MY BROTHERS AND I

How such a little thing could tame three of the fiercest beasts to have ever roamed this Earth will always remain a mystery. But tame us she did. She taught our wretched hearts to love. To care. The hope of redemption that had always eluded us did not seem impossible anymore. With her by our side, we shined. How could we not? She was our sun.

Our little light.

A pained howl pierced the cold silence of the wretched night. Turning towards the tortured sound, I saw Erik in half-lycan form. His hands and feet had transformed into claws and parts of his body was covered in fur. Unable to stand steady on his feet, he swayed dangerously. The growling sounds from his mouth was a mix of animal and human, showing the conflict happening within.

Even without a second look, I understood the struggle he was under. My own lycan was prepared to rip out of my skin.

It won't be long now.

As her breathing slows and her life begins to fade, we will no longer be able to control it. Once the bond breaks, so will our humanity. The lucky souls are the ones that pass soon after their beloved has breathed their last. But my brothers and I will never know such mercy. The Goddess saw to that when she condemned us to forever walk this accursed land.

A surge of hate filled my heart at the thought of how all the events had finally led us here. Here, in the dead of the night and in the middle of the woods, with our mate dying on the forest floor.

To my right, was Finn. My youngest brother who I had always protected and looked out for since we were pups. My heart clenched at the sight of him now. His face contorted in agony as he ripped out a handful of fur from his head. With claws digging into his skull and blood dripping down the side of his face, Finn looked nothing like himself. In the place of the strong, stoic warrior, stood a desperate man.

But at this point we were all desperate.

My state of despair was broken when I heard a voice call over the wind. Ears twitching involuntarily, I tried hard to focus but the sheer pain had compromised my senses, leaving me vulnerable and weak.

My body shuddered with effort as a hand reached out suddenly, forcing me to look up. The hand under my chin, though feminine, felt rough and wrong against my skin. It did not feel like her...my mate.

Hackles rising in defence, a warning growl left my lips. Even with death at my door, I would not fail to protect my mate and brothers.

"Magnus! Magnus ! Can you hear me ? It's me...Agna"

Gripping onto the arms now shaking my shoulders, I tried hard to concentrate. But it felt like I was somewhere underwater. The more I tried to hold on, the more I drowned.

"Agna? Is-Is that you? What.. kept you?" My own voice sounded foreign to my ears. Hoarse, rugged and just above a whisper.

"Calm down Magnus. It took a while to do the spell." Her eyes narrowed, carefully scrutinising my haggard form before turning around to observe my brothers.

She clicked her tongue, seemingly in frustration. "It looks like you are all running out of time."

Taking in a deep breath, I watched as she closed her eyes and placed her rough hand on my forehead. Her strong voice carried through the woods, the words, though indecipherable in my current state, sounded very much like an incantation.

An unnatural breeze seemed to surround us in its embrace, drawing yet another shudder from me as it strengthened my failing body. It took a moment to discern reality from the spiralling pit of darkness but the overpowering fog in my head was slowly beginning to fade. Things appeared much sharper. And although the pain was ever present, it was tolerable.

Giving the witch a grateful look, I quickly crawled to my mate's side and gently took her head onto my lap, staring down at the face of my saviour. The one who had rescued me from a lifetime of pain and misery.

Struggling against the powerful surge of emotions that threatened to suffocate me, I shot at the witch standing beside us, praying that she had the answers.

"Were you successful? Can she be saved?"

Although a part of me wanted to threaten violence and give her no choice but to save my mate, I knew I had to be calm. Witches were unpredictable and dangerous. And Agna was one of the strongest witches I had ever known. Threatening her would do more harm than good.

"It's complicated Magnus."

"I DON'T CARE !" The roar seemed to echo through the trees menacingly. Raising my eyes, I could see that she was afraid even if she hadn't moved an inch from where she was standing. I had to respect her for that. Between my brothers, I was not known for kindness nor understanding. Certainly not at a time when my world was so close to crumbling.

After a moment of silence, Agna continued, her voice now taking on a tentative tone. "Magnus, what you seek is dangerous. You must understand that something like this has never been done before. So, I cannot foretell the consequences of such a spell. However, I am certain of one thing...."

She fixed me with her piercing gaze, her dark eyes glimmering eerily in the night. "...Going against the Goddess will not end well and the power required to pull a soul that she has claimed does not exist in this world. It has to be called forth from the darkness it dwells..."

Pausing, she glanced around the trees, a hint of nervousness betraying her fear briefly before it vanished.

"...and even if we are successful, only her wolf can be saved. Your mate still dies tonight and you three live on. You realize this don't you?"

Her tone and demeanour conveyed the deadly gravity of the situation but I honestly couldn't care. My heart refused to willingly abandon my Klara to her fate and all because the Moon Goddess wanted to quench her thirst for vengeance. No! No one would take my mate from me. No matter the cost! Gritting my teeth to keep from snarling, I glared at the witch.

"Understand this. I will not lose the one good thing that my brothers and I have to the whims of that hateful Goddess. I will not allow it! My mate has done nothing wrong to deserve such an end! I will see her and hold her once again. Even if I have to wait another thousand years for it!"

Agna said nothing but observed the scene solemnly. The woods seemed to mimic her silence as it remained deathly still, likely in trepidation of the events that were yet to unfold under its starless sky.

"What we do now will not only affect your kind and mine but also the humans. So, I will ask you this again. Are you willing to let the world burn for one soul?"

My eyes drift down to the sleeping form of my mate, my mind flooding with memories of the times we had laughed, kissed, made love and held each other close. Could I let the world suffer for my gain? To save her?

I do not hesitate when I look at the witch and give my response.

"Yes."

Leaning forward, I placed a soft kiss on my mate's lips and breathed in her fading scent, committing it to memory.

"We will be together once again my little light"

The breeze that blew past then, carried the fervent whisper of promise, forever sealing the fates of those who would one day cross paths with it.

583 years later.........

Ever since the announcement, the normally bustling office had dramatically quietened down. Not the kind of quiet that one would appreciate while trying to get their work done in peace but the kind of quiet that had everyone on edge.

The usual hubbub of people calling out, phones ringing, keyboard smashing, printer jamming, coffee machine hissing and office talk giggling had all but ceased. It was now replaced with nervous glances, knuckle cracking, anxious pacing, hurried whispers and the odd silent prayer muttered under one's breath.

The announcement had come as a huge blow to everyone here at Ranford Industries. The company had taken a massive downturn over the last few years and in order to offset the losses, a large portion of the business was being sold off.

After numerous department meetings detailing how the "handover" was going to take place, the final blow came when the company announced that not all of us would get to keep our jobs.

It seemed as if the company couldn't care less about the plight of its office "drones" as long as they got the money they needed to save their precious behinds. Many had voluntarily quit as soon as the news broke out, while others like me, waited to see how this was going to play out.

My depressing line of thought came to an abrupt end when the annoying tone of my desk phone sounded. Glancing over at the name flashing, I sighed heavily before picking up.

"Hey. What's up?"

"Mia, I'm freaking out. What if they fire me?" the voice on the other end panic-whispered.

"Calm down Sasha. You're going to be fine. It's highly unlikely anyone from finance will get fired. Don't think they're bringing in too many of their own. If anyone is getting fired it will probably be my department, admin and maybe a few in HR"

"Oh please. You're in no way getting fired. One look at you and them boys in there will be gripping their boners"

Her cackling laughter filled the line before I quickly intervened, "Good heavens woman! Why do you always have to be so crude?"

"Just stating facts darlin. Anyway, what time did you say your meeting was?"

"At 3.30."

Instinctively, my eyes darted towards the time displayed on the screen and I groaned in frustration when I realized that my meeting was still hours away.

"Fuck! I just want this over with"

"Well, mine's in the next 30 minutes. Going to head over to the ladies to make sure my ass looks good before heading in. Wish me luck!"

I couldn't help but snort in amusement.

"Good luck!"

Placing the handset back, I twisted my shoulders wearily, rotating them in an attempt to relieve some of the tension. I hoped that Sasha and I would get to keep our jobs and continue working together. The short, curly haired brunette had become a very important part of my life over the last two years. Cheeky and loyal to a fault, she was the kind of friend you would want in your corner when shit really hit the fan.

If you didn't mind a whole lot of vulgar humour that is.

Chuckling softly, I glanced at the time once again and prayed that this day wouldn't end up in the shitter.

****

I was startled out of my perusing when a shadow slid into my peripheral view.

"Sasha! Fuck! You scared me!" Placing a hand over my chest to calm the erratic beating of my heart, I took a few steadying breaths.

Sasha on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the momentary panic that she had caused as she practically vibrated with excitement. "Guess what?! I get to keep my job!" And before her words could even register through my anxiety-ridden brain, she bent down and pulled my neck in for a hug; a huge grin stretching across her face as I choked and spluttered in her grasp.

"Ow. Let go."

Despite being a little shaken up, the initial shock quickly receded as the news finally sunk in. Well, at least one of us made it. But I couldn't help the small twinge of jealously that reared its ugly head in the far corner of my mind but I shoved it away instantly.

I could not begrudge my friend this moment. She totally deserved this.

I smiled as I pulled away from her hold, watching her bounce on her feet in a little victory dance. Sasha's liveliness had always been contagious. It was one of the things that had attracted me to her in the first place.

Laughing at her childlike enthusiasm, I looked at her fondly. "Congrats hon! Tell me everything".

Hopping up onto the corner of my desk, she adjusted herself before turning to face me, her legs swinging back and forth as she relayed the details of the meeting. "Didn't take long actually. They didn't say much. I have a feeling that they already know who they are keeping and this so-called meeting is just out of courtesy or something. Anyway, that's how it felt."

"Huh. Who were on the panel?"

Extending her arm forward, she began counting down the names of the people present at the meeting. "Five of them in there. Brad, Mitch, Bob and Jennifer from our side and a sweeeeet piece of ass called Thomas...uh... something. Apparently, he is one of the partners from the company that is buying us over. My god! You should have seen him, Mia. Looked like a bloody movie star! I swear I drooled a bit"

I let out a sigh. Typical of Sasha to prioritize cock above all else.

But my mind was quick to skip over the details of the handsome stranger and hone in on a more important one. Or rather, an annoying one – Jennifer 'O Conner. She was part of the senior management team and hated me simply because I existed. Fuck! If her decision had any weightage, then I was for sure getting the sack.

"Hello..." I blinked rapidly into focus, jerking away from the hand waving so close to my face as Sasha tried to draw my attention back to the present. "Hey...Why do you look like someone took a piss in your tea?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I threw my hands in the air, my voice barely holding back the irritation as I pointed out the obvious.

"Jennifer. What if she gets me kicked out?"

Sasha snickered, earning herself a glare from my end. But she was quick to raise her arms up in surrender as she added in a placating tone. "She's a bitch. But don't let her get to you. The hag is probably jealous that you happen to be a permanent fixture in every man's wank bank. The others will see right through it. Trust me."

I rolled my eyes at her idea of a pep talk. Definitely not one of her strong suits. Feeling the urgent need to put an end to this conversation before she decided to prattle on for hours, I waved her away. "Just go now and let me be in peace before I walk into the slaughter house"

Sasha grinned, unperturbed with my reaction as she jumped off the desk and landed with a thud.

"Fine. But when they decide to keep you and I get to say "I told you so", you'll owe me some drinks and a night out"

I snorted in return. "We'll see"

Checking myself one last time in the floor length mirror, I tried to quell the panic that was threatening to seep out. Now that the meeting was just minutes away, my thoughts and emotions had begun to run wild. It was hard to reign it in when it felt like everything that I had worked for could be taken away in an instant. And though it wouldn't likely be the end of the world, it certainly came close to it.

My career was everything. It had given me purpose and a sense of control on the trajectory of my life. Something that my teenage self could only dream of as she cried herself to sleep through many a night.

That girl did not have a choice but to quietly take what was given. To silently endure, helpless against the hate of the adults who were supposed to care and provide... A sudden wave of nausea hit my gut unexpectedly, causing me to dry heave. Instantly, my hands flew up and clamped over my mouth, my eyes squeezing shut as I forced myself to calm down.

I'm not there anymore. Not there. Not with them anymore.

I repeated the mantra in my head, trying desperately to rid myself of the memories that vehemently clung to my soul. Memories that refused to leave, constantly resurfacing in times when my stress levels acted up.

But eventually, after a few deep breaths and some uncomfortable cramping in my gut, the discomfort passed. Feeling relieved but still a little rattled, I stood up straight and studied my reflection once again.

The black pencil dress clung to my curves effortlessly while the matching set of patent heels added to my height and emphasized my long legs. My dark hair fell past my shoulders in elegant curls, framing my face symmetrically and helping enhance my green eyes. And aside from the fact that my tan skin seemed a little pale, there were no tell-tale signs that spoke of the chaos I felt within.

Taking a deep breath and mentally bracing myself for the outcome, I walked out of the restroom and made my way to the upper floors.

The walk towards the boardroom felt almost robotic. My feet seemed to move of their own accord, oddly synchronising with the accelerated beats that could be heard coming out of my chest. The surroundings passed by in a blur as my mind failed to focus on anything else.

And after what felt like a lifetime, I came to a standstill in front of a large set of double doors that read "Boardroom". A low murmur of talk could be heard coming from within, causing my nerves to flare immediately and dispel the calm that I had painstakingly gathered in the last few minutes.

Not wanting to risk another repeat of the episode that I had downstairs, I quickly raised my hand and knocked, keen to get this over with and return to the comfort of my home.

There was a pause in their talk before I heard Bob's voice call out.

"Come in"

Plastering on a smile that I certainly did not feel, I pushed the doors open.

It took a moment to adjust to the bright light and another one to realize that I had never been in this room before. The boardroom was rather large with an oval table in the middle spanning the entire length of the room. My eyes that initially met with the massive panel windows through which the bright light was streaming in, faced the city of Manhattan below. The tips of the tall skyscrapers touching the clouds was a sight to marvel and had it been any other day, I would have paused to stare. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be today.

Closing the doors softly behind me, I turned towards my right, to face my fate.

Sasha's recount had been accurate. There were indeed five of them seated at the very end of the table. Bob and Mitch from the leadership team occupied the seats to the left, whereas, Jennifer and Brad, both in senior management sat to the right.

In the very middle, sat an unfamiliar figure staring intently in my direction. From what I could tell, he seemed to be well built, his large frame filling in the chair completely when compared to the other men in the room. And as my eyes zeroed in on the stranger's face, my world suddenly tilted on its axis. My breath hitched when our gazes met.

Striking grey eyes peered from underneath a deep frown highlighting the curiosity? confusion? hidden behind those orbs.

I was taken aback when a myriad of emotions struck me in full force all at once, squeezing the last bit of precious air left within my lungs in a loud exhale. Warmth, security, love, lust and an insane need to be possessed by this man ran through my body. To say I was "confused" by such a visceral reaction to another person would have been an understatement.

Oddly, in that moment, I couldn't recall the reason I was there. In fact, if someone had asked me my name, I would have struggled to remember it.

My musings however, came to a halt when I was rudely brought back to the matter at hand. Brad's voice carried across the space, echoing loudly off the walls in the large room. "Ah, Mia, come on in and take a seat."

It was only then I realised that I hadn't moved an inch from the time I had laid eyes on this gorgeous stranger. Talk about stopping dead in one's tracks!

Mentally cringing and blushing furiously, I raced to where they were seated and pulled up a seat beside Brad before hastily sitting down. I glanced around sheepishly at everyone present. All of them appeared to be wearing a serious expression except for Jennifer of course. Her overly smug expression had my embarrassment melting away in an instant only to be replaced by a sudden urge to punch something. Fucking bitch.

Looking away before anyone could notice the disdain on my face, I eyed the stranger instead. His expression was unusual to say the least. He continued to stare like he had never witnessed anything more fascinating in his entire life. It felt both complimentary and creepy at the same time!

Not wishing to fall under his hypnotic gaze again, I looked around the table, politely waiting on someone to start this meeting. I didn't have to wait long when Mitch who was seated opposite me, cleared his throat and sent a comforting smile in my direction.

"Hello Mia" he started in a sombre tone.

The tone of voice combined with his serious demeanour sent alarm bells flying in every direction. Feeling apprehensive about the direction this meeting was heading, I tried to put on a brave face.

Resting his hands on the table in front of him, Mitch continued. "Firstly, thank you for coming in this afternoon. I'm sure you are aware of the nature of today's meeting. But before we get into all that, I would like to introduce Mr Thomas Carson here. He is one of the partners from Carson & Sons and is here to oversee the transition process."

Mitch then turned to look at Thomas and pointed in my direction. "And this is Mia Sutherland. She is a part of our marketing research team"

I looked over at Thomas, ready to get the pleasantries out of the way but instead I was held captive by his looks once again. I now understood why Sasha was fawning over this man. He did not seem like he belonged in this world. His absurd good looks appeared almost unnatural.

Caught under his stare, I felt the strange pull again. It overtook every thread of emotion and thought, piercing my very being until there was nothing left but him. My mind scrambled around frantically for an explanation as to why this was happening but seemed to draw a blank. Was this some insane chemistry? Attraction? Lust? Love at first sight?

But just as I shook myself mentally and tried to find the words to greet him, Thomas abruptly stood up. He seemed very bothered by something. His eyes were darker? somehow? and he appeared to be on edge.

Giving us all a quick glance, his eyes lingering on me for a second longer, he spoke in a rush.

"Forgive me. But...uh... something's come up and I must leave immediately. Let's reschedule this meeting for another time. Sorry about this."

And without another word or glance, Thomas Carson walked out, leaving the rest of us dumbstruck and utterly baffled.

What the fuck !