"Half brothers," Luke corrects me.

"Why did you say it like that?" Alaric gasps dramatically. "Am I an embarrassment to you?"

"Oh my god Alaric," Luke sighs and shakes his head. "No. It's just that Jean shouldn't be mislead anymore. We share Lady as a mother. Two different fathers."

"My father isn't Windsor." Alaric confesses, "Lady was married to him and they were quite happy. But after they had a miscarriage and the lack of Windsor's time for Lady she started an affair with my real father. He was a warrior who was killed in battle fighting the Fide Clan. She said she loved my father, but his death and her miscarriage broke her. She abandoned me in a building and Windsor found me, neglected and starving. He adopted me and raised me as his own when she left to avenge my father. Lady walked away from her life to murder the leader of the Bellator Clan."

"Her plan was to kill my dad. She had the knife to his throat, but couldn't kill him. Over the next months he nourished her back to health and she 'fell in love' again." Luke sighs and shakes his head. "I don't believe she did, but none the less she had me only a year and a half after Alaric."

I press the palm of my hand to my forehead and shake it. "Wait, so Lady is both of your mothers. She was with Windsor, had a miscarriage, then had an affair with Alaric's dad. She gave birth to Alaric, his father died in battle, and Lady left to kill Luke's dad. She remarried him, gave birth to Luke and now she's with John!"

Alaric opens his mouth and I shake my head and turn around. Silence follows before a hand rests on my shoulder. Alaric smiles softly. "I'm sorry I never told you. It never came up."

I nod my head and hold the top of his hand. "It's alright, but I need to talk to Luke alone for a moment."

Alaric nods and let's his hand fall from my shoulder. I turn and stare into Luke's dangerously soft eyes. We wait for Alaric to be out of ear shot before I walk towards him.

Luke drops his head, "I'm sorry—"

"No." I spit furiously. "I haven't known Alaric for a long time. So, I understand why he didn't tell me, but you? You said you loved me and hid the fact you have a brother in a neighbouring clan. You could've sent me to him instead of letting me wait around. I could've been in a warm home, my sister and James would've been safe. But instead you let us wait in a cave for months!"

"Lady would've known I'd sent you to him! And he's a flirt!" Luke scoffs. "I would never send you to him. Lady would know and he's too immature to understand that you're taken."

"Do you think I'm that desperate? I don't need someone to validate myself." I shake my head, "I waited for you, pushed Alaric off of me, because I was in love with you!"

"Was?" Luke asked sceptically. His eyes dropped and voice lowered. "You don't anymore?"

My heart bleeds at the sound of his breaking. "No, we need time to regroup. We've been apart for a while."

Luke nods and walks past me, silence filling the buzzing void.

What is going on inside this man's head? First he's quiet, then defensive, angry and now upset. I can't get a read on him just like when I first met him... when he was trying to force his feelings into submission.

"Jean?" Alaric peeks around the trees. "Are you okay? I heard shouting and saw Luke leave upset."

I sigh and slam the heel of my hand into my temple. "I'll be fine. I'm exhausted is all." Alaric nods and opens an arm for me to walk into. Giving in I lean on him and shut my eyes.

"How about we go home?" Alaric asks as we head back to the others.

I nod and let a tear slip down my cheek. Home, that sounds nice.

《《《《《《《《》》》》》》》》

As we walk through the gates I watch the Fide Clan stare at Luke who holds a stone face. Alaric smiles and greets people. They're polar opposites and yet they're from the same woman.

As I scoot behind my mother I watch young women stare at Luke hungrily. My jaw clenches and stomach roll into a knot before I speed up to block their view of him. I don't blame them for looking, he's most definitely stunning. A strong body and heart, his mind as sharp as his reflexes. He's still amazing, just less so after last night's accusations.

Trotting past everyone I rush to our little home where Izzy sits on a chair waiting outside for us. Her eyes peak through her lashes as she springs up and runs to us. Mom slides out of the saddle ungraciously while Izzy's arms fly around her, both of them in tears.

I smile and drop the bags to the ground before leaving them to catch up on their own. I ride back to the stables where Alaric, Luke and James untack. Dismounting earns a glare from James and a smile from Alaric. Luke doesn't give me a second thought as a girl walks up to him and traces her finger up his forearm. She laughs and leans close to him, whispering something before winking and leaving. I feel sick. I untack and leave before Alaric or Luke can see the pain in my eyes or the darkness in my heart.

I built up this big expectation that when Luke and I got reunited it would be charmingly blissful and perfect. Yet, it's messy and disoriented. Every time around him I get dizzy and can't look him in the eyes without my subconscious criticizing me.

"I thought you and Luke were an item?" James asks as I pass him.

"What made you think that?" I keep my eyes down.

"Just an observation. Like how you were about to sacrifice Alaric for the sake of your own revenge and leave with Luke."

I gulp and try to tuck the guilt of his truth behind a mask. "I messed up, but I did do the right thing."

"Yeah, after Luke yelled at you."

"I didn't need him to yell at me for my decision to be my own!" I yell glaring up at James. "Please, leave it alone James. My hesitation is a fault, I never meant to betray the teams trust."

"Words mean nothing." James rolls a ball of dirt in between his dry fingertips.

I tilt my head away form him and control my breathing. The training ground only lays a few meters from us as an idea picks at the centre of my brain. I am not good at trying to make amends for my mistakes, but maybe he can forgive me if he gets his anger it out of his system. Fighting might help.

"Then let's not use words." I massage the palm of my hand. "Let's fight."

James nods immediately and starts walking. "It's a good excuse to finally be able to hit you."

I follow him until we come to a spot by the creek. He turns and raises his arms, his form assertive and direct.

I match his stance and bend my knees. "The first to fall onto the ground looses."

"Any restricted areas?" James asks impatiently.

I know I'll regret this, but he needs to get all of his anger out. "No restricted areas."

Immediately James lungs for me and I involuntarily take a step back. He takes another swing which I block and counter with a jab to his stomach. He knees me in the thigh before punching my ribs. I groan and block another aim to the face.

Why do I get the feeling that he's only warming up? I need to let him get a couple of good punches in.

Quickly, another hit is delivered to my ribs and I bend in pain. James' fist crushes into my cheek bone before a weaker one is thrown at my lip.

"You aren't trying your hardest." I can feel the blood drip down my chin while James takes a step back. "I want to beat you at your best."

I nod, "then don't hold back."

I take a fake step, but James doesn't open up for a clear shot. I throw a punch to his nose and he dodges, hitting me on the cheek. Wrapping my foot behind his I push and throw my elbow into his chest. He stumbles back but throws me down. We both avoid the ground and refuse to fall.

In the end I know I will loose because I need James to win. I need him to let me forgive myself.

Panting we stare daggers into each others eyes, I ignore the gnawing ache in my cheek and ribs. James runs at me and kicks my side. I hold his foot and smash mine into his before he brings back his leg and throws his elbow into my face. I back up and let my hand wander to the blood. He throws a punch, I duck and slide my elbow into his throat. James backs up and coughs as he grabs my hair and throws me off back, kneeing me in the stomach twice. I stumble and hold my ground as he grabs my arms. I don't resist and let him throw me into the creek.

The fresh, freezing water slips past my cloths and begins to clean my cuts and cool my bruises.

James turns away and scoffs. "This was a waste of time. Jean, punching you won't earn you my forgiveness. You have to prove your loyalty. Until then, stay out of my way."

I sigh and let my head fall into my hands. My body stings and my mind feels foggy. I've built my grave, and now I must lie in it.