Big Brother

"Just go drown me in a river..." Myranda sobbed. Her leg throbbed, her heart ached, and her will to live had diminished just a little bit.

"No," Jyriah denied her wish right out as he walked with his sister draped over his back in her human form. He was lost in thought, but Myranda believed he was angry.

Her mismatched eyes looked down to the ground of dirt that transitioned into snow the further up they went towards the mountain complex.

Jyriah's voice was filled with resolve as he attempted to lift her mood."If you hurt yourself, you'd be going against everything we ever vowed. You survived mom and dad, and you'll survive this."

The whole 'you'll get through this' line was never a comfort to anyone, and it meant finality to most - and that included jaded, angry Myranda.

"Myri - I need you to put aside your shock and sadness and think everything out before you do something foolish. You would destroy Syrana and me, you'd destroy Metas for sure," Jyriah lectured gently.

"He just told me he wasn't going to accept me about two minutes ago. You were there, remember?" she replied sourly.

"Yeah, but you two were alone for a while. Did he say anything else?" Jyriah inquired with disbelief. Metas wouldn't have straight-out denied her. At least, that is what he believed.

"He said a lot of things. He said he couldn't accept me, unless I accepted him. He told me to trust him from afar, but I have no idea what that means," she grumbled.

"Well - he does have a point," her older brother started.

"Don't be an asshole. Just not now, not right now" she groaned.

He did as she requested and gave in, "I'm done, I'm done. I'm sure you get it, I just have a deep feeling there is something else going on here. I don't know what, but it all feels suspicious. Fake, almost" he informed her in hopes she actually believed him.

"I think he was just being nice as to not crush my soul too much," Myranda doubted.

" -and I think you need to get out of your own head, and try getting into his. You didn't see his eyes like I did, Myri. It hurt him to say each and every word. If he told you to trust him from afar, then that is what you should do," he advised.

It was no good for right now, though. He understood that no amount of logic would reach between her ears at this moment. In fact, with her blood poisoning, injury, and now this terrible morning - he was terrified she wasn't going to make it.

The entire way back he was silent, and so was she.

"Myra - if I leave you for an hour or so, will you be here when I come back?" Jyriah etched out uncomfortably before he lowered himself to let her down.

"Wow. Yes, I'll be here. I don't want to have to meet mom and dad in the meadows (heaven), or even in the dark valley (hell). That is a worse fate," she shivered a little at the thought of their expressions as they glowered down at her with disappointment.

"I like that you're not thinking of stupid things, but I don't like the reason you have," Jyriah reacted with surprised.

"Why? I think it's a good reason...." Myranda quipped as he lowered his wolf form so she could slide off of his back and stand.

"It's a great reason, it's just now I am terrified to die because what you said does sound awful. I really, really don't think they will be in the meadows. So stay here with me where we can earn our spots of honor and glory and we'll never have to worry about looking at them ever again," he advised and shifted into his mortal form, then hugged her as tightly as he could, despite the fact she remained with her arms at her side.

"I'm going to get Joss and see if he can gather a few items for you. If you see an incredibly handsome male with charm that could please a grumpy demon, that's him. He's perfect, and you'll love him. It's his day off, but if I ask really nicely, he'll help" Jyriah followed up.

"I'm glad you have someone, Jyriah. You and Syrana deserve to be happy, although I can't say I like Silas much" Myranda admitted.

"I've never liked that dick. He's so full of himself, and full of shit," he agreed and helped her through the bakery doors.

One more thought entered her mind as she recounted what Metas had relayed to her earlier. "Metas said his parents like Silas more than they like him...is that true?"

"Unfortunately," Jyriah affirmed and huffed out in agitation.

"...How can I keep him safe?" She asked suddenly and seriously.

The eldest sibling did not know how to answer her, and so he decided to be honest instead. He wad blunt, but as kind as possible. "I have no idea. What I think you should do is listen to what he said and trust him from afar. That wolf is capable, and for what it's worth, I suspect he's been holding back his true power for years. Just be still and trust someone for once in your life. Just one time."

"Okay. I'll do my best - but it feels impossible after seeing him with that...that...beautiful wolf.." she sniffled and buried her head into his chest to shut the world out.

"You're a beautiful wolf, too. If you ask me, she should worry more about you, than you should about her," Jyriah offered and waited to see if his words caused her to crack a tiny smile.

No dice.

"Thanks for trying to make me feel better. I've got to start baking. I swear I'm on real thin fucking ice with our clan Alpha for being so distracted lately. If I lose this job, and our home - then I'll have to live in the mines. You don't even get a home there, I hear. They just pick spots to sleep in and call it theirs," Myranda rambled out as her imagination ran wild with terrible possibilities.

"Then get started on what you can. I'll go get Joss. Until you are back to yourself, I'm going to make sure someone is here. This just isn't you - my baby sister would have already started a brawl with that other wolf and beat her ass down like rag doll," he tried to encourage her, and possibly give her a bad idea, but she didn't react.

"I love you, Myri. Joss will be by soon, I promise" he informed her, but hesitated to leave. He waited until Myranda started on her work before he left.

He wouldn't leave her alone for long, and he felt that if anyone could talk hope and sense into Myranda, it would be his mate, Joss. Whatever it took, he had to protect her, and help her attain the happy end she deserved, too.