Always Mine

When Wrath’s parents had been murdered, he held his baby sister in his arms. Wreign was asleep when his father had rushed Wrath into the small closet and placed the baby in his arms. “Do not make a sound, save yourself and your sister. One day you will be King, you must protect yourself so that you may lead our race one day. I love you, son.”

 

It had all happened so fast. Wrath sat perfectly still, wrapping the blanket around the baby’s ears so that she would not wake up from the yells. Tears had streamed down his face as he sat and stared at his beloved parents through the tiny slat in the door. They were both dead. Murdered. He vowed to never allow that to happen to his family again. 

 

Wrath and Wreign had been raised by friends of their parents. As Wrath grew older, he began to train and learn the ways of the Brotherhood. When he turned eighteen, he left the house and traveled to continue his training in a proper camp. 

 

Wreign, or Raney, as he called her, was four years younger then him. She worshiped the ground that he walked on and was a constant shadow to him. Leaving her had been hard, but he knew in his heart that they would be together again. She was safe and with good people. She was becoming quite a beauty who looked exactly like their mother. He only wished that Raney had known their Mamam….but he had fulfilled his promise to keep her safe. It was now time for him to learn to fight so that he could continue to protect her for the rest of their days.

 

They had written many letters to one another. Raney was doing well in school, and had many young men calling on her. She refused them all, always saying that she would not be paired without her brother’s blessing. Training could take years, and the young suitors gradually moved on to other girls. None of them had held her interest, anyways.

 

After Wrath had gone through his transition and moved into Darius’s home in Caldwell, he had sent for her. Darius had doted on Wreign as if she were his own daughter, spoiling her and showing her the grandness of his life. She was by this time a beautiful woman and he clothed her in only the finest of things. 

 

Raney appreciated and loved Darius, but she was most happy to just be with her brother once again. It was as if no time had passed at all. They were so very close and Wrath remained her idol.

 

Wrath remembered the night that she had gone through her own transition. Seeing his beloved sister in pain and knowing that he could do nothing but sit with her and wait was torture. Darius had the son of a fine family there as well, as he hoped that the two would make a good pairing together. 

 

Raney had come through transition and drank from the boy, but she had no interest in him other than the nourishment that he provided. Her long, wavy, black hair, clear green eyes and petite feminine body had definitely interested the boy, however. Darius had to hold Wrath back while Raney drank from him as they watched the boy hold and caress her body, obviously hoping for more to happen between the two. 

 

He knew that one day, she most likely would meet her mate. And he knew that perhaps one day, it would even happen for him, as well. For now, though, he was content to keep his sister with him. Raney felt the same, and they had lived together like that with Darius for many years.

 

All of that changed three years ago. So many changes were occurring…Darius’s death, the Brotherhood coming together under one roof, the increased fighting with the Lessers. Not all of it was bad, though. He had found Beth and they had married. Some of the other Brothers had mates as well. And Raney had fallen in love with Tohrment, his closest friend within the Brotherhood. 

 

It had taken some time for Wrath to get used to the idea that Tohr and his sister were “together”. There had not been any talk of marriage, but Wrath was sure that it would happen. Falling in love with Beth had made him realize how much he wanted that same thing for his sister. He trusted Tohr with his life, and he would happily stand by one day at their wedding.

 

That’s why he couldn’t understand what Raney had done. One night, she simply left the house, and never came back. Tohr was frantic, Wrath assumed they had fought, and for two days there was no word from her. Worried that she had been kidnapped by the Lessers or somehow injured and unable to get in touch with had them made the whole house on edge. 

 

And then, she called Wrath. She was fine…just needed some time away…she was safe…no, she would not tell him where she was…she asked him to tell Tohr that she was sorry. He had never seen his brother so devastated. After a few days, the sadness turned into anger and Tohr fought with even more strength and rage. He wouldn’t talk about Raney, and she never called him.

 

For the past three years, their only contact had been via phone or Skype. She and Wrath spoke with one another at least once per week, and she had met Beth and the other shellans during those conversations. Tohr always left the room if he was there when she called. He could be found down in the gym, running or lifting weights until his body collapsed from fatigue.