Axel ^
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The Russo Brothers
"You're taking my sister from me. I hate you." I mumble into Nic's chest.
They were all packed and ready to go, the moving truck was loaded up with both their stuff. I couldn't believe she was actually leaving, of course, this day was bound to come. It just feels bittersweet that she was leaving. Not to mention that she was about to start her life with her mate and I was still stuck here, trying to navigate whether or not I'd die for being Alexander's mate.
Having to navigate if he even wanted me.
"I'm sorry." He rubs my back soothingly.
"No, you're not. You just wanna do the dirty." I take a step back, making sure he sees the smirk playing on my face. He was male after all, we all know how they operate.
"I am a guy." He shrugs and I chuckle.
Knew it.
"Do you love her?"
It had been a few weeks so I reckoned he would know if he did and I had to know, I trusted Nicholas with my life and knew his heart was pure. However, I still needed to check if he would treat my sister like the queen she is.
"Yeah. I couldn't have asked for a better mate." His eyes held the truth and I could see it as clear as day â he did.
A genuine smile tugs at my lips, "Aw, that's really cute."
I feel an insistent buzzing in my pocket, knowing it must be a phone call I pull out my phone. Seeing the Caller ID I'm notified that it's Nate.
"Sorry, Nic." I move away from the commotion around the front door and pick up the call, "Hey Nate."
"Hey, Elijah. Uhm, I'm coming to pick you up." His smooth voice is shy.
My brows furrow, "Okay... Why?"
He fidgets a bit before speaking, "Axel wants to meet you."
"Axel? Who's Axel?"
I think I would remember someone with a name that's a knock-off of my mates.
"One of Alex's brothers."
Oh, maybe I retract my earlier insult, I hope he can't read minds or I'm definitely screwed.
"The one that likes you?"
He lets out a chuckle, "No, that's why I said Alex's brother."
"Ohhh," I laugh, "That's a bit strange then. Say, you said you're the only Russo brother who can read minds, right?"
"Yes, I am â I know, I was just as shocked when he called me."
Phew, I can deal with that. It's just another Alex, I can kinda handle that. Maybe he's nicer than Alex, maybe Alex got the wrong end of the name.
"Okay. Why does he want to meet me?"
"I'm not sure. As far as I knew, Alex hasn't told anyone. Axel must have figured it out."
Nicholas looked to be playing a game of some sorts on his phone, I don't think he was doing any good because he looked stressed. Even at my distance I could see it wasn't going his way.
"Is the other brother coming too?"
"Abel? Yeah, he's coming."
Two other Alex's. So much for Mr Grumpy's 'you're never meeting my family,' actually, I think I like this Axel character already.
"The A's wow."
Why did Alex have a full name then since they were clearly going for the match-tastic names. Alexander definitely ruins the whole effect.
"Talk about the odd one out." He chuckles.
"Well, the N is you and your mom. That's cute." I smile. I definitely caught that when Alexander called out the name Natalia.
"Yeah, I guess. Well, I'm outside your border."
"Okay. I'm coming." I hang up after we exchange good-bye's, "Well, I'm going to meet the Russo brothers." I tell Nicholas who had just walked into the vicinity.
"I thought you weren't meeting his family." Nic says.
"Obviously the brothers don't agree." I shrug, "I'm nervous."
"It will be okay. They'll love you."
Taking that small bit of motivation, I left to the border that wasn't far from my backyard. Nate and I made small talk here and there, mainly laughing at stupid things and singing along to the music filtering through the speakers.
Arriving at Nate's house this time around was the most nerve-wracking thing ever. I couldn't sit still. I didn't know what to expect. For the mere fact that Axel dislikes Nate, I feel like he'll dislike me.
Once Nate shut the front door I heard footsteps coming my way and the first person I see is Alexander.
"Really? He's here too." I snap, "You never said he was coming and being on your territory really made me think he wouldn't be." I mutter.
Nate laughs and Alexander actually joins in, I definitely expected some snappy response from him. Not an actual laugh, I hadn't heard him laugh since he witnessed me fall off the bed in his club.
"He's not me." Alexander stops right beside his twin?
He has a twin!?
"I'm Abel." The twin sticks out his arm and I absent-mindedly shake it.
"Elijah." I whisper.
"I'm Axel." I look up at the other brother and weirdly enough I don't see much resemblance. He had dark, straight â compared to his brothers â hair and mesmerising blue eyes.
Nate and the twins have the same brown eyes and curly hair. Axel and the twins only have the same pale but not paper-pale skin tone. However, they cannot be mistaken. As soon as you look at them you know they're brothers.
"Elijah." I say to him.
Checking behind me Axel says, "I thought you would've brought your twin too."
"Well. I didn't know Abel was his twin." I shrug, "No one bothered to tell me."
Axel clicks his tongue, "How rude."
"I know."
I was trying really hard not to make eye contact with Alexander. He was a little intimidating today. Mainly because the last time I saw him his hands were all over me and his lips were on mine and I was enjoying every second of it. I hadn't spoken nor seen him since. So, I didn't really know how to act around him.
Gosh, this isn't a crush Elijah, get yourself together.
"Well, are we all going to stand here and stare at my mate or are we going to move this along?" Alexander all about growled out.
"Well someone's feeling awfully possessive all of a sudden." I mutter.
Axel laughs, "I think I'm good just staring at her. She's gorgeous. How have you not marked her already, Alex? You too Nathaniel. Especially with her being here all the time. The place even smells like her."
Alexander let out a threatening growl. His eyes were getting darker by the minute. His wolf was obviously not impressed with his brothers' words.
"Thank you?" He did call me gorgeous, so I should thank him... right?
For the weirdest reason, Axel intimidated me. He looks a lot more dangerous than the other Russo's. He actually looked like the killer, not Alex.
'That's what I always think.' Nate links me.
Stop reading my thoughts. Can't I, like, block them from you?
'Now why would I tell you that?'
Douche.
'Ow.'
Stupidly, I chuckled inevitably putting all eyes on me, so much for not wanting Axel to dislike me.
Axel glares at Nate, "Are you doing your creepy Creature shit?"
"He is." I chime.
The distaste on his face is as clear as day when he speaks next, "And you find that amusing?"
"Actually, I do. I wouldn't mind being half witch at all." I shrug.
That was true, I bet the magic came in handy and I mean we've all watched Matilda so I'm sure we all agree cleaning up would be so much easier.
"Really?" Nate sounds surprised.
I chuckle with a nod, "Yeah â"
I get cut off by Axel, "You do know he could make you one of them, right?" He questions.
I nod, "Yeah."
"That would mean you wouldn't be mated to Alex though." Abel says.
I don't think he speaks much, that's the only thing he's said today besides his name. I might just start liking him.
Once I have registered what Abel said, I let out a chuckle, "Wouldn't that be funny."
"You're considering it?" Axel questions.
"No, although your brother has the worst way to show affection. He literally told me he doesn't want a mate. So, it's worth a thought."
"And is it a satisfying thought?" Axel pushes on.
"Hm,"
I ponder the question, rubbing my chin as if in deep thought when really the answer is simple. It isn't worth the thought. However, obviously, I was pretending to think about the answer for too long because Alexander grabbed me by the forearm. He pulled me into a room I had never been in and proceeded to have a temper tantrum.
"How fucking dare you embarrass me in front of my brothers. I am an Alpha, you will do well to remember that when you speak to me, Liah."
Liah?
What the hell did he just call me?
"Li -"
"You would have Natalia turn you into a Creature just so that you are no longer my mate? What good would that bring? You would be destroying my Pack and everything I have ever fought for, killed for. Would you want all those lives to go to waste?"
I'm disgusted, "You are sick."
He wears a smirk and there's an evil glint in his eyes, "I do what I have to for my Pack, for my wolves. For my family and even though that doesn't include you I still do what I have to for you."
"Bullshit." He makes me so vulgar, it makes me cringe. "You don't do a damn thing for me."
He laughs, "You are not strong enough to lead my Pack. You wouldn't last a day in my Pack. You are weak. Being a Warriors daughter doesn't make you strong. I am helping you by not acknowledging you as my Luna. You could never handle the responsibility of leading a Pack let alone protecting yourself from my enemies. Goddess knows I have many. I don't have time to watch over myself, my Pack, my family and then you and Goddess forbid pups."
His words cut me, the ache in my chest was hot and heavy. I felt as though I was going to collapse. My wolf was hiding, she had heard enough.
I had heard enough.
I feel as though I have been in a boxing ring and my hands have been tied behind my back. Leaving me defenceless. Letting the opponent destroy me.
"Why haven't you rejected me then?" I try to sound strong. Just to show him that he's wrong, I'm not weak but I know I failed.
He gives me a baffled look, as though he has just seen someone try to teach a blind child to read, "Because that would weaken my Pack. That would weaken me. You are already a weakness on its own. I don't need you infecting my hard work."
And that was the knockout punch.