His Human Mate

Amber walked into her house, with her arms filled with her notebooks and backpack on her back. Thoughts of why Erick had said 'See you tonight' flew out of her mind as she was thinking of what to eat.

Inside the kitchen, her father was sitting at the dining table, eating his dinner. Her mother stood behind the kitchen island, apparently preparing more food for her father.

It has been awhile since her father was home. He was a brunette with broad shoulders and muscular body. He was tall with his wife and daughter only reaching below his shoulders. He was an army officer who was always busy in the army camp. So it was rare to see him home.

Despite him telling them that he will be home more often because he had just been promoted, it was just a pipe dream. Rather, it has become worse. Luckily, his family had understood this but even so, it does not stop Amber from missing him.

Noticing someone standing at the kitchen door, Eren Keene looked up with a big grin on his face. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

Amber returned his smile and walked over to give him a huge hug. "Welcome home too, daddy. I've missed you."

Next, she went over to her mom and gave her a hug as well. Then her mother, Syden Greer patted Amber on the shoulder and asked about her day.

Amber just shrugged as she went over to the sink to wash her hands. She then sat across her father at the dining table, placing her backpack on the floor.

Her mother then handed her her dinner plate. Her mother had already eaten dinner earlier with her other child, Remi.

While eating, the three of them fell into a comfortable conversation with Eren telling more funny stories of what had happened at the army.

After they were done eating, her mother shooed Amber away from the kitchen, telling without words that she will do the dishes. Before heading up the stairs, Amber asked her mother where Remi was.

Her mother replied that he was probably inside his room, playing games.

Remi was her seven years old brother. He was what one would call the 'Unexpected Surprise'. There was a more than ten years gap between her and her brother. Hence why the family really treasured him a lot. Unfortunately, the day he turned two years old, rather than an active little boy, he became a sickly young one. He has a weak heart and should not be agitated too much. Despite his condition, it does not stop him from enjoying life, which he found through his sister.

Climbing up the stairs, Amber walked straight to Remi's room, knocking on his door. Hearing his weak 'Come in', she walked in to find him propped up against his large pillows, holding a handheld game console.

His eyes were on the game, so immersed in his gaming that he did not notice his sister walking closer to his bed.

He jumped in surprise when he felt arms hugging him tight from the side.

He turned his head and smiled widely when he saw his sister sitting beside him. "Sis, you're home!"

Amber hugged him tighter in response. Her brother was just too adorable. If she could help him with his pain, she will do it in seconds. She could not stand the thought of him being in pain and lonely. Especially when she has to go to school.

She knew that he would be lonely because he could not go to school himself. He was being homeschooled by their mother.

So, she tried to make it up to him by getting home as early as she could.

Amber began to tell him about what happened in school, as she always does.

Remi always loved to hear about Amber's stories that it had become like an everyday routine for them. There were times that Amber would also bring home some food that she usually talked about, just for him to get a taste.

Of course, she had to be careful with the food. Who knows what kind of food will trigger him?

They began to talk with each other until Remi had fallen asleep.

Amber sighed as she watched her brother sleep. She really wished that he could be cured. At least, it will help their family to bond more.

----

It was close to midnight where the streets were dark and the only light that illuminate the streets were the streetlights.

It was quiet with few leaves rustling in the wind and there wasn't a single soul walking around in the street.

Standing underneath one of the streetlights, Erick looked up.

Although it was quite late, there were still lights in one of the rooms in the house in front of him. The curtains were closed, covering the room from the outside world. The other rooms were dark.

Erick smoothly jumped up the wall and hung onto the double-hung window. He swiftly jumped onto the windowsill and knocked on the pane.

Minutes later, the curtains were swept open and Erick could see the shock in the occupant of the room's face.

Erick just grinned and waved.

Amber immediately unlocked the window and pulled him inside. She was only wearing a faded t-shirt that showed her smooth fair shoulders and shorts that showed her legs.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she hissed as she kept looking behind her, worried that her parents could hear the commotion.

Instead of answering her, Erick pulled her into a huge hug and answered, "I missed you."

Confused and surprised at his sudden action, she stammered out, "But we just saw each other a couple of hours ago!"

Erick brushed a strand of her hair behind her ears and gave her a gentle smile. He then bent down to drop a peck on her forehead. Without another word, he walked past her and laid down on her bed.

Amber followed him and pointed at the window. "You need to get out of here or my parents will hear about this!" she hissed.

"No, they won't," Erick answered nonchalantly, placing his arms behind his head, making himself comfortable.

He was confident because he could hear them sleeping soundly in their room. If he heard them moving, you can be sure that he would not be in the room before you could say, 'shameless'. Other than her parents, he could smell another presence in the house.

"How is your brother?" he suddenly asked.

"How did you know about his illness?" she asked back, startled. She could have sworn that she had never talked about her brother. It was not that she was ashamed of her brother but she did not know how to bring the topic of her brother up. She did not want any awkwardness between them.

Erick just shrugged and turned sideways. He grabbed one of her pillows and hugged it.

Amber rubbed her forehead in consternation. 'What am I going to do with this guy?' she wondered.

"Erick, why are you doing this?" she asked patiently.

"Because I like you," he confessed quietly.

She was surprised at the sudden confession. "But why?" she blurted out.

"I just do," he said. He did not want to talk about her being his mate. Maybe one day, but not now. For now, he just wanted her to like him for who he is.

"We don't even know each other that well to like each other," she protested, ignoring the fact that just a couple of days ago she thought that she had fallen for him.

"We don't really need to know each other to love each other. It's enough that I like you. And we can slowly learn about each other while being together."

"Is this a prank?"

Erick growled. Did someone used to trick her about falling in love with her? If he knew that person, he would tear him to bits. "No, it's not," he barked angrily.

Amber sighed resignedly. She really could not understand what was going through his mind.

Erick got up from the bed and hugged her tightly. "Please. I know that this may seem sudden but I just find myself falling for you. I know that you don't like me in that way but I hope to change your mind sooner or later.

And I will."

Amber just nodded. Perhaps she could give this love a chance. Seeing how genuine he was, there probably might be a chance it will work out together.

Just then, she felt him nuzzling deeper in her hair, his arms hugging her tight.

"Did you just sniffed me again???" she exclaimed.