14

Ethan's mind was elsewhere as his feet carried him through the familiar paths of the forest. He found himself standing in the spot where he often met Amaalie, the memory of their conversations and shared moments flooding back to him.

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled by the sound of a familiar voice calling out to him. He turned to see Caleb, his older brother, approaching with a weary expression etched on his face. Ethan couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at seeing Caleb's tired demeanor, knowing that as the future Alpha, a lot was expected from him.

"Why're you out here, E?" Caleb asked, his voice laced with concern as he studied Ethan's expression.

Ethan shrugged, unable to find the words to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling inside him. "Just needed some fresh air, I guess," he replied vaguely, not wanting to burden Caleb with his own troubles.

Caleb nodded in understanding, his eyes reflecting the weight of their responsibilities as members of the pack. "Yeah, I get that," he said, his voice tinged with fatigue. "It's been a long day, huh?"

Ethan nodded in agreement, a heavy silence settling between them as they both contemplated the challenges that lay ahead. Despite the differences that often strained their relationship, there was a shared understanding between them in moments like these, a silent acknowledgment of the burden they both carried as sons of the Alpha.

As they stood side by side in the quiet of the forest, Ethan felt a sense of solidarity with his brother, a reminder that they were in this together, bound by blood and duty to protect their pack. With Caleb by his side, Ethan knew that no matter what challenges they faced, they would face them as a united front, ready to confront whatever the future held for them.

"The Cat, what was her name, Emily? She told you about the attack, right? I was upstairs and heard you tell Mom." Caleb's genuine concern for his brother shone through as he inquired. 

Ethan couldn't help but smile at his brother's attempt to recall the name, and he corrected him with a chuckle. "No, not Emily. Her name's Amaalie."

Caleb nodded, the name filed away in his memory. "And is she okay? Her... pack? Litter? I have no clue how their territory works." Caleb added, injecting a touch of humor to lighten the mood.

Ethan laughed, appreciating his brother's attempt to bring a bit of levity to the situation. "It's not a litter, it's a pride," he explained. "And yeah, she's fine. As for her pack, well, I'm not exactly sure how their dynamics work either. She's a bit of a lone wolf, pun intended."

Caleb grinned at the pun, and the two brothers shared a moment of camaraderie amidst the tension that surrounded them. Despite the seriousness of the impending threat, Ethan was grateful for Caleb's understanding and the bond they shared as siblings.

"A pride? I thought that was just for lions. Guess you've got a pretty fierce girlfriend there," Caleb teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ethan couldn't help but roll his eyes at the playful banter. "She's not my girlfriend, Caleb. We're just... friends," he clarified, though the complicated nature of their relationship lingered in the air.

Caleb raised an eyebrow, his teasing tone turning into a more serious inquiry. "Just friends, huh? You seem pretty invested in her well-being for just friends."

Ethan sighed, knowing that his brother could see through the surface of his words. "It's not that simple, Caleb. She warned us about the attack. I can't just ignore that and pretend she doesn't matter," he admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Caleb nodded, a more understanding expression replacing his teasing demeanor. "I get it, E. Just be careful, alright? We're in the middle of a potential war, and we can't afford any distractions."

Ethan nodded in agreement, appreciating his brother's concern. "I know, Caleb. I'll keep a clear head. But she's not a distraction, she's... something else."

With a final pat on Ethan's shoulder, Caleb offered a supportive smile. "Just make sure that 'something else' doesn't get you into trouble, little brother."

"I... I asked Mom if I could go see her," he confessed, his voice tinged with embarrassment. Ethan's admission hung heavy in the air as he confessed to Caleb about this.

Caleb's response was not unexpected, his tone tinged with a mixture of amusement and resignation. "And you got shut down right?" he remarked, his words more statement than question.

Ethan's head bowed in shame, unable to meet his brother's gaze. "That was dumb of you to ask, E, come on," Caleb chided gently, his tone laced with a hint of teasing. "Don't you know you gotta sneak out for stuff like that?"

Ethan's head shot up in surprise at Caleb's words, his eyes widening in curiosity. "Sneak out?" he repeated, disbelief evident in his voice. The idea of defying their parents' orders and sneaking out to see Amaalie seemed reckless and dangerous, yet a part of him couldn't help but be intrigued by the possibility.

Caleb chuckled at Ethan's reaction, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, sneak out," he confirmed, his tone conspiratorial. "You're not the first one to have a forbidden romance, little brother. Trust me, I know all about it."

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief at Caleb's revelation, his excitement palpable as he bombarded his brother with questions. "YOU?! Good two shoes Caleb breaking the rules? Who is it? When? Where? How!?! Spill!!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his curiosity.

Caleb laughed at Ethan's enthusiastic reaction, shaking his head in amusement. "RELAX E!" he managed through his laughter. "I'll introduce you to them next time. For now, let's make a plan."

"A plan? For what?" Ethan asked, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of Caleb's sudden proposal.

"To get you off the territory and into Cat lands, of course," Caleb replied with a smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Ethan's jaw dropped in astonishment at his brother's audacious suggestion. The idea of venturing into Cat territory, especially without their parents' knowledge, was both thrilling and terrifying. But as he looked into Caleb's confident gaze, a sense of determination stirred within him. If Caleb was willing to risk breaking the rules for the sake of love, then perhaps Ethan could find the courage to do the same.

"Are you serious, Caleb?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with excitement and apprehension.

Caleb nodded, his smirk widening into a grin. "Dead serious, little brother. It's time to show you the ropes of forbidden romance," he declared, clapping Ethan on the back with a reassuring smile.