Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

~LANA~
It is the first day of August, exactly five years since I learned about Havenville and its Mystic Cloud River. Today, I would finally have the chance to find my mate. I've been dreaming of this day ever since I learned about love and how beautiful it could be as long as it was with the right person.
"Lana!" my mother calls out from the staircase below, her voice carrying through the serenity of the house.
Rays of sunlight filters through the curtains, casting soft shadows, it was almost as though the light was aiding the urgency in her voice, letting me know that it was time.
I don't waste another second as I rush out of the room and make my way towards her.
"I know, I know," I say when she gives me a stern look. "I am late."
I am always late. It was something that my family and friends were used to by now. That is why they usually told me to get dressed two hours in advance.
"Are you not excited to find your mate?" She asks me. "If you don't get there in time, you might miss the opportunity to find him. I am sure that it is the last thing you want to happen."
My mother knew how much I had dreamed of this since I was thirteen. Now, five years later, I would finally have the opportunity to visit Havenville and find my mate near its mystic river. She was simply teasing me so that I could move faster.
I wasn't the only one expected to find their mate today. My step-brother, Apollo Moon, also had the opportunity to find his mate. However, unlike me, he was definitely not excited about this. Since Apollo was a known player and had a different girl over to the house almost weekly, I was positive that he was not ready for his mate.
My step-brother and I rarely got along due to obvious reasons. I did not like his behavior, and we barely had much to say to each other unless it was totally necessary. There were times my mother and his father attempted to get us closer but it always ended in a huge argument. Eventually, they decided that it was best to stop trying. I was glad they'd stopped forcing us to try and get along, I was okay with how things were between us. It was better that way.
"You already know how much I've wanted this," I tell her. "There is nothing stopping me from getting to Havenville today, not even myself."
"Everyone in this house knows how much you have been waiting for this day, " my stepfather chuckles. I try not to get embarrassed by his words, I didn't exactly try to hide my feelings from everyone around me. Even my friends knew how much I spoke about this. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford a trip to Havenville but since my step-father was basically rich, he was sponsoring this trip for us.
"Where is Apollo?" My mother asks him.
He sighs and pushes his glasses closer to his eyes, "Apollo is not interested in this event. However, I have managed to convince him to attend. He may not think that finding his mate is a good thing at the young age of twenty, but if he is lucky enough to find his mate today, I am sure that he will change his mind."
Both my mother and stepfather never found their mates, even to this day. They always stressed that they felt something was missing in their lives for a long time until they found each other. They wanted something different for their children, they wished that our fates would be better.
"Where is he?" I ask. "We are late."
I was usually the one keeping everyone back. Apollo was usually on time, so then, why was he taking so long today?
"Someone is in a hurry to find a complete stranger and live happily ever after." I hear his voice behind me. It has an edge to it that I've never heard before. Usually, I could tell he was being sarcastic, but this time, it felt like he was annoyed or upset. What could he possibly be angry about on such a happy occasion?
Why did he always have to spoil everything?
"If I don't find my mate today, I will blame you, " I hissed at him.
He brushes me off as he heads for his car. Wait—why was he moving towards his car? This was a trip we all planned to do together.
"Are we not taking the same vehicle?" I demand. "Why is he leaving on his own without the rest of us?"
"Ah—," my stepfather says. "You know that Apollo can be a little stubborn at times."
Then why the hell were we waiting on him this entire time? He could have met us there.
I watch as Apollo's blond hair glistens in the sun, I always found myself fascinated by it. I need to remember to ask him about his hair-care routine, that is if he would even speak to me.
"I am excited for you, " my mother tells me as we join my stepfather in his car.
"What do you think my mate will look like?" I ask her.
Tall? Handsome? Sparkling eyes? Blond hair?
It felt as though I was calling out the physical qualities of my step-brother. I shook that thought out of my head. I could never like someone who slept around with a hundred girls in one month.
"Let us not get too excited." My mother warns me. "I don't want you to become disappointed like me. Not everyone finds their mate at the river. Unfortunately, only a select few of the hundreds present are lucky enough to find their mates at Havenville."
I did not want to be disappointed. I have waited too long for this day. Only werewolves eighteen and over are permitted to enter Mystic Cloud. Hence, this is the reason why I've been waiting for five years, I would be turning eighteen at exactly midnight tonight.
I had to find my mate today.
Nothing would stop me.