"You're right, I don't." The way he leaned forward against his knees and ran his hands so slowly through his hair showed that very frustration he was ruled by. "But I'm trying, so please bare with me. And don't start crying on me, I'm not used to that." Again, I laughed to that. "Okay," But when he looked at me, he still was dead serious. Desperate even.. The kind that was familiar to me. The kind that meant he wanted to do plenty but was cornered and could do none of the things he wished. I appreciated his caring for me. Oh how I loved my family for that. But what I needed from him was trust. "Is he good to you?" He finally managed, and my heard broke to that deep tone.. That uncertainty and frustration behind it. Words of despise towards of course Christian, yet still effort to make it all well.. For me. "He is.." I tried making out a smile as I leaned towards him.. "He had Alexander in his hands, you know.. He could've killed him and all his men." I was still smiling, just this time because of that memory I spoke of. "He didn't." I ran my hands through Jack's hair.. It was soft and unkempt just like when he was little. "He didn't because he knew how hard a war would be for me.. That I wouldn't be able to chose." At that point my smile had faded and I heard myself speaking with almost admiration. I did admire Christian for what he did. I loved him for it. I adored him for it. And the world had to know.. Just perhaps slower than I wished them to.. Jack searched my face in what seemed like disbelief or perhaps uncertainty.. Some kind if lack of trust in my words.. So I caressed his face and tried smiling at him once more, but again, he remained serious, simply taking my hand and held it in his. "So he's doing all of this to stop a war? For you?" He made certain to ask the littlest details. And to his words, I smiled this time genuinely. "Something like that.." He looked back in front of himself, somewhere in the diy lighted room. I could see how tightly his jaw was clenched, how it moved slightly as he almost grand his teeth. His grip around my hand became tighter. "I saw." Again, beside the understanding, there was the clear spite in his voice.. Perhaps from the memory of the previous night when Christian saved me before they could. I knew it meant a lot to him. We were always close. And had understanding for one another.. But I knew our morals.. Our rules. I could see how he reacted to me breaking them. To the thought of me with a vampire. Now he didn't look at me, but rather closed his eyes and brought my hand to his lips. From that kiss, slow and certainly instinctive. He kissed my palm and my fingers, and to that I stayed quiet and thought about just how powerless he seemed to consider me. Did he consider me a fool? Or perhaps just a played girl that was tricked into sleeping with the enemy? I was older than him, by two years only, but still older to be wiser than him. I would never allow myself to be tricked. I knew Christian's intentions from the very beginning. And now that Jack slowly let go of my hand, he looked down and almost hung his head. I could understand disappointment in me, if that was what he felt.. But I could also see that in some hard way, he understood. He tried to at least.. I caressed his shoulder for some kind of support as he stood up, releasing a deep muted breath as he turned to look at me. "I'll talk to dad.. I'll find some real evidence about Alexander. You're not marrying that guy. I'll make sure of it." I did explain to him everything Alexander had threatened.. The things he had said to me about being with the enemy.. It seemed to had effected Jack more than my affair with Christian did. We were all taught that family honor came before anything, especially the boys.. Especially when it came to a woman they cared for.. A mother or a sister. A wife or a lover. I knew that my brothers, as well as every man from our pack had vowed to defend honor and would kill if they found out someone of theirs was insulted by another.. Especially a Vesnetsov, that were our enemies once. And I could see it all in Jack's eyes. He had that murderous glare in them when he mentioned Alexander. More than he did when he spoke of Christian. "Thank you.." I stood up as well. "But please do so when all of this is over. We need the Vesnetsovs on our side now." He looked at me almost in fury.. His sharp jaw still clenched. And he looked away before closing his eyes. Still, he nodded his head. "Don't tell dad yet. Please.." "I won't." He took a small step back and looked at me. "It's your duty to do that." I found myself smiling at him for using such words.. He was honorable, wasn't he? My little brother grew up to be my protector. So I found myself crossing that space between us and pulling him into a hug. He didn't hesitate much. He hugged me tighter and I could tell that it wasn't me he was angry with.. He seemed more concern about Alexander, and perhaps angry that Christian had taken his part in protecting me. It was heart-melting to see that on him. I loved them so much. I would kill for all of them. I would die for them. And I was beyond thankful to have them. "I will.. I promise. You won't have to lie for me.. Not again." He kissed my shoulder and inhaled, running his hand down my hair in nothing but worry."