Chapter 156 The Brother's Vow

Chapter 156 The Brother's Vow
Then I turned to him. “I lost my parents at a very young age,” I said, finally revealing the truth I had buried deep inside me for years.

Kiran took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry,” he said quietly.

I lowered my gaze, remembering everything that had happened.

The pack Alex ruled now was actually the same pack where my parents and I had once lived. It had existed long before Alex arrived. He came with his people, attacked our pack, and killed many of our members. My parents were among those who died that day.

I had survived, but only because Alex found me and decided he wanted me. He took me away from everything I had ever known and brought me to his pack.

For years, I hated him.

I hated him for taking my parents away from me. I hated him for taking me away from my home. But somehow, over time, he found ways to manipulate me into believing that perhaps he wasn't as terrible as I thought. He made me believe that he cared about me and that maybe there was another side of him I had never seen.

I wanted to believe him.

For a while, I actually thought he had changed.

But I was wrong.

“I can still remember everything,” I whispered. “I remember my mother's screams. I remember the way the sword pierced through her heart, and I remember my father lying there helplessly. I was too young to do anything. I could only watch them die.”

Kiran's expression changed as he listened to me.

He stopped swinging the swing and slowly got to his feet. Without saying anything, he pulled me into his arms and wrapped them tightly around me.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered again.

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to stay there.

His body felt warm against mine, and for some reason, I didn't want to pull away. There was something comforting about being held by him, something I hadn't realized I needed until that moment.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to his steady breathing.

For a few seconds, everything around us seemed quiet.

Then, as I looked toward the other side of the garden, I suddenly felt as though someone was watching us.

My eyes moved across the garden, searching between the trees and the flowers. I couldn't see anyone, but the strange feeling remained.

I turned my head again, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

Kiran noticed my sudden change in expression and gently pulled away from me. “Is there any problem?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No.”

I looked around once more before forcing myself to relax.

Maybe I was only imagining things.

Perhaps after talking about my past, I had become too uneasy and was simply assuming someone was there.

I decided not to think about it.

After that, Kiran and I stayed in the garden for a while longer. We eventually began walking around, talking about random things. Somehow, our conversation became easier as time passed.

I learned things about him that I had never known before, little details about his childhood, the things he liked, the things he disliked, and even some of the habits he had that I found surprisingly amusing.

He also asked me questions about myself, and for once, I didn't feel the need to keep every part of my life hidden.

We continued walking until the sky had begun to darken.

Eventually, exhaustion caught up with me.

My feet were beginning to hurt badly, and I tried my best not to complain as we walked toward his chambers.

Kiran glanced at me.

“Are your feet hurting?”

I looked at him and nodded.

Before I could say anything else, he bent down, slipped one arm beneath my legs, and the other around my back.

Then he lifted me from the ground and carried me.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, staring at him in surprise.

“Kiran…”

He simply looked ahead as he continued walking.

“You should have told me you were tired,” he said.

I didn't know what to say.

So I remained quiet in his arms, listening to the sound of our footsteps as he carried me toward his chambers.

Victor pov

I stood silently as I watched Elara smile, and for the first time, I found myself smiling too. I had never seen her this happy before, and seeing her like this made me realize just how much she had changed. She looked comfortable around Kieran, almost as though she had finally found someone she could open up to without being afraid.

For some reason, my chest tightened as I watched them together.

I quickly looked away, reminding myself of the promise I had made to Kieran. I had given my word to my brother, and no matter how complicated my feelings were, I wouldn't go against him.

I wouldn't betray my own brother because of a woman.

“Isn't the vow you made to him a little risky?” Silas suddenly said from behind me. “Now you can't even stand seeing them together without secretly watching them. Well, it seems you love this girl more than I expected.”

I shut my eyes and sighed.

How did he always manage to find me here? No matter where I went, Silas somehow appeared behind me. At this point, he was the real stalker.

I turned toward him, making sure to bury every emotion on my face. “Stop spitting rubbish, Silas. I was passing by and happened to see them together.”

“And then you decided to stay and watch their happy moment because you were jealous?” Silas burst into laughter.

I clenched my fists.

“I know what you're thinking,” he continued, clearly enjoying himself. “You're probably thinking that Elara should have been the one in your arms instead.”

That was enough.

“Stop it, Silas. Enough of your rubbish. I'm done with this conversation.”

I turned away from him, but I could still hear him chuckling behind me.

Before either of us could say anything else, Elara suddenly turned in our direction.

Silas and I immediately stopped talking.

I couldn't tell if she had actually noticed us or if she had simply looked around the garden.

“I think she noticed we were here,” Silas whispered. “Come on, let's go before she starts thinking we're some kind of creeps.”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the garden before I could protest.

By the time we reached my room, I pulled his hand away from me.

“Don't touch me, and stop following me around. I'm not a child, Silas. I can decide what I want and when I want it.”

Silas scoffed as he looked at me.

“You? Decide what you want?” he asked. “I'm trying to protect you so your head doesn't get ripped off by our brother. If Kieran finds out you're still in love with Elara, he's going to kill you.”

“I'm not in love with her.”

The words came out quickly, almost too quickly.

Silas raised an eyebrow. “Of course you aren't.”

I glared at him. “I mean it.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

I was about to respond when Silas suddenly stopped talking.

“Shhh.”

He raised his hand, his expression changing as he listened carefully.

I frowned. “What is it?”

“Did you hear that?”

I became quiet and strained my ears, trying to figure out what had caught his attention.

For a few seconds, there was nothing.

Then I heard it.

A faint sound came from somewhere down the hallway.

I frowned and looked toward the door.

Silas slowly turned his head toward me, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

“That sounded like Elara.”

I stared at him.

Another soft moan followed, clearer this time.

My body immediately stiffened.

Silas's smile widened.

“Elara is moaning,” he whispered.

I looked at him, refusing to say anything.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further.

“They're having sex.”

My stomach tightened.

I looked toward the door again, suddenly wishing I hadn't heard anything at all.

Another muffled moan reached us from somewhere in the distance, and I immediately looked away.

Silas let out a quiet laugh.

“You should probably stop listening.”

“I wasn't listening,” I muttered.

“Right.”

I glared at him, but he only shook his head.

“Victor, you can keep pretending you don't care, but your face is saying something completely different.”