Chapter 461: Changed

Chapter 461: Seraphina

I remove Rylan’s favorite steak from the oven. He loves grilled steak. I poke it with a fork, and it is perfect.

Life has been exhausting. I am still not pregnant, and the disappointment that I am not was too much for me to hear. I was not in the brightest spirits for a long time.

And with Rylan gone, the dynamic was not the same. Kai never spends as much time home. And because Rylan was gone, Theron had to spend more time back at his pack. So I inadvertently found myself spending more and more time with Marcus only.

Which has fueled the rumors even more. Even though I really do not have a favorite among my mates.

I set the steak on the table. Marcus has gone to his pack with Ethan to give us some time alone. The others have done the same.

I smooth out my hair, feeling uncomfortable with the extra attention to my physical appearance. I do not usually bother, but I am making an effort.

And hopefully, with Rylan back, everything will go back to normal.

The door opens. Rylan walks in. He looks tired—his hair longer, his skin paler, and he looks the same but different. There is something in his eyes I cannot name.

But I push it away.

I smile and jump into his arms. He catches me, dropping his bag. His arms wrap around me, steady and familiar.

"I missed you," I say against his neck.

"I missed you too," he says.

He holds me tight.

He holds me tight. I hug him just as tight. I missed him so much. I pull back to look at him.

"You look tired," I say.

"Long flight," he says.

I touch his face.

"Welcome home," I say, and kiss him.

He kisses me back. His lips are warm, familiar, home. I feel the tension in my shoulders ease. Yes, things will definitely get back to normal now that he is back.

I pull away and smile.

"I made your favorite," I say. "Steak. Grilled just the way you like it."

He looks at the table.

"Thank you," he says with a smile.

There is something in his eyes, but I brush it off. He is probably just tired.

"Come," I say, taking his hand. "Sit. Eat. Tell me about your journey."

He shuffles to the stool in the kitchen and looks around. He looks at the plate, then at me, then back at the plate.

I look at him questioningly.

"Oh, my apologies." He picks up the fork. "It is just that they used to eat with a fork and knife. Force of habit."

"Like humans?" I laugh. "Yikes. We come with our own utensils in our hands. Be glad you do not have to eat like that anymore."

"Yeah." He laughs.

He eats the steak.

I watch him.

He eats slowly. Deliberately. Like he is savoring it.

Or like he is avoiding something.

I do not push.

But I watch him.

And I notice.

The way he does not meet my eyes.

It’s nothing.

I’m sure it’s nothing.

***

Theron

My brother since coming back... is different.

He is no longer so volatile and easy to anger. He does not speak much anymore. Usually, there would be subtle competition between us, but it is gone now. He does not seem to care.

But one thing that does bother me is that he is seemingly close with the Alpha of Shadowfang. You would think they are brothers.

They disappear together. Whisper together. And when someone tries to speak to them, they both shut down. My mate says it is good they are close. They are both lone wolves in different ways.

I know it should not bother me, seeing my twin with him like that. Given that we have never really had the smoothest brotherly relationship... it feels... it does not feel good.

It should be good. It is harmonious now. There are no more arguments. And sharing the same mate, it is good we get along.

Like now. They are cutting firewood together. Rylan laughs.

I cannot remember the last time—or if I have ever—seen him laugh like that. Not around my mate. But even around her, the smiles disappeared.

What is going on between them?

I step closer.

"Rylan," I call.

He looks up. His smile fades.

"Theron," he says.

I stop in front of him.

"Mom and Dad want us to join for dinner tonight," I say.

"Of course," he says.

And like this, normally his response would be something like, "Us? Are you sure they did not just invite you?"

"Right," I say.

We are silent.

I just walk away on my own.

As I leave, I hear laughter behind me. They whisper so low that even wolf hearing cannot pick it up.

*

Later, dinner is normal. Rylan is silent throughout. He is always silent at dinner at home, but he would occasionally scoff or snort. But nothing today. Nothing of late.

It has just been two months since he has been back. Is it possible for someone to change this much? Why am I uncomfortable with the change? Is this not what I have always wanted—a malleable Rylan? One that makes peace and does not start fights often?

I say goodbye to our parents. He just stands at my side.

When we walk back toward the cabin, I speak.

"You have changed," I say.

"Have I?" he asks.

"Yes," I say.

He laughs a little.

"I just realized I was holding onto unnecessary rage," he says. "When I was gone."

I open my mouth to speak, but I do not know what to say. I just keep quiet.

"I was angry at you," he continues. "I was angry at my life. I was angry at our parents. I was always so... angry."

He stands and turns to look at me.

"Being in a place no one knew me had me reflecting on my life." He pauses.

"Part of the constant pain I was in was genuinely my own fault. It is not your fault. Neither was it mine. I just realized... how much longer was I going to stay angry? I am not a teenage pup anymore. It is time to grow up."

I look at him. His face is so much like mine. Today, it is different.

"I am sorry," I say.

He pats my shoulder.

"Do not apologize. You will just make me feel worse." He pauses. "And one day, maybe we will have a brotherly relationship. But not now. I still have complicated feelings about you."

"Okay." Is all I can say.