Chapter 181 Your Older Brother
The arrow struck with a force that silenced everything for a fraction of a moment, the impact driving straight into Maleek’s eye as his body stiffened where he stood. The confidence that had filled his posture only seconds ago vanished, replaced by something raw and stunned as his balance broke beneath him.
His hand lifted halfway as though he wanted to grasp the arrow, yet the strength in his arm failed him. His knees gave way slowly, his body dropping with a heavy thud against the blood stained ground.
For a brief second, no one moved.
Fernando’s breathing was uneven as he lay where he had fallen, his eyes fixed on Maleek’s collapsing figure. Alberto remained in front of him, his chest rising sharply as he stared, his body trembling with everything that had built within him.
Then the sound came.
Arrows cutting through the air.
They rained down with precision, each one finding its mark among the remaining enemies, forcing them back, breaking whatever structure they still held. Cries rang out as soldiers fell, confusion spreading through the already broken formation.
Alberto’s head turned sharply.
From the edge of the field, figures emerged.
A group of soldiers moved forward in formation, their movements controlled, their weapons ready, bows raised as more arrows were released without hesitation.
At the front of them stood a man.
Samael.
His presence carried authority, his posture steady as his gaze locked onto the battlefield.
“Hold your line,” he commanded, his voice firm.
His soldiers responded immediately, advancing with precision, their arrows continuing to fall upon the enemies who now struggled to recover.
Maleek lay on the ground, his body twitching slightly as blood pooled beneath him.
Alberto did not hesitate.
His expression hardened as he stepped forward, his hand reaching for a blade without a word.
Fernando watched, his breathing strained.
“Alberto,” he tried, though his voice came out weak.
Alberto did not stop.
He reached Maleek’s fallen body, his grip tightening around the blade as he stood over him, his chest rising with controlled force.
Maleek’s remaining eye flickered, his lips parting slightly as though he wanted to speak.
No words came.
Alberto’s jaw tightened.
“You should have stayed dead,” he said, his voice low.
The blade came down.
Maleek’s head separated from his body, the motion sharp and decisive as Alberto pulled back, holding the severed head in his hand.
The battlefield fell quiet.
Alberto turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the remaining enemies, his grip firm as he raised the head slightly.
“Surrender,” he said, his voice carrying.
There was no hesitation in it.
The soldiers who remained shifted uneasily, their eyes moving between Alberto and the fallen body of their leader.
Weapons began to lower.
The fight ended not with a final strike, but with a silence that settled heavily over the field.
Behind him, Samael moved quickly, his focus shifting immediately as he reached Fernando.
“Stay with me,” he said, his tone urgent as he dropped to one knee beside him.
Fernando’s breathing was shallow, his chest rising unevenly as his eyes struggled to remain open.
“You cannot sleep now,” Samael continued, his hand pressing lightly against Fernando’s shoulder.
Alberto turned, the head falling from his grasp as he rushed forward, dropping beside Fernando without hesitation.
“Fernando,” he called, his voice tight.
Fernando’s gaze found him, though it was weaker now.
“I am here,” he said faintly.
Alberto’s hands trembled slightly as he reached for him.
“You are not leaving,” he said, his voice firm despite the fear beneath it.
Samael glanced between them, his expression serious.
“He is losing too much strength,” he said.
Alberto’s eyes sharpened.
“Then we fix it.”
Fernando shook his head weakly.
“No.”
Alberto frowned.
“What do you mean no?”
Fernando’s gaze held his.
“I will not take your blood.”
Alberto’s jaw tightened.
“You have no choice.”
Fernando’s voice strained.
“I do.”
Alberto leaned closer, his expression intense.
“You think I will let you die?”
Fernando’s lips parted slightly.
“You risk too much.”
Alberto shook his head.
“You are worth it.”
Samael watched silently, his expression unreadable as the tension between them built.
Fernando tried to lift his hand, though it barely moved.
“I cannot risk your life,” he said.
Alberto’s eyes filled, though his voice remained steady.
“You already have my life.”
Fernando’s gaze softened.
“That is not the same.”
Alberto exhaled sharply, his frustration clear.
“Then stop arguing and take it.”
Fernando closed his eyes briefly.
“No.”
The refusal settled heavily between them.
Alberto’s expression changed.
“If you will not take it,” he said quietly, “then I will give it.”
Fernando’s eyes opened.
“What are you saying?”
Alberto did not answer.
He moved.
His hand lifted, his blade cutting into his palm without hesitation as blood surfaced immediately.
Samael’s eyes widened slightly.
“Alberto.”
Fernando shook his head weakly.
“No.”
Alberto leaned forward, his hand pressing against Fernando, his voice steady despite the tremor in his body.
“You do not get to leave me.”
The moment held.
Then something shifted.
The bond.
It moved through them with a force that neither could stop, something ancient and forbidden awakening fully as the connection deepened beyond what it had been before.
Fernando’s body tensed, his breath catching as the energy surged through him.
Alberto gasped, his strength draining rapidly as the bond completed itself.
For a moment, everything seemed to blur.
Then it ended.
Alberto’s body gave in.
He collapsed.
Darkness taking him.
Silence followed.
Three days passed before Alberto’s eyes opened again.
The room was quiet, the air still as he blinked slowly, his body heavy though no longer as weak as before.
He shifted slightly, his gaze moving immediately to the side.
Fernando lay there.
Alberto’s chest tightened.
“Why are you still asleep?” he asked softly, his voice carrying a faint strain.
No answer came.
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to sit up as the weight of everything pressed against him again.
The burial must have been done.
“He didn't even get to send his father off”
The door opened quietly.
Mira stepped in.
Her posture was calm, though there was a distance in her eyes that had not been there before.
“You are awake,” she said.
Alberto nodded slightly.
“How long?”
“Three days.”
His gaze shifted back to Fernando.
“He has not woken?”
Mira shook her head once.
“Not yet.”
Alberto’s jaw tightened slightly.
Instead, she stepped closer.
“I will be leaving,” she said.
Alberto looked at her.
“Leaving?”
She nodded.
“I need seclusion.”
Her voice remained steady, though there was something beneath it that could not be hidden.
Alberto studied her for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Do what you must.”
Mira’s gaze softened slightly.
“Take care of him.”
Alberto’s eyes returned to Fernando.
“I will.”
Mira gave a small nod before turning, leaving the room without another word.
The silence returned.
The door opened again.
Samael stepped in, his posture relaxed though his eyes remained sharp.
“You look better,” he said.
Alberto gave a faint nod.
“I feel better.”
Samael stepped closer, his gaze shifting briefly to Fernando before returning.
“He is strong.”
Alberto nodded.
“I know.”
There was a pause.
Then Alberto looked at him properly.
“How did you survive?”
Samael’s expression shifted slightly.
“I escaped,” he said.
Alberto frowned slightly.
“Escaped?”
Samael nodded.
“After the attempt on my life, I managed to get away.”
Alberto’s gaze remained on him.
“And then?”
“I was found,” Samael continued, his tone steady, “by rogues.”
Alberto’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Rogues?”
Samael gave a small nod.
“They were not what I expected.”
Alberto leaned back slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“They were survivors,” Samael said, his voice quieter now, “members of a pack that had been destroyed.”
Alberto’s expression tightened.
“They helped you?”
Samael nodded.
“They recognized me.”
Alberto frowned.
“How?”
Samael’s hand lifted slightly, touching his side.
“The mark.”
Alberto’s eyes followed the motion.
“The alpha’s offspring mark?”
Samael nodded again.
“It does not lie.”
Alberto’s breath caught slightly as realization began to settle.
He looked at Samael differently now.
“Do you know your real name?” he asked quietly.
Samael held his gaze.
“I do.”
Alberto’s voice lowered.
“Say it.”
Samael’s lips curved faintly.
“Rhett.”
The name hung in the air.
Alberto’s eyes filled immediately.
“My brother?”
Samael stepped forward.
“Your older brother.”
Alberto did not hesitate.
He moved, wrapping his arms around him tightly, his body shaking as everything he had held back finally broke free.
“I thought you were dead,” he said, his voice breaking.
Rhett held him just as firmly.
“I almost was.”
Alberto pulled back slightly, his hands gripping his arms. Alberto shook his head, tears falling freely.
“I am so glad you did not die.”
Rhett’s expression softened.
“I had to come back.”
Alberto pulled him into another embrace, holding on as though he refused to let go again.