My Brothers Secret

Keira's POV

We walked for about five minutes before we came up to a single house in a large clearing. The house was aged, paint peeling on the exterior walls and a little bit of structural damage, but other than that the house was beautiful.

"Do you live here?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes! It's just Sean and I." Ryder said.

"The two of you live here by yourselves?" I asked. He nodded.

"The rest of my family left to join our family pack in California. They're having problems with hunters so my family went out there as back up." He explained. My heart sunk at the sadness in his eyes.

"Are you worried?" I asked. He looked down at me and nodded.

"Why didn't you and Sean go too?" I asked, but he didn't answer me. Instead he led me to a cellar door. I suddenly realized that we were still holding hands by the fact that he only used one hand to open the door and for some reason it didn't feel awkward at all, which I found odd. He opened the door and led me down the small stairwell, and into the small basement like room.

Sean sat on a steel table with his legs hanging off. We smiled at one another before I looked around the room for my brother. I spotted him curled up in the corner of the room. I let go of Ryder's hand and took a slow step towards Kasey.

"Kase?" I whispered. He slowly lifts his head, an apologetic expression on his face. His eyes were red and his cheeks were tear stained. I was bothered by how upset he was, because he's never been so upset over something in his entire life.

"Awe Kasey! It's okay, I forgive you!" I said. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"You shouldn't, neither of you should!" He muttered. Ryder stepped past me and pulled Kasey to his feet.

"If anything, it's my fault for not telling you that she was my mate! She wants you in her life! She wants her brother, her best friend! Just because you're a werewolf now, doesn't mean you have to change yourself in order to be what you now are! You can't let this control who you are! You're still the same Kasey Hale that you were before the accident, but now you have a gift to make you more special, more unique! So quit acting like a lost, scared, and angry little puppy and be Kasey! The strong, caring, and funny guy you were born to be!" Ryder ordered. His words to my brother brought tears to my eyes, along with Kasey. He gave Ryder an unsure look and Ryder replied with a reassuring one. Kasey took a long deep breath, then turned to me. When he gave me his signature half smile I knew he was back. I ran and wrapped my arms around his neck. He wrapped his own arms around my torso and lifted me off the ground in a tight hug. After several minutes of embracing my brother, he set me back down. We pulled away and I couldn't help but smile at my brother.

"You can't tell anyone, okay? Especially Jade!" He said. I looked at him questionably.

"Why Jade specifically?" I asked. Kasey and Ryder glanced at one another and that's when the answer came to my mind. I gasped quietly.

"She's your mate, isn't she?" I asked. Kasey looked down at the floor and nodded.

"Okay, so tell me how a werewolf knows when he or she finds their mate." I said.

"Well when werewolves find their mates, it's usually by catching a distinctive scent that lures us and our eyes will begin glowing uncontrollably. Even if the person is someone we used to hate, once you learn they're your mate, it doesn't matter if you hated them before, all you're gonna want to do is be by their side at all times and protect them!" Ryder explained. I looked down to the floor blushing profusely.

"So you feel that way towards me and Kasey feels that way towards Jade?" I asked. They nodded simultaneously. Kasey sighed.

"Are you sure you want be around this?" He asked. I gave him a duh look.

"Of course I do! You're my brother Kasey! I accept you for who you are, even if that means accepting you as a werewolf! I accept all three of you!" I reassured, glancing at each of their faces. Ryder and Sean smiled, but Kasey still looked unsure. I rolled my eyes and stepped in front of him. I slapped both of my hands to his cheeks and started squishing his face together and I pulled his lips into a smile and let go of his face. The smile that I forced onto his face, vanished. I slapped my hands to his cheeks once more, stretching his face, I forced another smile onto his face.

"Smile, you doofus!" I demanded, earning chuckles from Ryder and Sean. I let go of his face and once again, his smile disappeared. I folded my arms across my chest and pouted.

"Don't worry princess! I'll handle this!" Ryder grinned, devilishly. He then grabbed Kasey by the ear and began dragging him towards the exit so Sean and I followed them outside.

"He won't hurt him, will he?" I asked. Sean chuckled.

"No I think he's just going to mess with him!" Sean reassured. I nodded and he and I sat on the porch steps. Suddenly Ryder came running over to us. He leaned in to whisper into my ear.

"Don't be scared, okay?" He whispered. His voice soothing. I slowly nodded. He then did something I wasn't expecting. He kissed my cheek before running back over to Kasey. I sat stunned by his action. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, it just caught me off guard.

The sound of bones breaking brought me back to reality. I began to panic thinking someone was getting hurt. Suddenly Ryder dropped to his hands and knees. His back arched as the sound of bones breaking continued. My eyes widened when I saw jet black fur erupt from his skin. Within seconds, Ryder went from human to wolf. He lifted his head and his eyes flashed crimson. He snarled at Kasey before lunging at him, nipping at Kasey wherever he could. Kasey did his best to dodge Ryder, but failed a few times.

"Dude stop!" Kasey yelled, but Ryder continued nipping at him. Ryder clamped his teeth on Kasey's leg. Kasey yelped and dropped like a sack of potatoes, gripping his leg and groaning. I was about to get up and go help him, but Sean stopped me. Kasey let go of his leg and gripped the forest floor with his fists. His breathing was extremely heavy. His head snapped up and he no longer looked like himself. His face had shifted into the terrifying werewolf mask that I witnessed earlier. His eyes are glowing a crystal blue. I cowered closer to Sean, scared of my own brother. His eyes suddenly locked with mine and he growled, taking a step towards me.