Side Story 3

Luka's POV

The day started out like any other. Mika, Sawyer, and I were playing in the woods behind the palace, chasing each other through the trees, our laughter echoing in the air. At seven years old, we were pretending to be fierce wolves on a hunt, leaping over fallen logs and dodging branches. It was perfect, like it always was when we were together.

But then everything changed in an instant.

I heard the thud first—a sound so sharp and heavy that it made my heart skip a beat. I stopped and turned around, the world seeming to move in slow motion as I saw Mika crumple to the ground, his face twisted in pain.

“Mika!” I shouted, racing back to him. The sight that met me made my stomach lurch. His leg was twisted at an odd angle, and there was blood—so much blood—pouring out of a long, deep gash along his shin. It covered the grass, bright and red, and kept coming. I couldn’t breathe.

Sawyer came running up, her eyes huge and frightened as she saw the blood. “Luka, what happened?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I knelt down next to Mika, my hands shaking as I reached out to him. “Mika, I’m here! Can you hear me?” His eyes were squeezed shut, his face pale as he clutched his leg. I saw a broken branch nearby, the jagged end stained with his blood. It must have cut him deep when he fell.

“I—I don’t know what to do!” I cried out, panic rising in my chest like a wave. “We need help. We need help right now!”

I didn't want to leave Mika's side, not when he seemed to be in so much pain so despite the fear and anxiety twisting my stomach, I focused and was able to call our parents through the mind link, my voice raw and desperate. “Mom! Dad! Help us! Mika got hurt!”

It felt like forever, but then they were there. Mom gasped as soon as she saw Mika, her hand flying to her mouth, and Dad scooped him up in his arms without even stopping to ask what happened. His face was set in a look I’d never seen before, hard and focused, like there wasn’t a second to waste.

“Stay here, Luka,” Mom told me, her voice tight with fear. “Make sure to watch over Sawyer. Mari will come get the both of you shortly. We’ll get Mika to the doctor.” Then they ran off, leaving Sawyer and me standing there, the grass still red where Mika had been lying.

I was frozen, my whole body trembling. I didn’t know what to do. How could I have let this happen? I was supposed to be the older brother. I was supposed to look out for him.

The palace was a blur of movement and low, urgent voices when we got there. They wouldn't let me go in with Mika. I kept asking and asking, but all I got were soft, sorry looks and hands pushing me away from the door.

“It’s not your fault, Luka,” Mom said again and again, her voice gentle but firm. “It was just an accident.”

But it wasn’t just an accident. I was the one running ahead too fast. I was the one who didn’t notice Mika behind me. I could have stopped it. I should have stopped it.

“No!” I shouted at Dad, my voice cracking. “It is my fault! I wasn’t paying attention, and Mika got hurt because of me!”

“Luka, you didn’t mean for this to happen,” Dad said, his tone calm but stern, like he was trying to get me to understand. “Hurting yourself isn’t going to make him better.”

“But I deserve to be punished!” I yelled, and without thinking, I slammed my head against the wall, trying to make it hurt. I was about to do it again when Dad grabbed me and held me up, his grip strong and unyielding.

“Luka, stop!” he shouted, his voice sharper than I’d ever heard it before. His eyes were wide and angry, but also… scared. He took a breath and lowered his voice, looking right into my eyes. “You can’t help Mika by hurting yourself. Do you understand me?”

I nodded, but I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. “But… but I was supposed to protect him,” I choked out. “I’m his big brother.”

Dad hugged me tightly, and it was the first time I’d ever seen him look like he didn’t have all the answers. As the powerful and respected Alpha of the Blue Solstice Pack, he was always perfect, untouchable but he seemed so different then, like he was scared too.

“Being a big brother means being there for him now,” he said quietly. “You can’t change what happened, but you can be strong for Mika. He needs you.”

I nod, fresh tears running down my cheeks. My head hurt but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. What if Mika never forgives me? What if he hates me?

That night, I stayed by Mika’s side, refusing to leave. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to close my eyes, not when he was lying there so still, bandages covering his leg. I watched every shallow rise and fall of his chest, just to make sure he was still breathing. I kept waiting for him to open his eyes, to sit up and tell me he was okay and that I hadn’t messed everything up.

But he didn’t. And with each hour that passed, the guilt grew heavier.

At some point, exhaustion took over, and I slumped forward, my forehead resting on the edge of his bed.

When I woke up, a hand was running through my hair, soft and gentle. I blinked and looked up to see Mika’s face, pale but smiling weakly at me.

“Why are you crying, Luka?” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “You’re such a crybaby.”

I didn’t even realize I was crying until that moment. “Mika!” I threw my arms around him, holding him close, afraid to let go. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

He patted my back, and even though his hand was shaking, I could hear the teasing in his voice. “It’s okay, dummy. I’m fine. You don’t have to squish me.”

I pulled back and looked at him, still sniffling. “I promise, I’ll never let you get hurt again. I’ll protect you no matter what.”

Mika’s face turned a little pink, and he rolled his eyes like I was being too dramatic. “Whatever, Luka. Just let me sleep, okay?”

I leaned in and kissed his forehead, just like Dad did whenever I got hurt. “Get better soon, okay? We need to race again.”

***

Mika healed quickly, faster than the doctor had said but mum and dad were barely surprised. They admitted it runs in the family. Mika was back on his feet and insisting on playing again, even when everyone else told him to rest. But I stayed close to him from then on, always making sure I was there to catch him if he stumbled, always putting him first. If he wanted to race, I’d let him win. I didn’t care about being first anymore, as long as he was safe.

Mom and Dad kept telling me I was a good big brother, and even though I wasn’t sure if I deserved it, I wanted to believe them. Because I knew now that being a big brother wasn’t just about playing or racing. It was about being there, no matter what and looking out for my little brother.

And I would be. Always.

After all, we are going to be the Alphas of this Pack one

day. And an Alpha always takes care of his pack, especially his family.