The Half brother's Smile

Xander's POV

Edrian’s eyes had lingered too long.

That single look, the hurt that flared and then dimmed into something more raw, had branded itself in my mind.

He hadn’t said a word when he met Amber sprawled in my sheets, panting, still trying to claim what she thought belonged to her. He didn’t shout, didn’t accuse, he just… looked.

His wolf’s whimper had carried to mine, faint but sharp, a knife under the skin.

And then he left.

I had ordered Amber out afterward, snapping at the way he talked to Edrian. I am the only one who could treat him badly.

Disgust curled up in my throat at the way she had spoken to Edrian. She thought it was power, what we shared. It wasn’t. It was a performance. A shield.

If Edrian believed I didn’t care, then maybe I could believe it too.

But his eyes haunted me.

So when Kael arrived that morning, sweeping into the council chamber like he owned it, the last thing I expected was for my half-brother’s smile to hook directly toward Edrian.

“Who’s this?” Kael asked, voice smooth as oiled steel. He lounged in his chair, his dark hair spilling over his forehead, his eyes gleaming with the same wolfish sharpness our blood shared.

He was dangerous, always had been.

My mother’s shame, my father’s mistake, but my father kept him around like a shadow, never too close, never too far.

“This,” Amber purred before I could speak, her hand sliding possessively onto my shoulder, “is Edrian. The Alpha King’s… little charity project.”

Her smirk made bile rise in my throat.

Edrian bowed stiffly.

He was learning, but his movements were still too unpolished for court. His eyes stayed lowered, but I caught the faint twitch of his jaw.

He hated her words, but he swallowed them.

Good.

Better anger buried than aired in front of Kael.

Kael’s gaze lingered, too long, too intent.

“Charity project?” His lips curved, wolf-scent leaking sly amusement. “Funny. He looks more like temptation.”

My wolf snarled before I could stop him.

Feris surged, snapping in my chest, his hackles raised. The sound was low, guttural, half-growl, half-warning.

Heads turned at the council table.

Edrian’s eyes flicked up in surprise, meeting mine for the briefest heartbeat. His wolf stirred, answering. The pull nearly crushed my restraint.

Kael noticed.

Of course he noticed. He never missed blood in the water. His smile deepened, slow and poisonous.

“Ah… I see.”

“See what?” My voice was ice, meant to cut.

“That your tastes,” Kael said lazily, leaning back, “are as reckless as ever, brother.”

Amber bristled beside me.

“He has me.”

Kael didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed on Edrian, drinking him in like a predator circles prey.

“Yes. And yet…” He tilted his head, wolf pressing against his skin. “Not all hunger is satisfied with scraps.”

The chamber went still.

Edrian shifted uncomfortably under the weight of Kael’s attention. His hands curled into fists at his sides, Berry, his wolf became restless, growling beneath his skin. I felt it. I always felt him.

Kael’s game was clear now. He didn’t want Edrian, he just wanted me to break. He wanted to test the edges of my control, to see how far my wolf could be pushed before I snapped.

And damn him, it was working.

“Edrian,” I said sharply, colder than I meant to, “fetch the reports from the war council. Now.”

He bowed quickly and left, though not before his eyes caught mine again, hurt flickering through the thin mask of obedience. My chest tightened, but I forced the feeling down. Better him hurt by me than devoured by Kael.

The chamber door closed behind him.

Kael’s chuckle was a blade across my spine.

“Oh, brother… you’ve got it bad.”

“Watch your tongue.”

“Or what? You’ll deny it? Deny what your wolf just did?” His grin widened. “You can’t. He’s your mate.”

The word cracked through me like lightning. Amber gasped, the courtiers murmured, but all I saw was Kael’s face, smug and knowing.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said flatly, though my fists were clenched so tight my claws pierced skin. Blood slicked my palm.

“Oh, I know,” Kael said softly, almost gently. “I always know. That bond...” he tapped his chest, mockingly over his heart, “... it stinks on you. Desperation. Want. Fear. You’re choking on it.”

“This is absurd! My chosen mate is Xander, not that boy.” Amber hissed.

Kael finally turned to her, eyes flashing with cruel amusement.

“Your mate? Sweetheart, don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing but a leash around his neck, and we both know he’s ready to snap it.”

Her face went white.

“Enough.” My voice thundered, wolf bleeding through, shaking the chamber walls. Courtiers scrambled, heads bowed in submission. Amber shrank back, biting her lip but saying nothing.

Kael only smiled, calm in the storm, as if he’d achieved exactly what he wanted.

“You’re losing, brother,” he murmured. “To your wolf. To him. To me. And when you do, I’ll be there… smiling.” Then he stood up and left the chamber.

Later, when I found Edrian in the archives, sorting scrolls with shaky hands, I said nothing. I only stood in the doorway, watching him. His back was tense, his movements precise, like he was holding himself together by sheer will. He didn’t look at me.

Feris prowled inside me, restless. He wanted to go to him. To touch. To claim. To prove Kael wrong.

But I turned away instead.

Because Kael was right. I was already losing.