35. Charlie

35

Charlie

The pain searing through my shoulder is causing me to see stars. I heard Jackson attack Ax, and I must’ve blacked out. There is a thrum of relief when I realize I’m in the safe room. Someone must’ve moved me to the small cave. I sit up and look at my brother as I rub my shoulder. Another wave of relief rolls through me to know he’s safe. It’s followed closely by confusion.

“I thought you were dead?” My voice is hoarse as I continue to rub away the extra bite of pain from being thrown to the floor. “Ryan, why haven’t you come back to me? How are you alive?” I’m pressing up to stand, my desperation, giving me strength as I step closer to my brother.

He stays stock still as he stares at the sealed wall that keeps us safe from what I’m assuming is sheer violence. I try again, wondering why he won’t look at me.

“Ryan?” I want to touch him, but it’s starting to scare me that he hasn’t moved. He hasn’t made a sound. It seems unnatural for someone to be so still.

This close, I can tell he’s leaner than before, his clothes hanging off him. His skin is a sickly pale color with some bruising.

“Rose?” His sneer and tone of voice have my hand and body pulling back so quickly that I stumble over the rug. My brother has never talked to me like that, and he’s never sounded so angry.

‘This is not Ryan. He is not the same,’ my wolf says.

He turns slowly, his top lip pulled up over his teeth. His eyes are pinched with anger. Without my consent, my feet take two more steps back. He follows my movements like a predator stalking his prey, his lips gaining a smirk of satisfaction at my fear.

His hand comes up to pick at his teeth, “You know, they trained me for this moment.” His voice is filled with loathing as he takes another step forward. His body is tight, and his hands clench.

‘You need to remind him,’ my wolf tries.

But I’m frozen between crying and running. My eyes flash behind him to the locked door. A smile twists his mouth as he looks to the door. Then he looks back at me, shaking his head.

“Ryan, it’s me. It’s Rose.” My words are stuttered as I try to hold my tears at bay, “I found my treasure brother. My greatest adventure has been finding myself, just like you wanted.” My voice quakes and cracks with each word while I try to jog his memory. “I did this all for you. I did this for you, Ryan.”

He takes two more steps. His dark eyes pinch in slightly, but just as quickly, he takes a threatening posture and crowds me. My back is now pressed to the wall.

“Please, remember me,” I beg, tears streaming down my cheeks.

‘Jackson, Jackson, help!’ My wolf tries to connect to his. With one more step, Ryan is within arm’s length, and he brings his hand up to my throat. It’s not in my instincts to fight back against the one person who always protected me, so my training kicks in a minute too late as I try to duck out of his grasp.

His hand wraps firmly around my neck, slamming my head to the wall as I say, “Please, I love you. You’re my brother.” The last words are choked out as his grip cuts off my airway.

Ryan slides my body up the wall as he easily lifts me from the floor. My hands shift to claw at his arms. My wolf presses to shift.

I fight her because I don’t want to kill my brother. The fur starts on my fingers as I let her take control.

“Don’t shift!” My brother screams in my face, his spit hitting my cheeks. The lack of oxygen has spots dancing along my vision.

The room darkens as I attempt to loosen his hold one more time. My hands are red and bloody. ‘I love you,’ my last thought is whispered to my mate, hoping our bond will save me as darkness fills my vision and my arms slide from my brothers.