The lies we wear

Scarlet's POV

“Must you always cry?”

Cigarette smoke and stale blood waft through the air as I gaze at the unfeeling man before me. I stifle the sob rising in my throat and lower my head as far as it will go. Why couldn’t he just leave me be? I grit my teeth and try to breathe through the pain. My mate will be here soon. He always is.

“Scarlett, do you truly not understand what’s happening?” Lloyd asks, his tone more bemused than cruel. I don’t dare meet his eyes or respond, and something in the silence shifts. He tenses.

Without warning, he lunges forward and grabs my shirt, yanking me up. His piercing grey eyes lock with mine—a shade too pale to be Cole’s—but they’re clouded with something unreadable.

“Speak when spoken to, omega!” he snarls, baring his fangs. But his voice shakes at the edges, just a little. Like fury sitting atop something more fragile.

My breath hitches. Tears slip down my cheeks before I can stop them.

“N-no, I don’t,” I stammer.

He holds my gaze for a breath, maybe two… then lets me drop. I hit the floor with a soft grunt and curl into a ball, lungs trembling with each breath. Why is Cole taking so long?

“Son of a bitch,” Lloyd mutters under his breath. Then he laughs—a strange, low laugh that sounds more like disbelief than humor. He wipes a hand down his face and crouches beside me.

“You’re worthless to him,” he says, voice quiet but bitter. “And he doesn’t deserve a mate like you.”

Before I can react, the door slams open.

Cole bursts in like a storm, fury flashing in his eyes. He rushes Lloyd, shoving him hard. Lloyd offers no resistance, stumbling back with a dull thud.

Cole’s hands are cold as they fumble with my shackles—always a little colder than I expect. His movements are too precise. Like he knew exactly where I was.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Cole roars at his brother. His voice echoes with a force that makes the air sharp.

Lloyd says nothing. His jaw clenches, but there’s no defiance—just resignation. As Cole lifts me into his arms and carries me toward the door, I glance back.

Lloyd stares after us, his eyes softening. And then—barely a moment—he almost smiles. Not with malice. Something quieter. It disappears before the door closes.

That was the last time I saw him.

The Alpha had been furious that his own son would target his brother’s mate in such a cruel display. Cole never spoke about him again.

That was six years ago.

Lloyd was sent away—to some obscure boarding school, far from here. He lost any chance at becoming Alpha.

Now I lie in bed beside Cole, tracing the shape of his face and chest with my fingertips. The moon goddess may have held my wolf back, but she gave me a mate who claimed me all the same.

Cole flutters his eyes open. Stormy gray meets dull brown. He smiles.

His hands find my waist, pulling me into his chest. I blush as he plants kisses all over my face. He smells faintly of cedar and ash—earthy, but always a little cold, a little distant.

“Good morning, nugget,” he murmurs into my hair.

I squeak at the nickname, giggling softly. Even now, at twenty-one, I still feel shy around him. He presses a final kiss to my forehead, lingering a beat too long.

Then, a knock.

“Yes?” Cole snaps, irritation sharp in his voice.

“Alpha Jackson is requesting your attendance at an emergency meeting… he says bring omega Scarlett,” the beta mumbles.

Cole stiffens. His jaw ticks, shoulders taut. When he moves toward the door, it’s with rigid purpose. “I told him not to refer to you like that,” he growls.

I just shake my head. He’s always like this when someone questions my worth.

We get dressed quickly. I notice his shirt is buttoned all wrong—he fixes it with a single, sharp tug. Always so precise, so… in control.

At the conference room, Alpha Jackson stands behind his desk, hands clasped behind his back. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes look tired. Distant.

I drop my gaze the second we step in.

He’s always been kind to allow my mate bond to continue. But that doesn’t mean he liked it.

“Scarlett. Son,” he greets.

“Father?” Cole mumbles, noticing the strain in his father’s voice.

Alpha Jackson gestures for us to sit.

“I’ve brought you both here for an important reason.” His tone is low and steady. “Lloyd returns tonight.”

Cole tenses beside me. The air thickens around us. A soft whimper slips from my lips before I can stop it.

“Why?” Cole’s voice is hoarse, sharp around the edges. “After all he’s done?”

Alpha Jackson lifts a hand. “He is still my son,” he says carefully. Then, after a pause, “And so are you.”

Cole flinches at that.

“He was only eighteen,” Alpha Jackson continues. “People… make mistakes when they’re young. I’m not asking you to forget. But I am asking you to bury the hatch before I step down.”

His eyes land on me.

“Scarlett,” he says gently, “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my son.”

I force a small smile and rest my hand on Cole’s arm. I nod. I can feel Cole watching me the whole time.

Alpha Jackson gives a genuine smile in return—but it fades quickly. “Please make proper preparations, Cole. He is still your older brother.”

Cole rises abruptly, anger tightening every line of his face. He walks out without a word. I trail behind him.

The silence between us stretches into the late afternoon. Cole does what’s expected—plans a quiet welcome, contacts the appropriate betas—but he doesn’t speak much.

I hear murmurs around the pack house. Buzzing.

Some are excited to see Lloyd again.

I don’t share the sentiment. Lloyd always seemed to dislike me. But now, when I think back… I can’t recall a time he ever truly said anything cruel. It was always the looks, the distance.

And his silence.

My mother died during childbirth. A human. My father lost his mind soon after. No one ever talked about them again. I suppose it wasn’t surprising that I came out as an omega. But the pack was shocked when Alpha Jackson took me in at all.

They whispered.

That maybe my mom seduced him.

Or that my father begged.

Alpha Jackson never said. Just carried the weight of the decision without explanation.

“Scarlett,” Cole murmurs suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts.

He’s staring at the cake for Lloyd. The photo on top—a smiling, bright-eyed Lloyd—doesn’t feel right.

It’s too warm. Too human.

I touch Cole’s arm gently.

“We’re older,” I whisper.

Cole doesn’t respond. Just keeps staring. And I let him.

I stand before the mirror in the green dress Cole loves—the one he always says brings out my eyes. I twist from side to side, smoothing the fabric, trying to settle my nerves.

The door creaks open. Cole walks in, a little slower than usual, like something’s weighing down his steps. His eyes land on me, and he just… stops.

For a moment, he says nothing. His expression flickers—not with hunger or teasing like it normally does, but with something quieter. Something I can’t quite name.

His gaze lingers, trailing from my curls to my waist, like he’s memorizing the sight.

“You look…” he begins, voice low, a beat too slow, “beautiful.”

I smile, warmth rushing to my cheeks. “Green’s your favorite,” I remind him, smoothing the fabric again, bashful under his stare.

But his lips press into a thin line. He nods, then hesitates.

“Try the blue one,” he says softly. “Just this once.”

That surprises me. “You always say the green one makes me look like a goddess,” I tease, eyes narrowing with a grin.

He chuckles, but it’s quiet. The sound feels… distant. “I just want to see something,” he murmurs.

Something about his voice feels strange—like he’s treading on fragile ground. Not unsure of me, but maybe of himself.

Still, I nod and slip into the blue dress, adjusting it on my shoulders as I turn. He watches me the whole time, sitting on the edge of the bed, arms draped over his knees. His expression softens—almost sad.

When I approach him, his eyes lift, warm but a little distant. I kneel and wrap my arms around his shoulders, feeling him sink into the hug like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded.

His arms slide around my waist—slowly, gently. Not the usual possessive hold Cole uses when he’s teasing or in the mood. This is something else. Tender. Careful.

“It’ll work out,” I whisper, stroking his hair. “He’s changed, Cole. We’ve all grown. Maybe we’ll see a different Lloyd tonight.”

He doesn’t reply right away. Just rests his cheek against my stomach, exhaling a breath that sounds like it’s been caught in his lungs all day.

Finally, he leans back slightly, hands settling on my hips. His eyes drift up to mine… then lower to my neck.

His thumb grazes the spot just below my jaw. I tense—just slightly—but his touch is light. Almost reverent.

“Where’s your mark?” he asks quietly, his voice hushed.

I blink at the question, surprised. “What do you mean?” I laugh, but it comes out nervous. “You remember—we agreed. Once I connect with my wolf, then you’ll mark me.”

He says nothing for a long moment.

I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently.

“You were the only one who believed I could shift,” I say. “You told me there were cases—hidden omegas who found their wolves late. You gave me hope.”

He finally nods, the motion a little delayed.

“I did,” he murmurs. His voice sounds raw, like there’s something unspoken caught behind it.

I lean in, pressing my forehead to his. “I still believe you.”

Another pause.

“I’m glad,” he says softly.

Then, almost absently, “He’s here.”

I blink. “Who?”

He rises to his feet, shoulders squared. His voice is firmer now.

“Lloyd.”

I finish adjusting the blue dress, smoothing it one last time as I step into the hallway. The pack house should be buzzing by now—there were supposed to be decorations, food, music. Cole said Lloyd had arrived.

But… the corridor is empty.

I glance around, heels clicking softly on the wooden floor. No laughter. No voices. No signs of celebration.

My brows furrow. Didn’t he say…?

I hug my arms around myself and start walking, trying not to let the sudden stillness settle too heavily on my shoulders. Maybe everyone’s in the great hall already. Maybe I missed the call.

As I turn the corner, footsteps approach—fast and purposeful. Cole rounds the bend, face set with a tense look.

“Lloyd is here,” he says, a second time, like it’s new information.

I blink at him, confused. “You… already told me that. In the bedroom.”

He hesitates—just for a beat. “Did I?” he says, shaking his head. “Sorry. My mind’s all over the place tonight.”

I let out a soft laugh, brushing it off. “You’ve got a lot on your shoulders. It's okay.”

He reaches out, adjusting a loose strand of hair near my cheek. The gesture is gentle—deliberate.

Still, something inside me knots, just a little. The hallway is too quiet. The timing is off.

But I push the thought aside. He must’ve been distracted—nervous. Lloyd coming back is a big deal, for him more than anyone.

I step closer and take his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll face it together, right?”

His jaw tenses for the briefest second. Then he nods. “Yeah. Together.”

Just then, the doors at the end of the hallway swing open. People begin to pour in—some laughing, others hushed with curiosity. I release the breath I’d been holding.

There. Everything's fine.

And then… Lloyd steps through the door.

“Is this how you greet your brother?”