After that, Gavin had taken it upon himself to become a surrogate brother to both of us, trying to fill the void left by our parents' passing. But as time went on, I noticed that Gavin's behavior towards Lylah changed. He became more protective, more caring. He started to include her in pack decisions, seeking her opinion and valuing her input.
And Lylah, in turn, looked up to Gavin with a devotion that bordered on adoration. She would follow him anywhere, do anything he asked of her. It was as if she had transferred her feelings of loss and loyalty from her parents to Gavin.
I felt a twinge of jealousy, mixed with sadness. I had once been the only recipient of Gavin's protection and care, but now it seemed he had transferred those feelings to Lylah.
As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Gavin and Lylah walking together, their heads bent in conversation. They looked like a couple, a partnership forged in grief and strengthened by shared responsibility.
I sighed, feeling like an outsider looking in. I had once been part of their inner circle, but now I was just a ghost from their past, a reminder of a time they would rather forget.
But then, I noticed something…different. Gavin’s steps were not straight and confident as usual. Something was wrong. I approached Gavin, my heart racing with concern. "Gavin, brother, are you okay? You look pale," I said, reaching out to touch his arm.
But before I could even make contact, Gavin's expression twisted in rage. He grabbed my wrist, his fingers closing around it like a vice.
"Don't call me that," he growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "I only have one sister, and that's Lylah. You need to learn to respect me as your Alpha, Akira. Not as your brother."
I tried to pull away, but Gavin's grip only tightened. I felt a surge of fear as he pulled me closer, his face inches from mine.
"You're not my sister anymore, Akira," he spat. "You're just a pack member, a weak and disobedient one at that. Banished member. Don't forget your place."
I gasped, trying to speak, but Gavin's grip on my throat was choking me. I felt my vision start to blur, and just when I thought I was going to pass out, Gavin released me, shoving me away with a snarl.
"Remember, Akira," he warned. "I'm your Alpha. Show some respect."