Filed to story: Mated and Hated by My Brother’s Best Friend Book PDF Free by Anna Campbell
“They did,” I said, my throat closing up. “How much did Nate tell you?”
“Not much. But enough.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time about him.”
I offered him a small smile. “It’s okay. Just, lay low and don’t get in any trouble. And do me a favour, don’t tell Eva. She can’t know he’s back yet. Max agreed so I’m not overstepping. Not until he’s healed.”
Ethan nodded.
We both knew Eva hated this school.
If she found out what they did to Max, she would never stop until she figured out why. And then they’d kill her, just like those other first years.
But we now shared a common feeling. I hated this school, too. I hated it more than I had ever hated anything.
The next day, Lincoln and Eric showed up.
Max was half-asleep when the knock came, and I was the one who opened the door, half-expecting Eva. Instead, it was them.
Lincoln strolled in and leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, scowling like he had been the one tortured for three days.
Eric, however, grinned as he stepped inside like he owned the place.
“Figured we’d check if you were still breathing,” Eric muttered.
Max stirred, his eyes flickering open just in time to see his brothers and his jaw tensed.
“Oh great,” Max grumbled, his voice still rough. “Just what I needed.”
Eric dropped into a chair, completely ignoring the sarcasm. “You look like shit.”
Lincoln didn’t say anything, just leaned in the corner, brooding. He was pissed, I realized. But not at Max.
I climbed into bed beside Max, never more than three feet away from him to give him enough space to catch up with his twin, but close enough for him to know that I was. there. And he knew; his fingers would slide over my thigh ever so often.
My eyes flickered between the three of them as I pieced something together.
They weren’t all pieces of shit like everyone assumed, were they?
Yes, Nate was right. They were insufferable pricks.
But they were insufferable pricks who loved each other.
Even Lincoln, who hadn’t spoken a single word, had shown up. And that said more than anything.
They stayed for a while, mostly Eric and Max exchanging snide remarks while Lincoln lingered in silence, until I noticed Max’s breathing slow, his body getting heavier, exhaustion creeping in.
“Alright, I think it’s time to go guys,” I finally said, standing and crossing my arms. “He needs to rest. So while we appreciate the visit and concern, and I say this with utmost kindness, but get out.”
Max snorted and Lincoln surprised me by smirking. Eric sighed dramatically but nudged my shoulder as he passed.
“Thanks for babysitting him,” he mumbled with a wink.
“She’s not-“
“She is.” Lincoln finally spoke for the first time since he got here, throwing Max a glare that I’ve now acknowledged as affection before leaving, too.
I climbed into bed with Max again, and his hands instantly went to my waist, pulling me on top of him to straddle him. But I quickly scurried off him and threw him a glare of my own.
“You need to heal first,” I scolded.
His groan was dramatic. “You’re cruel.”
I kissed his forehead. “I know.”
The next day, Eva showed up.
By then, Max’s face had fully healed, and the only wounds left were the ones hidden under his clothes. Thank the moon goddess.
Still, she wasn’t happy.
“You knew he was back, and you didn’t tell me?” she snapped, arms crossed. “You knew I was worried sick, and you let me sit there, thinking he was still gone?”
I winced. “Eva-“
Max sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Jiselle was protecting you.”
Eva huffed, glaring at both of us. “You’re both in trouble. And Jiselle, you skipped Alpha Strategy, which means you’re in real trouble.”
I shrugged. “I’ll face the consequences.”
Eva rolled her eyes, but I saw it-the way her shoulders sagged just slightly, the way she exhaled like she had been holding in all her worry.
She was’t really mad. She was just relieved.
Unlike her brothers, I allowed them privacy and time to catch up, so I left to get more clothes and my books from my room, and headed to the cafeteria to grab food. I didn’t know how much Max would tell her, but I knew he’d tell her enough so she wouldn’t be clueless or pissed and go looking for answers, but not enough to get her killed.
I was grateful she thought I had been moping all this time and sleeping in Max’s room simply because I could, so she hadn’t sought me out sooner. Or else she would have. seen his wounds and probably would have gone into every instructor’s face demanding answers. That wouldn’t have ended well.
I returned just after nightfall with food after Eva left, when yet another knock came.
I opened the door, and my stomach dropped.
Nate.
*Jiselle*
I barely had time to process it before Max stiffened, probably scenting him before he even looked.
“Can I come in?” Nate asked smoothly, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Heard you’ve been quite the bodyguard.”
I nodded wordlessly and stepped aside.
The air in the room immediately shifted.
Despite Max’s huge room, everything suddenly felt smaller.
Max was glaring. Nate, for once, seemed to be… restraining himself.
Something told me this was the first time either of them had been this physically beaten down.
Nate reached into his jacket and tossed a bundle of flowers toward Max, who caught it effortlessly.
Max scowled at them. “The hell is this?”
“Lunara Blooms,” Nate said lazily. “They’re good for silver wounds.”
Max looked at them like they might strangle him. “I don’t need-“
“Before you start thinking I care, I don’t,” Nate cut him off. “They’re from Ethan. He asked me to give them to Jiselle for you since he has Night Nav.”
“Oh.” Max’s scowl disappeared briefly but returned as he refocused on Nate. “If that’s all, you’re welcome to leave.”
“Max,” I scolded. “Be nice. He brought you flowers so you can heal faster. Wasn’t that nice of him?”
Max’s gaze snapped to mine, immediately softening.
“Yes, mother,” he teased with an eye roll before glancing back at Nate. “Thanks,” he gritted out. “Now, if that’s all, you’re still welcome to leave.”
Nate stuffed his hands into his pockets, tilting his head slightly.
“That isn’t all, actually,” he said. “I wanted to personally thank you for keeping Jiselle safe.”
I gaped.
Max’s expression darkened instantly. “I don’t need a thank you for protecting my own girlfriend. I take personal offense that you would try.”
Nate shrugged, unfazed. “Still, thanks. It would’ve been hard to lose her.” His gaze snapped to me. “I’m seeing that now.”
My heart plummeted.
I hated him. I hated him so damn much for doing this to me.
“Don’t think I did anything for you,” Max countered. “Again, she’s mine. I’d do anything to protect her.”
Nate flinched. It was subtle, but I caught it.
“She’s no concern of yours,” Max added.
Nate raised a brow. “Oh, she isn’t?” His voice was a low challenge, and I stepped between them subconsciously.
“I knew you were once infatuated by her, and you grew up together. But it doesn’t matter. It’s not your job to worry about her anymore.”
“Infatuated?” Nate questioned with an amused tilt of his lips. His eyes shifted to me quickly, and I understood the question without him saying it out loud.
I shook my head subtly, telling him that I hadn’t told Max about our bond.
“Interesting,” Nate mumbled, studying me like he was piecing something together I didn’t know about.
The seconds dragged by.
“Well,” he said in a dismissive tone, and I blew a breath of relief that he didn’t say anything. “I’m glad you’re not dead, Laker.” He moved to the door and smirked as he looked back. “It would have been a shame if you died before I could kill you.”
I threw him a glare, and he chuckled as he left.
I rubbed my temples as I plopped down beside Max, his arm instantly going around me, and I snuggled into him.
“That was fucking weird,” he mumbled.
I laughed softly. “Nate can be… that.”
Max huffed. “Yeah, well, if he ever brings me flowers again, I might just throw them at his face.”
I smirked, shaking my head before changing the topic.
“So, I found a way to avoid shifting in a few days when the wolf-to-wolf challenges start,” I told him.
His hold on me tightened slightly as he shifted to face me, no doubt catching the hesitant tone in my voice,
“Okay,” he mumbled. “And what it is?
I exhaled slowly, preparing myself for his reaction. “You’re not gonna like it.”
Max sat up straighter, turning to face me, his stormy gray eyes darkening with suspicion.
Thesitated before saying it.
“I have to injure myself.”
Max’s entire body went rigid.
“No,” he growled immediately. “Absolutely not.”
“Max-“
“No,” he repeated, voice firm, his grip tightening around me like he could physically stop me from considering it. “There’s no way in hell you’re hurting yourself. I know I asked you to find a way but no.”
“It’s better than dying.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “You know the rules. You can fight in human form even if you’re injured, but you can’t challenge in wolf form if you’re hurt.”
His jaw locked, and I knew he hated that I was right. “It’s too risky.”
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