Chapter 2 MATE

The place was packed. Bloodmoon was one of her biggest events on the calendar and even members of other packs attended because their pack was well known and popular.

Liam tagged behind her like a loyal bodyguard and Aria knew just why. Liam didn't trust anyone and he hated when Aria was being bullied. He had once beat a guy for grabbing her butt and nearly killed another because he called her a pussy. She didn't want him to get into another fight but sometimes trouble always came knocking.

Speaking of trouble. Aria sighed as she spotted Cassie and her girls gang heading towards them. Cassie already had a mate and they were set to marry next year. Cassie was the daughter of the beta and she always made sure to rub the title in Aria's face just because she and Liam's parents were ordinary pack members, now late.

"Hello handsome" Cassie said immediately she reached them. Cassie had always wanted to know how it felt like to have sex with Liam and Aria had a feeling that Liam was the only male in the pack who Cassie hadn't slept with. Even now that she had a mate Aria didn't like the way Cassie looked at Liam. It made her.........jealous.

"Got any plans today" she asked and Liam ignored her. Aria took his hand.

"Let's get out of here Liam" she said, but Cassie blocked her path.

"Who said you can leave loser?" She sneered and Aria closed her eyes: it was only a matter of time before Liam went Tom Cruise mode.

"Get out of her way Cassie" Liam said. Immediately Aria said the same words in her head. Cassie opened her mouth to speak then thought better of it. Liam's last fight was top news and since then no one wanted to mess with him.  Sometimes Aria wondered how strong he was, he was the lowest according to ranks but he was still deadly in a fight.

Cassie nodded to her lackeys and disappeared into the crowd. She turned to Liam and thanked him with her eyes. Suddenly she felt her wolf stir. Like it was waking and she grinned.

The moon wasn't up yet but it was a sign. A sign that she was gonna get a mate tonight. Her wolf stirring on the night of a Bloodmoon meant only one thing; her mate was nearby and her wolf could sense it.

Liam looked uncomfortable, like his mate stirred too. He didn't have shifting easy for him when he was a child and he hated going wolf mode.

Liam grabbed a drink and downed it in one gulp.

"You look happy" he noted and Aria grinned, he smiled at him.

"I felt my wolf stir and that means........"

"She sensed you mate around" he didn't sound pleased. His mood ruined hers and she sighed.

"You don't have to force yourself to get a mate if you don't want to Liam" she said and his blue eyes shone, so fiercely that it scared her.

"Oh I want to, and I know who I want" he said. I stared at him, not knowing what to say. The way he was looking at her made her mute like she lost the nerve to talk.

"I don't know Liam. You have never told me this. Would you like to dance instead?"'she asked and he shook his head.

"You know I hate that," he said.

"Please" she begged. "For me" she added and he sighed. She knew he would do anything for her.

Liam's hands found her waist and she placed a hand on his thumping chest. The rhythm soothed  her and helped calm her. It always did, when they were younger this had almost become a habit. She would place a hand on his chest and listen to his heartbeat.

He just stared at her like she was the only thing that existed. Aria knew that was somewhat true. Liam didn't talk to anyone but her even when their parents were alive. She had been his best friend, she had been there for him. Through his autism, she didn't see him as a dork but as someone with potential.

They swayed to the slow music and Aria just stared at him, even forgetting that she was supposed to be looking for who her mate was. How did she not see how handsome he was, the way his dark hair fell to his temples, the sapphire of his eyes.

Stop thinking that Aria. He's your brother for Lycan's sake.

Liam's hands wandered until they were on her butt. But she didn't object, even when they tightened around it.

The music stopped and her head cleared. She stepped away abruptly from his arms.

"I have to get something" she said and he didn't answer. He walked away himself. Aria sighed, she didn't mean to offend him but she couldn't stand to stay in his arms any longer. She felt like she was under a spell being in those arms. He was her brother and it was wrong, a taboo, what was she thinking.

Her wolf stirred again and Aria grinned, her mood improving.

"Atta girl"  her wolf said. "I don't see your mate but I can smell him"

Aria smiled but she was panicking. Around her people were claiming their mates. But still no one was coming to her and she was just following her wolf directions.

Where was Liam? She missed his comforting presence, she wanted to apologize even though she didn't need to.

"Dammit" Aria said to herself as she spotted Cassie and ducked. Why was the moon goddess picking her to be shamed? Everyone was getting their mates but she couldn't find hers.

No no no.

She slammed into someone and strong hands steadied her before she could fall on her butt. She looked up and sighed in relief when she saw Liam.

"Liam, I can find my........" she touched his arm.

"MATE!"  Her wolf said and her eyes widened. Liam's blue eyes were unreadable.

"Mate," he said out loud.