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"The other time was when Rosie was still a little girl," Javier continued. "When our parents died, we were left in our previous alpha's care. Alpha Dorian was a cruel man, and he decided I'd be next in line for the role of alpha."
"Alpha Dorian was an asshole," Raph piped in. "He was ruthless, aggressive, and didn't have a compassionate bone in his body."
"That he was," Javier agreed. "His idea for training me was to beat me down bloodied and broken until I developed enough rage to fight back. He wanted to make sure I'd be just like him."
"That sounds awful," I said, not liking the sound of their childhood. My heart broken for the younger Javier and Rosie for having to endure that. "Was he like that with Rosie too?"
Javier shook his head. "Nope, he couldn't care less about Rosie. All he wanted was his heir. After years of his cruel and violent training, I was ashamed to admit that I was starting to become like him. I kept my distance from everyone and lashed out at those who couldn't follow the simplest of orders. That was when Rosie couldn't stand by and watch without saying something. She demanded I snap out of it, to go back to the brother I used to be."
Javier's gaze dropped to the ground, and I could see his jaw tighten. "I shouted at her. It was the first time that ever happened. She looked at me with fear, thinking I may hurt her. It broke my heart. Before I had the chance to say something, she ran away from me."
"She came to my place," Raph added. "She ran to the house crying and shaking like a leaf. My brothers and I told her we'd look after her. When Javier came to retrieve her, I gave him quite the earful, didn't I, Javier?"
Javier grinned up at him. "You sure did, and I deserved it. I begged for Rosie's forgiveness. I realized what Alpha Dorian was doing to me, and how much it was hurting my little sister. I didn't want that to happen again. I didn't want to lose her. So, you see, I know what it feels like to think you've failed your sibling repeatedly. There's one thing you need to remember, Kao; Kai is still here. He's here, he's safe, and so is Rosie. You didn't fail him, and you won't fail Rosie."
Javier stepped closer to me then stretched out a hand for me to take. I reached out clasping my hand into his, and Javier pulled me to my feet. He then gripped my arms with both hands and gave them a firm squeeze. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Rosa tonight, so listen closely.What makes you fail is if you give up entirely. You want to prove yourself, then do it, but don't prove it to your brother or to Rosalinda. Prove it to yourself, because that's really the crux of your problems, Kao. You failed yourself and only you can redeem yourself."
If only I knew how I could redeem myself. Part of my problem was that I wasn't strong enough. The obvious answer would be to train, but I didn't have anybody who could help me, or did I? I looked from Raph to Javier, hesitant to speak up but seeing as how they've helped be this far, the least I could do was open up the rest of the way. The worst they could say was no.
"Would, um..." I took a deep breath. "Would one of you be willing to help me train?"
The two alphas exchanged glances at each other as if silently debating on their answer. I held my breath and waited. They nodded before Raph looked my way and smiled. "I'll help you."
I exhaled loudly, relieved that one of them accepted.
"We may be spending a lot of time together, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep up with our strength," Raph said.
I clapped my hands in front of me and wai to him. "Thank you so much. I promise I won't let you down."
Raph smirked. "I know you won't. Just be ready, I may seem easy going, but I can be a pretty strict trainer."
I stood tall with my fists at my side. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
When the conversation ended, Raph and Javier left me to find my brother and mate. If they were still going at it, I hoped I wouldn't interrupt them. Maybe they'd let me join them. The last time it was the three of us in bed, it was hot and exciting for all of us. I never imagined sharing a woman with my twin would turn me on so much. Even now at the memory of it, my cock was threatening to rise and demand attention. I walked along the edge of the water, keeping my eyes open for Kai and Rosie. When I found them, I admittedly was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to make their love making into a threesome. Rosie and Kai looked to have finished and were curled up on the grass, still naked and reeking of sex and salt water, but at least they looked peaceful.
I gave them a serene smile, grateful to have them at my side. This was why I wanted to protect them, why I didn't want to let them down. I took one look at them, and I could see my future. One that included them and Joaquin, back in Kingsrose running the pack and the business together. Full moon runs as a unit, Rosie going back to dancing, me possibly joining her dances, maybe even a litter of pups of our own. I didn't care who fathered them, if Rosie ended up pregnant, I knew Kai, Joaquin and I would be there for the pup. There was only one thing missing from that future, and that was Joaquin. I wanted to get him back too, it was just as personal for me as it was for both of them that we rescue him. Joaquin saved my twin, and that was something I'd always be grateful for.
I didn't know what the right decision was for us; to keep searching for any information about the Wolf Moon's gift, or to hide out in the Blue Moon Pack. If it were up to me, I would rather stay and fight, but I also knew we weren't ready. I wonder if we would ever be ready? Rosie mated with me, which meant I was now connected with the gift as well. Even now, I could feel a unique energy source flowing through my body. What was this gift? I stared up at the moon as if it could give me a clue. When no answer came to me, I scowled at the offending satellite.
"I don't know if I deserve to have this gift, whatever it is, but I promise not to take it lightly," I said softly. "Mother Moon, please watch over us. Help us, guide us, give us a sign. Watch over us."
I gave one last look to Kai and Rosie before walking past them towards the campsite, deciding to let them sleep there for the night.
JOAQUIN
Being held prisoner didn't leave me with a sense of time. I wasn't sure how long it'd been since the betas I once led tackled and captured me: days, weeks, a month, a year. I briefly remembered the beginning of Pierce's torture to try to get me to spill where Rosie and the twins were going, but thankfully, I didn't know. I didn't know anything anymore other than pain. I hadn't been able to properly heal in too long. The effects of the wolfsbane gas were keeping my heartrate too low for my wolf to recover, which left me feeling drained and carrying all the stab and slash wounds from Pierce's knives.
Despite how much everything hurt, I couldn't regret my choices that led me here. I could handle it, but I didn't think Kai would. Pushing him out the way came naturally. I didn't care about my life, I only cared about Rosie and the others escaping. Now that I thought about it, I did regret a few things. I regretted fighting with Rosie about stopping Pierce. She was right, he had to be stopped, but I was too busy thinking of Pierce as that little pup who walked into my life in tow of his villainous father. I regretted not being able to reach Pierce before his father turned him into the alpha he was today. I regretted getting captured because Pierce already knew that Rosie wouldn't last being away from me for very long since we've claimed each other.
My only hope was that Rosie could find something useful about the Wolf Moon's gift before it's too late.
I heard the door swinging open followed by footsteps coming down to the cellars. I half expected it to be Byron with scraps of food, or Sabina since I hadn't seen her since the full moon disaster. I knew she didn't run off with the others, which meant she had to have been around, right? Pierce's smell registered before his presence was facing me. I made sure to quell my disappointment and unease at seeing him. It meant moreplaytime, as he liked to call it.
"How are you feeling, brother?" Pierce asked coldly.
"We... are not brothers," I managed to get out, my voice sounding hoarse.
"That's right, you never did like to acknowledge me as a brother."
