Page 82 of My Broken Mate

“Are you sure you want to hear it?” Ayden asks. “I am just some young dude with no rank and no name, and you are basically royalty, if we had any. Everyone kisses the floor you are walking on.”

“I don’t care what everyone else does. I want my brother to like me,” I say bluntly. “I want to hear the truth. Hit me with it. I need it!” I take my phone out of my suit pocket and hand it to Ayden. “Save your number in it. I will give you a call and take you out for lunch.”

Ayden obliges. When he hands me back the phone, he sighs. “See? That’s part of the problem. You could have asked me and waited for my approval, but it sounded much more like a command. If you talk like that with your family, it’s no surprise you can’t overcome the distance.”

“So, will you?” I ask him. “Help me.”

“You have inserted yourself way too much already, Ayden,” Fiona says, grinning slightly. “Now you need to help.”

I don’t know her family, but after seeing how she just gave Ayden a push, I make a mental note to give her father or mother or both of them a raise, depending on where they work. And if they don’t work for one of my companies, I will certainly pay them back in another way.

“I will regret this,” Ayden mutters.

I tilt my head, thinking this through. Ayden seems to be straightforward and honest. He is not trying to befriend me or kiss up to me. Also, he is a young student who just told me he has no specific rank, meaning I could make this transactional. This is like a business meeting! “I will pay you,” I say. “Consider me your employer, someone who hires you to go to lunch with.”

“Like a Sugar Daddy?” Fiona asks.

I’m almost knocked back by her words. Ayden himself doesn’t look too pleased either. “Don’t make it weird, Fi!”

“Sorry.”

“Like a tutor,” I say. “Eve paid Remy to tutor Katalina, and I am paying you to tutor me.”

“Suddenly, this sounds much better. Money and food,” Ayden grins. “I like burgers. Don’t drag me to some fancy restaurant. Just burgers!”

Chapter twenty-four

Forever Friends

*REMY*

My mind has difficulty processing everything that happened tonight.

I have a mate, a girlfriend! I never had one before, though that’s probably not entirely true. During High School, I kept seeing some girls occasionally, just to avoid being at home too much, and I gave them whatever they wanted—presents, dates, my body, anything—out of fear I would be rejected by them. I would have done anything not to be forced to go home.

But this time it’s different.

IlikeKata, and I don’t usually like anyone. She is cute, fun, kind, and just like the sun. It’s easier to breathe when she is around me. Knowing that we are mates is like a puzzle piece that was missing. Now it makes sense that my headache lessenedwhen she was around, but got worse when she was around me, but I didn’t approach her, or if I hurt her. I always felt better in her proximity, and it figures now why I couldn’t let our tutor sessions end. I know my brothers set me up, but for once, I am not mad at being tricked.

If they hadn’t done it, I would have never met Kata. Or maybe I would have, just much later.

And it’s obvious now that I do have my wolf! Sean and the doctors were right when they said it’s impossible for me not to have one; they had the right feeling about this. I just don’t know why he is hiding from me.

The packhouse is buzzing when I return, and with every step I take, the heavy feelings come back. I felt free and light when I was with Kata, like always when I am in her vicinity. I wasn’t able to put a finger on it before I found out we are mates, but the feeling’s always been there. Now that she isn’t here, I feel the same heavy weight again.

I wish I could disappear.

I wish I didn’t exist.

Why was I even born?

The moment I think these thoughts, I am instantly struck with guilt, as usual. I should be happy I am here. I have so much more than others.

“Remy,” Levi calls out, jogging towards me. “You are back.” He smiles. A smile that reaches his eyes, like always. I don’t know how he befriended Sean. It’s a secret they don’t share with anyone. It seems like this is what all three of us do. Just hide everything from each other. No matter the reasons, though, I am glad Levi is at his side. Sean needs someone like him, someone trustworthy and capable.

“Come, join us for an early lunch,” he says.

“I just came from breakfast,” I admit.