Page 18 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

Without waiting for my response, he walked away.

Was this what life being mated to him would be like? Alexander ordering me around, and me following his every command?

My claws dug into the soft skin of my palms with barely restrained anger. If Alexander really thought that, he had another thing coming.

I got ready for the welcome ceremony.

It wasn’t because of Alexander—it was for myself. I was going to be presented to the Nightshade Pack as Alexander’s mate instead of Dylan’s. That was sure to raise many eyebrows, and the last thing I needed was to damage my reputation any more than it already had been.

The welcome party was well underway when Alexander and I arrived.

I was still processing the receiving hall that was several times larger than the one back in the Red Moon Pack when I heard a loud squeal.

“Alex!”

Alexander’s arm fell from my waist as he caught the woman who literally jumped into his arms.

“Anastasia.” Alexander held her easily, a soft smile playing on his lips as he looked down at her. Something twisted in my chest. I’d never seen him smile like that before.

Anastasia returned his smile before she pulled back, ending the hug, her dark gray eyes latching onto me.

“This must be your mate.” She smiled as she closed the distance between us.

“You’re nothing like I expected.” Anastasia’s smile widened as she held out her hand. “I’m Anastasia. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eleanor.”

Her words were friendly, but I detected an insincere tone in her voice.

I shook her hand, unsure of how to respond, while Lara reared within me, wanting to rip into Anastasia and stake her claim on her mate.

“Thank you,” I said instead.

Anastasia hooked her arm through Alexander’s, that sweet smile still fixed on her face.

“You wouldn’t mind if I stole your mate from you for a few seconds, right?”

She was entirely too comfortable touching Alexander, and for the first time, I didn’t see the grouchy wolf setting any boundaries.

Not that it bothered me.

She could have him, for all I cared.

“Sure.” I nodded and turned away from them to observe the rest of the party.

The band was playing, wolves talked amongst themselves, and pups ran around mischievously. There was no sign of Alpha Maximus yet.

As I took in the room, I caught sight of Dylan, who glared at me with Micah at his side. I couldn’t help but notice that they made a really cute couple, and something lurched in my chest as I looked at my former best friend.

We had to talk, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for that conversation.

Looking away from Dylan, I instinctively sought out Alexander in the hall.

He stood to the side, but he was easily noticeable with his dark looks, towering build, and the alpha aura that was obvious even this far away.

I should have looked away, but I couldn’t.

So I watched Anastasia talk to him with her hand on his chest, leaning far too close to him as she spoke. Alexander nodded as he pushed a lock of hair behind her ear in an action that felt so intimate I almost looked away.

But before I could, Alexander raised his head, his hand still on Anastasia’s shoulder as he met my gaze, those blue eyes unreadable.

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