"I'M SCARED, VEE," OSCAR said to his sister as soon as Bailey left.

"Wow. The Alpha? Scared?" She eyed him curiously. "You really do care about this girl."

"Of course I do," he growled in response, but then his voice softened. "What if it hurts her?"

"Oscar, our fathers Mate was sick. The odds weren't exactly in her favor. And you already know the Marking process hurts the human, but if she still does it-which from what I saw, she is-it just goes to show how much she cares about you." Vee reasoned, resting a hand on Oscar's shoulder. "Plus, you'll feel the pain along with her. The Marking process is also a time to grow closer."

"I know," Oscar voice dropped an octave, "It's just… if she gets hurt— I don't know what I'd do with myself. I just met her, and she's already my world.

Vee nodded. "Don't worry, Oscar. Just spend your time with her like its precious. Anyway, she's strong," she said, smiling out at the window at Bailey as she hit her brother on the head with her phone. "She'll be fine."

♡

"I'm… sorry, Bailey!" My brother spit out, as if the word 'sorry' physically harmed him to say.

"Well it took you long enough," I muttered, crossing my arms. "And I'm sorry for making fun of whatsherface."

"You can at least have the courtesy of saying her name," Brian quipped, slightly snappy.

"Ah, brother—you see, people like whatsherface do not deserve a name. They deserve nothing less than what I decide, and what I decide is whatsherface." I replied, patting his back belatedly.

Brian slouched in defeat, giving a muttered whatever before resigning to wait on the front stoop. I could tell he desperately wanted to go back to the cabin, and I sighed. I'd have to visit Oscar every day, and eventually I'd have to tell Brian. Eventually. The word rang in my ears like an already broken promise.