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JARIS
The Elders were already waiting in the meeting room before I arrived. The look on their faces wasn’t good at all,
I expressed concern when I noticed Luca’s state. The man was badly bruised, like he had gotten into an accident or something.
A hint of what the problem might be crossed my mind, and I didn’t like it.
“What’s going on?” I remained standing at the head of the table.
Somehow, Luca looked angry at me. But it seemed he was too scared of me to act it.
“I was attacked, Alpha Jaris. And you wouldn’t believe who it was.”
I said nothing, prompting him to continue.
“Someone from the dead.” My hand slowly curled into a fist. “Your brother.”
I experienced a profound chill deep inside, like frost settling over the warmth of my heart.
I’d seen it coming. But getting to confirm it was another feeling on its own.
My expression remained impassive. The Elders might easily think I don’t care, but they didn’t know the war taking place in my head.
“What is this, Alpha Jaris?” Another Elder asked. “We thought your brother was dead?! We–We thought he died around the same time your father did?”
I said nothing, still, keeping my raging thoughts under my tongue.
“Caden is alive,” someone else scoffed. “That means we’re in trouble.”
“It’s possible he was the one that got the Feeders released and has been controlling them.”
“He’s been behind all these attacks!”
“He’s going to want to come for all of us! I thought we had gotten rid of this boy?”
Lobserved with a numbing rage as they talked about my brother like he was a beast. For years, that was what everyone knew him as.
Caden was different from a normal wolf. His wolf needed blood to survive. He wasn’t just a Feeder; he was way worse than
one.
His claws were poisonous and could easily kill someone when scratched in the wrong spot–like the heart, the middle of the forehead and other vital parts of the body.
And the worst part? It was impossible to kill him. Unless someone of his kind did.
But eight years ago, the Elders thought somehow, he’d managed to be killed. They didn’t know he’d only been imprisoned by me and had long escaped.
They had every reason to worry. Caden was a monster to them.
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“What did he say to you?” I asked, my gaze pinned on Luca.
“Nothing. He just told me it’s been a long time since he saw me and was trying to say hi.” I caught the guilt in the man’s
eyes.
Growing up, Luca had loved my brother and I. But his love for my brother started dwindling when he noticed he was more trouble than me.
It became worse when he felt I was smarter, stronger and had more potential.
Caden was, no doubt, angry that Luca supported his demise.
“I look better than I was hours ago when the attack happened, Jaris. I–I could’ve been with my family. Who knows what he‘ d have done to them.”
“But how did this happen?” Someone else asked. “Alpha Jaris, can you explain to us how your brother is alive?”
****++****++
LYRIC
I woke up with a heavy ache in my head, my eyes hurting.
When I opened my eyes, the brightness in the room attempted to blind me. I squeezed my eyes shut, whimpering from the pain I felt in my limbs and bones.
My hands and legs felt strained and locked.
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Managing to adjust my eyes to the brightness of the room, I realized I was sitting on a chair, my hands behind it and my legs bound to the chair.
I went into panic mood, wondering how the hell I got in this strange room.
Then, the memories came–the accident, Jaris‘ brother.
I gasped at the recollection of his brother. I thought he was dead.
“H–Hello?” I called out in the empty room, struggling with the ropes around my wrists. “Is anyone there?”
I didn’t get any response.
But the door was left open. Someone should’ve heard me.
I continued struggling with the binds, but it was useless. There was no way I could cut therm apart without help.
My pulse fastened when I heard multiple footsteps.
Soon, four men showed up at the door. I swallowed thickly down my throat.
He was there. I couldn’t see their faces yet, but I just knew he was there.
Why would they bring me here?
My body hurt. I needed to see a doctor.
They came forward. When they got to the middle of the room, the other three stood behind while the fourth one continued approaching me.
I let out a small whimper. I didn’t like the look of this.
“Lyric,” he drawled as he dropped to a crouch before me. “Did you enjoy your sleep?”
Having a close look at his face, something clicked. It sent a cold feeling of dread down my spine.
This face… I’d seen it before.
Silver eyes, gold hair, the small scar on his throat….
I’d seen him before.
I gasped when the time and place clicked in my head.
The hospital in Mystopia! The unconscious man I siphoned awake; the one that led to the death of my supervisor and the Executioners coming after me.
He was Jaris‘ brother?! What the hell?
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