MY BROTHERS AND I

How such a little thing could tame three of the fiercest beasts to have ever roamed this Earth will always remain a mystery. But tame us she did. She taught our wretched hearts to love. To care. The hope of redemption that had always eluded us did not seem impossible anymore. With her by our side, we shined. How could we not? She was our sun.

Our little light.

A pained howl pierced the cold silence of the wretched night. Turning towards the tortured sound, I saw Erik in half-lycan form. His hands and feet had transformed into claws and parts of his body was covered in fur. Unable to stand steady on his feet, he swayed dangerously. The growling sounds from his mouth was a mix of animal and human, showing the conflict happening within.

Even without a second look, I understood the struggle he was under. My own lycan was prepared to rip out of my skin.

It won't be long now.

As her breathing slows and her life begins to fade, we will no longer be able to control it. Once the bond breaks, so will our humanity. The lucky souls are the ones that pass soon after their beloved has breathed their last. But my brothers and I will never know such mercy. The Goddess saw to that when she condemned us to forever walk this accursed land.

A surge of hate filled my heart at the thought of how all the events had finally led us here. Here, in the dead of the night and in the middle of the woods, with our mate dying on the forest floor.

To my right, was Finn. My youngest brother who I had always protected and looked out for since we were pups. My heart clenched at the sight of him now. His face contorted in agony as he ripped out a handful of fur from his head. With claws digging into his skull and blood dripping down the side of his face, Finn looked nothing like himself. In the place of the strong, stoic warrior, stood a desperate man.

But at this point we were all desperate.

My state of despair was broken when I heard a voice call over the wind. Ears twitching involuntarily, I tried hard to focus but the sheer pain had compromised my senses, leaving me vulnerable and weak.

My body shuddered with effort as a hand reached out suddenly, forcing me to look up. The hand under my chin, though feminine, felt rough and wrong against my skin. It did not feel like her...my mate.

Hackles rising in defence, a warning growl left my lips. Even with death at my door, I would not fail to protect my mate and brothers.

"Magnus! Magnus ! Can you hear me ? It's me...Agna"

Gripping onto the arms now shaking my shoulders, I tried hard to concentrate. But it felt like I was somewhere underwater. The more I tried to hold on, the more I drowned.

"Agna? Is-Is that you? What.. kept you?" My own voice sounded foreign to my ears. Hoarse, rugged and just above a whisper.

"Calm down Magnus. It took a while to do the spell." Her eyes narrowed, carefully scrutinising my haggard form before turning around to observe my brothers.

She clicked her tongue, seemingly in frustration. "It looks like you are all running out of time."

Taking in a deep breath, I watched as she closed her eyes and placed her rough hand on my forehead. Her strong voice carried through the woods, the words, though indecipherable in my current state, sounded very much like an incantation.

An unnatural breeze seemed to surround us in its embrace, drawing yet another shudder from me as it strengthened my failing body. It took a moment to discern reality from the spiralling pit of darkness but the overpowering fog in my head was slowly beginning to fade. Things appeared much sharper. And although the pain was ever present, it was tolerable.

Giving the witch a grateful look, I quickly crawled to my mate's side and gently took her head onto my lap, staring down at the face of my saviour. The one who had rescued me from a lifetime of pain and misery.