Mated To My Brother

I was surfing on a slice of pizza when I felt my body hit a hard surface, I open my eyes and soon discover that I'm laying on my bedroom floor with my best friend Gabbie, laughing her head off on my bed.

"What the heck?" I ask dazed, looking around rubbing my eyes, I thought I'd fallen asleep on the bed.

"I tried waking you up but you wouldn't, so I decided to push you out of bed" she laughs, jumping down off my mattress, which was sideways.

"You know there are nicer ways to wake people up" I say, getting up off the floor rubbing my arm, I look down to see it was red, fantastic! it's gonna bruise a day before my birthday!

I turn 16 tomorrow, everyone is so happy for me but I don't really know how to feel. For those of you who don't know, when a werewolf turns 16 they shift for the first time, which means they're able to find their mate.

"Now hurry up and get ready, we have to leave soon" She tells me, walking out my bedroom, I shake my head annoyed.

Why did I choose her as a friend I will never know, with that thought I start getting ready for school, putting the thought of finding my mate at the back of my mind.

It takes me around half an hour to get ready, I spent most of that time trying to sort my bed out, I make my way downstairs to see Gabbie talking with my parents. My father was eating his breakfast while my mother looked like she was cleaning.

"Good morning family" I smile, as I walk throwing my bag on the floor.

"Morning sweetheart" my dad says, while my mother just smiles at me but doesn't go to speak, something is bothering her but I don't know what, I mean she could just be tired.

"It's your birthday tomorrow!" Gabbie shouts, causing everyone jump from her random outburst, she's a very loud person which this family isn't used to.

I just shake my hand walking over to the fridge to find something quick for breakfast, I decide on a yogurt but I lean against the counter to eat it.

"You're gonna be able to find you mate!" She says happily, but my mum just tenses looking like she was about to throw up, I thought I was meant to be the nervous one here.

"Are you okay?" I ask, she just nods saying she needs fresh air before walking outside leaving me totally confused "Is she okay?" I ask my father, who folded up his newspaper rising to his feet smiling.

"She's fine, she just doesn't want you to grow up, have a nice day at school" he smiles, placing a  kiss my head before walking out after my mum, leaving Gabbie and I in the kitchen.

"Ready to go?" Gabbie asks, taking my yogurt off me walking out, I pick my bag up annoyed at her.

"Hey my yogurt!" I shout, following her out the door, by the time I made it outside she already eat it all.

I was walking towards the door after school, Gabbie was gonna come over but her parents said if she wants to hang with me on my birthday, she has to finish her school work, my mum and dad were walking out the door as I walked through.

"We're just popping out for a bit sweetheart to get some stuff, someone's waiting inside for you" my dad smiles, while my mum just walks straight passed me and towards the car, is she trying to avoid me or something?

I smile walking through the door just dumping my bag on the floor, my stomach started to rumble so I make the short journey to the kitchen, my hunger making me forget what my dad said. I walk past the window when someone catches my eye, I look closer and realise it's my older brother Ryan who I haven't seen him in nearly three years! He said he just wanted to get away for a while and hasn't come back since.

I run to the back door but stop just before I was about to open it, I mean do I want to make it seem like I really missed him? He hasn't rang or anything for the whole three years and now he's turning up out of the blue. I decide to put on an act that I didn't care, cause hopefully that would get to him. I open the door slowly to see he was throwing rocks at the garden fence, he always did that if something was playing on his mind, but he hadn't notice I was there yet.

"What you doing here?" I ask, walking out with my arms crossed, this made him jump and turn to look at me, mouth wide open might I add.

"Savannah" was all he said, as I lean up against the wall my arms still crossed.

"Last time I checked, but let's not forget the fact that you ran off" I say still annoyed at him, I haven't had the chance to talk to him about it cause he's been ignoring me for nearly three years! wow I didn't know it annoyed me that much.

"I'm sorry Savannah, but I just needed to get away" he says, finally forming a sentence, he walks towards me I just continue to lean on the wall.

"Why come back now then?" I question, as he comes to a stop in front of me, this makes him smile nudging my arm.

"Why do you think? It's your birthday tomorrow I couldn't miss that" he smiles, making a little smile form on my lips, I never stay mad at people for very long, I'm a lover not a hater!

He opens his arms for a hug, I laugh a little before accepting it, he holds me tightly sounding like he was taking deep breaths like he was taking in what I smelt like, I didn't think much about it and just hugged back, finally given into the fact that I missed him.

We talk for a few hours just about what's been happening here, I was so concentrated on the fact Ryan was back, that I didn't even realise my parents were out the whole night.

"So where did you go?"I ask, sitting next to him on the sofa after, we finished a dinner that was left in the oven from mum.

"Just with friends for a while, but I missed home so much" he says smiling, as he looks around for the remote, it was like he was trying to avoid questions about where he was or what he was doing.

"Why didn't you come back before then if you missed it so much?" I ask, he seems to freeze like he was quickly trying to think of an answer on the spot.

"I just wanted an adventure I guess, break out of this boring town and see the world" he says, making me smile but yawn it was getting late,  he finally finds the remote turning the tv to a random channel "You should get some sleep" he says, catching how many times I've yawned, I mean I had school today and that's mentally draining as it is.

"But I'm not tired" I say, laying my head on his shoulder feeling my eyes close, he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

"Goodnight Savannah" he says, as I fully drifted to sleep.

I wake up in my bed where I lay there smiling, Ryan must have carried me upstairs. This was when I realised it's my 16th birthday, I can find my mate today! I sit up straight looking around rubbing my eyes, before I start hearing a voice.

"Okay, what is that?" I say out loud, looking around trying to find the source of the voice.

"It's me your wolf," the voice says, it takes me a second to resistor but I soon smile.

"I forgot I'd be able to talk to you today, what's your name?" I ask, in my head this time.

"Sky," she says, which makes me smile again, at least I know I'm not going mad.

I get up and start getting ready before Sky starts going crazy in my head, telling me to hurry downstairs, I finish my hair and quickly make my way downstairs as an amazing smell fills my nose.

"Hurry!" Sky says in my head again, as I get to the bottom of the stairs,  I start to make my way to the kitchen, I don't know why she's doing this, maybe it's her first time seeing a kitchen.

I stand outside the door looking in but the only person in the kitchen was Ryan, why's she getting so excited about Ryan?

"Mate, that's mate," my wolf said happily, making me just stand there in a state of shock, this dude is my brother! I can't physically be mated to him.

"Dude that's my brother, that isn't my mate you've made a mistake," I say, still staring into the kitchen, he hadn't noticed me yet, luckily.

"I have not made any mistake, that is definitely mate," she says, with a hint of anger for me saying she was wrong.

Before I could think anymore my feet do their own thing and walk into the kitchen, making Ryan turn to look at me.

"Morning" he smiles, his voice sending shivers down my spine, okay this is weird!

"It's happening cause you're mates, like I've been telling you," sky says smugly in my head.

Instantly my eyes go to his where we both just freeze, our parents walk in a few moments later but it felt like hours had past.

"Savannah we can explain," my father says, making me finally look away from Ryan who was now pacing a little, did he know about this and never told me?!

"I know this must be so confusing but um," my father say,  but stops looking at my mum for help, who takes my hand in hers sighing.

"You're adopted," she says, which makes me stare at her in disbelief, no way this can't be real, this is some sick joke they're playing which isn't funny. I start taking steps back slowly inching my way out the kitchen, as they continued talking.

"We've wanted to tell you for years but we didn't know when the right time would be, then Ryan found out that you two were mates so we had to tell him," my father says, putting his hand on Ryan's shoulder.

"You knew," I say looking up at Ryan, who was following me slowly out the kitchen, I had a feeling he's known all along but I didn't want to believe it, he kept this huge secret from me.

"I'm sorry Savannah, I was told I couldn't tell you, that's why I left," he says ,still following me out the kitchen, wow so everyone knew before me, the person who should have been told first!

"But just because you're adopted doesn't mean we love you any less," my mum says, walking out the kitchen quickly trying to take my hands, but I bolt up the stairs leaving them all in the kitchen, I lock my bedroom door and start pacing tears just rolling down my cheeks. I've been lied to my whole life, my brother is really my mate, he found out 3 years ago and has never told me.

I stay in my room alone for hours before my door starts knocking, I put the blanket over my head going into the fetal position.

"It's me" Gabbie's voice comes through the other side, I sigh pulling the blankets tighter around myself, I wasn't in the talking mood "I'm not leaving until you let me in, so you might as well just open the door"

I stand up slowly walking over and opening the door, pulling her inside with me before locking it.

"What's going on? your parents told me you're upset and won't come out your room" she says, which just makes me cry again hearing her call them my parents, they're not, my actual parents didn't want or care about me enough to even want to keep me.

"I'm adopted," I say crying, she stands there shocked taking the information I just gave her in while I fall on my bed crying, she finally moves pulling me to sit up where she wraps me in a hug, telling me it was all gonna be okay.

After I calm down a little she walks me over to the bedside table taking a bag off it, before joining me on the bed again.

"Why have they only just told you, especially on your birthday," she says, sounding annoyed at them, I mean they could have told me before, not break the news to me when they had no choice.

"I just found out, Ryan's my mate," I say, which makes her mouth hang open in shock "yeah tell me about it," I say looking down at the floor, what a great birthday I'm having.

"Is that way he left a few years ago?" She asks, I shrug my shoulders I didn't know for sure but I guess that was the reason.

We don't talk for a few minutes, I think she was trying to take in everything I told her.

"Come on I've got you a present" she smiles, picking up the bag that was on the floor handing it to me, I open it to see a bracelet with my name on it, it was beautiful.

"Thank you" I smile wrapping her in a hug tightly.

"Now are you gonna sit there on your birthday all sad or show them that they haven't got to you," she says smiling, standing up with her hands on her hips.

"But Ryan's gonna be there," I say, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to face him right now, he's lied to me for 3 years!

"So what? Show him that he can't keep things like this from you, make him jealous to prove your point" she says smiling, walking towards my wardrobe placing her hand on her chin thinking.

"How am I meant to make him jealous?" I ask, as she starts pulling clothes out throwing them on the floor, great I'm gonna have to pick them up!

"I'm gonna make you look dropdead gorgeous, all the guys at the party won't be able to resist looking at you, which is gonna make Ryan so jealous," she says, pulling out a really short grey dress which makes my wolf let out a little growl in my mind.

"We shouldn't make mate jealous" she growls, but I ignore her looking to Gabbie.

"I can't wear that, I think you're forgetting who's gonna be there," I say, standing up taking the dress from her.

"The more guys there the better, now come on," she says, pulling me over to my dressing table to do my hair and makeup.

It's been around three hours, Gabbie finally said I'm ready, my butt went numb cause the amount of the time I had to sit on that chair for. I walk over to my fulllength mirror where I stand shocked. I didn't recognise myself, I was wearing the short grey dress that Gabbie picked with a jean jacket over the top, my hair was curled so it hung just above my shoulders, my makeup was done beautifully.

"The outfit won't be complete without these," Gabbie says holding a pair of white dolly shoes "I was gonna make you wear heals but I don't want you breaking your neck on your birthday," she smiles,  handing them to me.

"Thank you," I say, wrapping her in a hug before sliding shoes on. She wore kind of the same dress as me but in white with a black leather jacket.

"Let's go and make your mate jealous shall we" she laughs linking arms with me, before we both walk out and down to the party, where some people had already arrived.

Here goes nothing!

We make our way downstairs where Ryan stood at the bottom of the stairs talking to some guy, he sensed I was there and looked up at me his mouth hanging open. I smile knowing our plan was working as Gabbie leads me outside to where the party was.

"Step one is complete," she says when we're fully outside hearing the very loud music with a bunch of people dancing, I didn't know I knew this many people.

"Make your mate see how beautiful you look," she says smiling taking a drink off the table handing it to me.

"What's the second step?" I ask as a few of our friends walk over wishing me a happy birthday,  she shakes her head.

"You'll just have to wait and see," she says before she turns to talk to one of our friends off to the side.

I look to the back door to see Ryan standing there looking at me with his hands in his pockets, he didn't look that happy, Gabbie looks over pulling me aside so I'm forced to look away from Ryan.

"You'll ruin the plan! just keep up you don't care about him act it'll work, but we need a guy to flirt with you," she says looking around the huge crowd of people, but I had a bad feeling growing.

"We shouldn't be doing this, it's upsetting mate," Sky says wanting me to leave, I actually wanted to listen to her.

"Gabbie isn't gonna drop this, don't worry nothing will happen I won't let it," I say back to her but a guy trying to grab my made me rethink what I just said " actually maybe you're right we need to leave," I say to sky totally taking back what I just said.

"Gabbie I don't want to find a guy to flirt with me, "I say as she starts guiding me through the crowd? my wolf still wasn't happy telling me to leave.

"You don't find them they find you" she smiles as we stop near a group of guys who immediately started to stare at us.

"Go to mate!" Sky shouts but Gabbie had a tight grip on my hand so I couldn't.

"See it's working" she smirks making me just stare at her totally shocked, she's never acted like this before.

We chat for a second as a guy passes me a drink, I was so stupid to take it from him but at the time I wasn't thinking.

After about an hour I felt so sick and dizzy I was just falling around, I've drunk before but I've never felt like this,  the guy from before just kept giving me more and more drinks which just made me feel even worse. I slowly walk over to the edge of the party my mind just everywhere

"I'm taking us to mate right now," Sky says as I nearly fall to the floor, my body starts doing its own weird thing taking me over to the house I look up and see Ryan, my body walking straight over to him.

"Mates gonna look after you now," Sky says nicely before leaving going to the back of my mind.

"I feel ill," I say falling but he catches me before I hit the floor, once he touches me a million sparks flew all over my body making me feel the safest I've felt all night.

"Has someone given something to you?" Ryan asks holding me up, he was the only thing stopping me from hitting the hard floor.

"Gabbie took me to flirt with some guys, I didn't want to," I say holding tightly onto his tshirt looking around at everyone else partying.

"It's okay let's get you some water," he says wrapping his arm around mine to lead me slowly into the kitchen.

He sits me at the counter grabbing a glass from the cupboard filling it with water, my head was still spinning at this moment so he brought the glass to my lips helping me drink.

"Thank you," I say laying my head on his shoulder as he takes a seat beside me "We're mates Ryan," I say randomly looking at the wall.

"I know we are," he says wrapping his arm around me making me feel safe once again.

"I'm happy Ryan, I'm just shocked and scared," I say just saying what was on my mind whatever I had stopped me from having a filter.

"You don't have to be scared, I promise I'll look after you, we'll take one step at a time," he says making me smile as I start drifting to sleep.

"I'm probably not gonna remember this conversation" I laugh feeling myself falling to sleep.

"You won't but I will" he smiles that's the last thing I heard him say before I drifted to sleep, safely in my mate's arms.

~The next morning~

I wake up with an extreme headache making me sit up holding it in pain, I was sitting in my bed Gabbie laying next to me with her mouth wide open. I look over at the bedside table to see a note with pills and water beside it, I pick the note up to see it was from Ryan.

"I figured you'd have a headache from how much you drunk last night, so I brought these up when I woke up

Ryan"

I smile a little placing the note in the draw taking the pills before jumping into the shower I didn't smell the best, I decide to wear a pair of dark ripped shorts with just a plain white tshirt tucking that into the shorts. I put the bracelet that Gabbie got me on before making my way downstairs to grab something to eat, the pills that Ryan got for me had actually helped, my head wasn't hurting as much anymore.

I walk into the kitchen to see my mum and Ryan in there talking, I send them a little smile before taking a seat at the counter.

"How are you honey?" My mum asks as she sipped her tea smiling over at me.

"I'm fine," I say not looking up at any of them as the phone rang my father shouting he'd answer it.

"Got any plans for today?" My mum asks me again trying to make conversation with me, she probably knew the way I was acting was because of the stuff I found out yesterday about being adopted and how they all knew Ryan and I were mates but never told me.

"Gabbie wants to do something when she finally wakes up," I say as my father walks in quickly grabbing things from the cupboards.

"What are you doing?" Ryan asks but he doesn't answer and  just walks out my mum follows suit as they both leave the house leaving Ryan and me in the kitchen.

"How's your head?" He asks making me look up at him with a smile.

"It's alright thanks to whatever pills you gave me" I smile as he passes me a bottle of water.

"They always work for me so I figured they would for you, I actually got you something for your birthday but I didn't have the chance to give it you, wait here I'll just get it," he says before he gets up running upstairs leaving me alone in the kitchen where out the window I could see all the mess from the party.

Within a few minutes, he walks back into the kitchen holding a little box in his hands.

"It's not much," he says passing it to me, I slowly open it to see it was a necklace in the shape of the moon it was so nice.

"It's a special kind of necklace it's what a male wolf gives to their mate to show other wolves that you're theirs before they mark each other, I know you're gonna want to take things slow so this is here so we can take as much time as you want, but others will still know that you're mine" he smiles taking it from me while moving to stand behind me to help me put the necklace on.

"It's beautiful thank you" I smile turning around to look at him once it was on, I turn the necklace to the other side to see both of our names engraved in the back with the infinity symbol in between.

"The only person that can take it off is me, try taking it off" he smiles, I try but it won't budge it felt like it was glued on.

"Only your mate can take it off" he smiles making me smile at how happy he was.

"Thank you," I say wrapping my arms around his neck as he wraps his around me.

I hear someone walking downstairs making us all apart, Gabbie walks in looking between us.

"Let's go out to eat," she says before she turns and walks out

I smile to Ryan before following her out the smile not leaving my face.

We walk in silence for a few minutes, I could tell something was bothering her but I didn't know what, I don't think I've done anything to annoy her, maybe she's just got a hangover I mean I do.

"I would never leave you," she says randomly snapping me out of my thoughts, I just stare at her confused.

"What?" I question but she just stops abruptly crossing her arms.

"Last night, you just left me and was in the kitchen with your mate," she says well nearly shouts at me, I give her an even more confused look.

"Okay, why are you saying it like that? The guy that you wanted to flirt with me actually put something in my drinks" I say losing my temper "I was drugged! And all you seem to care about is I left you, if I didn't go to Ryan I don't know would have happened" I shout this time, she doesn't have the right to speak about Ryan like that, no one does.

"Finally you're thinking about mate, it took you long enough" sky chimes in snapping at me a little

"All you talk about is him, last week you thought he was your brother" she shouts which was the last straw for me, I can't believe she'd even think to say that.

"Yeah well at least I've actually found my mate" I shout ripping the bracelet that she got me off my wrist and at her face.

I storm off leaving her standing there alone, I was beyond angry at this point my wolf for reasons I don't know was also growling. I came to a corner where a few very smart looking people were standing, I tried walking down there but was stopped.

"Miss you can't go through there," a man in a suit says holding his arm out preventing me from walking down the pavement.

"I need to get home I'm not gonna do anything, I don't even know who they are," I say trying to keep my anger at bay but it wasn't working while he shook his head.

"You know what, I am not in the mood to deal with people like you! Either you move out of my way before I do something that you're not gonna like very much" I say in a tone that I'd never used before.

He for some reason bows his head at me moving out of my way, once he did I saw the two important people staring at me in shock, hope and maybe even happiness, but I didn't know why or gave it much thought.

I walk past the man and towards them to get home, I was about to pass but they looked so shocked.

"You look like you've seen a ghost" I smile kindly at them before I went on my way still angry.

Not even two minutes into my journey I was stopped by the importantlooking people again.

"Excuse me, Miss, can we ask you something?" The man asks he had power in his voice that made the people around him bow but it didn't affect me, I smile saying okay as the women wraps her arm around his tears in her eyes.

"If you don't mind us asking, how old are you?" He asks, I thought there was like an unspoken rule where you don't ask random strangers how old there are.

"I turned 16 yesterday" I smile, I didn't have the best birthday though.

This made the women well up, even more, the man started to have a few tears in his eyes too.

"Are you guys okay?" I ask looking between them, I don't know why me turning 16 is upsetting them.

"We've just had a rough couple of years" the man smiles wiping a few tears away.

"Join the club! But I wouldn't worry we all go through hard times, I better be going" I smile turning around to walk away.

"What's your name?" The women finally speak making me turn around.

"Savannah !" I shout back before I turn the final corner.

I finally arrive at home calmer than I thought I would be, before I could walk through the door my father opened it.

"I've just got a call from Gabbie's mother, she ran home crying saying that you had a go at her," he says clearly very angry, I roll my eyes as he spoke.

"Maybe I did, "I say walking passed him and in the house where my mum stood with Ryan.

"This isn't on Savannah taking your problems out on poor Gabbie," she says which just made anger boil inside me.

"Poor Gabbie, how about poor me! I've been lied to my whole life! You know what I'm happy I'm adopted, it means I'm not related to you!" I shout making her look hurt but I didn't care much, I run up the stairs slamming my bedroom door.

I put my back to the wall sliding down until I hit the floor tears just running down my face, the feelings about everything that I've been holding in just coming out. A few minutes go by my door slowly opens Ryan popping his head in, he closes the door joining me on the floor he slowly wraps his arm around me but I just cry on his chest.

"Nobody wanted me even as a baby, there must be something wrong with me"  I cry making him hold me tighter.

"That's not true sweetheart," he says but I just continued to cry more than I've ever done.

I wake up in my bed, alone my throat hurt probably from the amount I cried last night, I get up and make my way downstairs to see my mum sitting in the kitchen alone.

"Ryan's gone out to help your dad with something," she says looking towards me, I just  nod walking to the cupboard to look for something to make my throat feel better.

"I know you're angry with me Savannah but we just didn't know how we were meant to tell you, then Ryan found out you were mates which made it even harder for us to explain," she says as I pull some throat medicine out but it was empty making me sigh in frustration.

"I'll make you some warm honey if you've got a bad throat," she says as I take a seat at the counter sending her a nod.

"Thank you," I say as she gets up to make some, my voice sounded really rough.

We don't talk for a few minutes which gave me time to think, I mean I am angry that they haven't told me until I'm 16, they had like my whole life too. But on the other hand, they did take me in and raise me just like I was their bloodrelated daughter when they didn't have too, I could have got sent to a horrible family but I didn't, I should be grateful for them.

"I'm sorry about the way I've been acting,  I should be thankful that you did decide to look after me," I say making her turn to smile at me stirring my warm honey with a spoon.

"It's fine hunny I completely understand, now drink your honey hunny" she smiles placing the cup in front of me making me laugh a little.

"You're always gonna be my mum, it doesn't matter if it's not by blood" I smile making her smile holding my hand.

I finish drinking the honey my throat feeling a little better as Ryan walks in the kitchen smiling towards me my, dad behind him.

"I spoke with Gabbie's father and he explained everything to me," he says making me look at him confused, "Gabbie told him what she said to you and what happened the night of your birthday, with you being drugged," he says sitting at the counter in front of me sending me worried eyes, my mother gasps taking a seat right next to me.

"You were drugged let's take her to the hospital!" She says pancaking but I stop her grabbing her hand.

"No I don't need to go to the hospital I'm fine now, Ryan helped me out" I smile looking at him for a second to see he was also smiling.

"We still should get you checked out," my dad says I look up to Ryan, saying help with my eyes.

"No she's fine dad, honestly if she wasn't she would already be at the hospital," he says walking over to me placing his hand on my shoulder, making a huge smile filled my mum's face.

"You two are too cute" she smiles rising to her feet placing my empty cup in the sink "now out I want to clean the house before we leave on Monday," She says pulling me off the seat walking Ryan and me towards the front door.

"You two can have some mate bonding time while I clean," she says as Ryan opens the front door walking out, I had to follow my mum still pushing me towards it.

"What are we meant to do?" I ask just as she was about to close the door.

"Go to a cafe or something, just stay out the house for a couple of hours, have a nice time" she smiles actually closing the door locking it behind her, wow she really doesn't want us to go back in.

"We have a weird mother" I smile as I follow him out the garden gate and towards the town.

"You're here again" I smile Ryan just had a confused expression standing next to me our hands still interlocked,  at least I'm not the only confused one right now.

"We were just passing through and recognised you" the man smiles the women quickly speaks up from beside him.

"Who's this?" The women asked straight after before I could even answer the man.

"Oh, this is Ryan my...." I say but paused not knowing how to address him, my mate or my brother.

"I'm Ryan, her mate," he says holding his other hand out to shake their hands.

The women seemed to well up again like yesterday, it seems like she does that a lot, I can't say much it feels like all I've done these last few days is cry.

"It's lovely to meet you too" the women smiles shaking his hand but looks to me.

We just stand there in silence I didn't really know what to say, I look to Ryan who just looked back at me, I mentally tell him to speak which he seems to get.

"We were just on our way to eat, our mum kicked us out the house," Ryan says breaking the silence, thankfully giving me the chance to speak.

"She's cleaning the whole house and said we needed to take a walk for a couple of hours, do you want to join us?" I smile making them nod and start to follow us to the little restaurant, as we walk by other people bow their heads towards them, okay I'm growing even more confused!

"How's your throat?"Ryan asks me, the two people that I haven't actually learnt their names yet walk beside me looking over worried.

"It's better than it was this morning, mum gave me this weird honey drink it actually did help" I smile as the restaurant came into view and from the looks it was empty.

"We've been coming here for years now it's the best restaurant around here" I smile to them as Ryan opens the door letting them walk in first.

"After you" he smiles to me, I smile following the others in.

We sat down and ordered our food, as the two important people started asking us questions.

"You two keep saying your mum, but if you're mates you're gonna have different mums," the women asks making me tense a little but Ryan held my hand under the table, I really thought I wouldn't have to think about this for a while.

"Growing up we thought we were brother and sister but it turns out........they're not my real parents" I smile a little making Ryan smile over at me.

"But it means we've grown up with each other, so it's made us stronger as mates," he says smiling as the food arrives ending the conversation,  Ryan's hand didn't leave mine the whole time after that.

We make our way out of the restaurant after an hour of sitting and talking, the two people say they need to get going but they were very reluctant in doing so.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are your names?" I ask that's something I should have asked through dinner but it never got brought up in conversation.

"I'm Lukas and this is my wife Melissa" Lukas smiles as Melissa opens up her arms I think for a hug, okay weird.

I smile and walk over accepting the hug, I thought it would feel weird to hug a woman that I've only met twice but in a weird way it didn't. It felt like we already had a bond I don't know where that bond came from but I pull away smiling, Lukas does the same thing as Melissa hugs Ryan, again with him it felt like I had this bond with him from somewhere.

"It's been lovely talking with you again" I smile as we pull away Ryan interlocking our fingers again.

"It has indeed, we should definitely do it again soon" Melissa smiles holding onto Lukas.

"Definitely, but we should get going our mothers probably wondering where we are" Ryan smiles walking us back slowly as Lukas and Melissa stood still in place.

"Goodbye Ryan and YaSavannah" Lukas smiles nearly calling me a different name, I didn't think much of it before we turn and start walking away towards our home.

Once we were far enough away Ryan seems to stop tensing and speaks.

"I can't believe we got the chance to sit and have lunch with them," he says shocked but happy, I give him a confused look which he catches onto.

"What do you mean?" I ask confused they seem like normal people, maybe posh but still normal.

"Savannah don't you know who they are?" He asks I try to think but I always drew a blank I had no idea who they were

"They're the werewolf King and Queen," he says like I was dumb for not knowing, which I probably was, why the heck did they want to have lunch with us?

Before I could respond our house came into view our mother just standing outside looking like she was waiting for us with her hands on her hips.

"What took you two so long?" She asks a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"You told us to stay out the house for a few hours," Ryan says, she quickly nods rubbing her hands on the apron she was wearing kind of nervously.

"Just go upstairs and pack we're leaving tonight," she says turning to walk into the house but stops when I speak.

"But I thought we were leaving on Monday," I say, that's what she even told us before she started cleaning.

"Change of plan" is all she says walking in leaving the door open Ryan and I just stare at each other shocked.

"We have a weird mother," we both say in unison with a smile.

I start packing my things as my bedroom door knocked, I walk over opening it to see Gabbie standing there, I leave the door open but walk over to continue packing.

"Do you need any help?" She asks, I could hear her slowly making her way into the room but I had my back to her.

"I can manage" is all I say continuing to fold my clothes placing them into my bags neatly, she doesn't talk for a while.

"Savannah I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said," she says walking over to stand next to me but I still don't look up keeping my eyes on the clothes I was folding.

"Then why say it?" I ask zipping up my bags after packing them until they were basically full,  I need options, I don't know what the weathers gonna be like.

"I don't know why I said it, I was in the heat of the moment, I guess I was jealous that you've found your mate and I'm still looking for mine," she says sitting on my bed placing her hands in her lap.

"I've found out that the person I thought was my brother is really my mate, there's not much to be jealous about," I say moving my bag so it was by the door, I still refuse to look at her.

"I know that now, I'm so sorry Savannah," she says which finally makes me look over at her, she's starting to make me feel bad.

"Come here," I say opening my arms, she immediately gets up and runs into my arms beat hugging me.

"I'm sorry Savannah," she says crying holding onto me tightly.

"I know I'm sorry too, "I say hugging back as she continued to cry.

Once we pull away she holds something up, I soon realise it was the bracelet she got me that I threw in her face, I smile taking it from her saying thanks.

"My dad was able to fix it" she smiles I put it on as my mum shouts up the stairs rather loudly.

"We're leaving!" She shouts, I pick my bags out walking out my room Gabbie following behind.

Once I get out Ryan takes them off me putting it in the back I give Gabbie a final wave before I get in the back of the car with Ryan, my mum locks the front door running over to the car climbing in, she's really in a rush to leave.

"Let's go," my dad says as he starts the car driving us away.

After a few hours of being in the car we finally arrive at the house we always stay in, every year we go away for a week and stay here. It's gonna be the first time in years that Ryan's gonna be with us and not just as my brother, but also my mate.

We pull up all climbing out Ryan and I go to the boot to get our stuff out while mum and dad unlock the door, I try to pick my bag up but Ryan does before I could.

"I'll carry it for you come on," he says walking towards the house making me smile and follow him in.

He carried them all the way up to my bedroom for me, putting my bag on my bed turning around to face me.

"You haven't really changed anything in here," he says looking around my room? I actually haven't thinking about it.

"Well I'm only here for one week for an entire year, so there's not much point, I've changed a few things but not much thanks by the way for carrying my bags up" I smile as he picks his bag up which he placed on the floor.

"I haven't seen my room in years," he says walking out, I follow behind his room was only next door.

"Mum always locks it so no one can go in," I say as he unlocks his bedroom door carrying his own bag in smiling as he does.

"Just how I left it" he smiles looking around, I haven't been in here since he left it did all look the same.

"It's nice for you to come with us again" I smile he turns the smile still on his face as my mum pops her head in the door.

"Getting settled in" she smiles walking into the room looking between us, which  was my cue to leave.

"I better get going and sort my room out, I'll see you guys in a bit" I smile walking out Ryan's room and towards my own but Ryan stops me just as I got to my door.

"Mum and dad said they're just gonna get takeaway but I don't feel like that tonight, so I was wondering after we unpack we could go get something," he asks smiling, I know this was his way to ask me to dinner with him, which made me feel weird thinking about that.

"Yeah sure" I smile, he nods happily before walking back into his bedroom, I shake my head walking into my own bedroom smiling before I start unpacking my things.

"I'd close that mouth you don't wanna catch flies" I smile making him shut his mouth instantly, as my mother walks out the kitchen.

"Aww look at you two, wait here I need to grab my camera," she says running towards the kitchen as I make it fully down the stairs to stand next to Ryan.

"I'll finally a nice photo of you Ryan as you didn't go to prom," she says turning it on but Ryan just sighs placing his hand around my shoulders for the photo.

"It was a few days after I found out Savannah was my mate, I couldn't take her with me so I didn't want to go with some other person that wasn't her," he says looking down at me smiling as a flash of a camera filled the room.

"What that moment was too cute not to take a photo, now smile," my mum says before taking a load of pictures.

We managed to leave the house away from our mother holding a camera as Ryan drives us somewhere, I actually didn't know where the heck we were even going at this point but I thought it was nice that he was surprising me.

"This next part you need to put this on," he says pulling a blindfold out of his pocket handing it to me.

"You just carry a blindfold around with you" I smile making him laugh a little as I take the blindfold out his hand.

"You never know when you might need one, now put it on we're nearly there" he smiles making me put the blindfold on covering my eyes.

We drive for a few more minutes until he stops the car climbing out having to help me as well I couldn't see anything, he walks behind me making sure I don't walk into anything or trip over. He makes us stop letting go of me but told me not to take the blindfold off yet, so I was standing somewhere just wearing a blindfold.

"Take it off now," he says after a few more minutes of me just standing in the middle of nowhere.

I slowly take the blindfold off to see a beautiful forest themed picnic right in the middle of the woods.

"I remembered you love nature so I set this up" he smiles as I take slow steps closer to the amazing place, it was so thoughtful of him.

"This is incredible thank you" I smile as he takes my hand sitting me down on a picnic blanket next to him.

"I got your favourite foods too," he says pulling all the snacks I love out a cute little picnic basket, I love all the little details.

"How long did this take you?" I smile looking around this looks perfect it must have taken him ages.

"Not long actually mum and dad helped, mum cooked the food while dad and I set all this up" he smiles, I'm gonna have to thank them when we get back, wait did I spent that long getting ready what the heck?

But in a few hours, I'd soon realise that seeing them again wouldn't be that easy.

The picnic was amazing, we really got to catch up apparently he'd done a heck of a lot when he was travelling.

"So you're telling me the guy just smashed a shop window and walked away like it was nothing," I say shocked, he was telling this story about a guy he came across on his travels, a very drunk guy.

"Yeah just randomly, but I have to admit it was quite funny" he laughs remembering what happened making me smile "I never forgot you, you know every day I was wondering what you were doing" he smiles but I look to the floor, I guess since I found out about us being mates I was worried if he just forgot about me and went with other people, I know he isn't like that but when you find out your mate has been travelling around the world, I guess you don't know what to think.

"Don't worry I never had any girlfriends or anything like that when I was away, the only person I thought of like I said was you and only you" he says like he knew what I was thinking making me smile, he takes my hand but his phone ringing spoils the moment.

"Hello, wait slow down," he says I still didn't know who he was talking to but from the sounds of it the person wasn't happy, he puts the phone on speaker putting it between us.

"You and Savannah need to leave right now, don't bother coming back to this house at all quickly go back home but don't stay long," my father says really fast on the other end making me panic looking up at Ryan as he continues "pack some of your things and leave don't come back ever it isn't safe, whatever you do don't try to look for your mother and me, make sure you look after Savannah don't let any harm come to her or you," he says but he has to stop as we hear our mothers shouts in the background.

"They're here we need to try and get away, give the phone to me," she says my father must have passed her the phone cause her voice was louder than our fathers panicking one in the background "you two need to look after each other now, just remember that we love you," she says as a huge crash could be heard with even more shouting but the phone goes dead.

We don't speak and just sit in silence for a few seconds before Ryan springs in action, he stands up quickly picking some of our stuff up taking my hand making me stand.

"We need to leave," he says making us run out of the woods and towards our car where he rushes me to get in.

"Are we gonna go back to help them?" I ask as I put my seatbelt on but he just shakes his head.

"No you heard what they said it's not safe for us," he says but I speak up before he could finish.

"They're our I mean your parents Ryan, we can't just leave them," I say but he just shakes his head taking the other turning away from where they were.

"You're my mate, I'm gonna protect you over anyone that includes my parents, you're my main priority Savannah, they even told me that," he says grabbing my hand in his but I just sigh and look down, it feels so wrong we shouldn't be leaving them we should go back and help them like they've been doing for us our whole lives. I felt like I had too since they adopted me, if they didn't I could have been put with some really mean people and might have never met Ryan.

"Nope that's wrong, he's our mate we would have found him no matter what," my wolf says in my head, wow I haven't heard from her in awhile.

"I forgot about you," I say making her speak up kind of annoyed.

"I'm always here Savannah just at the back of your mind, waiting for a time when I'm needed," she says making me smile, it's weird I only got her a few days ago and I feel like she's always been a part of me.

"And you were needed now?" I ask, it's weird I feel like I'm talking to myself but I'm not at the same time.

"Definitely! You were doubting if we'd ever find mate that was the perfect time for me to speak up, and yes I've always been a part of you ever since you were born, so even though I only was able to talk to you a few days ago I've with you since day one" she says making me smile but a question came to mind.

"If you've been with me ever since the beginning, does that mean you know who my birth parents are?" I say but she seems to start disconnecting with me, I try to fight her to stay connected but it wasn't working.

"That's correct, but I think it's your job to find out who they are," she says before she fully leaves making me snap back to reality being back in the car with Ryan.

"Talking with your wolf" he says looking over at me but I just nod smiling "mine started to get annoying after a while, he kept telling me to tell you how you were my mate but I couldn't do that, even though I wanted too" he smiles making me smile with him.

I stare out the window for awhile my wolf said she knows who my birth parents are, I wish I could remember them but I was obviously much too young to remember anything like that, as much as I've tried to these last couple of days. I must have only been a newborn when I was given up for adoption? that's what age you normally are.

"You just turned a year old when you were taken from your parents," my wolfs says speaking up again but the way she says taken made me question everything even more, before I could ask her she blocked me out.

"Get some rest," Ryan says snapping me out my thoughts once again but I shake my head "you've had a busy day? I'll keep driving, again your my main priority Savannah you're the only person I care about now," he says while reaching in the back pulling a soft throw blanket from the backseat.

I decide to listen to him as I was actually getting tried, I wrap the blanket around me slowly drifting to sleep with Ryan's hand in mine.

I woke up to someone shaking me a little, I open my eyes to see Ryan smiling looking over at me.

"We've arrived but remember we can't stay long, so only pack what you need," he says which makes me look around to see our house in front of us, I was still in a state of sleep so I just nod smiling.

Ryan runs out of his room taking my bags off me saying for me to get some last things we might need downstairs, I run downstairs towards the kitchen while he runs to the car to put our bags down.

I grab some food cause well you need food! And just some little things before running out the house joining Ryan, he shut the boot of the car before running over to me.

"Have you got everything?" He asks, I just nod before looking back towards the house, we've shared so many memories between these four walls.

"We'll be fine I'll look after you," he says wrapping his arm around me where we stand for a few minutes staring at the building in front of us, tears start to prick my eyes at the thought of leaving this place and all the memories stored inside.

"I know it seems hard leaving but it's just a house, the memories aren't going to stay within it, they'll remain in your head which has unlimited space to keep even more," Ryan says holding me tighter sensing I was getting upset, he always knew what to say.

We pull away Ryan putting his hands on both my shoulders smiling at me.

"Now wipe them tears and put a smile on that beautiful face, we can leave this house with a smile on our faces saying a happy goodbye," he says smiling, I wipe my tears putting a little smile on my face.

"What are you doing back here already," a voice says behind me, I quickly wipe the remaining tears from my eyes turning around to see Gabbie standing behind me.

"Oh we forgot some things so we decided we'd take the drive here," I say trying to make my voice not sound like I was just crying, which was a very hard task.

"That's a such a you thing to do" she laughs as she looks to me than Ryan "you two look smart" looking at our clothes.

We haven't had the chance to change after we had lunch? I was still in my dress that was actually becoming uncomfortable.

"Yeah Ryan took me out for dinner just before, so we haven't had a chance to change yet" I smile which isn't actually a lie, our dinner was interrupted by the phone call.

"Well I'll let you go cause I know how your mum gets when you're late" she laughs walking over wrapping me in a hug, I hug her tightly I wish I could tell her what's going on but I know Ryan won't let me, but I don't blame him.

"I'll see you Monday" she smiles pulling away,  I felt like crying at this moment but I knew I couldn't.

"yeah Monday," I say fighting back the tears that threatened to leave my eyes, Ryan comes up behind me wrapping his arm around me.

"Have a lovely week Gabbie" he says she smiles looking down at me before turning and walking away.

"I love you Gabs!" I shout she turns back smiling.

"I love you too!" She shouts as she walks into her house when she was out of sight I let the tears win the fight and they began to stream down my face once more.

"When am I gonna be able to see her again?" I ask as Ryan holds me tighter.

"I don't know Savannah, but we can hope for the best" was all he ways which makes me turn and hug him fully.

This is one of the hardest things I've had to do.

We leave the house and start on our way again but this time it was silent in the car, seeing Gabbie just made me realise what's actually happening. My parents have been taken or maybe killed and I can't even go back to see them, my life is about to change so much and the person that I trust so much,  I can't even tell. Ryan stops the car and starts texting on his phone while I continued to stare out the window.

"My friends are letting us stay at their place for a while" he says finally putting his phone away starting the car once more.

"Do they know what's happened?" I ask finally looking over at him for the first time this whole car ride.

"I told them a few things but not all, don't worry we can trust them, I was actually staying at their house when I was away" he says which makes me just look at him confused, I thought traveled.

"Is their house far away from ours?" I ask but he shakes his head concentrating on the road.

"Nope, it's not that far but that was the point, I didn't want to be too far away from you, but it was far enough for you not to find me" he says why didn't he want us to find him? I mean yeah we're mates it didn't mean he had to hide away from us.

"You were close this whole time" I say shocked, I mean I'm not mad at him I just didn't know how close he actually was, I always thought he'd be at the other side of the world not down the road.

"I wanted to be as close as I possibly could, so if something happened I could be there within hours not days" he says as he takes a corner driving us down into a hidden road in the middle of the woods.

"I'm guessing your friends house is hard to find" I say looking over him then back at the woods that surrounded the whole road.

"It's very hard to find, it took me a few hours to find it the first time I visited but don't worry, I know how to get to it now" he smiles looking back out towards the road.

It took us another twenty minutes before a house comes into view, it was the only one around here it wasn't big but it also wasn't small, it was kind of in the middle. We drive up to the gate where Ryan opens his window talking into the intercom.

"It's Ryan" he says someone speaks through it but i couldn't hear what they were saying as the gates opened.

I look over at Ryan as he smiles down at me saying I'll be alright, we start driving up to the house, before we could stop two people walk out the house and down the steps walking towards the car as we stop, Ryan gets out so I follow his lead also getting out the car with him.

"Ryan" the guy says giving Ryan a little hug before the girl gives him a hug.

"I've missed you" she says as I make my way around the car to stand next to Ryan, I'm not jealous at all.

"You must be Savannah" the guy smiles turning his attention to me "we've heard so much about you" he smiles I look to Ryan than back at the two people.

"Ryan didn't stop talking about you when he was here" the girl says smiling towards me but I look towards Ryan again.

"I mean yeah I told them about you , we did speak about different things" Ryan says getting the bags out the car walking straight in the house trying to dodge the conversation.

"Yeah sure we did like what her favourite food was" she laughs linking arms with me leading me in the house behind Ryan "he spoke about you so much I feel like I know everything about you, even though we've just met" she smiles towards me she seems nice enough, I guess.

"I wish I knew more about you"I smile as we walk into what looked like a living room, a rather nice living room.

"You didn't tell her about us Ryan" the guy says jokingly hurt putting his hand to heart.

"I would have but i only got back home a few days ago, I never had the chance to" he says dumping the bags on the floor before sitting on the sofa, you can tell he's stayed here for a while he's so comfortable jumping on the sofa.

"Why are you two so dressed up, it wasn't for us was it?" The girl asks sitting down on the opposite sofa pulling me down with her, I really need to learn their names.

"We were actually at dinner when all this went down" Ryan says leaning back in the sofa crossing his arms sighing still annoyed about what's happened, I send him a soft smile which he returned.

"Savannah you don't even know their names yet, well this is Harry " he says pointing to the tall one who sends me a little wave.

"I'm Martha" the girl smiles talking before Ryan could finish his sentence, wow she's very excited.

"Well it's nice to finally know your names" I smile as Ryan gets up picking our bags up with him.

"Your rooms upstairs you're sharing, that's alright isn't it Savannah?" Harry asks looking towards me briefly, okay why is he only asking me?

"Yeah that's fine" I smile looking quickly at Ryan but soon back at Harry who smiles at me as him and Ryan leave the sitting room.

"I still can't believe he never told you about us"Martha says when both guys were out of sight.

"He really didn't have time I'm sure if we had more time he would have, anyway thanks for letting us stay here" I smile but she just laughs waving her hand in my face making lean back.

"Ryan basically lives here the amount of time he was here last, but he's a really good friend of ours so if he's in trouble we'll jump at the chance of helping" she smiles getting up walking over to the cabinet taking a photo coming back over to me.

"This is us three about a year ago" she says passing the photo to me smiling at the memory.

Ryan was standing in the middle of her and Harry holding sparklers, this was probably around New Years.

"You look like you were having fun" I smile looking mostly at Ryan, it was always hard around new year without him with us but I'm glad he was happy.

"It was Ryan, he always knew how to make everyone happy, even when I was having problems with my parents accepting Harry and I" she smiles placing the photo on the coffee table in front of us with a sad smile "but let's not get to that now" she quickly says as the guys walk back in laughing about something.

"What's so funny?" She asks as Harry starts walking towards what looks like the kitchen.

"I told Ryan what you did last night" he laughs walking fully into the kitchen but she didn't look so happy.

"Harry!"she shouts running after him leaving Ryan and I in the sitting room.

"I love those two" he laughs sitting next to me where Martha previously was "you doing alright?" He asks looking over at me smiling.

"I'm alright they seem nice, we're gonna be safe here right?" I ask, he just wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me towards him.

"Of course I won't let anything happen to you, everything's gonna be fine"