The Forgotten Son

3

“Make me one.”

My head snaps round to my brother Alexander entering the kitchen, and he says, “For Valentine’s Day, Mavis and I have decided to treat you and Dad to a day out.”

I say, “That’s my birthday. I have already confirmed with Nan and Grandad that I will be having a family party that day.”

They both look at me, and Mum says, “Well, tell them you changed your mind. I want to spend the day with my baby.”

I walk to her, and I say, “How is this?” “No.”

I look at my brother and say, “And her baby can make her and him his own drink, or is that too grown for him?”

Alexander’s eyes turn black as he steps closer to me but is interrupted by Xavier saying, “Good morning.”

He looks at me, then puts himself between me and Alexander and says, “Personal space is free. You are aware of that, right?”

As he slowly turns to look at Alexander, he says, “So give your brother some.”

Alexander gets the hint as he heads further into the kitchen while Xavier drags me out of it, and he says, “Today you stay close to me.”

I say, “Of course, your highness.”

He looks at me confused and says, “So how did you get Alexander to listen to you…”

I gasp as I put my hands up to my mouth and say, “You aren’t secretly my dad shapeshifting, are you?”

I look him up and down and say, “No, too good looking, unfortunately.”

He just looks at me like I have two heads as he drags me up the stairs.

I say, “Why do you have to drag me? I have legs, you know.”

He stops and says, “You walk too slow.” “Go get changed.”

He pushes me into my room and shuts the door as he shouts, “You have 20 minutes. Hurry up.”

I groan and whisper, “Only 362 days to go.”

I shout, “What about the cameras? I don’t want to give anyone a free show.”

“Please, just do as you are told,” he says as I hear him move away from the door.

I look around my room as I say, “Perverts,” and I walk over to my wardrobe. As I open it, I hear a loud thud, and I turn to see little fluffy legs poking out from under my bed, trying to hide.

I smile, and I walk over to it and drag it out, holding it upside down. The boy shifts back into his human form and says, “Sorry, wrong window.”

I laugh and say, “Not to worry, dear child.” “What’s your name?”

He smiles and says, “Ginger.”

I say, “Well, Ginger, I am Roman.”

“You should probably run along now. My brothers don’t like rogues,” I say as I put him the right way up and on his feet.

He says, “Well, good. I don’t like your brothers either.”

I smile and say, “I like you.”

He says, “Good”

I laugh, and Xavier comes in and says, “What is going on?”

Just as his eyes land on Ginger, he runs towards my window and jumps, and I run over just in time to see him land on his feet. He looks up at me, smiles, and says, “Goodbye, sir.”

I laugh as I watch him run off into the woods, and I say, “Lycan children are so fascinating, don’t you agree?”

I am met with a simple, “No.”

I turn and look at Xavier and say, “Do you not love the mysteries of your own brother?”

He looks at me fed up as he turns to leave.

I say, “I don’t mean to be like this, you know.”

He says, “I am aware.” “Hurry up,” and he leaves.

I sigh and walk to my bathroom. I close the door behind me, walking over to my shower. I turn it on.

I suppose if my parents did find out about me, they couldn’t comment on the bloodshed. I mean, they have killed more men than I probably will with the apocalypse… but then again, they are cowards, and even if I do right, I am wrong.

Later that day, I am sat outside Beta Tim’s house. Xavier decided it was best if he spoke to his family by himself due to my sarcasm, like he doesn’t think I would respect their loss. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone snooping through my stuff, though. Oh well. Accidents happen.

When he comes back out, I notice his eyes are red, and he has tear streaks going down his face. He gets in, and I say, “Are you okay?”

He doesn’t say anything. He starts the car, and he drives off. After about five minutes, I say, “So where are we going now?”

He says, “How long are you going to pretend?”

I say, “What?” I look at him confused, and he looks at me and says, “An innocent man has died, and you are being so cold and insensitive.”

I sigh and say, “When you have seen so many people die, you tend to…”

He cuts me off and says, “Do not, and I mean do not, give me that bullshit. I have just lost a second father figure, and I have just had to tell his wife and children they won’t be able to have an open casket funeral.”

I sigh and say, “What do you want from me?” I look at him and say, “He died saving my life, as I already told you. One of those things was in my room.”

He says, “That is very funny, because you know what? I don’t believe you. I think he found something, and you didn’t like it.”

I say, “Maybe you killed him. You are all about this union…”

“If his son had objected to it, you would’ve had to pull back, and now his son won’t inherit the beta title as his father isn’t here to pass it down, meaning…”

I look him dead in the eyes and say, “You get your union.”

He slams on the brakes, and my neck makes a horrible cracking noise as my head hits the dashboard. I groan and say, “What the f**k is wrong with you?”

Me, you want to know what is wrong with me?” He looks at me, his eyes turning dark blue.

He gets out of the car, and he walks round to my side. He rips the door open as he drags me out the car and into the woods.

I say, “Where are you taking me?”

He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the anger radiating off him.

“Look, I accused you, and you accused me. Let’s call it quits, okay? I am not…”

I stop when I see all my creations dead.

He walks to me and says, “This could have been avoided.”

“Oh, look, you do show emotion.”

I say, “Why did they all have to die?” “Do they travel as a pack?”

He looks at me and says, “What?”

I say, “So many children.”

He walks over to them and says, “They didn’t fight like children, and they certainly don’t look like children.”

He turns and looks at me, and I look at him.

“They belonged to someone at some point.”

I try not to let my emotions show as he walks towards me.