Miakoda

Apologies

Hunter eventually surfaces after a good full day's rest. His chest still regretfully heavy with the loss of the bond he broke.

The room now completely dark as his eyes open. A muffled movement at the side of his bed makes him freeze with uncertainty.

"Glad to see you're awake, brother." Says the sourse of the movement. He relaxes.

"Brother." He manages to croak out.

"Hmmm." Is all that Ryder manages in return.

The room again falls silent for what seems like hours. Within that silence, Hunter attempts to sit himself up from the pillows holding his head. A hand holding his chest in place, he sits up and then rolls his legs off the side of his bed to face his brother in the darkness.

A wave of realization hits him and his hand grips at him like a vice.

"What have I done?" He whispers.

"Fucked up. Royally." Ryder answers his rhetorical question. "But nothing we can't try and fix. Together." He adds, giving his brother the hope that he needs to be able to get up and function again.

They stare at each other through the darkness, connected by blood.

"If we are to fix this brother. We need to make haste. Our time is running out." Ryder says adding to the weight that Hunter has given himself. To which he could do no more than nod at.

They look at each other once more before Ryder stands and exists his room.

Hunter doesn't move from the bed but hunches over and clutches his face. Fixed for a few moments like a statue before finding the will to stand and again let his body do things absent mindedly.

Hunter's POV

It's clearly passed dinner time as the house is dark and quiet. So I take the chance and head to the kitchen to get something to drink.

The light in the kitchen is the only light on in the house, that I've noticed so far. There's no conversation that I can hear either.

As I enter the room, unfortunately, it was not empty. The counter was surrounded by all my closest friends and family, apart from Madison. Upon entering, all their heads turn towards me.

Hesitantly, I enter further into the room, unsure of how my presence will be accepted. I've pushed everyone's boundaries, including my own. The regret is still very much weighing on my chest.

Ryder, opens the fridge and pulls a bottle of water from it and throws it to me. "I think now is a good time to start what we've agreed on, don't you think brother?" He says as I catch the bottle and twist the lid off to drink.

Everyone shuffles their stools to make room for me at the counter. As I take the seat, I look over all their faces. Logan and Michael seem distant and there are a few lines of anger between their brows. Merrick, Ryder, Tom, Cass and Aggi wear sympathy on theirs, where as Brooklyn is dressed in sadness and heart break.

"I guess I need to start with an apology." I say looking more at Logan, Michael and my sister.

"It's not an apology we're looking for Hunter. It's an explanation." States Michael, now crossing his arms over his chest like a shield.

He doesn't trust me, that is evident. I can't say I blame him. He has no idea.

"But it's an apology that I'll start with none the less, my friend."

While my apologies and explanations were being heard, my sister begins to shake with tears. Tom's arms buffering the shudders trembling off of her. I get up from my seat and round the counter. Tom let's her go and she throws herself into my arms. I hold her tightly too me, swaddling her with my body and place a kiss on the top of her head.