Forced Mating

Eight

We had agreed to best out of three and after I beat him twice he sighed, "Okay. Best out of five?"
"That means you have to win the next three."
"Best out of thirteen?"
I lightly laughed, "I only have to win five, you have to win seven then."
He seemed to think for a moment, "Okay, you win."
I smirked, "Don't be a sore loser Daniel."
"Hey! I am not, cupcake."
"Thank goodness, considering I keep winning."
"Just wait."
"For? Although I guess since I'm stuck here for the rest of my life, you might win once."
"I'm much better at doubles." He said defensively.
"Yeah, I'm sure you are. You probably pair up with the best one playing."
He frowned and acted hurt, "You hurt me cupcake."
I laughed a little and put my racket in its case, handing him the other case for his.
"So what's the plan tomorrow?"
I shrugged, "What else is there to do?"
"Hiking, swimming, and we have other small games, but they're more fun with four people, you know, horseshoes, washers, things like that."
"Maybe we'll swim."
"Just two of us?"
"Honestly, I usually swim alone. We can do something else though."
"Nope, you won fair and square. We agreed."
"Well what competition is there with only two people that takes place in water?"
He smirked, "Racing."
"Maybe."
"Why are you a slow swimmer?"
"I don't know, I usually swim alone."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I used to just do some laps and get out of the lake."
"How many laps?"
"Usually four, but sometimes more. Lately about five."
"I usually do six."
"So I might have competition tomorrow." I smirked.
"I guess so." I was wondering how big his laps were though, mine were four laps the length of the pack territory. If his were around the pond it wouldn't be even two laps of mine.
We started heading to the house and I glanced at my watch to find that it was only just after noon.
"What are you doing this afternoon?" I asked him.
He shrugged, "I think I have some work to do."
"What do you do?"
"I'm beta, so-"
"Wait, your brother put you as beta?"
He nodded with a hint of a smile, "Yeah. It shocked me, I thought he would choose a friend of his but he insisted that I take the position."
"What about the old beta?"
"He went rogue after my parents and his mate died."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
He nodded, "It still shocks me that I'm beta though."
"Why?"
He shrugged, "He grew up with Kyle. They used to be really close, I figured he would be beta, I didn't even think about it being mine, I didn't even think about it happening, honestly, the position was as good as gone. But then he made me beta. Honestly, I thought he was pranking me. They just quit talking all of a sudden, I've always wanted to know why, but you know."
He chose his brother over his best friend? Why? Usually family is considered pretty much second anyways, so they choose a friend or someone else that they trust.
"He didn't even try to keep Kyle as a friend. He chose me and they stopped everything. They used to go to the beach, racing, everywhere." He was looking into the distance, "It all just stopped."
"I've never heard of anyone choosing family as beta."
"Honestly, I haven't either. I questioned him once but like usual Caden changed the topic."
"Like usual?"
"He doesn't talk much. He never talks about anything personal, at least to us. Ever. He talks about pack problems, things he likes, but never how he feels or what makes him mad. He holds in a lot."
I nodded. I was hoping we would change the topic. I had no intention of learning anything about him. In a few days or less, he would be in my head and I would feel his emotions, I didn't need to know them now.
"I don't think he ever got over our parents' death because of it."
"That's got to be hard."
"Yeah. I talked to him and he listened the whole time, but he never once said anything about himself."
"He takes his role seriously." I meant it more about me but let him assume it was about alpha.
"Yeah. I think it hinders him in a way. He needs to open up a little. I know he doesn't want to hear it, but he can't do everything alone."
"He has you."
"He's my older brother, he acts strong for me, you know, like how a father never cries, its the same theory. He's my rock, but he needs one too."
I nodded. Thank god he didn't mention me, I would've had to avoid two brothers.
We entered the house through the kitchen and Caden was just coming in. He stopped by the door when he noticed me and by the look in his eyes I think he thought I would run.
"Hey Caden." Daniel said as he looked in the fridge.
"Hey Dan," Caden said, but he was looking at me. I just looked at the fridge and Daniel's back.
"So what did you do this morning?" Daniel asked.
"Talked to some alphas. No news."
"That could be good."
"It could be bad. Training starts tomorrow."
"Yeah. Eight?"
Caden nodded and I didn't realize how tense he was until he relaxed a bit, but only a bit, "How did this mornings game go?" Again there was jealousy but I just stayed quiet.
"She won. Just barely, but she won."
I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder as I sat at the counter, a bit further away from Caden, "Oh please, I smoked you two games out of three." I meant for it to come out like I was joking around but my voice seemed to waver in front of Caden, but I let it go.
"I wouldn't say smoked." Daniel said as he stood up.
"Would you prefer creamed? Schooled? Skunked? B-"
"Okay, okay. I'm not a tennis player. But I'll win tomorrow."
Caden spoke up before I could and I noticed he had leaned against the wall with a hint of amusement in his eyes and he was much calmer and relaxed. It suited him, even his voice was less tense, "Win at what?"
"Swim race." Daniel said with a smirk and I rolled my eyes, "Don't roll your eyes at me, cupcake, tennis isn't my thing, but I do swim." I don't think Caden liked his nickname for me, especially since he tensed up again. Well, screw him, I thought. At least Daniel talked to me like a person, Caden could go back to his office and live there for all I care.
"Which will make it worse when you lose," I smirked.
"If I lose."
"When." I said as he came out of the fridge with all kinds of food on the counter.
He scowled at me but he had a smile poking out and I laughed a little. He seemed to relax again and I looked over at him. He was staring at me and I looked back down to the counter. His face was blank and I wanted him just to crack that exterior, just so I knew it wasn't business all the time, but if he liked my father as an alpha, it probably was always business for him.
"So, since you like cooking so much, what about lunch cupcake?" Again Caden tensed and I realized he wasn't just upset about the nickname, he was jealous.
"Maybe I'll make myself a wrap."
"Come on," Daniel sighed.
"She isn't your maid," Caden said as a growl.
"I know, she said the same thing this morning when I asked about breakfast." Daniel sighed as he started moving things around on the counter.
"Good for her. Trust me, she stands up for herself," it came out almost like he was proud of me but I tossed that idea away as quick as it came. I hated how he talked to him about me when I was standing right there. Rather than saying, 'Good for you', to me he ignores me and talks to Daniel. Am I really just a piece of property to him?
"Don't I know it." Daniel smiled.
I climbed off my stool and started making a wrap as the room got quiet. It started getting awkward in the quiet and Caden and Daniel were giving each other looks and I knew they were talking through the link but I tried to ignore them.
I finished making my wrap and grabbed Daniel's plate.
"Hey, that was mine, cupcake!"
"Was." I got a glass of lemonade before grabbing my plate and starting to leave.
"Where are you going?" Daniel asked and I knew Caden wanted to follow me. He even took a step towards me off the wall.
"Just need to move around, I didn't have much exercise since the competition was so brutal this morning." I smirked at Daniel as I left the kitchen.