FIFTY FIVE

FIFTY FIVE
Kael

Time seemed to move slowly only when my brother's life was on the line. The last time this happened was when he went feral and went after Anna. Everything stilled. No ticking of the clock. The wind stilled even the trees found it difficult to move.

It was all happening again. Loud ringings filled my ears as I sat and watched everyone in slow motion. I hated this. I hated this a lot. My right leg started to tap hard against the floor. I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t settle. My brother was dying, and our mate was fighting a war that wasn’t hers.

A light touch on my shoulder brings me out of my still state. Only one person could have that effect on me. If only she were there those years ago.

“Kael!” I raised my head to look up at her. Beautiful. She was so beautiful, my chest hurt.

“I-is he okay? I mean, will he live?” My word shaken like my heart.

She pulled me into her arms and kissed my forehead. If I weren’t in a desperate state, I would have gotten hard from that slight gesture. My hands instinctively wrapped around her waist.

“He is going to live. They already administered the antidote.” Her voice was like a sweet melody to my ears.

“He saved me”

“No. He saved us,” she kissed my eyelids that had shed enough tears to last me a lifetime.

“Will he be okay?” I was repeating questions, but it’s only because I needed so much reassurance.

“Yes. Anna promised that”

I pushed away from her at the mention of her sister.

“And you believed her? She wants nothing more than to harm us, and you think her words mean shit?”

“Look. She won’t hurt me. Loosing either of you would kill me, so she would dare to- “

“I don’t fucking believe a word that comes out of her mouth. Did you know she’s working for my uncle? They both kidnapped you and lured us to our deaths! Why would you believe such a person?” My heart broke as I clutched my head in my palms.

“We shall all discuss this later. There’s a lot we need to talk about, but now is not the time. Do you trust me?”

“Yes. With my life, Lyra,” she smiled softly. Grabs my head up and pressed a kiss to my lips. My heart sighed.

“Then that’s all you need to do. You’re in my territory, allow me to take care of you,” her eyes glistened with tears. She had also been crying.

“Okay,” that was enough for her. I hesitated but pressed my lips against her soft ones again. And as quickly as I started, I ended it because a sudden, sick thought popped into my mind. One of my wolves was displeased with.

‘If he dies. I’d get to have her to myself as much as having Lyra to myself was very pleasing. I wanted my brother.

“You should rest.” She said, moving away from me, but I grabbed her hand.

“Don’t leave me,” not because I was weak but because I wanted her near.

“Nobody will hurt you, I-“

“Don’t you think I can hold my own ground? Have no faith in me?” I chuckled sadly.

“Then what are you a- “

“I just want you to hold me” Her confused expression turned into one of pity. I hated it.

“Okay. But I need to go make sure your food is ready, I-“

“Forget it. If he doesn’t wake up, food is of no use to me,” she frowned but said nothing about it. She took a seat beside me and pulled me into her arms as she rubbed my hair softly.

We were seated in the corner by the room Kade was being kept in. It was a clinic, but it wasn’t fully furnished. I don’t remember what happened, but one time I was hugging Lyra, and the next, Kade was on the floor holding his stomach and shouting poison. I almost killed Anna.

I went feral and saw black. Usually, the color is red, but I skipped that process and went straight to rogue. I couldn’t control my wolf. And for a moment, I let him take over. I don’t remember what happened, but I woke up to find myself in one of those beds. I was tied down as a lot of people stared at me from around the room. I haven’t had the mind to ask Lyra what happened, but I had a feeling I did something I shouldn’t have.

Didn’t ask whose blood covered my clothes, but whoever it belonged to can’t be alive.

“I was scared. Kade almost lost it when he heard you were missing,” I muttered after sitting in silence for too long.

“I was scared to. I didn’t know who was responsible, and I couldn’t fight” she responded, and I chuckled.

“Not anymore. Your wolf. What’s her name?” I raised my head to look at her face. She was smiling now.

“Ria”

“Ria..” I repeated “..she’s beautiful. Like you. But how? I thought you didn’t have any. What happened?” She smiled sadly.

“I did. She was just trapped. Anna helped me get her out. You need to believe me when I say she is not the bad guy here”

“Well, I’m grateful she helped you get your wolf, but Kade wouldn’t care if she did or not. He’d kill her” she stilled. She knew I was right. I could be reasoned with, but Kade could never be.

“He will understand,” she said, and I chuckled.

“She kidnapped you and tried to kill me. No, he would never understand. But you can help her. You can save her”

“How?” I sat upright, holding her fingers in my hand.

“Let us leave here. Together. Before he woke up,” she withdrew her hand immediately.

“No. She’s my family. I’m not leaving my family. I just found her. Whether Kade likes it or not, she’s my only family. Would you leave Kade if I think he is a betrayer?”

“But you don’t even know her, you j-“

“Would you?” She interjected. She didn’t even sound angry, which was weird.

“No,” I said, defeated. I couldn’t care less what Kade does to me, there was no way I was leaving him.

“Thats all I need to hear. Now come, let me keep holding you” and into her arms I went without another word. All I knew was that hell would let loose once Kade was awake. Lyra wouldn’t like what happens. Nobody would.