Like a brother and Father

Get off her. Damon yelled, yanking Austin away from Amara. Before Austin could comprehend what was happening, Damon threw a hard punch to his face, breaking his nose. “How dare you try to touch her,” Damon shouted angrily, delivering more punches to Austin, who struggled to fight back but was no match for Damon, especially in his furious state.

Darius rushed over to Amara, and was relieved to see that she was still clothed and untouched, but she had passed out. He placed his ear on her chest and confirmed that she was breathing.

But then he caught a strong whiff of alcohol on her breath. Darius couldn't help but wonder why Amara was drunk. What had she been thinking to get herself in this state and end up in Austin’s hands?

“What is going on here?” Beta Matthew asked, clearly confused by the scene unfolding before him. “Damon, stop,” he urged, running up to Damon and pulling him off a nearly unconscious Austin, whose face was covered in blood.

“What happened?” Beta Matthew started to ask, but his eyes fell on the unconscious Amara lying on the bed, and they widened as he instantly understood the situation.

He knew his son all too well and didn't need to be told what his crimes were. “I will fucking kill you,” Damon yelled, trying to go after Austin, but Beta Matthew held him back.

“Get a grip on yourself, Damon. You’re going to be an Alpha soon, and controlling your emotions is one attribute of a good leader,” Beta Matthew urged, but his words only agitated Damon.

“I don't freaking care. Tell your son this isn't over yet. Wherever I see him, I'll make sure I kill him. He can do this with other girls and get away with it, but not with my Amara. He dared to touch her, and he will pay for it,” Damon promised. Before turning toward Amara, noticing she was still unconscious, he stepped forward, wanting to check on her, but then held himself back, growled, and stormed out of the room.

Beta Matthew glanced at Austin with deep disappointment. He knew his son was a chronic womaniser, but never imagined he would try to rape someone. “Is she okay?” Beta Matthew asked Darius, who didn't respond. Instead, Darius lifted Amara off the bed and walked over to where Austin lay half conscious.

“I’m not your brother,” Darius muttered, his anger simmering. “What I'll do to you will be far worse than what he just did. Mark my words,” he said, before turning around and leaving the room with Amara in his arms.

Darius managed to sneak himself and Amara back into the mansion without his parents noticing. He laid her on her bed and sat beside her wondering what to do.

He knew nothing was seriously wrong with her. She had just passed out from drinking too much, so there was no need to call a healer. As he watched her sleep, his heart ached.

He couldn't understand what was troubling her, why she had gotten herself so drunk. It pained him to know that something was bothering her and that she kept it to herself.

His heart sank every time he thought the only woman he loved didn't love him back. Instead, she loved his brother, Damon. All his life, he had prayed that the Moon Goddess would make Amara his mate.

But alas, it turned out she wasn't. For the past few days since getting their wolves, he had thought of confessing his feelings to Amara, but he was too scared because he knew she would never accept his love. Amara saw him more like a friend and brother.

“You are not mine, but there is someone who will be. You must believe in that,” Darius’ wolf assured him.

But he could only think of Amara, the only woman he had ever truly harbored feelings for. Unable to leave her side, he stayed in her room all night in case she woke up and needed anything. Wide-awakened with his eyes fixated on her.

As dawn approached, Amara began to stir. Darius, who had been half lying in a chair beside her bed, stood up and approached her.

Amara’s eyelids fluttered open, and she looked up at him with confusion and fear. “Hey,” Darius said softly, trying to keep his voice calm despite the storm raging inside him. “You’re okay. You just passed out from drinking too much.”

Amara blinked several times, trying to piece together what had happened. “Darius?” she mumbled, her voice hoarse. “What happened? Where am I?”

“You’re in your room,” Darius explained.

“Austin—he tried to take advantage of you, but we arrived in time.” He watched as Amara’s brow furrowed, confused. She asked, “Who accompanied you?”

Her heart raced at the thought that Damon might have been worried about her and went searching for her. “I…and a guard,” Darius lied, the words slipping out smoothly.

He couldn't explain why he lied, but he knew he had to. If Amara found out Damon had come to search for her, she wouldn't care about him. All her thoughts would be on Damon, and he didn't want that. He wanted her to be grateful to him—to see that he was the one who loved her, and maybe, just maybe, she would accept his love.

Amara swallowed her pain when she realized it wasn't Damon who had come looking for her, but rather a guard. She cursed herself for even thinking Damon would search for her, a man who hated her and wanted nothing to do with her.

“I'm so sorry, Darius. Sorry for putting you through the stress of looking for me.” Amara said.

Darius shook his head, his anger dissipating as concern for Amara took precedence. “It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're safe.” He helped Amara sit up and adjusted the pillows behind her. “Do you remember why you drank so much?” he asked gently.

Amara shook her head slowly, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I don't know. I guess I just needed to forget something, but I didn't mean for this to happen.” She looked away.

Unable to tell Darius the truth, Darius placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You don't have to explain everything now. Just rest and take it easy. If you need anything, I'll be right here.”

“Thank you, Darius. You're the friend I never had,” she said.

And her words shattered his heart. If she could see him as a brother, why didn't she see Damon as a friend and brother? Why did she have to love Damon and not him?

“Take care. I'll see you later,” Darius said as he stood up. He didn't wait for her to say anything else. Before he left her room, he stormed into his own and collapsed on his bed. Tears blurred his vision as they threatened to fall, but he held them back and braced himself.

“No, Amara, I'm not just your brother or friend or well-wisher,” he whispered the words he had wished to say to her back in her room. “I don't see you as a sister. I love you, and I believe one day you'll love me too.”

The following day was a Sunday, and as was customary, the family ate together. Alpha Richardson sat at the head of the table with Luna Anita, Damon, and Darius. Amara even gathered around for the meal.

Throughout the meal, Damon couldn't take his eyes off Amara. She stared down at her plate, forcing the food into her mouth, clearly without an appetite. He could tell she was struggling to stay seated and act like everything was normal.

“You care so much for her, yet you let her go,” his wolf sneered in his mind. But Damon chose to ignore him. He knew he had made the right choice.

“Alpha, she is here,” a maid announced. Alpha Richardson gave a curt nod and let her in. Damon and Darius exchanged glances, curious about who might be joining them for lunch. Even Amara looked puzzled.

The click of approaching heels echoed through the hallway, drawing everyone's attention toward the doorway. And then she appeared — Antonia, Damon and Darius’ cousin.

To Damon and Darius, she was family, but to Amara, she was nothing short of a nightmare. Amara muttered under her breath.