My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 14

Several years earlier. Hiroen's POV

"Hiroen, your mother and I have something we want to tell you." My dad says to me in an unusually serious tone. My father is the Gamma of our pack and is very well respected amongst his peers.

"Am I in trouble?" I ask. I am going to be 18 in a few days. I'm no stranger to getting in a bit of trouble.

"No son. We just want to talk. You're not in trouble. Take a seat." My dad gestures for me to sit. I take a seat in the chair across from my dad and mom. My mom looks worried. She has her hands folded in front of her, resting on her lap. My dad is sitting crouched forward. His legs are spread and he has his elbows resting on his thighs. His fingers are intertwined with one another. He's looking at the floor, as if he's trying to figure out what to say. My mother looks at me and smiles.

"As you know when you turn 18 this Thursday, you're going to be able to find your mate." I hesitantly nod in agreement.

"Yeah, I can't wait, I'm pretty excited." I say.

Oh my gosh. Please don't let this be THE TALK.

My mother continues, "Well Hiroen, finding your mate is not the only thing your going to gain on Thursday."

I look at them confused. "Wh-"

"Hiroen, Grace and I are not your biological parents." My Dad blurts out. My mother widens her eyes towards him. Then she looks back at me quickly.

"It's true honey." She says.

I'm shocked. "What do you mean?" I say, "How is this even possible? What are you talking about!?"

"You came to us when you were just a baby. You were only a few months old." My 'mom' informs me.

"Who are my parents? Where are they?" I ask. I can hear myself getting louder with each question I ask. My mothers voice remains calm and quiet.

"Your biological parents' names were Kamila and Benjamin."

"Are they alive?.. wait, 'were'?"

"They're gone Hiroen." My dad interjects.

I noticed I'm leaned forward in my chair. I sit back against it, trying to relax myself.

"There's more about them you need to know," my mother continues. "Your father Benjamin was a werewolf, just like us. But your mother Kamila was not. She was a witch."

"A witch?" I say in disbelief. "But we're not supposed to.." my 'father' cuts me off.

"Benjamin claimed that he and Kamila were fated. That they were mates. But your right it is forbidden for the species to mate with one another."

"But, Why?" I ask.

"It's just the laws." My dad says.

"It's because of the prophecy." My mom says. My father looks at her upset.

"Grace." My father says sternly.

"Peter. It's just because they are scared." My mom adds.

"Grace!" My father snaps.

"..What prophecy?" I ask.

"It has nothing to do with you! So you don't need to worry about it son." My dad says sharply, telling me to drop it.

"So.. what happened to Ben and.."

I guess I should call them what they are..

"..to my parents?" I finish.

"They didn't listen to the laws. He mated with your mother and, YOU were the result. Somehow The councils of were and witch found out and called them for a trial to decide their punishment." My 'mom' says.

"Your father was one of my best friends." My 'dad' says. "They day they went to appear before the councils he gave you to me. 'Protect him.' He told me. Then he and Kamila left to go before the councils. I never saw them again after that." "The councils, killed them?!!"

"The councils claimed that they never even showed up. They just vanished." My 'mom' explains.

"Vanished? They just left me?" I feel hurt, but I never knew them. Did they die? Did they ran away together?

"We don't know what happened. And no one has heard from them since." My 'dad' says.

"But we have loved and cared for you since the moment you came to us. Biological or not YOU are OUR son, and you always will be." My 'mom' grabs my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze it back.

My mom is right we may not be related but that doesn't change how I feel about them. They are my parents, and they always will be.

"I know this is a lot to take in son, but there's more. We believe that when you turn 18, your going to.. 'experience' magic. Witches gain access to their full powers at 18. We want you to be prepared for what might happen." My dad says. What IS going to happen? What does magic feel like? I'm kind of stoked about it to be honest.

"Magic? As in like magical powers?! COOL!" I say excitedly.

"Hiroen, no one can know that you have powers. If you do get then you're going to have to keep them hidden for the rest of your life. You can't forget there are laws against the mixture of witch and were kind. Some people take that very seriously." My father says sternly.

"Should I be worried? Do the councils know that I exist?"

"We don't think so." My mother says.

"What if they find out about me?" I ask. My parents look at each other.

"You need to keep your magic a secret. We do not know what they would do if they found out about you." My dad says.

"You need to keep your magic a secret. We do not know what they would do if they found out about you." My dad says. "And.. what if I can't control it?" I ask hesitantly.

"We have someone who can help. We can trust her. Her name is Miranda. She will teach you how to control it." My dad says. "What, what will it be like? To have magic?" I ask.

"We don't know Hiroen. That's why we asked Miranda to help. She will be able to teach you more than we can." My mom says. "Keep this information to yourself little wolf. We don't know who we can trust." My dad says.

"What about when I find my mate?" I ask.

"We'll have to wait and see." My dad answers.

Three years later.

"I don't understand Hiroen. Why can't you just stay? You are going to get yourself in trouble, or worse killed." Fiona begs.

"Fiona, I am so sorry you mated with someone with a past like mine. But I need to find out what happened to my real parents. People don't just disappear." I say.

I could tell Fiona was worried, but she doesn't understand. She was raised by both her parents, and they have loved and supported her through her whole life. I'm not saying Grace and Peter haven't been loving and supporting, but they aren't my parents and they can't help me figure out what I am. I need to find the truth. These dreams or visions I've been having are getting worse, and I need answers. I told Fiona I need to go to the councils and find out the truth. I didn't tell her when I was leaving, I think she thinks she still has time to convince me to stay. I will go tonight. She will understand, I hope, one day.

"Hiroen, I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you. Please, I don't want to be without you." Fiona begs.

I wrap my arms around her. She is young and I hate having to leave her, but this feels bigger than all of us now.

"I know. I will come back. You won't be alone." I say, and kiss the top of her head.

That night as she sleeps in our bed, I slip out into the night.