Chapter 4

The two men, who are most definitely brothers now I've seen them in the same room together, clash immediately. Kage is somehow calmer than Kyle, which is slightly unnerving given that Kyle is always so laid back and calm. I've never seen Kyle raise his voice, never mind show literal rage.

I couldn't speak, my throat felt more dry than the desert. Part of me wanted to say something, to somehow justify the situation for them, and yet I couldn't, it wasn't my place. Whatever history they have, it's clearly messy, and truth be told I don't think I want to be in the middle of that.

Having witnessed two grown wolves rip each other to pieces over pride, I could barely breath right now. My anxiety and fear was kicking in, the urge to run growing stronger as the tension skyrockets.

"Why are you here?" Kyle speaks through gritted teeth, his fists clenching the edges of the oak table. I could hear the wood splintering under his iron grip, his anger brewing under the surface.

"Worry more about this one, she's about to have a panic attack." Kage retorts calmly, yet with the same hard, unwavering demand as earlier today.

His words are true, my heart was beating rapidly, and even though breathing is natural, it seems I'm struggling to remember how to inhale. This only serves to panic me further, assuming I'm about to die.

"Don't tell me how to take care of my girlfriend." Kyle sneers at him, a hint of possessiveness in his growl.

"Did you miss the part where I said she's about to have a panic attack?" Kage responds, his tone sarcastic. At least he has emotions, not a sociopath then.

Ignoring the two stupid, arrogant males unwilling to bend their pride, I clamber to my feet on slightly shaky legs. Despite feeling dizzy, like the world is slowing around me, I manage to get out of the kitchen and find another room, away from the tension, away from the inevitable blood shed.

Locking the door behind me, I slide to the floor and focus on my breathing, in and out, slow, covering my ears to block out the sound of the two wolves arguing.

"Breathe." I exhale the little amount of oxygen I've managed to get in my lungs.

Chanting the word silently in my head, I pay all my attention to my lungs, forcing myself to calm, to allow the oxygen into my body, to recognise it. After a while it works, and I rest my head back against the door. I decide to wait until they've stopped arguing, but after almost an entire hour spent inside this closet I couldn't stand it anymore.

So I open the door and silently head back to the kitchen, only to be knocked aside as one of them flip the goddamn in my direction. Not expecting the blow, I attempt to jump out of the way, only to hit something hard and drag it down with me.

Instant silence fills the room, the air becoming eerie. Naturally I tense as I realise that it's not Kyle I smell under me, and yet my body feels more comfortable on the Alpha, as if I'd been drawn to him, I melt against the mans larger body.

One second I'm laying awkwardly on the bulk man, and the next he's somehow lifting me to my feet despite being under me a split second ago. I blink in surprise, staring at our joint hands as he makes sure I'm balanced.

Tan, rough and large, old scars stain the surface of his skin. I didn't speak, it was like every atom in my soul was perfectly balanced in this moment, finally at peace, and it's because of him.

"Adrielle, get away from him." Kyles growl resonates the room, his tone dark with fury.

As if a cloak of protection had settled over me, his growl simply goes over my head, having zero affect on me. Kage is the one that moves away, so sudden that one would think I'd just stabbed him. The moment he lets go of my hand, my skin crawls, feeling the tension that almost instantly fills my entire body.

Uncertain of my own actions, I quickly move closer to Kyle, who is barely containing his rage. Wrapping my arms around his violently shaking body, I attempt to soothe him in some way.

"Just breathe." I murmur, pressing my head into his chest, partially reassuring myself that I'm safe. It feels strange, I've never had any reason to be frightened of Kyle before, and suddenly I feel weary of him, of his anger.

Maybe he's angry at me, after all I let Kage in the house, I didn't have to tell Kyle that he came by, I should have just kept my mouth shut.

What feels like hours pass, I wait tensely against Kyles chest, until finally he rests his hands on my waist. The small gesture assuring me he's in control. Part of me felt a little relieved, the other parts of me didn't have such feelings, somehow it felt wrong to be near him.

"Are you alright?" Kyle voices quietly, as if he doesn't want his brother to hear him check on me. Perhaps he's worried Kage will see him as weak?

"I'm fine." I murmur, giving him a small smile, glancing over his still hard features. What's the deal between him and Kage?

"I can leave if you want to talk to him alone." I offer softly, to be polite and consider his feelings, also to ease my own uneasiness around them both.

Kyle immediately furrows his eyebrows, staring down at me with softened baby blue eyes. Any girls weakness.

"No, I've said all I needed to say." Kyle states firmly, his voice like ice as he directs the words to his brother.

I remain silent, saying nothing.

"Make this choice wisely, brother." Kage grunts, his voice deep. Does his voice have a hint of pleading in it, or is that just me?

Kyles blue eyes flicker from mine momentarily.

"I have, brother. My life is full, I have everything I've ever wanted and needed, your offer means nothing to me." Kyle says, his tone calm and blunt.

I didn't understand their conversation, but somehow I felt bad for Kage, as if Kyle is somehow hurting him. I'll admit, I'm curious as to what Kage offered Kyle, but at the same time I know Kyle won't tell me.

I could somehow feel the stare of icy eyes on me, as if a magnetic force is attempting to turn me around so I'll look at him. I didn't, I couldn't.

"She will be at risk." Is all Kage says, careful with his choice of words.

"Adrielle is none of your concern, last I checked you cared only for your survival, don't play the hero now." Is Kyles bitter response, a harsh blow I'll admit.

Again, my silence is loud. I don't know Kage, it's not like I can defend anything Kyle is saying even part of me feels obliged to do so. Stop thinking like this Adrielle, he's your boyfriends brother! I mentally scold myself.

"As you wish." Kage speaks through gritted teeth, clearly wanting to demand Kyles compliance, and somehow I believe he could.

Kyle is a beta to my knowledge, given they're blood related means Kage has the ability to command Kyle even if they're not of the same pack anymore. Yet he chooses not to, he gives Kyle his free will.

I felt the moment Kage left. My skin becomes cold, and the empty feeling returns to my chest, as if his presence had somehow fixed me a little. I felt more myself, and for that I'm partially relieved even if my wolf whimpers inside me.

"I'm sorry about earlier, I never meant to hurt you like that." Kyle whispers, wrapping his arms around me, squeezing gently. I return his warm hug, knowing he needs to know I'm still here.

"It was an accident, it's ok." I say softly, running my fingers through his hair when he buries his head into my shoulder.

We stand there for a while, before I decide the kitchen needs cleaning. Kyle does most of the work, telling me to sit down, I don't listen obviously. Once the kitchens clean Kyle fixes us both a sandwich and some snacks, apologising for ruining the dinner I'd prepared. Like always I brush it under the rug, shrugging it off as I snuggle into his side, watching some boring programme about cars.

Soon I feel my eyelids grow heavy, a sudden wave of tiredness washing over me. Instead of fighting it, I let myself drift off.