A family bond in the making

Hazel P.O.V.

I can’t believe I’m sitting across from my little brother, who is not so little anymore. Joel is a handsome young man with his tall lean and muscled frame. His hair is the same dark brown as my own, kept in a shaggy style that soothes him and gives his rough facial features some softness. His eyes are a lighter shade of amber, almost gold, and they pierce right through you when he looks at you. He is tanned from working out outside. I wonder if he has become the big warrior our parents so desperately wanted from him? They wanted me to be a boy - and what a disappointment I was when I came out and wasn’t. Josie was already born and the spoiled princess, so they just needed the warrior boy and their family was perfect. How dared I ruin that for them? I resist the urge to roll my eyes. 

“So, what do you want, Joel?” I ask, trying to get a handle on my anxiety. Facing him this way is very intimidating, but the way he asked the maid to ask me, and his way of speaking to me in the doorway convinced me to give him a chance - that and Ebony bugging me to listen to him. 

“I really just want to apologize.” He says, looking into my eyes without blinking. Kaia snorts, but Joel does not bat an eye at her. “I know you might not believe me, but I have never actively taken part in anything that was done to Hazel.” He says, finally shifting his gaze to Kaia. She crosses her arms. 

“Did you ever defend her?” She asks, and for some reason I’m holding my breath. 

“Yes I did!” He says, and I think my heart just stopped beating for a second. He had done what now? 

“When? How?” I ask before my brain can catch up with my mouth. 

“In school, in training or anywhere but in our parents house. I always fought for you.” Joel states and I start to think back. I noticed him getting in fights in school, at training etc, but I always thought it was because of other things. I never imagined it was because of me. “Mom and dad would have killed us both.” Joel says quietly, his face paling slightly. “I was never a part of their schemes or acts, but I also never said not or defended you to them. I’m sorry, sis, I should have done that!” I shake my head. 

“I took the bullying so they would not turn on you.” I confess, meeting his wide eyes. We just stare at each other for a moment the realization of what we have done for each other without the other knowing dawning on us both. The moment is ruined when Lily unceremoniously walks over to Joel on his couch, crawls on with a picture book in hand and continues to crawl into his lap. 

“Looookie.” She says, pointing to something. Joel’s panicked eyes find my amused ones, and then they soften as he looks down at Lily again. 

“Is that a purple unicorn?” He asks, tracing the drawing. 

“Uh huh. It’s pwetty!” Lily states, moving on to the next page. 

‘I think it’s safe to say your daughter accepts him. Question is; can you forgive him?’ Kaia mindlinks me as we watch Lily blabber on about unicorns, fairies and magic while Joel smiles and asks her small questions. The interactions are incredibly sweet, and I have never met someone who Lily has just walked over to like him. She must feel his aura is pure or something, because that girl has an incredible sense of who is good and bad. 

‘Maybe not instant forgiveness, but maybe we can work on starting over if this is not a ruse or a scheme?’ Kaia and I look back over to Joel and Lily, they are both looking at us. 

“You were mindlinking, right?” He asks, his voice curious. I nod as Lily states we do this all the time when we want to talk about adult things. I laugh. “How is that possible? No offense meant, but Kaia you are not from Starfall?”

“We made the blood oath.” Kaia says, raising an eyebrow at him as if challenging him to say anything against it.

“Ah! That explains it then.” He states as Lily crawls down to the floor. She reaches for Joel’s hand, and asks him to come down there to play with her. 

“Uncle Joel can play with you later, baby. Right now we need to talk, okay?” 

“Okay, mama. Can I see talet?” She asks, and Kaia gets up with a smile. She gets the tablet from the table and leads Lily to a chair in the corner with her unicorn headphones. 

“Uggi Jo, you stay?” Lily asks, looking at Joel with her amber eyes wide. Joel's smile is soft and endearing. 

“Of course, Lily. As long as you or mom want me to.” He says, chuckling at the little squeal of happiness she presents him with. 

“So, I guess we should get talking now that she is occupied?” I ask and Joel takes a deep breath.

“Yeah, there are a few things I really want to tell you and the rest can be a Q&A? Sounds fair?” Kaia comes back over and sits down. 

“Sounds fair.”

“Well, Rebecca, you remember Gamma River’s sister?” I nod. “She is friends with Josie and always has been. She was just using you.” I sigh. Somehow I knew that, but it still hurts to hear it so blatantly said. “Alpha Grady did nothing with Josie on your birthday, and has done nothing with her since. He has been looking for you all the time you were not here.” I raise a hand. 

“Do you know what I saw in the forest?” He nods with sadness all over his face. “I don’t really care what they did or didn’t do. She was all over him, naked, and he did not push her away or come after me.” 

“He didn’t know where you were. None of us did.” 

“Gran did.” 

“And she kept it to herself until the very end.” I get to my feet and take a deep breath. 

“I am not going to sit here and listen to you trying to set me up with someone who I’m not interested in being with, Joel.” He shakes his head, reaching out for my hands. 

“I am not trying to set you up with him, Hazel. I understand you have not rejected him, yet, and I want you to be fully informed before you do or do not reject him. I don’t care if you stay with him. I am staying with you - if you want me.” 

“What are you saying?” 

“I left mom and dad’s house after Josie came home and started bitching about you. Bravo for kicking her ass by the way. I left! I will leave this pack with you if you so chose, but I am staying with you and Lily. I have let you down enough.” 

“I don’t understand?” I feel like there is something he is not telling me. Something he wants to tell me, but he is afraid of doing so. 

“Please sit down again. This next part is going to be very tricky to tell you.” I sit down and he starts talking. Kaia grabs my hands as Joel goes on about how he and Josie found me and Hope. How he tried to protect us, while Josie tried to get us all killed. The story brings tears of anger, sadness and grief to my eyes. My body is trembling as he continues, and when he is done the silence stretches between us. I don’t know what to say? What to do? 

“Sorry does not even begin to cover how I am feeling about this, and I know you might never want to see me again after I told you this, but I need to tell you myself so Josie does not have this leverage over me.” He gets to his feet, intending to leave and let me sort out my feelings. Kaia nudges me as Lily removes her headphones and questions what he is doing and why he is sad? That’s when I look up and see the tears streaming down his face. Realization dawns on me; Joel never knew Hope. He wanted to. Protected her despite not knowing her. 

I get to my feet and pull my little brother into my arms, letting my own tears fall freely as he sobs into my shoulder. 

“Lily, what do you say we found something to drink for mama and uncle Joel?” Kaia asks softly, trying to give us space. My appreciation for my best friend in that moment has no words.