's eyes linger on me for a long second before he turns back to Kieran and speaks, "It's his fault. He refuses to believe he is my second chance mate. I swear, my friend, the Moon Goddess, that woman is taking a piss out of me these days, and I can't do shit about it. At this point, even I don't know what pisses the pretty leech more, the fact that a dog is fated to him or that for once, he's second, not first." 

Alright, hold the fuck up. First of all, when he said mate, I thought he was annoying me with the stupid friend shit, not the fated mates.

Second, since when is my brother a friend to a dog, an Alpha dog at that? 

Third, but not as damn important, why is he bringing up some second shit if he didn't bother to tell me anything properly?

All I know is that this shit appeared out of nowhere, started groping me and demanded I pack my shit. 

I raise my hands to grab their attention. "Hold up, what the fuck is happening here?" I ask the question to both and turn to the dog. He swoons at me, so I scoff and turn back to Kieran. "Brother, what is the meaning of this show?" Before Kieran can answer, the realisation hits me, and my eyes widen. "Oh God, you're so going to kill me, but I lost Ocean. She was here, and all of a sudden, the attack, the explosions, and the next moment, she's gone." I explain, grabbing hold of my hair and tugging on it. 

Honestly, I feel fucking bad. Not for a moment, I've meant most of the shit that ran through my mind. Jealousy be damned, I don't want that woman to get hurt or suffer. She's been nothing but kind to me, and this is how I repay her? Besides, my brother is in love with her. 

Kieran has never done as much as mention the possibility of claiming a woman or man, but he claimed Ocean; he marked her as his, proving how serious he is about her. I can't allow myself or my emotions to stand between them and ruin the future both of them might have. That would be too selfish and cruel of me. 

I miss the moment the dog moves, and all of a sudden, he stands before me, his massive frame shielding me. "My friend, whatever happens, though I believe you wouldn't hurt him, you will have to get past me to get to him. I can't allow you to-"

Before the dog can finish his sentence, Kieran chuckles and raises one hand. "I wouldn't; Octavius is my brother. Besides, you two should know that she's safe. One of the warriors is on his way to our camp with Ocean, so we should move and get out of here too before some unexpected crap happens." 

"Octavius," the dog man whispers. I'm sure Kieran didn't hear it, but I did, and I don't like the things the sound of his voice does to me. 

Without thinking, I brush past him and jump back when a wave of electric pleasure shoots through my body. Holy shit, they didn't lie in school when they were explaining how the werewolf mate bond works. Yet another thing I'm not a fan of. 

The dog gazes at me in amusement, but since I seem to be the only one who can think clearly, I roll my eyes at him and walk towards Kieran. I wrap my arms around my brother's neck and pull him in a tight hug while the dog behind us growls and snarls. "I'm so glad you're alive, brother," I say as Kieran returns my hug. 

We don't hold each other for longer than a few seconds when he steps aside and chuckles, "We shouldn't hug in front of your Alpha mate, brother; he looks quite pissed. I can't piss off the Alpha of the pack I just became a part of, can I? Besides, we really should get going." 

"Not my mate," I whisper under my breath, but apparently, the words are loud enough for the dog to hear me. He whimpers but still follows us as Kieran leads us towards the nearest way out. 

I never thought of leaving the Invictus, but if my brother won't return, neither will I. The only reason I wanted to stay here was Kieran. He has had his fair share of shit cards in his life, and if there's any way I can help him, I'll do anything without a second thought. 

For a few moments, we walk in silence until Kieran steps closer and leans in to whisper, "Don't reject him like that. I don't know him for long, but that man saved my life and took me in when our own leaders threw me out and sent me to die. You're his second chance at happiness; the first one already rejected him, so don't do the same. I swear he's a good man. If not more, just give him a chance and, I don't know, hold his hand?" 

I consider Kieran's words for a moment until I let out a frustrated sigh and cave in. "I suppose I could since now, you have Ocean, and I don't want to be left out as the odd one." 

Not a second passes after I've spoken when I feel a large hand grab mine. I look at my side and face the dog man, grinning at me as if he just won a prize or some shit. 

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his antics and force my lips in a thin line to stay quiet. If Kieran thinks I should give him a chance, maybe I should. After all, I thought my brother left for a mission while the Elite apparently sent him on a suicide mission, so perhaps everything they say to be true about werewolves are lies too. 

When we get out of the city, I'm a bit wary of moving forward, but the encouraging squeeze on my hand kind of works to push the anxiety away. 

As we walk, Kieran and the dog discuss some things, and I wonder how far we must travel. The issue is that the sun will rise soon, and as they probably know, I'm not the best friend of the sun in general. Well, one day, I might be if I decide I want to die out of boredom. 

"Not to worry, mate, we thought of a way to protect you during the day. The camp stays up while the sun is out, and we return home after it settles," the dog next to me speaks as if he can read my mind. 

Wait, can he? I furrow my brows, and he chuckles, leaning closer to whisper, "Not yet. After I mark and knot you, then yes, and vice versa. You will be more than welcome to get in my head as you please; I have no secrets to hold from my mate." 

This isn't the topic I would like to entertain for any longer than I have, so I stay silent and zone out. I forget about the fact that he's holding my hand until a loud noise startles me and pulls me out of my thoughts. 

A crowd of dogs surround us and clap their hands, cheering like maniacs. 

I scan the crowd and notice Ocean standing aside, a knowing grin on her lips. Wait, I must have missed something because there's no way she would know. 

"Can I talk to Ocean?" I look at my brother as I speak, but it seems the dog leader doesn't like it if someone else gets the attention. 

He pulls me flush to his chest and wraps his arms around me while all I can do is stare at everyone wide-eyed. Is this like a normal thing for them? "I'll show him the tent, my friend. I think they should talk, whatever it is, it has to stay behind, in this camp, so we can leave as soon as we have a chance and start from a new page." 

Kieran nods and moves aside, closer to the wolves; all of them pat his shoulders, and some even hug him. I guess my brother truly found the place where he belongs. That's good; I'm proud of him. 

Once the weirdo shows me where is this magical tent he mentioned and opens it for me, he tells me that his is right next to mine, but he would stay the day with me. I ignore his apparent attempts to rush the dog mating and all that, so finally, he leaves Ocean and me alone.

The first thing she does is pull me into a hug, and God does that make me feel like the prime asshole I am. Once she lets go of me, I hold her face and look into her eyes as I whisper, "I'm sorry. For everything. So truly, deeply fucking sorry for the way I was and how I treated you. If you never forgive me, I know I earned that; just know that I am sorry."