Strong One

Chapter 1 Anger

Grey POV

It's been a long-strained year. Finding out that you've failed as a parent, because neither of us felt Ethan's pain. The thought of how much pain, he must have been in. Witnessing and feeling your mate getting it on with someone else. Conall my dragon has told me, that when we are near our mate's, we can feel their emotions, even before we've mated fully.  So, Ethan would have been able to feel every time Ryker was with someone else. Something he'd been doing since he was 14. Hearing that from a son who is trying not to prematurely shift.  Nearly broke me. I wanted to hurt our other son Ryker, his twin.

It has taken months for us to be able to talk like we use to. Now we are all on tender hooks, as we wait for Ethan to wake-up. Not knowing what state of mind he'll wake-up in. For him, it's going to feel like  only yesterday, that he nearly shifted.  

After his brother, who, having had his tongue down some girl's throat in the dining hall, hearing Ethan laugh, while with another boy.  Had then raced a crossed the room to push the boy responsible for making Ethan laugh, to the floor.   Ethan had lost it and they'd had a fight.

"Ethan, I hope you've been able to hear us all, telling you how much we love you?" I say stroking his hair from his face, as I come out of my thoughts again.  I've given him a haircut, hoping he wakes up soon.  "Your Grandma, wants you to wake-up soon.  As she wants to buy you a car" I tell him.

"Ryker, is finding it hard to do stuff without you. So, for this year, we've taken him out of school.  You'll both have to do your last year, via home study or by repeating the year in high school.  He's become much more sombre now. If we can't find him, it's nearly always because he's here with you.  He's sorry for what he's done, but that's for him to explain. 

I'm sorry, I didn't notice you were hurting so much.  I had thought we were a close-knit family. The realisation that, that isn't true. Has been a big wake-up call for me and your dad. Mum has said that I skipped the whole teenage faze.  As she filled my time with studies and learning about how to run a company. 

So, when you wake-up, I'll also apologise and I hope you forgive me. I promise that I'll always be there for you.  I thought I was, but you obviously didn't feel you could talk to me about your brother.   I was so mad, I actually thought of hurting him!  What kind of parent am I?!" I ask wiping the tears from my wet cheeks. I take a deep breath and turn back to Ethan. 

"Sky seems to think you'll wake-up soon. Conall has also said he can detect Soren's magic a little more.  We are all waiting here for you" I continue. "I've been reading up on twin's and mates too. It is quite possible, that you've got another mate out there for you two to find.   Conall said Soren should be able to feel them once you are up and fit again.  I was going to redecorate your room. But Ryker wouldn't let me.  He said he hopes you can both decide what you want your room to be like.  He's even asked your dad for some land at the back of the pack house. He thinks it would be nice for you and him to build your own place there."

"Hey honey, are you going to cook or should I try and cook something?" Keats asks over the link. "Save us please, I'm coming back now. Who is coming over to sit with Ethan?" I ask "Ryker, has just left. He's taken the left-over pasta from last night's dinner, to eat with Ethan" Keats replies. I bend down and kiss Ethan's cheek "see you tomorrow sweetie, Ryker is coming to sit with you" I tell him before leaving to walk back to the pack house.

I pass Ryker and stop him as he looks miserable. "Even I think, I could feel Soren today" to tell him, wanting to offer some comfort to him.  "You could?" he asks hopefully.  At my nod he sprints the short distance to the medical centre, before turning at the door and thanking me.   I smile and wave, but he disappears quickly inside.

I have sat down and talked to Ryker.  He told me that he'd fought against the mate pull, because at first, he didn't like it. Then he got scared because of how possessive, he felt over Ethan. He was worried that if he gave into the mate bond, that he would lock Ethan up.  So, no-one would be able to get close to him. He'd started to cry, as he told me, that when he saw Ethan's sweet smile and the effect it had on the people around them.  He would become really agitated and want to rip them apart.

That Ethan might be quiet and shy, but people where still drawn to him.  The only time he felt some relief from his growing obsession with his twin, was when he got it on with other people. I have told him how stupid that was and that if he'd been honest and spoke with Ethan or us. We might have been able to help him deal with his feelings.   That if he'd let the bond grow in a more natural way, he might have realised just how much, he'd also meant to his brother. Which would have helped calm his wolf.

*Warning: Mention of self-harm. Please feel free to skip the next paragraph*

He'd cried for hours knowing how much he'd hurt his twin.  We had to seek professional help. When we found him harming himself.  He'd said it was the only way he felt that Ethan would forgive him.  If he hurt himself as much as he'd hurt Ethan. He's stopped after talking with us and his councillor. But it had been hard seeing him fight against the instinct to hurt himself.  Good job he's a shifter and healed quickly.

I enter the pack house nodding and greeting the other members, as I head to the stairs to go to our suite. "Daddy, grandma has said she'd take me into town tomorrow morning to get some new clothes. So, I'm staying over at hers. Enjoy your alone time with Dad" Sky giggles over the link. "Okay sweetie, thank Lucy for me. Also tell her, I've sent her an email of my evaluation of Tik's to her, please" I reply

I get a picture of an emoji okay sign and smile.  Only Sky has this ability to send pictures through the link. Something she likes to do often.  I go into our suite and find Keats in the kitchen looking through the fridge. "We are flying solo tonight. Sky is over at mums. They are going shopping tomorrow" I tell him walking up to him and giving him a back hug.  

He turns in my arms and hugs me back.  "In that case, let's ask the pack kitchen to send up dinner to us? That way we can relax in the tub and I can take care of my man here" he says winking at me.   I grin and he leans in kissing me.  Even after more than 18 years as mates, he still makes my knees weak with his toe-curling kisses.  When he leans back and looks at me. I nod agreeing with him.  He smiles and then picks me up so I can wrap my legs around him. Then I start kissing and nibbling on his neck. He practically runs to our room making me laugh.

I know it's been a long time coming but hope you enjoy Ryker and Ethan's story.  Please don't forget to comment and vote, thank you 😊