The Coward
My jaw nearly dropped to the ground, he has got to be kidding. I know we're not currently seeing eye-to-eye but I mean, once we pass this slight bump in the road, surely, I should meet them.
I look over at his approaching figure, "What? Why?"
"You just won't." He snapped, clearly distracted, "On to more important questions. Like. Are you going to make it a habit of being here, alone, with my brother?" Alexander questions.
"Yeah," My eyes narrowed as my arms crossed, "I was thinking I might just move in."
If he wanted to be mean, I could play dirty and unlucky for him he's quite the easy target. Alpha's and their dumb tempers.
"Move in." He turns to Nate who doesn't look the slightest bit concerned with Alexander's death glare.
"Yeah," Nate fuels on, "We were just discussing what colour her room â"
I tap his shoulder, "Our room." I fill in.
"Sorry. Our room â"
"Nathaniel. If you wish to continue living, I advise you shut the hell up." Alexander says, malice practically dripping off every word.
I narrow my eyes at him, "Get over yourself, Alexander. You literally said you don't want a mate and now you proved it by telling me I'm never meeting your family. So, just leave. I don't even understand why you won't let me reject you. I'm sure it would be a lot less painful than this."
I was tired of this up and down, tired of him treating me like I have no emotions. I just wanted to be like any other mated couple. Why didn't he want that?
"Don't worry, Ellie. I could take him and he knows it."
Nate swings his arm around my shoulders, bringing me out of my thoughts that were quickly taking me to pits-ville.
Alexander begins to shake, "Ellie?"
"That temper." I tisk, "It'll do you no good."
"It never has." Nate chimes in.
Alexander makes his way towards us, clearly upset. However, before he could even reach us Nathaniel raised his hand and clenched it into a fist, making Alexander crumble to his knees, hands grabbing his temple. I felt like I was in a scene from The Vampire Diaries.
Alexander was trying to be the all-powerful, trying to get to his feet but he could only reach a proposal stance. He was breathing heavy and suppressing a scream. The definition of agony becoming his face.
It was odd to watch this little scene in front of me. Alexander back on both knees now, clearly in a great deal of pain but I couldn't hear or feel a thing. Although it obviously wasn't the case for Alexander.
Nate unclenched his hand and got down on one knee, looking sternly at his brother, "You ought to remember who the eldest is." Was all he said.
"Fuck you." Was Alexander's response.
"I thought you said you didn't use your powers." I say, trying to defuse this ticking time bomb running down the clock before me.
"I don't, normally. But sometimes my little brother needs to remember his place." Nate shrugs, dusting himself off.
For that split second there, if you hadn't known better you would swear Nate was the monster. His demeanour and actions were well played out to look like the villain here.
"And you seem to forget which one of us would actually pull off that little stunt of yours." Alexander says, referring to killing the other.
He was right too, Nathaniel could never. He didn't have a single evil bone in his body.
Nathaniel smiled at his younger brother, "I don't need to kill you. How would you learn your lesson?"
"You are a true waste of a hybrid." Alexander spat standing tall again, "Natalia ought to be ashamed of you. She only wanted you to do one thing. Kill me. And my family, my real family and you couldn't, still can't. It's no wonder you have no mate, you could never protect her." He laughed, "Pathetic."
Nathaniel stilled, "Alexander!" I gasped, completely shocked at the morbid things coming out of his mouth. Although Nate did make him seem weak a minute ago, that gave him no right to emotionally tear his brother apart.
"Yes. Comfort your boyfriend, Ellie." He walked away.
I had never witnessed such cruelty in my life. How could he throw all of that pain in his brothers' face like that? The very same brother who spared him and his 'real' family's life. Actually, Nate continually spares their lives. He could single handily kill them. He could wake up one morning and decide 'Screw it, my mother's right. Let's kill them.' But he doesn't.
For goodness sake he doesn't even bring it up, doesn't throw it in Alexander's face. Why in the world would Alexander even throw something like that at someone? Does he actually want Nate to kill him? Did Nate mess with his head so bad that he can't see when he's overpowered?
I almost want to laugh at how delirious Alexander is. Instead of being the monster Alexander clearly wants Nate to be he isn't. He shows up for me time and time again, Nate has protected me far more times than he has. Nate even went so far as to defend that monster.
Nate has done more for that jerk than his so-called 'real' family has done for him. And this is how he says thank you? All because he was hurt. His pride was damaged. He was vulnerable and out of character on the floor like that. So, his only way back into character was to shame his brother. What a coward.
"You're a fucking coward." I spat, knowing full well that he can hear me.
* * *
Nathaniel wasn't himself after that. I haven't known him long but anybody could realise that he was feeling like crap. And it killed me. He's normally so strong and supportive. However, even I can admit that I too would feel like dirt if my flesh and blood treated me like that. It's one thing from someone off the street but it's an entirely different ball game coming from your sibling.
"It's best you come back another day, Elijah." Timothy, Nate's Beta, says to me once he walks out of Nate's office. Finding me sat on the stairs.
He continues, "It will take a while for him to get back to himself again."
I stand, "You've known him for a long time, huh?"
He nods, "Yeah."
I crane my head to look up at him, "Are you a Creature too?"
"No." He shakes his head. Making his brown hair bounce about.
Timothy was a handsome guy. With well-defined cheekbones, brown hair and blue eyes. He had broad shoulders and a beautiful build, he was also quite the skyscraper.
"Good." I sigh.
He looks down at me, "Why's that?"
"You'll have a mate," I glance at his office doors, "Nathaniel could really use one right now."
That was true if he could hold his mate close and just have her sitting on his lap. It would lessen the pain. I wish I could do something, anything to ease his pain but I am the cause of this. Had I listened to Nicholas, Nate wouldn't be hurting. He and his brother would still be on good terms. I have to fix this.
"Does he know his other brothers?" I ask.
He doesn't seem moved by mention of the brothers, "Yeah but one hates him â doesn't trust his kind at all."
"Oh, what about the other?"
He smiles, "They're on good terms."
That pleases me, "Can he help us bring Nathaniel and Alexander back together?"
"There's no need for that. This isn't your fault, Ellie. Alex will come around. He's freaking jelly on the inside. Are you feeling better?" Nate smiles.
My head turns to where Nathaniel had just appeared, "Huh?"
"Your ribs." Timothy explains.
"Oh," I laugh, the brother drama made me completely forget about my pain, "Yeah. All good." I give him a thumbs up.
Nate ruffles his curls, "Drive here next time, please."
I smile, "Yeah, this time I actually will."
"Let me drive you home."
I told him that wouldn't be very smart especially since my father already suspects something. Did he take that as a no? Of course not, he is a Russo after all.
"Well, your father should know that I have no mate." He says coolly.
Voicing my curiosity I ask, "Why is that? I mean you are a werewolf."
"I guess it only works if that's your only gene," He shrugs, "I don't mind though. I love having magic."
I laugh, "I bet you do. What you did to Alexander was crazy insane. Felt like I wasn't watching The Vampire Diaries but in the show. It was epic, I loved it. You should totally do it again. Maybe to Tim over here." I grin wickedly, pointing my thumb at him.
"It's just plain Timothy, never Tim â wait a minute, did you just say he should voodoo me?" He pointed at himself while giving me a disbelieving face.
That tipped over my composure, "Voodoo you?" I threw my head back and laughed hysterically.
Seeing that Nate was not joining in I looked over at him and he was giving me a disapproving look.
"I shouldn't have laughed?" I ask, tears still brimming.
He shook his head, "I can't believe you watch that show. It's so demeaning to our kind."
I dropped my jaw, really? He was stuck there? Did he not just hear what Timothy said.
"If anything, I should be the judge of that. Your kind doesn't even exist on the show."
He scrunches his nose in distaste, "Still. I'm not a fan."
"Maybe you'll like The Originals. Okay, it actually has all the wolves now. But, still. It's great. You'll totally love it. We'll have a marathon next time I come around!" He groans.
My smile widens, "Then you'll finally know who Kol is."
"Blood bag guy?"
I laughed, "Yeah, blood bag guy."
Smiling he said, "Maybe I can just google him, what did you say his last name was? Schmeichel?"
I reached over him and grabbed the phone, "No! You can't just search him â although that is not his surname. Still, no searching. We have to watch the show together."
He pouted beginning to whine like a baby, "But I don't wanna â"
"Nate," I dragged out the 'a,' "You have to."
His arms folded, "But â"
"Nathaniel." I try to sound firm.
He visually suppresses a laugh, "Fine." He rolls his eyes.
I beam, "Pinky promise."
We looped pinkies,kissing the hole between the thumb and index finger. I smiled as soon as weunlooped the pinkies. He was feeling better and I could tell, I looked over atTimothy beaming and he held a thumbs up whilst mouth, 'there, you did it.'