My brother. My mate.

~ 5

I look around to see that everyone showed up for the funeral of Brianna's parents. Again two coffins. Marie Hale and Krish Hale. But beside the funeral, I have also some good news. Two things. One, I have the adoption papers to adopt Brianna as my own daughter. Two, I hope that everyone will take it to accept Astra as my mate. Possibly that they will be shocked first. But hey, so was I when I found out.

Brianna, who seem to find her happy side, is standing still next to me, in her black dress. Hiding a bit behind me because of all the people who've shown up to the funeral for her parents.

I look down and reach for her hand. Which she grabs with some tears in her eyes. On my other side, is Astra. Completely dressed in black. Finally, the last one sits down. That means that I can start. 'Today we say goodbye to Krish and Marie Hale. A couple that was on their way to our pack when they got ambushed.' I can feel that Brianna buries her face in my waist. 'Four rogues killed them but it was also a sacrifice. They offered themselves in order to protect their little girl Brianna. I'm the one who heard her scream and I've killed all four rogues myself.' It was perfect to release some of my anger. 'But she's fine now. I know that some of you already met her and she's a lovely girl. A bit shy but that's okay. When I told her that she's welcome in the pack, she was happy and crying at the same time, telling me that her parents were looking for us. Hoping that they could join our pack. I told her that there's always room for someone else. If her parents would still be alive, I would've welcomed them with open arms.' I turn my head to Brianna, kneeling too. 'Is there anything that you want to say to your parents, sweety. They're listening.'

'I love them and...' She sobs with the tears stream down her face. 'And I miss them.'

I know that. I had to comfort her a couple times. Mostly at night. 'We don't know your parents like you do but we will miss them too.' I put one arm around her. Pressing her head against my shoulder. Giving her a kiss on her cheek before I turn back to my pack. 'But I can tell you that in this time of grief, I have some good news too.' How do I say this? I feel Astra's hand in my back. As a silent encourage. Right. Two things. I already told him about Brianna's situation and he's more willing to adopt her as well. 'There are two things.' I look back to Brianna. 'The first one is that, with your permission, Brianna, I will adopt you. That way you don't have a pack anymore but a family. A family with me and everyone else here.'

She's that much shocked that she covers her mouth with both her hands. New tears find their way down her cheek. Just like she's staring at me with her big blue eyes.

'Well, yes or no, Brianna?' I ask her.

Crying she throws herself into my arms. 'Yes.'

Making the women say ahh. Some of them even have tears.

I get up, still holding Brianna. 'But I won't be the only one adopting her. Before I say this to you, you have to know that I was shocked at first. However, I don't question the way how our Goddess works.' I look to my left. Where Astra stands. 'Because I found my mate and in no one else but Astra.'

He smiles back. 'I will adopt Brianna as well.'

'How?' Cyril is not only shocked but also surprised. 'He's your brother.'

I nod. 'Remember that I was shocked at first? Not to mention that I hit him a couple times.' I sigh. 'Look, I was just as you. Confused and shocked to find out that my own brother is my mate. I never thought that that could be possible. But he is my mate....'

'Don't tell me that you forgive him that easily?' Tiguan asks.

This time I shake my head. 'That's fifty-fifty at the moment. But for everything that he did to me, believe me, I'm making him crawl.' As expected, they all start to laugh. 'Let's enjoy life and let the spirits guide us. Krish and Marie, you would've been welcome here. Thank you all for coming.' I put Brianna down and everyone comes by one by one. Saying their condolences for her.

When that's over, I go back to our house with Brianna and Astra. Who seems to be really proud of me. 'Alright, let's get you in your normal clothes again. You can play outside if you want.' I walk upstairs with her.

'Can I stay inside and watch tv?' In her bedroom, she can choose her own clothes. Which turns out to be colorful tights with flowers and a long sweatshirt.

I give in. If she would go outside to play, the other children would probably still ask her questions about her parents. Questions that she doesn't want to answer. 'Okay, but I have to do some work. I'll leave the door open unless if I have to make a phone call.'

'Thank you, daddy.' Brianna gives me a hug and goes downstairs.

To walk to my own bedroom. Losen my buttons from my shirt.

Only that Astra is waiting. It seems that he changed quickly. 'You were incredible out there.' He puts his arms around me, giving me a kiss.

Which is really all I need right now. Just a kiss and a hug. 'Thanks.' In my head, I can hear my wolf. Begging and whining to take him to bed and make him mine. To be able to mark him. Tickling him with my nose in his neck up to his ear.

'I can help you relax.' Astra whispers with a moan. Like he wants to prove it, he unbuttons my pants. 'Let me.'

How tempting it might be, I push him away. 'No.' An answer to Astra and my wolf. Of course, he would love to take him to bed right now. 'Brianna is awake and downstairs.' I am thinking of when I would allow him in bed. 'Definitely not during the day, Astra.' He's just here for a few days. I don't want to give in like that or that fast for that matter. Maybe it's better to make him wait for me. After all, he made me wait before showing up again. God, he waited for six years before he came back. Why not make him wait for six weeks? I change quickly into jeans and a henley shirt with short sleeves. Only to go down to my office. Leaving Astra behind in my bedroom all sad because I didn't give in.

~•~ 

And again, a new update. We're seriously getting more closer to the end of the story already. It doesn't take long anymore. Though, I did mention that this story won't be that long. ;) 

Also, I'm working on something else. A cross-over between werewolves and Twilight. I've only taken some names from Twilight but when it comes to werewolves, they will be like how werewolves should be. (at least in my imagination) They will be bigger than regular wolves, live like pack and when it comes to finding their mate.... all still possible but even for the woman, it's easy to find their mate. So the women who are werewolves in this have a normal cycle. Alright, this is just sharing my thoughts with you. I'm working on this... so it won't be up on Wattpad that fast. 

Love you all