The Alpha Prince's Secret Mate

~CODY~

"The Crown Prince has arrived!" These words have been echoing in my ears since I turned ten years old. I've grown accustomed to hearing them, and as I was about to turn eighteen that night, they clung to me even tighter.

Being the Crown Prince came with its perks, or so they said. Everyone expected me to be flawless, including my parents.

Tonight held special significance for me. It marked my eighteenth birthday, celebrated with Caden and Cara. As Lycans, it was expected that we would discover our mates that night. With the moon shining brightly in the sky, I walked to the front of the royal garden to join my siblings. On my right, I saw my best friend, Rain, waving at me. We had been friends since we were nine.

Our friendship was said to be fated by my parents. They believed that the Moon Goddess had destined us to be best friends forever, and they weren't wrong. But what if I wanted more? What if I'd been harboring a crush on my best friend since we turned thirteen? At first, I thought I was different because I had grown up in a world where mates were of opposite sexes. But why was my situation different?

That was the question that plagued me as I grew older. Why did I like Rain? Was it because he was my friend, or was it because we were always together? I couldn't figure it out until we turned sixteen, and Rain got a girlfriend. That's when I realized that I was truly different. Rain and I would never be together. We were destined to find our mates, and the infatuation I had for him would fade away.

"Happy birthday, my friend," he winked at me.

His wink always made my heart flutter, but I didn't let it affect me. Tonight was the night I would find my mate, and lusting after someone else's boyfriend, someone different from me was not my intention.

I had to remind myself that I was the Crown Prince, tasked with carrying on the Andrews Family legacy. "Ugh!" Cara snorted, and I turned to face her. "My boyfriend isn't here yet, and it's almost midnight!" She clenched her fists in frustration.

"Ugh, can you please stop complaining?" Caden chimed in, rolling his eyes. "We're about to celebrate a birthday here, and we don't want to hear about your stupid boyfriend."

Cara kicked his leg. "Ouch," he groaned and pointed a finger at her. "Why do you have to get so violent tonight?"

"Because you called Jackson stupid," she rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "We're all going to find our mates tonight, and Jackson is going to be my fated mate. I can already sense it. Even my Lycan is claiming him as his."

"Really?" Caden laughed. "You're still fixated on finding your mate?" He asked, and Cara nodded in response. Then he turned to me. "What about you, Cody? Are you hoping your mate shows up tonight?"

"Isn't that what everyone here is hoping for tonight? To find our mate among the crowd," I replied, my eyes landing on Rain, who was laughing with his girlfriend. "Finding one's mate is one of the most special things that can happen to a werewolf or Lycan."

Caden laughed. "Hell no," he stated and sighed. "As for me, I'll have all the girls in the world. I don't care about having a mate."

"But Mom said that mates are special, and they are..." I began, but Caden raised his hand to stop me from talking.

"That's Mom's belief, but I don't believe mates truly exist. They don't!" he said and scoffed.

"Coming from a playboy who has slept with all the girls in school," Cara retorted. "I don't care what you think, Caden, but Jackson is my true mate."

"Good for you, my baby sister," Caden said and tried to touch her hair, but Cara slapped his hand away. "Stop being so violent, little sister. By the end of the night, you two will have found your mates, and I... I'll be with Adeline," he laughed.

Cara tutted. "How did we even share the same womb?"

"Ask Mum and Dad," Caden retorted, narrowly avoiding being hit on the head as an announcement was made.

"Welcome the Luna Queen and the Alpha King!" Everyone seated stood up from their chairs as my parents walked through until they reached us.

"Hey, children," my mum said, standing by my side while my father stood by Cara's side. "Are you having fun on your eighteenth birthday?"

I smiled and nodded, even though I knew I was far from having fun. I just wanted the birthday party to end so I could leave. I couldn't bring myself to have someone of the opposite sex as my mate.

"Just know that I will always support you with everything," Ezra whispered in my head. "You are me, and I am you. If our mates turn out to be women, then you can reject her and be with whomever you want."

"Thank you, Ezra," I told him, grateful that my Lycan always had my back.

"Hey, are you okay?" my mum asked, as if she noticed that I had a lot going through my mind. "If this is about finding your mate, then you don't have to worry too much. For all I know, your mate might not even be here," she said, rubbing my shoulder gently.

I looked at her and wanted to tell her what was on my mind, but I felt she might see me as someone different. My mother is a wonderful woman who loves her children deeply, but I doubted she would be happy to find out that I love boys. "Everything is fine, Mum," I replied.

She rubbed my hand gently and then moved forward to address everyone. "I welcome you all to the celebration of the prince's and princess's birthday. Thank you all for coming here," she said, then turned around to point towards us. "It is almost time, and now, everyone gathered here will sing the birthday song for the princes and princesses."

I rubbed my hands together, feeling my heart start to race as I looked up at the full moon. A few minutes left until midnight. I couldn't believe that it was happening, and as I continued to think about it, my heart pounded in my chest. With each passing moment, I knew I couldn't avoid what the Moon Goddess had fated for me.

"10"

"9"

I rubbed my hands again, looking towards my siblings who were smiling at the crowd as they continued to count down. They both looked happy, but I was dreading the mate revelation. Cara kept checking her phone, probably waiting for a call from her boyfriend, while Caden kept smiling at Adeline, the girl he wanted to sleep with.

"5"

"4"

"3"

This was it. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"2"

"1"

Happy birthday to me.

I opened my eyes and listened to everyone's voices as they started singing the birthday song. "Happy birthday to you!"

We blew out our candles after making our wishes, and mine was to have Rain as my mate.

"Happy birthday to you, my dear children," our mother pulled us into a tight hug, squeezing all three of us together. As if that wasn't enough, my father hugged us too.

"Ugh!" Cara groaned. "We're not four anymore, Mum, Dad!"

Our father laughed and ruffled her hair. "You will always be my baby, Cara," he said, pinching her cheek.

Cara rolled her eyes and excused herself to call her boyfriend, while Caden walked to Adeline. I was left alone with our parents. "Found your mate yet?" my father asked.

"Raziel!" my mother shouted at him. "Leave the boy alone. We can't force him to start looking around for his mate."

My father chuckled. "Forgive me, dear son, but it seems you are the serious one among my children. So, I know that you are already looking for her, right?"

"Right, Dad," I replied, even though my heart was set on Rain.

"Raziel," my mother pulled my father's hand. "He is not a little boy anymore. Let him have fun." She grabbed his hand and pulled him away, leaving me alone.

My gaze swept across the crowd, faces masked in happiness as they danced to the rhythm of the music. Then, as if the Moon Goddess had fulfilled my wish, my eyes locked with Rain's. There he was, laughing alongside his girlfriend, the moon shining brightly on his blonde hair. He headed towards me, hand in hand with his girlfriend, their smiles radiant against the moonlight.

As he approached, I inhaled, and the scent of rain, just like his name, enveloped me. It was akin to the earthy perfume that arises when rain kisses the soil. My heart raced in my chest, and then my Lycan stirred, a low growl resonating in my head. He muttered the word I hoped to hear.

"Mate!"

My eyes widened as the realization hit me like a lightning strike-Rain, my best friend since childhood, was my mate. Time seemed to freeze as our eyes met. The world around us blurred into nothing, and there was only Rain, his laughter, and the way his hand ran through his hair. My Lycan growled again, affirming that this was no ordinary connection. Rain was truly my mate.

"Cody!" The sound of my name, a distant call, pierced through the surreal moment. Rain tapped me on the shoulder, breaking the spell. The touch sent a surge of electricity through me, a jolt that made me shiver.

I turned to face him, my breath caught in the intensity of the moment. Rain's obsidian eyes met mine, and he waved his hand in my face. "Cody, you okay?"

"Yeah," I stammered, my mind struggling to catch up with the whirlwind of emotions. "Just lost in the moment," I lied.

''Tell him,'' my Lycan shouted in my head. ''Tell him that he is your mate!''

''No,'' I refused. ''I can't ruin his relationship with his girlfriend.''

Rain grinned, unaware that we were mates because he had not turned eighteen yet. "Happy birthday, my mate," he pulled me into his embrace, triggering the electric shock again. I forced myself to smile at him, fighting the urge to shout that he was my mate.

''Happy birthday, Prince Cody,'' his girlfriend Amara bowed her head as she greeted me. I smiled at her and then almost growled when she intertwined her hands with Rain's.

"Found your mate yet?" Rain asked, diverting my mind from thoughts of harming his girlfriend.

I wanted to say that my mate was him and he was standing right in front of me, but I couldn't. I didn't want to break their relationship, and I was not sure I would be accepted by everyone.

''Cody!'' he shouted my name again, and just as I was about to reply, his girlfriend whispered something in his ear, and he laughed. "Sorry, Cody, my girlfriend and I are going to talk," he winked at me and walked away.

''Ra....'' I wanted to call his name, but I stopped myself and heaved a deep sigh. ''I......'' I lowered my head and walked to the front of the Mansion, where I saw Cara crying, and then I rushed towards her.

''What is happening to you?'' I asked her.

''Jackson broke up with me,'' she announced and burst into another round of tears. ''He said that we were not...'' she stuttered and continued crying.

I pulled her into my arms and rubbed her hair. ''Sorry, sister. You will surely find your mate. I hope you do,'' I kissed her forehead.

''Have you found your mate?'' she asked, but I heaved a deep sigh. Instead of replying, I walked to the front of the mansion and sat down on the steps. She sat down beside me and grabbed my hand. ''Is everything alright, Cody?''

I forced a chuckle out of my mouth and nodded. There was no use telling her that Rain was my mate. Even though she was my sister, I believed that she might start to see me as a different person. So, I shook my head. ''I believe my fated mate is not around me yet,'' I chuckled and heaved a deep sigh. ''Who cares about mates, anyway?''

''Shut up!'' Ezra shouted in my head. ''You do. Rain is your mate. Tell everyone and stop acting like...''

''No,'' I refused and blocked him from my head, then I laughed. ''Maybe Caden was right when he said that having a mate is a waste of time.''

Cara let out a breathy sigh and then stood up. ''Forget this, let's go to the party and have fun,'' she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the royal garden. ''Let's go have fun!''

Fun? What fun would I have when I can't even claim my mate? Regardless, I followed her to the garden. Once we got there, I looked around and pointed to Caden, who was dancing with girls flocked around him. I continued looking around until my eyes landed on Rain, and this time, he was alone. His girlfriend was nowhere in sight, and he was heading towards me with that smile that made me fall for him the first time.

''He is your mate. Claim him!'' Ezra's voice resounded in my head.

~Cody~

"Hey, my dear friend, "Rain placed his hands on my shoulders, and the familiar rush of emotions returned. It was like an electric shock coursing through my body. I forced a smile, trying my best to hide the feelings I had for him. My heart raced like an incessant drum, and to make matters worse, he was laughing and refused to let go of my shoulder.

"Rain," I muttered, removing his hand from my shoulder. "Where's your girlfriend?" I asked, hoping my question would divert his attention. Rain sighed and folded his arms. I sighed in relief that he was keeping his hands to himself, sparing me from the overwhelming effect of the mate bond. It was agonizing being so close to him and not being able to claim him as mine.

"She left to babysit her siblings," he replied, placing his hand on my shoulder again and gently squeezing it. I couldn't contain it, and a low growl escaped my lips.

"Why the heck are you growling at me?" he chuckled and patted my back.

Because you're making it hard for me to think, I wanted to say, but I bit my lip and laughed. "Eighteen is a great age," I said, trying to engage in a conversation with him, something to distract me from staring at his lips and the sensation of his hand on my shoulder.

"What are you trying to say?" Rain playfully rolled his eyes at me. "In two months, I'll be turning that age, so don't think that you..."

Cara joined the conversation and slapped Rain's back. "Stop complaining, Rain. We're older than you."

"With two months," Rain retorted, scoffing. "Stop acting as if we're years apart!"

Cara and I laughed at him. "What? Is it funny?" he asked, and we both shrugged our shoulders, as if in perfect synchronization. "Whatever."

"Hey, children!" Caden appeared among us, clapping his hands. "What are you three doing here, chatting like grown-ups? We have a party going on!"

"You mean the party where you're dancing with five girls," Cara retorted.

"Of course. I'm having fun dancing while you three are standing here like idiots."

"You're the idiot. Where's Adeline?" Cara asked, scanning the area. There was no sign of Adeline anywhere.

"Well," Caden cleared his throat, looking around. "Where's your, uh, less than intelligent boyfriend? Isn't he supposed to be somewhere around here?"

I nudged him on the shoulder, shaking my head at him, hoping he'd realize it was not an appropriate topic. But he persisted, even laughing. "I guess the less-than-intelligent one didn't show up. And you," he pointed at me. "Have you found your mate yet?"

Just as I was about to reply, Cara grabbed his ear and pulled him down to her level. "Never mention that jackass's name in front of me again!" she warned, her voice carrying a loud growl, and then she pushed Caden away.

Caden groaned and rubbed his ear. "I don't know why I have a baby sister who hates me so much," he scoffed and turned to leave. But then he stopped and faced us with his arms folded. "Since none of us have found our mates, why don't we have fun tonight?" he suggested, inviting us to a game after the party.

"I..." I started, intending to decline, but Rain, placing his hand on my shoulder, answered on our behalf.

"We're interested!" he shouted.

"This is a dangerous game," Ezra complained in my head. "I don't think I can hold it in anymore. I should have marked and mated with him by now!"

"Quit complaining," I replied. "He has a girlfriend, and we can't even claim him because he doesn't..."

"Whatever," Ezra said and broke the connection between us as if he was already bored with the conversation.

I heaved a deep sigh and looked up at Rain, who was running his hands through his hair and laughing. This was torture, I thought as I continued to look at him. When our eyes met, he gave me a bright smile that lit up the whole room, and soon, my stupid heart started beating so fast that it felt like I was about to have a heart attack.

"Rain," I muttered, lost in a trance, and raised my hand to touch his face. "You look..." I had almost said that he looked beautiful when Caden shouted that the party was over.

"Thank you for coming, old folks, but now it's time for the teenagers' party!" he announced, clapping his hands before leading a group of teenagers out of the garden in the direction of our building.

"We should follow him," Rain said, pulling me towards them before I could say anything. When I turned to see where Cara was, she was also following behind, engaged in conversation with a boy I didn't even recognize. I frowned; I had wanted to go meet her, not to do anything irrational, but Rain's hold on me made it impossible.

It was messing with my head. He had no idea what his touch was doing to me, and no matter how hard I tried to pretend that I was unaffected, the bond was there, and only I was suffering from it. I closed my eyes throughout the walk to the mansion, blocking his scent from my head and the fantasies I pictured myself indulging in with him.

It wasn't until we got to the living room that I fluttered my eyes open. The light in the room was much brighter than the moonlight in the garden, revealing Rain's beautifully chiseled face and his captivating obsidian eyes. The way he stared at me made it seem as if he felt something for me, or perhaps I was imagining things that might never come true.

I wanted to scream at that moment, tired of the torture I was going through, but then he nudged me on the shoulder, breaking my train of thought. He pointed towards Caden and laughed. "Your brother outdid himself for this birthday."

I frowned as I looked around and sighed. There was a mini bar in the living room with a bartender, and, as if that wasn't enough, our baby pictures adorned every corner of the walls, with ribbons bearing our names hanging everywhere.

"Hello, everyone! Drink and have fun tonight! Being eighteen is the best thing ever!" Caden yelled into the microphone, laughing. "Mind you, I already got permission from the alpha king and Luna queen about the party, so my dear sister Cara, stop glaring at me," he laughed, pointing towards Cara, who indeed was glaring at him.

"Your siblings are chaotic," Rain commented, laughing.

"And that is why I am the only sensible one amongst them," I replied, joining in the laughter.

"So, this thing about finding your mate, she is not here, right?" he asked, and it piqued my interest as to why he was suddenly interested in my mate.

"Why are you asking about my mate?"

Rain laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the bartender. "Give us something strong, dear bartender."

The bartender nodded in response, bowing his head at me. I acknowledged him with a wave and then faced Rain. "What do you mean when you were asking about my mate?"

He suddenly leaned in, and I blinked as I felt his breath on my neck when he opened his mouth to speak. "You have something on your forehead," he said, his fingers making contact with my forehead, making me gasp and close my eyes in the process. "Easy there," he muttered, his voice sounding like a melody in my ear.

Was this the power of being mated to him, or was it because I had always had a crush on him? I couldn't figure it out. I hated that I was feeling like this and still unable to express my mind. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw him smiling at me.

"It was something on your forehead," he said, pointing to our drinks. "Here, cheers to being eighteen," he handed the drink to me and clinked his glass with mine. "You don't have to say anything about your mate if you're not comfortable with it," he said and gulped down his drink. "It is..."

"No," I cut him off before he could finish talking. "It's just that my mate might..." I gulped down the drink, feeling its warmth down my throat, but it didn't stop me from speaking. "My mate might not be someone who wants me."

"Hey," he greeted, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Don't say that. You're a perfect person, Cody. You are the crown prince, selfless and kind to everyone. I don't think your mate wouldn't want you," he said, bursting into laughter. I joined in, though I knew deep down that if he knew he was my mate, he wouldn't like it. "I want another drink!" I shouted to the bartender, and the night continued in a haze of drinks. For once, I wanted to shed my perfect attitude, knowing this might be the only time I got to spend with him.

"Game time!" Caden announced, stopping the music. "We're going to play a game amongst ourselves. It's called the king and servant!" he declared. "I'm sure you're all familiar with the king and servant game, right?" he asked, and they all chorused with a yes.

The king and servants game was a popular game where whoever picked the king's card gave orders to the one who picked the servant's card.

It was a game I usually hated, but that night, I decided to forget my perfect self. "Let's go," I said, dragging Rain's hand and pulling him towards the rest. We all sat down on the ground, and Caden explained the rules of the game. Whoever refused to do the king's bid would be the king's servant for five days. After he listed out the rules, the game started, and the cards were placed on the ground. There were ten of us playing, and each of us picked a card. I sighed when I realized I was not the servant. I looked at Rain, who also shook his head, indicating he was not the servant.

One girl announced that she was the king, and another guy announced that he was the servant. The girl issued his order to the guy, instructing him to dance with the girl he liked the most at the party. He picked another girl and danced with her, fulfilling the king's order. This continued into the night, and when no one picked the king's card, we all drank.

Everything went well until Caden picked the king's card and Rain picked the servant's card. "Who is the king?" Caden shouted, raising his card. "I am!" he screamed. "Who is the servant?" Rain sighed as he lifted his card. Just as he was about to stand up, he almost lost his balance, but I held his waist and helped him stand upright. He rubbed my hair in return and laughed.

Damn, his laughter was much more beautiful when he was drunk, and it made me smile like an idiot.

"Your..." he belched and then chuckled. "I meant to say my king. What do I do?"

Caden looked around and then smiled mischievously. He also seemed drunk, though not as much as Rain, who was staggering while standing. "Servant," he cleared his throat and pointed at Rain. "I want you to, um..." he placed his hand on his chin and then snapped his fingers when an idea came to his head. "I need you to pick someone of the opposite sex in this room and kiss him."

Everyone gasped and wowed at what he had said. "Ooooooooou...." They all started murmuring amongst themselves, but I was shaking terribly where I was. I looked at my brother and saw him laughing, unaware of what he had caused me. He was laughing while my heart raced at the thought of Rain kissing another man.

"I will kill anyone who dares to kiss our mate," Ezra growled in my mind. Just like me, he was annoyed at the stupid game my brother had started. I clenched my fists while waiting patiently for who Rain would pick. "If he dares pick anyone, I will..." Ezra suddenly stopped talking as Rain pointed towards me.

Was this a dream? I looked around and noticed that all eyes were on me. Before I figured out what was happening, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the ground. "You're my best friend, Cody, and so, I am picking you!" he chuckled and cupped my face, pulling me closer to himself.

"Rain..." I muttered his name to make sure I was not dreaming. "Are you sure about this?" I asked, placing my hands on his shoulders. "You can..."

"My time is limited," Caden shouted and then started clapping, joined by others.

"Kiss him, kiss him!" they all chanted. Their voices slowly disappeared from my head as I focused on Rain alone. The room grew smaller, and it was just us, staring at each other, waiting for who would lean in first. He did, but instead of kissing me, he rubbed his fingers on my lips. "Cody," he muttered my name. I blinked repeatedly and trembled as he pulled my head forward. "Cody," he muttered my name again and then leaned in to kiss me on the lips.

"Oh la la," Ezra sang in my head.

My hands dropped from his shoulders and I felt a rush of emotions-happy, confused. I couldn't explain it. The warmth of his lips on mine was what I had always imagined. Soft and gentle. I couldn't help but kiss him back when his lips moved slowly against mine. Blood rushed to my ears as I felt more of the emotions. My breath quickened, and I felt the butterflies, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Baby steps," Ezra laughed in my head, satisfied with the kiss, just like me.

~~~~~~~~

Author's note

I'm I the only one loving this couple?

~Cody ~

The party ended after the kiss with Rain, and everyone started leaving, including Cara. I had thought she would still be crying from rejection by Jackson, but instead, she returned to her room after saying goodbye.

Now, left alone with Rain, it was hell. We were both drunk, but he was much worse than I was. He started singing while I pulled him from the ground to lead him into my room.

"if all the raindrops...." he hiccuped and pointed towards me. "Sing along with me!" he shouted at me.

I rolled my eyes at his foolishness, heaved a deep sigh, and started dragging him towards my room. "no," he shouted and fell to the ground. "I don't want to go home. I want to stay with you," he suddenly grabbed my legs and pulled me down. I landed on the ground, and then he lay atop me.

What was this temptation? I thought as his face leaned towards mine. The memory of the kiss returned to my head, and Rain was making it worse. "what are you doing, Rain?" I tried to push him away, but he grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head.

''Cody,'' he muttered my name and chuckled. ''you look beautiful.'' he kissed the side of my lips. ''you are so beautiful,'' he repeated.

Beautiful? Did he call me beautiful? I refused to believe that was what he had said. Was he saying that because he had always wanted to say it or because he was drunk? I had no idea. It was hard to figure out what was happening in his mind.

"I want to kiss you so badly," he cupped my face and gave me a sloppy kiss on the forehead, and then he rolled over my body and sighed as he lay on the ground.

"Cody," he called my name, but I didn't respond to him and placed my hand on my head. I blinked repeatedly as I stared at the ceilings, trying to calm my body from acting from the outburst of my emotions.

My heart thumped as I turned to face him on the ground." Rain," I called out his name as I leaned closer until our face was so close enough that we would kiss if I leaned closer again. I placed my hand on the left side of his face and sighed. "you are....." I paused, finding the right words to say. "I want to kiss you again," I muttered.

Rain blinked at me without saying anything, and then he placed his arms around my waist and leaned forward, letting our lips touch again. The kiss was much more passionate this time as our lips moved in a slow rhythm, and then he started kissing his way across my shoulder and down my spine. "Rain," I muttered his name when I felt his mouth on my neck again. "what are you doing....."

''Cody,'' he murmured. ''you smell so good'' I felt his mouth on my neck again.

"Goodness," I moaned out as he sucked on my neck. We were both lying on the ground, drunk and making out, forgetting anyone could walk on us. "Rain," I gently pushed him away and stood up. "we should go to my room," my voice came out like a whisper. I was unable to control it again. Rain had succeeded in seducing me, and I couldn't keep it in again.

I wanted him so fucking badly.

I grabbed his hands and pulled him from the ground. He hugged me and burst into laughter.

"Good," I repeated after him and sighed as I placed my hand around his waist. "do you remember my name?" I asked him to ensure I didn't do something I probably regretted.

Rain playfully shook his head in response and started singing again. "if all the rain drops when the..." he laughed and clapped his hands.

"never knew that I would see this side of Rain," Ezra commented and laughed. "He is so cute."

"very cute," I responded, not realizing I had said that aloud. I cleared my throat when his eyes met mine, and he laughed.

"Cutie cutie," he pinched my cheek.

When we entered my room, Rain pushed me against the door. He laughed against my skin even though I was still recovering from our make-out. My heart raced, and I gasped when he raised my hands above my head.

"Rain, what are you....."

"shush," he placed a finger on my lips. "Stop talking, and then he kissed my jawline, then he trailed down across my shoulder and down my spine.

By now, I could feel the bulge in my trousers. My cock twitched, and my heart jolted in my chest when I heard his low voice again. "you smell good, Cody."

I was glad that he remembered my name. At least, it was his way of telling him that he also wanted this. He suddenly carried me and headed towards the bed. ''Rain.....''

"shush," he placed his fingers on my lips again, leaned against my body, and whispered into my ears. "I fucking love your scent," he stated, and I felt his nose nudge mine and then the barest brush of his soft lips against mine.

Oh goodness. I never imagined that my eighteenth birthday night would be like this. I clenched the bed sheets by my sides on the bed. I panted against his mouth, desperate and aching, waiting for more. "Cody, I have been watching you from afar, and I must say that you are....." he didn't finish what he wanted to say, what I wanted to hear before our lips connected again. We were both impatient to wait as we peeled each other's clothes from our bodies.

A desperate moan escaped my mouth when his tongue slid into my mouth to play with mine. Rain made a low sound in response and placed one of my hands above my head, and his other hand cupped my chin. I also reached my hand against his muscular back and rubbed it. I was burning up, my entire body shivering under him, anticipating what he had to do next.

This was my first time, and I could feel my length throbbing in my pants. I wanted him badly and hugged his waist to bring him closer. Rain responded by moving, straddling my hips, his weight pushing into my aching erection and making a growl as he moved up and down.

He repeatedly pressed his lips to mine, conquering my mouth with his tongue. My hips arched up, pushing my dick into Rain's, and I moaned.

His hand left mine and ran through my hair to my face and mouth. His lips trailed down my chest until I felt him yanking on the button of my pants. "Cody, I don't know when I started feeling this way towards us, but I want to fuck you right now," he confessed.

"Rai...nn," I muttered his name excitedly, glad that he also felt something for me.

"Cody, do you.....want to fuck?" he said it without because it was making me want him more.

My dick reacted hard against his hands, giving us my answer, and I could feel the fabric of my briefs sticking to the tip.

''yes..... fuck,'' I nodded repeatedly.

Rain kissed me again, and then he ripped my underwear off. His weight left me for a brief moment, and I watched as he removed his pants and removed his underwear. Then he was back, straddling my hips, naked skin meeting mine.

"Rain," I called out his name.

Rain sucked on my bottom lip as he asked the question again. "are you sure?" his voice was calm as he spoke, and I nodded immediately.

This was what I had always wanted.

"you have beautiful blue eyes, Cody," he winked at me and leaned in to kiss me again. The kiss went on while Rain continued to straddle me. I was desperate for more. I wanted him so badly that it made me feel he was wasting time.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice breathless.

"Fuck it, Yes Rain!" I shouted. "but.... I have never done this before."

"very well," placed a kiss on my forehead. "I promise that I will be gentle," he said, and he parted my legs, and I felt his fingers, cold against my stomach. He held on firm to my hand, and I felt his leg brush my hip and then....

"oh goodness!" I shivered as I cried out. I panted shakily into his mouth. His breath mingled with mine. I cried out again, and then my hands stretched out to grab his hips and ass as he slowly entered my hole in and out.

It felt painful until it turned to pleasure as my body yielded to Rain. "Keep going," I whispered and continued clutching his hips. I let out a sound from my throat, not caring if my voice echoed throughout the room or outside the walls.

"Cody," he kissed my neck.

I panted and moaned out his name, letting my hips move underneath him to meet his thrusts. "more," I pleaded. "Faster."

Rain obeyed. ''yes, yes.'' I cried out, and I felt my limbs shaking tension, and I could hear Ezra shouting in my head for more and more.

"fuck Cody," he went faster and grabbed my neck, pinning it to the bed.

He was choking the life out of me, but I was enjoying it. He finally let go of me as he groaned out for the last time, reaching a climax at the same time as me, and I collapsed with tension as all the strength was drained out of my body. He rolled beside me and grabbed my hand.

"Did I hurt you?" Rain asked.

I shook my head and scooted closer to him, then laid my head on his chest. "it was amazing, Rain," I looked up to kiss him again, and then I sighed as I closed my eyes.

I was glad I found and mated with my mate the same night.

The first thing I did the following day was sniffing the air and noticing that his rain scent was still there, meaning he was still by my side. I reached out to touch him and smiled when he fluttered his eyes open.

"Rain," I leaned in closer to kiss, but he let out a scream and jumped out of the bed. I was shocked by his attitude, wondering why he was suddenly acting like that when he had been the one who was straddling me last night. "what is happening?"

"I should be asking you! I am naked in bed with you," he shouted at me. That was the first time I heard him shout so loud and sounding serious. "what the hell did we do?"

I jumped out of bed and tried to move closer to him, but he moved away as if I was going to stain him with my hands. "how the hell did I end up on the bed with you?" he looked around until he found his clothes and then he wore it right in front of me. "Cody, what the hell happened!"

I scoffed and ran a hand through my hair. "we had sex last night," I told him, and he screamed.

"how the hell did that happen? What am I going to tell Amara? We haven't even had sex, but here I am already...."

I heaved a deep sigh and sat on the bed. "look, you were the one confessing to me last night. When Caden asked you to pick someone of the opposite sex, you picked me, and then from there, the tension came from nowhere, and we had sex," I explained in detail to him about what happened.

"you could have stopped me, Cody!" he yelled. "what will your mate say once she found out you slept with your best friend? I am not gay, Cody, and I am sure that you are not gay, so how the hell did that happen?"

"I didn't mean for this to happen. It just happened!" I stood up again.

He started pacing around, murmuring as he clenched his fists. "you betrayed me! I can't believe that I trusted you to be my friend, yet you let me have sex with you, knowing that I was drunk."

"stop acting as if I am the only one who caused this. i.....'' I wanted to tell him then that he was my mate, but his words cut me short.

"you made me wish that I had not come last night. I.... I don't even know how I am supposed to face Amara. You broke the bro code and....." he lowered his head. "I am going home now. Let's not see each other until I am ready to see you," he said, then headed towards the door.

I tried to stop him by grabbing his hand, but he yanked it off mine. "Rain, I thought that this what you wanted last night. You were all over me."

"And you could have prevented it since you were still sober!" he pushed me on the shoulder. "you let this happen because you were overwhelmed by the kiss that meant nothing to me!" he yelled and dropped his hands. "like I have said Cody, let's not talk to one another until I am ready to face you again," he stated and rushed out of the room slamming the door on my face.

"Well, go after him and announce that you are mated to him!" Ezra shouted in my head. "Do you want me to take over and do that!"

"stop acting like an idiot, Ezra. Didn't you see the look of disgust on his face? Our mate had just rejected us. He doesn't want us, and he doesn't want this!"

"but..." he tried to argue, but I blocked him from my head. I headed into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and sighed as the warm water cascaded down my naked body.

I felt used, neglected, rejected. Telling Rain that he was my mate was a waste of time. He didn't want me for what he had done, and I had been a fool to believe that last night meant something to him.

"Oh, Cody," I sat on the bathroom floor and lowered my head, letting my tears flow alongside the water. Some things are not meant to be; that was how it was with Rain and me.