Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Solene’s POV

“Move… “ I breathed out. Trying to hastily cover my leg, but Adrian gripped my wrist, still staring at my leg in horror.

“What the hell happened? God, Sol— “ Adrian cursed as he lifted the trouser higher and saw even more scars. “Who did this to you?”

Didn’t he get your letters?” Anya grumbled. “Acting like it's not a miracle we survived the camp.”

But the concern in Adrian’s eyes were real. It reminded me too much of our past relationship that I opened my mouth to tell my brother everything. 

“In the Camp, the guards—”

I’d barely gotten more than a few words out when a cough interrupted me.

“Adrian?”

Just one word, and Adrian’s head snapped from me to the base of the staircase where Elise stood, one hand pressed to her chest. 

It’s okay.

I tried to tell myself as I came face to face with the very girl that framed me for Jamal’s murder. The very reason, I’d been forced to spend three years in a death camp. Elise Olsen. My supposed sister and the real daughter of the Olsen Pack family.

“Oh, Solene’s back?” She gasped. Her brown eyes widening, as she moved towards us.

She was lovely, I had to admit. Perhaps even lovelier than the last time I’d seen her. Fairy princess dress, perfectly curled brown hair, pink rouge on her full cheeks. 

Clearly, in the years I’d spent suffering, she had blossomed under the care of the family. 

“I can’t believe you’re here!” She squealed excitedly but paused, coughing.

Like a spell, Adrian’s hand left my leg. His care for my own wound, completely forgotten as he frowned at Elise.

“Why are you downstairs, Star? You should be resting. You know you’re not fully well.”

It was just a nickname. It shouldn’t knock my breath away, so completely.

But suddenly, I was ten again, and Adrian was eighteen. As we stared at the night sky while Adrian beamed at me.

“Sol, do you know why I call you Star?”

I’d blinked at my new brother, then shook my head as he smiled. 

“Because you light up our lives, Solene. You’ll always be my little Star.”

Now, the nickname was suddenly Elise’s. Did it mean so little that mere time apart could transfer it, or had I always been a replacement for his real sister all along?

Elise coughed weakly again, and my entire existence was forgotten.

“Please, go back.” Adrien left my side, moving towards Elise in concern.

In turn, she preened under the attention. “I’m sorry, Adrien. It’s just… I heard a scream. Is Solene okay?”

At the mention of my name, Adrian glanced back at my still bleeding leg and his eyes flashed guilty. “She’ll be fine.” He reassured her. “It’s not worth upsetting yourself over? Okay? It’s just her leg.”

“Let me help.” Elise moved from his hold and crouched beside me.

“I’m fine,” I hissed, trying to drag my leg away sharply.

Past experience with Elise had taught me common sense. 

But my wound was still raw, and trying to drag my calf across the floor just sent fire exploding through me.

“You’re bleeding!” Elise complained. Completely ignoring my wish for her to disappear. 

"Please let me see.” She tried to reach for me again, and this time I lost patience.

“I said it’s fine.” I breathed through my teeth, as I caught her wrist. “Just… leave it,”

It was Adrian who replied in an admonishing tone, as he shot me a look. “Solene. She’s trying to help you.”

“There’s nothing helpful about this little witch.” Anya snapped back. And I agreed.

But saying it out loud would only make things worse.

After three years in a death camp, I’d learned to pick my battles.

So I sucked in a breath and breathed. “Fine.”

In response, Elise cooed softly. “I’ll be careful.”

Time moved in slow motion, and even my heart seemed to thrum louder as she leaned over my leg and blocked Adrian’s view with her shoulder.

One moment, she was calmly surveying the wound.

So gently, I almost questioned if in the three years apart, she’d grown a heart.

The next, she was digging her nails directly into the wound.

My world exploded and snapped back.

“ELISE!”

I shoved her off immediately, cradling my leg as agony burst through me. “Are you crazy?!”

I could barely breathe as I tried to work through the throbbing in my veins. 

That was when I registered the sound of crying.

Horrible, ugly sobs as Elise held her elbow from where I’d shoved her.  

“I—I'm s—sorry," she mewled like a broken cat. “I just– “

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Adrian rushed to her side, panicked. 

I was bleeding. My wounds, far worse than whatever scrape Elise had gotten. But she was all Adrian could see as he worriedly turned her elbow this way and that. 

“I’m okay.” Her voice cracked and she sniffled. “I only wanted to help Sol. I didn’t think she- she— “

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Adrian shot. Finally, turning to me as his face tightened with anger.

But I was done with all the theatrics. 

“Me?!” I snapped back. My voice, weak but clear, as I hissed. “She dug her fingers in my wound!”

Even if he didn’t see her, did he think I screamed and shoved her because I felt like it?

It was too ridiculous to even think.

Yet from how pale and tight Adrian’s face was, that was exactly what he thought.

“She was trying to help you.” Adrian replied icily, “But if even after three years, your first reaction is to bully Elise, then you’ve clearly still not grown up.”

My entire frame was shaking now, and it wasn’t from the pain.

Was this the brother I’d spent three years yearning for? Writing letters and praying he’d come to protect me?!

Elise chose that moment to sniffle and wipe her eyes. “Solene, you’ve always been stronger than me, but I— “She paused dramatically. “I really didn't think you’d still like fights after all these years. Was that how you got your wound? And your scars? From fighting with people in there?”

I didn’t even get a chance to reply.

At Elise’s words, Adrian gaze dropped to my scars again, and this time, ice flooded his expression. “So you tried to manipulate me with scars you got from fights? Making me think you suffered all these years, just for attention?"

“Adrian— “ My lips parted in shock. 

“No.” He shook his head as his eyes filled with disappointment. “That’s a new low. Even for you, Solene.”

I was going to defend myself. Going to demand my brother believe me and not listen to some girl he barely knew simply because they shared the same blood when sudden greetings rang out from the staff in the courtyard.

"Your Majesty!" "Alpha,"

The voices chorused.

Adrian straightened immediately. But instead of turning to greet the Alpha King, he rushed to Elise's side and helped her stand. He took her arm gently, steadying her as he led her forward.

"Alpha." My brother bowed deeply, Elise leaning against him. "We weren't expecting you so soon." He apologized nervously. "Please forgive the disorder."

Then, with a hand on Elise's shoulder, he presented her. "This is my sister, Elise. She's gentle and thoughtful—despite feeling unwell, she still came out to care for her injured sister."

I stared.

My brother was presenting the girl who had just dug her nails into my wound as *gentle and thoughtful*.

Elise lowered her eyes modestly, a faint blush on her cheeks. She looked every bit the perfect, fragile daughter. And Adrian stood beside her, proud.

The Alpha King's gaze passed over the flowers, then stopped on me.

I reached for my trouser leg to hide the blood. But it was too late. He'd seen the wound.

"Who is she?" His voice rang out. Deep and still with strength.

Adrian glanced back at me briefly, then returned to the Alpha. "My sister, Alpha. Her name is Solene."

"Your sister?" The King replied. His voice wasn't loud, but the ice behind it had even me shaking. "Yet she's bleeding on your front steps while you ignore her?"

Adrian's face flushed red. He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and opened again. But the Alpha King ignored him, lifting one finger to beckon the woman at the back.

She was a royal healer.

I was fully trembling now as the king commanded. "Treat her, Iris."

The King's people took charge. Carrying me into a small reception room off the hall and refusing to let Adrian or anyone else in.

Iris—the royal healer—washed her hands and began to set her case on a table.

For a second, my spine was stiff in terror. Would she—I stared at the case so hard. Hoping and praying to the goddess that she wouldn't bring any needles near me.

It… it would unleash too many bad memories.

But gratefully, as though she could sense my fear, Iris worked calmly to clean my wound, then wrapped it with new bandages.

I kept my eyes down, then suddenly, a clean handkerchief appeared before me.

It was Alpha Scott.

"For your hands." He spoke gently, nudging at me to take the cloth.

Slowly, I took it but it unnerved me. How he silently watched me, but I couldn't do anything until finally I raised my head and met his green eyes.

"Thank you, Alpha."

He ignored my gratitude; instead, his eyes swirled with deep contemplation as he cocked his head and asked.

"Have you ever been to Moonhold or the royal territory?"

I blinked.

Of all things I'd expected, he'd say, this was—

"No, Alpha." I frowned.

"Not even as a child?"

I didn't know what to say. But his gaze was so unnerving, I opted for the truth.

"I don't remember much before I came here." I bit my bottom lip and paused. "But I've never been to the royal territory."

"Hmm." He nodded, still quiet for a moment. "You remind me of someone."

I didn't know what to do with that answer. For the rest of my treatment, he kept glancing at me.

Eventually, he walked out and returned with my brother.

"Her wound was deep." The King frowned, expressing his displeasure as Adrian walked to my side. "Learn to keep your siblings safe and make sure she receives proper rest and care."

"Yes, Alpha." He nodded, then cast me one worried glance.

But I turned my head away.

My chest still simmered with anger at the little show he'd believed in the doorway.

Adrian sighed, and they left.

Some minutes later, I sat alone in the reception room, trying to test my injured leg when Anya's voice filled my head.

Listen! She snapped. As hushed voices began to drift from under the door.

Adrian and Elise.

"Why's the Alpha so concerned about Solene? Has he ever met her before?"

"Lower your voice." Adrian replied her hushedly.

"It's just—did you see the way he looked at me? Like I was responsible for her wounds or something. We're just sisters arguing." Elise grumbled. "It's normal, isn't it? Why was he so sensitive?"

It was silent for a while, then Adrian sighed. "The Alpha King lost his younger sister when she was a child. It's a sore topic, El."

There was more mumbling while I just frowned. If he really lost a sister, then all his staring and the care too, it made sense now.

"They never found her?" Elise asked curiously.

"He's been searching for years." Adrian replied calmly. "She's gone, but the Alpha never stopped searching."

Elise mumbled something else in reply, but I tuned out of the conversation, feeling my chest tighten in envy.

The girl most likely didn't even remember she had a brother, yet he was still looking for her.

While there was me. My eyes stung and I blinked away my tears.

If the Alpha King hadn't arrived, would Adrian have left me bleeding on the floor?