(Author’s POV)
’Brave claims he hasn’t been sure about him and Myra being mated. Elio just got to know about the bond a day ago, and Dion~ .... he says he knew about him being mated to her since Nora and Elio’s birthday, the same time Alex called her our~ ....’ Alaric was engrossed in deep thought, trying to put two and two together, but something felt off to him.
Brave, Dion and Elio were all glancing in his direction, waiting for his answer, but his lips remained sealed. His inner turmoil and monologue were busy doing the math, but nothing was adding up here.
Seeing him spaced out, Brave called his name, "Al ... Al~ .... Alaric?"
"Huhh?" Alaric snapped out of it as he stared at his brothers with a dumbfounded expression.
"We were asking: when did you get to know about the~ ... mate bond?" Dion asked, emphasizing the words "mate bond" hard.
"I~ ..." Alaric opened his mouth, then closed it, not knowing how to put it into words. This was a hell lot of complicated. He exhaled a sigh, then replied, "I didn’t know~ ...."
"What?" All three of his brothers stared at him, confused.
"I didn’t know about any bond. This was the first time," Alaric lied cleanly. He then added, claiming, "Honestly, what I think is~ ... there has to be some mistake with this. It doesn’t make any sense. A human and a Lycan werewolf being mated together? No one has ever heard of it, nor is there any record about it in the history books."
"But there is no record where it says otherwise. If no one has ever heard or no one has written about it, doesn’t mean it can’t happen, Al," Dion spoke, his tone a bit too defensive.
"So, you are so sure about the mate bond thing, huhh, Dio? Then what about having multiple fated mates? Do you believe in that too? Don’t you find all this ridiculous?" Alaric bit back.
Dion pressed his lips together in a thin line, glaring at his elder brother, but had no reply. Alaric explained, "Generally, a werewolf can only have one fated mate at a time, which is quite uncommon these days. Only if the bond is broken willingly, or if one of them dies, can they find a second chance mate. However, not all werewolves get this opportunity; it’s rarer than sunflowers blooming in a snowfield. So, how are you so sure it is the mate bond? It may be because of the gold blood coursing in her veins. Maybe we all just mistook it for the bond. Isn’t it?"
Brave crossed his arms, contemplating Alaric’s argument. What his twin had pointed out was all true. The moon goddess had never bonded any werewolf with a human. And having multiple mates, that was a strict no-no. Werewolves are known to be territorial and monogamous. None of them could bear to share their destined mate with others, even if it was their own blood brothers. He knew all of that~ .... But one thing kept poking at his heart.
What he felt, what his wolf, Rave, felt- the kind of unadulterated giddiness and surge of blood rush, the profound sense of peace and finally finding your own safe home- it only happens when your mate has accepted you. After all, he once was mated to Hannah, so he knew the feeling well enough.
"I think," Elio interrupted, "We shouldn’t come to a conclusion so soon."
"Yeah~ ...." Brave agreed. "Once Myra wakes up, we can ask her about it. From what happened in the forest, she called all of us her mates in front of those demons. She might give us a clear answer to it," he finished as all the brothers gazed at her, each holding different emotions.
She stared at him, her hands on her mouth as fresh tears spilt down her cheeks. Staggering, she stepped forward; her feet felt like they were filled with lead. "Gar~ry, how could this~ .... how cou~ld such a thi~ng happe~n to you?" She held his hand and immediately felt his bone.
Jeffery and Liliana followed inside. Their eyes widened in shock at the sight of Garry’s condition. The last person to enter was Henry. He came in, his expression changed slightly when he saw his father’s face, but it didn’t take him long to shift it back to his normal aloof face.
Seeing everyone present, Garry smiled weakly, "You are all finally here." He then looked at his wife and said, "You must have been scared. Sorry."
Diana cried. Jeffery and Liliana felt a lump settle in their throats. Henry’s eyes trembled a bit as well.
Seeing her family cry, Yelena sniffled again. Diana glanced in her direction, her eyes bloodshot. She at once got up and headed straight towards her.
When Yelena saw her grandmother approaching, she wanted to hug her, but before she could do anything, Diana’s hand landed on her cheek, her fingerprints imprinted there as Yelena’s face tilted to the side.
"You ungrateful brat?" she roared, her eyes holding venom, as she slapped Yelena again.
To Be Continued . . . . . . . .

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Mated To My Best Friend's Lycan Alpha Brothers