Derick's POV

Yesterday's attack was still etched in my mind, the chaos, the fear, and the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. It had been years since we’d faced an assault like that, and none of us, least of all me—had been prepared. I had failed to keep it together, especially when Liam wasn’t around. The pack relied on him, not me.

I’ve always known I’m not meant for this life. I love the pack, there’s no question about that, but I’ve never felt the need to lead it. I don’t have the same fire in my chest as Liam does.

My dream has always been different, one where I marry Macy and leave Waterfalls behind. A life where the weight of leadership doesn’t crush me.

I sat in the living room, glancing at the door every few seconds, waiting for Liam to return. Mom had mentioned he was dealing with business in the neighboring packs, and my stomach churned at the thought. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to face him after the way I’d snapped yesterday.

Thirty minutes later, the door creaked open, and Liam stepped in, his exhaustion clear in the lines of his face. He wasn’t alone. Greg trailed behind him, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something I couldn’t place.

Without hesitation, I stood and walked toward them. “Liam, welcome home,” I greeted, my voice more strained than I intended. I had no idea how this conversation would go, but I had to try.

"Can I talk to you?” I asked, stopping him in his tracks. His face was neutral, unreadable.

For a long moment, he just stared at me. I took a deep breath, pushing past the tension that thickened the air between us.

“Alpha, I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did, especially not in front of everyone,” I said, my words coming out more sincere than I had expected. “I was scared, Liam. I panicked. You weren’t here, and it felt like everything was slipping through our fingers. I’m sorry.”

Liam’s expression softened, and I could see the calm that always surrounded him. "Derick, it’s alright," he said in that steady tone of his that always seemed to make everything feel less chaotic.

"I know you didn’t mean it. Everyone was under pressure. You were worried. We all were. Besides, you handled things well yesterday. I’m proud of you."

His words hit me harder than I expected. A rare smile tugged at my lips. No matter what happened, he was still my brother—my Alpha—and his approval meant the world to me.

But when I pulled him into a hug, he stiffened. The sudden change in his demeanor didn’t go unnoticed. I pulled away, concern tightening my chest.

“Are you alright?” I asked, searching his eyes for something, anything that would explain the tension in his stance. For a brief moment, I thought I could feel Rage, his wolf, near the surface. But that was impossible. It couldn’t be.

“I’m fine, Derick,” Liam replied, his voice a little too strained. “I’ll head to my room now.”

With that, he turned and walked away, Greg at his heels, his eyes scanning the room like he was on edge.

Something wasn’t right with Liam. I could feel it.

---

Liam's POV

Greg and I had been out of the pack early dealing with business, and by the time we returned, exhaustion weighed down on me like a thousand-pound stone. The last thing I had expected was Derick waiting for me, offering an apology. But I appreciated it.

Still, when he hugged me, Rage stirred inside me. The wolf’s irritation, his jealousy, surged through me. The bond with our mate, the connection we shared, had created a firestorm inside me. But the worst part was that Derick had claimed her first.

“Liam, you need to fix this,” Rage growled inside my mind. “I can’t bear it anymore. The fact that he touched her before us, the bond... it’s tormenting me.”

“Rage, calm down,” I snapped. “Hating my brother won’t fix anything. I’ll handle it tomorrow.“

“He’s too close to her!” Rage snarled. “I can feel it. You know what must be done.”

I clenched my jaw. "It’s not that simple,” I muttered. “I’m not bringing her home tomorrow, so shut it. You’re giving me a headache.”

"You’re scared," Rage taunted. "You think she’ll reject you."

“Scared?” I scoffed. “You think I’m scared? Shut up, old wolf. You don’t know a damn thing about women.”

Rage growled low in my chest. “Then let me take control. One day is all I need. I’ll bring her to us, and she’ll be in our bed by nightfall.”

“Never,” I spat, shutting him out. I wasn’t ready to entertain his wild ideas.

The rest of the night passed in a haze, but I couldn’t escape the nagging sense of dread that clung to me. The events of the day had left me on edge, and I needed some peace. But as I tried to sleep, it came for me.

The touch was light, almost imperceptible, but it was there. A whisper of coldness, of ancient things. Then came the voice, low and insistent, echoing through my mind.

“You cannot run from your destiny, child,” it whispered, soft as silk but as sharp as a blade. “The dark past of one’s mistakes shall once more be heard. The two souls shall meet and become one again, and the drums shall echo.”

I jerked awake, gasping for breath, the words still ringing in my head, sharp and urgent. The room was still, but my heart pounded in my chest.

Images flooded my mind—visions of people, faces blurred, voices layered over one another. I could feel them, all of them, pressing in on me.

Then, the scream.

It was deafening, a bone-rattling wail that felt like it was ripping my skull apart. I clutched my head, but it was no use. And then, just as suddenly, it stopped. The silence was suffocating.

I woke with a start, drenched in sweat, my breath shallow. It was still dark, but the birds were already chirping, the first rays of sunlight filtering through my curtains.

I stumbled to the bathroom, my head still reeling from the nightmarish vision. I leaned over the sink, splashing water on my face. As I looked up at my reflection, I froze.

Blood.

It trickled from my ear, thin and steady, as though the scream had physically cut me.

“Rage, did you see that too?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“I couldn’t,” Rage replied, his tone grim. “Whoever did this blocked me out. I only felt your fear.”

“Do you think someone did this?” I asked, my chest tightening.

“Yes. It was a message, Liam,” Rage said, his voice low with a growl of unease.

A chill ran through me. Whatever that was, it wasn’t just a dream. And that blood… it made everything feel too real.