"The Elders are going to be pissed."

"He was the one who issued the challenge. I told him that I would call a meeting with the Elders but he refused."

David sighed and run a hand through his hair. He turned his head to stare in the direction Kyle's friends had carried him. They had disappeared from sight about five minutes ago. Another sigh fell from his lips.

"Do you need medical attention?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine." I glanced down at myself. "Most of the blood is his."

My eyes darted over to Calib who stood to the side. His head was bowed in respect but I noticed how his hands shook. The whip lay at his feet, untouched. I knew he was relieved that Kyle's challenge had prevented me from punishing his brother. They weren't going to get away with what they did. Their punishment was only being delayed.

"Calib?" David called softly. "Will you excuse us, please?"

"Of course."

I frowned when he walked off. David cleared his throat, drawing my attention towards him. His eyes darted over my face, down my body, and then locked with mine. I waited for him to say whatever he had on his mind. Instead of uttering a word, he reached out and gripped my shoulder. I stumbled slightly when he pulled me closer to him. After a few seconds of hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back.

For long seconds he just held me.

We had a lot of affection from our parents as we grew up. There wasn't a day that went by that they didn't tell us how much they loved us. Hugs became less and less but the words of love stayed. So it was a shock to have my father hugging me after so many years.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

He patted my back twice before pulling away. I tried to catch his eyes but he avoided looking at me. "You need to get cleaned up."

"Right."

The walk back to my house was done in silence. My mind constantly trailed to Silas. The doctor had assured me that his condition was stable but he couldn't give any guarantee that it would stay that way. His condition could worse at any moment. We could lose him at any moment. My chest tightened in pain.

The thought of losing him scared me. He might not be my favourite person in the world right now, but that didn't mean that I wished him dead. I loved my brother, contrary to what everyone believed. We had our problems like any other siblings—our problems were just a little worse than theirs.

Things between us changed when our parents started comparing us to each other. Silas had it worse because they were always telling him how they wished he was more like me.

"What the hell happened to you?" My mother asked the moment we stepped through the backdoor.

I glanced up at her and smirked. It was on the tip of my tongue to give her a smartass reply, but a shocked gasp reached my ears. I spun towards the sound. My stomach rolled when my eyes locked with Lara's. They were wide and filled with fear and something else. Her eyes dropped to my chest, making a whimper fall from her lips.

"Lara."

Her eyes suddenly rolled to the back of her head. I darted forward and caught her before she could hit the ground.

"I'll take her," David muttered as he stepped forward.

I clutched her tighter to my chest instead of handing her over. This was my chance to hold her again. Once she was awake I would never have the opportunity ever again. I guided her face to the crook of my neck before slipping my arm under her knees.

"Ethan—"

"I'll take her back to bed."

I tensed when both my fathers' stepped in front of me. My hold on Lara tightened and a growl fell from my lips. Devon flashed sharp teeth at me and took a step towards me.

"Devon," Mom said. "Let him pass."

He still hesitated. His eyes darted from me to Lara. I wished I could read his mind at the moment. Devon's hands fisted at his side and I wasn't the only one who noticed because David suddenly stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. He leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. Whatever he said made Devon snarl but he stepped to the side.

I risked one last glance at him then moved past him and down the hall towards the stairs. Lara barely stirred in my arms when I laid her down on the bed. I stared down at her for a few seconds and then turned but her voice made me freeze.

"You killed him," Lara whispered. "You killed him, didn't you?"

I turned around just as she threw herself at me. Small fists hit my chest over and over as sobs fell from her lips.

"Y-you killed him!" Lara screamed. "You killed him just like you killed our baby." She sucked in a sharp breath. "I hate you! I hate you!"

Each word she threw at me was like a knife stabbing into my heart. I knew she meant every word. I hurt her the worst way anyone possibly could. Her screams died down into whimpers and her words into sobs. She was hurting herself more than she was hurting me.

Grabbing her wrist gently, I guided her backwards to the bed. Lara fell onto the bed and tried to tug her wrist from my hold but I held on. I crouched in front of her with a slight wince when the healing injuring from my back pulled tight. Reaching up, I gently swiped my thumb under her eyes to catch a teardrop.

"P-please don't kill him."

I gave her a wry smile. "Rest peacefully, my beauty, knowing that I'm not going to hurt your mate."

Lara swallowed loudly. "Y-you hate h-him," she croaked.

"Hate is a very strong word. I sometimes despise my brother, but deep, deep down I still love him," I told her honestly.

"Why?"

I hesitated, feeling a little unsure of how much I should tell her. Sooner or later—depending on how long Silas stayed in a coma—our parents were going to force us to talk it out. If Silas decided to stay here, they would demand answers as to why there were so much animosity between us.

"Did he really sleep w-with your fiancé?"

I glanced away from her. Only few people knew about what had gone down in that cabin and I wanted to keep it that way. The less people who knew, the better. Instead I gripped her hands and gave them a squeeze before getting to my feet. Lara didn't fight me when I helped her back into the bed. I pulled the sheets over her once she laid down.

Reaching up, I moved strands of hair from her forehead. My hesitation only lasted a full second. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against her forehead. Lara didn't push me away like I expected her too. Her hands fisted my shirt and tugged me down slightly. Peace filled me as I breathed in her scent.

I wished I could stay like this with her forever.

"Who's blood is it, Ethan?"

Hearing her breathe my name made a shudder race down my spine.

"It's the blood of the men who attacked you."

"Are they dead?"

I pulled back to stare down at her. Lara's eyes were closed so I couldn't tell what she was thinking. My eyes dropped to her lips when they parted. The urge to kiss her was strong but I knew once I did, I wouldn't be able to stop.

She already wore my mark.

"No."

Her eyes snapped open and then widened when she realized how close we were. My eyes once again darted to her lips when she licked them.

"It's not my place to kill them. They harmed you and therefore—by pack law—only Silas has the right to kill them if he wishes to."

"And if he doesn't make it?"

I swallowed. "Then you can decide what happens to them."

"Will you kill them for me Ethan?"

Her question left me completely speechless. I sucked in a deep breath and then managed a nod. "I'll do anything for you, beauty."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

Lara's eyes darted over my face. My heartbeat increased when her eyes stopped on my lips. I licked them as I waited in anticipation for her to tell me what she wanted from me. Her eyes fluttered closed as she raised her head. Lara's lips softly brushed mine, but before I could deepen the kiss, she pulled away.

"Will you stay away from me?"