rrick’s POV
I looked at my brother’s tense face, seeing the raw frustration barely contained beneath his controlled exterior.
"I understand your concerns about Harland," I said carefully. "But throwing him out isn’t the answer. He’s not actually a threat, Terrell. Angel doesn’t seem interested in him romantically."
"Not yet," Terrell shot back. "But he’s working on it. Playing the noble savior, filling her head with fears about the Alpha’s intentions." His jaw clenched. "What’s he going to do next? Sneak her out of the castle in the middle of the night? Stage so dramatic rescue?"
I stiffened at the image.
Because honestly, that did sound like exactly the kind of romantic, stupid thing a lovesick young man might attempt.
"That’s not going to happen," I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure I believed it.
"You don’t know that."
"And chasing him away will only make things worse," I argued. "It’ll make you look possessive and controlling. Make Angel question why you’re so threatened by his presence. It’ll escalate the situation when we should be de-escalating."
Terrell’s eyes narrowed. "So what do you suggest?"
"Tomorrow, everyone leaves. We continue our journey to Black Wolf territory, and we send Harland on his way. Separately. Give him directions to wherever he wants to go that isn’t with us, and let him make his own choices."
"And if Angel wants to go with him?"
"She won’t." I said it with more confidence than I felt. "I’ve been watching her, Terrell. She’s grateful to him, yes. She appreciates what he risked to find her. But there’s no attraction there. No romantic interest. She looks at you the way she should look at a potential partner. She looks at Harland like... a friend. Maybe not even that."
Terrell was quiet for a long mont, processing.
"If Angel suddenly refuses to leave with us tomorrow," he said finally, his voice becoming dangerous, "if sothing goes wrong, if Harland manages to manipulate her into running away with him - it’ll be on you, rrick. You could have stopped it tonight, and you chose not to."
"I’m choosing to trust that Angel is smarter than you’re giving her credit for," I corrected. "And that your connection to her is stronger than one conversation with an old acquaintance."
Terrell stared at for another mont, then turned and stord down the corridor without another word.
I closed the door, leaning against it.
I’d tried to project calm. Confidence. Control.
But the truth was, my brother’s paranoia was infectious.
What if Harland did try sothing stupid? What if Angel, scared and uncertain, decided that running away with soone who offered unconditional safety was preferable to continuing toward Black Wolf territory to her uncertain faith?
What if I lost my chance with her because I’d been too principled to simply throw a rival out into the night?
Stop it, I told myself firmly. You’re spiraling.
But sleep didn’t co easily after that.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the sa dread that must be eating at Terrell.
****
Morning ca too soon.
I’d managed maybe three hours of restless sleep before giving up entirely and getting dressed.
My first thought was of Angel.
I needed to see her. Needed to confirm she was still here, still planning to leave with us, still safely in my castle and not halfway to gods-knew-where with Harland.
I made my way to her room, knocking softly.
When she opened the door, she looked adorably sleep-rumpled - looking so beautiful, and wearing one of the nightgowns I’d provided.
"Lord rrick?" she mumbled, confused. "What ti is it?"
"Early," I admitted. "Too early, really. I apologize for waking you."
"Is sothing wrong?"
"No, nothing wrong. I just wanted to let you know that we’re leaving today. The storm has stopped, so we’ll be continuing our journey to Black Wolf territory."
She blinked. "Already? But the storm only just stopped. The roads will be terrible - mud and flooding and fallen branches."
"I know," I said gently. "But the sooner we get you to Black Wolf territory, the better."
For , specifically.
Because I need to know if you’re actually mine.
"I have more than enough horses and tents for everyone," I continued. "My people are already preparing supplies. You don’t need to worry about anything. Just rest a bit more, then get ready. We’ll depart in a few hours."
She nodded slowly. "Alright. Thank you for letting know."
I left her to sleep, though I suspected she wouldn’t be able to now.
The castle beca a hive of activity as morning progressed. Servants rushed about packing supplies, loading wagons, preparing horses. My warriors checked weapons and equipnt. Terrell’s pack did the sa.
I moved through it all, overseeing preparations while keeping one eye out for a young man who should have noticed all this activity by now.
But there was no sign of Harland.
Odd.
When it was finally ti to depart, everyone assembled in the main courtyard. Terrell’s people ford one group - warriors, generals, the priestess Sheena, Zach and Sera, Angel with Lyra hovering nearby. My people ford another - guards, servants, the supplies we’d be contributing for the journey.
I scanned the assembled faces again.
Still no Harland.
Terrell approached, his expression neutral.
"Brother," he said. "Are you alright?"
Sothing in his tone made my skin prickle.
I gestured for him to follow a few steps away from the main group.
"Have you seen Harland?" I asked quietly.
Terrell’s lips curved into a small smile. "He won’t be joining us."
Everything in went still.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing permanent," Terrell said, his tone almost cheerful. "He’s just... indisposed at the mont."
Terrell’s POV (Few hours earlier)
I’d found Harland in the guest wing just after dawn, already awake and dressed, apparently preparing for the day ahead.
When I knocked and entered his room, he looked up sharply.
He scanned my face with uncertain eyes, trying to determine if I was the brother who’d nearly killed him yesterday or the one who’d shown him hospitality.
The identical faces made it impossible to tell at a glance.
"Who are you?" he asked carefully.
"Soone who doesn’t like you," I replied flatly.
Recognition dawned. His body tensed, ready to defend himself if necessary.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to leave," I said simply. "To collect your things, walk out of this castle, and go sowhere that isn’t wherever Angel is going."
"I’m not leaving without her."
"You don’t have a choice."
"I have every choice." Harland’s jaw set stubbornly. "I ca here to protect her, and that’s what I’m going to do. You don’t have the authority to tell otherwise."
Oh, but I do.
I’m the Alpha whose mate you’re trying to steal.
But I couldn’t say that. Couldn’t reveal that much.
"Angel doesn’t need your protection," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "She has mine. She has the pack’s. She has resources and allies you can’t begin to match."
"She has people who are lying to her," Harland countered. "People who are using her for their own purposes. I’m the only one being honest with her about the dangers she faces."
My control slipped.
Just a fraction.
Just enough.
"Angel doesn’t need you," I repeated, my voice becoming dangerous. "She doesn’t want you. And you need to accept that and leave before you cause more problems."
"I’m not leaving without her," Harland said again, his voice rising. "I went through hell to get here - and the moon goddess brought her to again. I’m not abandoning her now just because you and your Alpha are threatened by my presence!"
"Threatened?" I laughed. "You think we’re threatened by a boy playing hero?"
"Then why are you here?" he challenged. "Why are you so desperate to get rid of if I’m not a threat?"
Because you’re making Angel doubt . Because you’re planting the seed of fear in her.
But I couldn’t say any of that.
So I hit him instead.
One clean strike to his jaw, delivered with enough force to make his head snap back and his knees buckle.
Harland collapsed to the floor, unconscious before he even finished falling.
I stood over him, breathing hard, my knuckles throbbing.
A guard happened to be passing in the corridor outside.
Perfect timing.
"You," I called out. "In here."
The guard entered, saw Harland on the floor, and his eyes went wide.
"Lock him in this room," I ordered, using my Alpha voice - the one that compelled obedience without question. "Secure it properly. He doesn’t go out of this room until Lord rrick returns from Black Wolf territory."
The guard hesitated for just a second. "My lord, shouldn’t we..."
"Those are your orders," I interrupted. "Follow them. Now."
"Yes, my lord."
****
rrick’s POV (Present)
I stared at my brother, filled with admiration.
"You hit him," I said flatly.
"I did."
"And locked him in his room."
"I did that too."
"He’s not dead, is he?"
Terrell smiled, like the question amused him. "No. He’s very much alive. Just... temporarily detained."
rrick grinned wildly. "I love you sotis, bro."
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