The Blood Alpha's Mate.

Chapter 23.

“How did it go?” Nick asked his brother when they returned.

“We got all we needed, Nick. That's all that matters.” replied Liam.

Nick kept his eyes on his brother for few seconds and gently placed the griffin's tail on the table beside him. “What happened there?”

“Really, nothing.”

“How's Anastasia doing?” he asked.

“Good.” came the one word reply.

“Liam.”

Liam sighed. “Sapphire kinda figured out that Anastasia and I used to be lovers.”

“Oh,”

“And she also said that Anastasia was still in love with me.”

Nick shook his head wondrously, “Women.”

Liam sighed again. “Yeah. Tell me about it. How's Skylar?”

Nick stared at the griffin's tail on the table as if he hadn't been the one who put it there. “Her Mom's been checking on her,” his voice came out shaky, “She's asleep right now.”

“I know this is a tough thing to do, big brother, but we cannot just let her deteriorate and have her condition worsen. It's either this or nothing.”

A ghost of a smile danced on Nick's lips. “Suddenly being the older one?” he asked his brother.

“Hey. Someone has to be strong for the other. And 'sides, I'm all you've got.”

“I know, Liam. You're one hell of a guy, little bro.”

Liam's smile was sad and musing. “You know how much s**t you've done for me?”

Nick shook his head. Sometimes he feels he has done nothing for his brother. Sometimes he feels guilty for not being there when their parents had been killed by rival wolves, leaving fourteen year old Liam all alone to fend for himself. Whatever had happened then had made a part of Liam inaccessible to anyone, to even his mate. Nick doubted if Sapphire knew some of what Liam kept away from everyone. What everyone saw was the fine, young Alpha that could charm a smile from the grouchiest person. No one was allowed to see the side of him that he kept hidden.

The details of what had happened those years ago was not entirely clear to Nick himself. Liam hadn't opened up. All he knew, all that still hurt him, was that his brother had voluntarily let himself be cursed by witches. Cursed to become a creature every wolf shuddered from. Wanting to hold on to his parents' pack, Liam had let himself go through a ritual that could help turn him into a lycanthrope - a creature that got stuck between a wolf and a human- when he wanted to.

Nick was one of such creatures himself, but he had been born with with the ability thereby making it easy for him to control his urges. Liam on the other hand had difficulties. That part of him craved bloodshed, gore, death.

Over the years, Liam had managed to keep a tight leash, but Nick knew, more than anyone, that it was an hard battle for him.

He sighed. “Let's go check if she's awake. And get this over with.”