And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Chapter 202: Brotherly Issues

Cassie.

Left in the kitchen, I stood there with everybody trying to figure out exactly what it was I was going to do, and that was the moment I felt the air in the room shift. Lo and behold, Sam, my brother's best friend, came walking around the corner towards me with a solemn expression upon his face. One that told me I wasn't going to like what he had to say.

I should have known that after all these years, Sam would have ended up becoming my brother's beta, but I had never really taken it into consideration as my life from here had ended long ago. Asgard was the 0nly realm I was meant to focus on, and while there, it never occurred to me I would forget the importance of family… among other things.

“Sam, I see that you've taken up your position next to my brother, as I had always expected you to." He chuckled before his laughter quickly died. His eyes softened on me as if he had so many things to say, but wasn't exactly sure how to say them.

“I'm sorry that all of this is going on. Things have been a little strained lately, but on a positive note, I have gotten your brother to agree to at least let you stay near the pack house. He said that the cottage outback is where you can stay, and of course, you can still have your meals and everything here in the main house. That way you can spend time with your family."

“Are you serious, Sam?" I gasped, not believing my warm welcome home was completely gone and I was left to live with this.

“I'm sorry, Cassie. He hasn't been himself lately."

That was an understatement.

I knew exactly what cottage they were talking about. It was the one that my mother used to live in a very long time ago, and since then it had stayed abandoned for the most part, except for the occasional guest that came to visit—I knew there wasn't going to be much there.

Not that I would complain. I wanted more time with my family, and if I had to stay out there then so be it. All I wanted was to make him see I wasn't a danger to anyone. I was his sister no matter the changes that had happened with me.

“That's fine. I've noticed that my brother isn't himself. I thought maybe it had something to do with the altercation he and I got into this morning. I hadn't meant to upset him the way I did, but for him to act the way he is—"

My words cut off as I cast my glance around the room, trying to understand exactly what it was that it had happened. Even though I had acted the way I did, nothing that I had did showed any real kind of violence. I had only pinned my brother against the wall out of anger and frustration that he had kept something from me.

It wasn't like I had viciously attacked him or that he had gotten seriously injured, or that anybody else did for that matter. Yet I could see why he would be upset, considering his wife and his child were in the same room when this had happened.

nothing but cause the void inside me to grow just a little bit more. “Come on, let's go ahead and take you down there so you can get settled

was concerned for

guys are supposed to stay with you

eyes widened with shock, there was no way that he was serious. The cottage only had one bedroom, which meant the two guys were gonna have to sleep in the living room, if anything, and that was a little unnerving, knowing I was

mean, yeah, I had s*x with Silas and what not… but still

reply with understanding but was quickly cut off by my mother, who was pissed beyond

to my son," my mother exclaimed as she let out a heavy breath and stormed off down

the three of you are having to go through this," Hale replied as he stepped towards me, placing a hand on my shoulder,

always the more composed one out of the four of my dads. He had, from what I understood, taken over the position of alpha of the pack under uncertain circumstances regarding Damian. I had heard various stories growing up about what happened, but from the distant look in

wrong, and even though he had his own internal battles at one point in time, he managed

not to waste anymore time feeling completely embarrassed of the situation that had occurred. Silas and Finn looked at each other with uncomfortable expressions. I'm sure this wasn't what they were expecting when they thought coming here was a good idea. However, as their gazes met mine,

everyone, I'm going to get settled in." Bidding everyone goodnight, I turned quickly and made my way back through the kitchen door I had come through earlier. The sound of the guys coming through the

trail, following me towards the cottage. I didn't have words for him. He had no clue what my family dynamic was, and the

is wrong, and perhaps coming back wasn't just beneficial for me, but also beneficial to figure out what issues are lurking beneath the surface

as the sounds of Finn and Silas' footsteps echoed on the path behind me, and the moment I approached the cottage, I stopped in my tracks,

myself, but with two men who did nothing but confuse me at

here under pretenses that were more hostile than inviting and

and black trimmed windows were familiar, but the greenery that grew around it and up the walls wrapping it tight within

stepped inside, taking in the very minimalistic aspects of it that were within it. Which was anything but

was. White comforters with a white headboard sat next to a window, overlooking the thick

was wonderful. But the arguments with my brother were absolutely draining, and it seemed nothing I could do would change

not right

an asset to him. I was his sister, his twin. His blood. Though something was clouding his mind, I knew