Silas
“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”
A punch to the cheek made my head snap back. Pain shot through me when the back of my head made contact with the hard ground. Another punch had my head snapping to the side. I growled but it was cut off by another punch. The next punch he threw was a miss because I managed to jerk my head to the left. He muttered a curse and shook his pulsing hand. It was the distraction I was waiting for.
I threw out my arm and elbowed him in the chin. His head snapped back with a grunt. I used his unbalanced state to roll us over. He hissed at me and flashed sharp teeth. I managed to jerk my arm back before his teeth could sink into my skin, but it also meant that I left an opening for him.
His punch had me flying backwards. I hit the ground with a grunt and before I could react his body was once again on me. I heard the crack when his fist connected with my cheekbone seconds before the pain washed through me. My stomach rolled and my head started to swim. Nausea filled me and the blood filling my mouth only made it worse.
The last thing I saw before I faded into darkness was my brother tackling the boy on top of me.
***
“It’s definitely broken.”
“How long until it heals?”
“About three weeks. That’s if he doesn’t get into another fight before that.”
“Thank you doctor.”
Heavy footsteps and then the door opened and closed softly before silence filled the room. I sucked in a breath and instantly winced. Every part of my body ached. I slowly opened my eyes and stared up at the ceiling. My left eye was swollen shut and my right eye only opened halfway. My mother’s scent drifted towards me when she moved closer. Time to face her wrath.
I slowly turned my head towards her. She was hovering next to my bed with her eyes focused on my hand. My fingers twitched before I curled my hand into fists. The bruised skin pulled tight across my knuckles. I blew out a breath when her soft hand closed around my fist.
“This has to stop Silas,” she said softly. “You can’t go around starting fights like this.”
“He started it,” I muttered. “I was about to walk away but he wouldn’t let up.”
If he had kept his mouth shut, I would’ve walked away, but he just had to open his stupid mouth. Rage filled me again but I quickly forced it down. I was doing okay. I would’ve had him on his ass within seconds if his buddies hadn’t showed.
“Silas—”
The bedroom door was suddenly slammed open and in walked my fathers. They were both glaring at me. My mother sighed and stepped away from me. I instantly missed her reassuring touch. With a sigh of my own, I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position. My mother was by my side, stuffing pillows behind my back.
“Thanks.”
“Val, can we talk to him alone please?”
“I don’t need to leave for that. He’s my son too you know. I—”
“Val,” father interrupted.
She gave me a small smile before walking past them and out of the room. My heartbeat increased when they turned back towards me. My eyes dropped. The waves they were sending towards me was the same waves Ethan used on the pack members. He had inherited everything from them.
My fists clenched. “He started it.”
“I don’t give a fuck who started it. You’re an Alpha. It’s your job to keep the peace and not start fights!”
“I’m not an Alpha,” I muttered, raising my head to glare at them. “We both know that I will never be an Alpha. That’s Ethan’s job.”
“I don’t like the fact that you’re dragging our family name through the mud.”
“You’re mother has worked her ass off to gain the respect of this pack, especially the elders,” Devon said softly as he took a step closer. “This isn’t the first time you started a fight.”
“I didn’t—”
“Shut up!” he yelled, instantly silencing me. “I’ve had enough of your reckless behaviour. What are you hoping to get out of this? Why do you always go out and start fights that you can’t even finish?”
My head snapped up as his words penetrated my mind. “I would finish them if Ethan didn’t always interrupt—”
“If he didn’t do what he does you would’ve been dead by now!” David’s face has turned red. His hands were clenched at his side.
My eyes locked with his for a few seconds before dropping. His eyes were flashing between black and brown. His wolf was close to the surface. I pursed my lips and glanced away from them. My eyes dropped to my fisted hands on my lap.
What was so special about him? Why was he always being praised? Why was he always getting all the attention? The great Ethan, future Alpha and son of Devon and David. The twin who can shift like everyone else in the pack. The one who always got straight A’s and stayed out of trouble.
“Why can’t you be more responsible like Ethan?” Devon asked softly. “You’re eighteen Silas. You need to start making the right decisions.”
David moved towards the door. He gripped the handle but turned again. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before darting over to me.
“You’re being punished with the whip. The boys’ father requested it as punishment.”
“What about Ethan?” I asked. “Will he be punished to?”
“No,” he growled. “You started the fight and you will be punished.”
The door slammed shut behind him. I stared at the door for a few seconds before glancing over at Devon. He was staring down at the floor. Devon sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair.
“We’ll see you at the podium in half an hour.”
“You’re punishing me in front of everyone?”
“Yes.” He glanced up at me. “It was either that or have his father whip you himself. Your mother won’t help you either, Silas. If you just listen then we wouldn’t have to punish you like this.”
