Marked By The Wrong Alpha; My Brother’s Bestfriend.

~~ ARIA ~~

“Aria, it’s time to come home,” Alec’s voice boomed through the speakers of my car, making me instantly step on the brakes.

I was stunned.

But at the same time, my jaw tightened, and my hand gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white.

What did Alec take me for? A toy he could toss around anyway he pleased?

The fact that he was my brother didn't give him the right to dictate my life.

If I’d known this was what he’d say when I saw his incoming call, I wouldn't have answered it.

“Come back home? Alec, can you listen to yourself?” I hissed through gritted teeth.

Five years ago, after our mom died, I was sent here to the human world against my will and was never allowed back to any pack.

Alec made sure of that.

And now, he wanted me to go back?

“Yes, our family needs you,” Alec answered.

I could feel my blood boil. I ground my teeth so hard I thought it might crack.

All these years, Alec never contacted me as often as he should have. He didn't even let me attend his coronation ceremony as Alpha of our pack.

“Can you even listen to yourself?” I snapped. “Alec, our parents are dead. Five years ago, before you shipped me to the human world like a cargo, you didn't even let me stay for Mom’s funeral. So, what family needs me?”

“You have a duty to our pack Aria. You are the daughter of a late Alpha. Most of all, you are now the sister of an Alpha. Me,” Alec retorted.

Every word that left that asshole's mouth felt like a blade sliding across my nerves. I wished I could beat some sense into him.

But he was my brother, and he was the only family I had left.

“I’m no longer the 22-year-old girl you forced to leave our pack. I’m a 26-year-old woman now, Alec. Everything doesn't have to go exactly as you want it to. I am the boss of my life, not you. Therefore, you won’t have your way this time around,” I told him and was about to end the call.

“I want you on the next available plane back to our pack. You hear me?” Alec snapped in anger, his tone laced with authority and a hint of frustration.

“And what if I don’t?” I retorted, my breath coming out fast, and my face hardened as though my brother could see me.

“Because… Because…” Alec trailed off, his voice suddenly sounding broken making my brows crease.

I hadn't sensed it before, but I could now. Something must have been wrong, which was why he called.

“Because what?” I asked, feeling every nerve in my body on edge.

“I’ll be dead soon if you don’t come home,” He said, his voice almost above a whisper.

“What?” I exclaimed in shock.

What the hell was he going on about? Was this some sort of prank?

I didn't think so because Alec had always been serious ever since our parents died.

“That… Is why I need you to come back to our pack. Mrs Hale is also very sick and she wants to see you before she dies,” Alec said.

My heart began pounding so fast I thought it’d pop out of my chest.

Was Alec in trouble? Why did he need me to come home?

Mrs Hale was the only person we could call family.

Even when Alec brought me to the human world saying it was for my own good, she was the only one who always called to check on me.

However, she hadn’t called for weeks now and her line wasn't connecting.

“Does this have to do with the war you have going on with your best friend, Thorne Xandros?” I asked Alec.

Just the mention of Thorne’s name made my pulse spike up and my heart skip.

Thorne Xandros was my brother’s best friend and the first man I ever had a crush on.

But Alec always reminded me that Thorne was like our brother.

He’d always smack Thorne on the head if Thorne looked at me longer than he should.

“She’s our sister, Thorne. Don’t forget that,” Alec would always say to Thorne in situations like that.

But I never wanted to be a sister to Thorne. I wanted something intimate.

However, their friendship was shattered and they waged war against each other.

Alec always changed the topic whenever I asked him what happened.

“Fine Aria. If you don't want to come back to the pack for me then do it for Mrs Hale. She nursed you from birth and you're literally like a daughter to her,” Alec said, and the line went dead.

Everything was happening so fast. With my hands on the steering wheel, I placed my forehead on it and sighed deeply.

I was restless knowing that Alec was in some kind of trouble he wasn't telling me about, and Mrs Hale was about to die.

I didn't like the human world, and I hadn’t established any friendships here, aside from the flings I had whenever I was horny and my vibrator couldn't satisfy me enough.

So it wasn't difficult for me to leave everything here. I had always waited for a day like this to come.

And honestly, even though Alec wasn't in trouble and Mrs Hale wasn't dying, I’d still go home if I were asked to.

I was just trying to make Alec know that what he did was wrong and I was pissed about it.

I turned on the car after booking the next flight and drove to my house to pack my things.

️️️

The flight back to my pack was smooth, and I didn't have much luggage because I left almost everything for my maid back in the human world.

“Welcome back Miss Stone,” the driver who had been sent to pick me up from the airport greeted me.

“Thank you. Why isn't my brother with you?” I asked the driver.

“Alpha Stone is tending to certain matters in his study. But he will be at the threshold to welcome you back home,” The driver answered.

I nodded and got into the car.

When we got home, Mrs Hale was all smiles and giddy with excitement when she saw me alight from the car.

I frowned because this wasn't how a woman on her deathbed was supposed to be energetic.

And Alec on the other hand, spread his arms wide waiting for a hug.

What the hell was going on here? I tilted my head to the side in thought as I looked at the duo with creased brows.

I ignored Alec and ran into Mrs Hale's arms because seeing her strong and healthy put my mind at ease.

“You’ve grown into a beautiful woman,” Mrs Hale said with teary eyes when she pulled away from our hug.

“And you've grown old Mrs Hale,” I teased, and we both laughed.

I didn't realise how much I missed her and Alec until now.

But I’d rather be run over by a car than show Alec that despite his shitty behavior, I still missed him.

“So I'm the one who gets to be ignored?” Alec asked with a smile that I responded to with a glare.

I was about to say something when the gate was forced open.

We all turned to check what was happening and when we did, my breath hitched.

Thorne stormed into the house premises with a deadly look on his face.

Why did he always have to be so breathtaking?

He looked more muscular and was taller than before. About 6ft2 in height now.

Gosh, Thorne was fucking beautiful. He was the perfect example of gorgeousness.

His jet black hair was pulled into a low messy bun giving me a better view of his facial features.

He was very manly now, and he looked like he was about to tear down our house with his bare hands.

However, when he saw me, he paused, his gaze drinking me in like I was the only person who could quench his thirst.

The look in his eyes went from deadly to warm. It felt like he was seeing me, and not just looking at me.

I waited to hear my name roll off his tongue but it never did.

“Get your filthy eyes off my sister,” Alec thundered, his palms balling into a fist.

It was only then that Thorne’s gaze left me and landed on Alec.

I watched his eyes become cold again and his jaw hardened afterward. Even still, he looked handsome, only in a dangerous way.

When his gaze shifted from me, I felt this sudden emptiness I couldn't explain. I wanted him to continue looking at me.

Seeing him again made my stomach churn with excitement that I couldn't explain.

But wait, I snapped out of my fantasy world and frowned when a thought crossed my mind.

Something wasn't right at all.

If Alec didn't call me back to the pack because Mrs Hale was dying, or to prevent him from dying, then why did he call me back?