Blood Legacy Chapter 119: 117. The DarkHart boys

No. It couldn't be real. It wasn't possible.

His vision turned blurry, fallen into a trance as he watched that suit-clad and imposing figure determinedly approach him, his strides firm yet unhurried.

It looked exactly like him. This ghost, this heart-stopping apparition looked exactly like him. It had his aura. His refined gait. That assertive way of his, that confident and calculative look constantly present in his dark eyes. This...demon or whatever it was, was managing to emulate his brother so perfectly that it was scaring him. It was scaring the living crap out of him. He could feel those tiny hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, his heart banging with urgency. Yet his body remained rigid and locked in place, his eyes still wide and wet with tears as he stared at the figure that now towered over him.

He'd come to punish him. Make him pay for his sins. This thing standing before him was his own personal hell. It had to be. A nightmare tailored specifically for him.

He'd wronged. He'd lied and deceived, stolen and hurt. And now it was time for him to pay. He was so sure of it. He'd lost his way. He'd strayed so far away from his brother's diligent teachings, those morals and values he'd tried so hard to ingrain within him. He'd angered the Goddess. He must've. And now she was punishing him by sending this demon wearing the face of the only being he'd ever truly loved.

"*Nate*,"

He could hear his own wheezing breaths along with a ceaseless ringing, that male voice drowned out and barely distinguishable.

He hopelessly eyed that open palm stretched out into a silent invitation for him to reach out and grab onto, eyelids fluttering as his gaze slowly rose. He wanted to cry. Maybe even beg for mercy.

This was torture. Raw and punishing torture. And it hurt. It hurt so fucking much it made him want to howl with agony.

*Why?* Why him? Why did it had to be him?

"I'm sorry...I'm so fucking sorry..." he pathetically sobbed with despair, head mildly shaking before his tears started to fall.

The demon watched him, dark brows furrowing as he seemed to assess his state. And with a rather warm and weirdly compassionate tone he softly said,

"Nate, it's really me. I'm here,"

He faltered at the sound of that, lips escaping a shaky exhale whilst his brows furrowed. He stared up at the mirage resembling his brother for a moment, hesitating.

What? What did he mean by that?

He blinked, his gaze lost and confused as he turned his head to look at his packmates. They all seemed positively shocked. His Beta was blankly staring at Darius' silhouette, frozen and unresponsive whilst his mate clung to his arm, visibly scared and even worried. His warriors weren't faring any better either. Estefany was lying unconscious over the soft trimmed grass, with her mate and Zara trying to wake her up whilst Brie simply sat next to them, crying like a scared little child.

*Wait. They can see him too*, it finally dawned upon him. And with that frown still etched onto his features he averted his attention back to that vivid mirage that looked exactly like his brother, his hand shaky and hesitant as he reached out to grab onto his arm.

His wolf immediately reacted in response, the very moment they touched, finally able to feel his brother's. It was him. It really was him.

His eyes were wide, confused and reeling with disbelief as he rose up to his feet with the help of his brother, now really staring as if he'd seen a ghost.

Was this true? Was this really him?

He timidly reached out to touch his clean-shaved cheek, sucking in an astounded breath the very moment he felt his warm skin underneath his fingertips, that fraternal connection between them flaring to life.

His chin trembled, gazing up into his brother's eyes like a lost child that had finally reunited with his parent. And with a choked sob he threw himself into his arms, bursting into tears.

He cried his heart out whilst his brother held him, his familiar scent making him feel like a little boy again.

He was back. It really was him.

He was here. He really was here. He still couldn't understand how it was possible, after all these years... But he was here. He was here now. Standing right in front of him.

"Dar-" he choked on another sob, barely able to control himself as he ceaselessly cried in his brother's arms.

"It's okay, Nate. I'm here now. I'm right here with you," he soothingly said, his voice trembling.

Nathan's lips parted to let out a shaky exhale, pulling back to have another look at his brother. He still couldn't believe it. He was here! How was he here? He wanted to ask. He really wanted to.

But unfortunately, he didn't get to as suddenly and out of nowhere, Darius' black eyes widened, rapidly blinking before he let out a choking sound.

Nathan's heart jumped with alarm, scared and worrying as he looked at his brother's reddening and strained expression with panic.

What? What was going on?

"She's not breathing!" He forced out between stifled breaths, Nathan's eyes widening with astonishment.

"W-wha-"

"Nate, she's not breathing!" He stared at his brother, thoroughly lost. Until he noticed him darting straight towards Carina's slumped and meek silhouette, his arms gently wrapping around her before he took her in his arms and then placed her over the plushy grass.

Nathan was still failing to understand what just happened, having yet to react as he stood there, watching his brother start performing CPR on Carina's unresponsive form.

Jess and David were already at her side too, fretting about and trying to help with anything they could whilst Darius repeatedly pressed his large palms over her fragile chest, pausing only to blow breaths of life into her mouth.

"Come on, kitten...I know you can do this,"

Another few chest compressions. Another few blowing breaths into her mouth.

"Come on, kitten, I'm here now. I'm right here with you,"

"Come on, baby, breathe,"

There was something odd about his brother's reaction. About the way he was speaking to her. That term of endearment he kept using to call her. That raw desperation in his voice as he practically begged for her to come back. It sounded almost as if he-

Her chest suddenly convulsed and she sputtered out, letting out tormented coughs as she turned to lay on her side, her eyes though still closed.

Darius let out an audibly relieved breath and closed his eyes for a moment, Nathan's frown though deepening as he continued to watch this scene unfold before him with growing intrigue.

He watched his brother gingerly gather Carina's much smaller and delicate body in his arms as if she was the most precious thing he'd ever encountered in his life, his gaze uncharacteristically tender and filled with worry as he peered upon her. And with soft and careful moves, he raised himself up to his feet and strode away, with her safely cradled in his embrace.