My Monster Mate (Book I)

Part III

The Coming Together

"Every experience, no matter

How bad it seems,

Holds within it a blessing

Of some kind. The goal is to find it."

- Buddha

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Nathaniel had ensured that the best doctors check on Elijah. His Russian was still impeccable. His mother made sure to speak to him in Russian when it was only the two of them. Isaiah had picked up a few words too because even against all Nathaniel's protest, Natalia was still greatly fond of Isaiah.

Nathaniel held Elijah's hand. She looked alive. He remembered how she looked when she was in her coma, it was far worse. The doctors had assured him that she was just resting. They had given her some meds to help her sleep. He kissed her hand and rubbed it aimlessly, staring out the window.

The door opened and he nearly snapped, thinking it was another nurse. However, it was Alexander. The man who was supposed to be sitting where Nathaniel was, holding Elijah's hand.

Alexander's eyes zeroed in on their adjoined hands and he growled. This brought Nathaniel's eyes to his brothers.

"What is it now, Alexander?" Nathaniel had dread deep within his stomach. He knew where this conversation had to go and he knew what he'd have to sacrifice.

Alexander's strides were fast, "Why wouldn't you call me? Why would you leave me out. She's my mate, Nathan. I had the right to know. Instead I had to find out from Devon Ignashevich!"

"I'm sorry –"

Alexander didn't wait for him to finish his apology, "I don't want your stupid apology! I want you to leave my mate alone. I want you to stop treating her as your mate because she's not!" He growled out.

Nathaniel did something he hadn't in a long time, he lost his temper, "You think I don't know that she's not my mate! I can't help but be like this. I can't help but be protective! I've grown too close to her."

Alexander sighed, "Like you did Romania." he was angered that his brother would let this happen again.

"Yes."

Elijah woke to the sound of the brothers' bickering. She wasn't completely sure what the commotion was or what about, she just knew that it had woke her.

She opened a hesitant eye and then the other. The commotion was between Nathaniel and Alexander she noted. She lay quietly, watching with squint eyes so they wouldn't notice.

"You need to back off, brother. She is not your mate, she will never be. You need to learn your place. You are not even a true Alpha. The power does not run in your veins. You are not strong enough for her."

Nathaniel move closer to his brother, "Does it look like I care? You're not good enough for her! She could do better than you. The oh so powerful Moon made a mistake. You know it, she's too good for you." He countered.

Alexander let out a humourless laugh, "That might be true but she has accepted me. She'll never see you as anything other than my brother. My weak, futile brother who is not worthy of her. She will never be your Luna, just as Romania couldn't."

Elijah was confused she thought Nathaniel had been messing around with Romania's sister, not Romania herself.

That's when it dawned on her, Alexander lied. That's why his story got vague towards the end. He couldn't lie quick enough. Alexander knew that he couldn't ruin his brother's image in Elijah's eyes so he lied. He spun a web of quick lies so that Nathaniel could buy more time in telling Elijah the truth.

Too bad he couldn't see that his mate was listening to him unveil the truth, she thought.

Nate sighed, "Alex. I'm not going to fight you for her. She's yours, as much as I know the Moon made a mistake. I won't stand in your way. I don't know why she linked me. I know I was wrong in going to her without informing you. But,"

He turned his head to the ground, "I love her. Maybe not like you do, but in my own way. I needed to make sure she was safe. I knew I wouldn't be able to do that with you around. You'd want to control everything and I couldn't handle that."

Nathaniel's anger sizzled away when Alexander brought up Romania. He loved her but his love for her ended up getting her killed. He didn't want the same fate for Elijah so he knew he would have to let her go.

Elijah was shocked at what Nathaniel had just confessed. She was reminded of that argument she once had with Alexander.

"Nathaniel is an unmated –"

"He can't even have a mate, what –"

"That's the problem. He can do whatever the fuck he wants because no one's waiting for him! I don't trust him around you."

"You're speaking as if we have, like, feelings for one another."

"Oh, you are fucking dense. Nathaniel is clearly infatuated with you."

She hadn't believed Alexander, obviously, but there was no denying it now. Nathaniel just confirmed it himself.

"You can't see her anymore, Nate. Not alone."

Nathaniel chuckled humourlessly, "Yeah. I thought as much."