Marvin looked perplexed. “Do you think our relationship, mine and Aldrich’s, is dangerous?”
“In your case, you both care for each other, but you can’t completely understand or accept each other’s actions. Of course, it’s dangerous. No matter what kind of relationship-romantic, familial, or friendly-it must be built on the premise of respect. If you both insist that your own ideas are more important, how can you genuinely respect each other?”
After pondering, Marvin realized there was indeed danger between them. He believed Aldrich disdained him, maybe even hated him. Aldrich never agreed to his requests to go out, took away his rightful position as alpha, excelled in everything, and stole Grace from him. But was that really the case?
After becoming alpha, Aldrich didn’t ask him to do anything. Marvin preferred to stay in his father’s palace, pretending to be sick, rather than attending Aldrich’s alpha inauguration ceremony. He left Aldrich to end what should have been the most glorious day of his life all alone-no family present, no real joy for his achievements. But that position was clearly earned through his own efforts.
Afterward, no one questioned him about why he didn’t attend the new alpha’s inauguration ceremony. Everyone, including Aldrich, would be more tolerant of him.
After redefining certain things, those previously overlooked details returned to his mind, unraveling like a cocoon.
He resolved to talk to Aldrich.
When Aldrich received this call, he was still reflecting on what Urania had said to him, “You won’t love someone.” He hadn’t thought this statement was hurtful before. Everyone had strengths and weaknesses, and he didn’t need to measure himself against someone else’s strengths. But that premise was when he didn’t need to love someone. At that time, he had no thoughts about loving someone; a partner wasn’t a lover, and even Grace had never mentioned needing love. It made him feel like the term “love” itself was elusive.
He thought, “I’ve lived for so many years and have never needed love,” ignoring the fact that everyone around him loved him.
Now he was extremely upset and confused. He wanted to understand love but didn’t know where to start. Picking up the phone at hand, he realized it was Marvin.
“We just talked a few days ago.”
“Of course. But can’t I call you when I have nothing to do?”
It wasn’t about that. Aldrich felt a bit at a loss. Normally, Marvin wouldn’t speak this way. He liked to use some trivial shouting to mask his true thoughts. For example, when he wanted to express affection, he would first say a bunch of useless nonsense-like how ugly you looked today or how much older you seemed than usual-completely unnecessary preambles. In the end, he’d get to the point: “I like you.” However, most people wouldn’t endure such a lengthy preamble; they’d be driven away halfway through. Aldrich, thinking he had acquired some basic survival skills during his many years of association with Marvin, such as patience, felt a bit more prepared.
But now, Marvin suddenly changed without any warning, which made him very uncomfortable. He could only cautiously ask, “Did you call me because you missed me?”
“It’s not that.”
“…”
If Alisa were next to him now, she would surely express the same sentiment: Trying to connect with him is simply a waste of life.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“I want to talk to you about my future plans.”
Actually, strictly speaking, the two brothers had never seriously discussed this matter. The reluctance to express the most genuine emotions wasn’t just a habit of Southeast Asians; it was also a historical legacy among the werewolves.
Werewolves grew up in harsh environments that demanded they abandon unnecessary emotions, even among close brothers. Some werewolves would even commit patricide for power.
Under this external pressure, expecting them to understand emotions as a gentle concept wasn’t easy. Even Elwin himself wasn’t good at interacting with his two sons.
His guilt towards the elder son led him to indulge him more, even if he had to let Aldrich bear some inappropriate behaviors. As for the guilt towards the younger son, he could only pass on as much as possible to him.
Given these circumstances, the strained relationship between the two children seemed somewhat understandable.
Aldrich had never thought that one day Marvin would have thoughts other than staying in the Blue Moon Pack. Although they tacitly avoided discussing this matter, Aldrich assumed they would silently stay here, continually contributing to the development of the Blue Moon Pack.
“You don’t want to stay in the Blue Moon Pack? Then where do you want to go, roam in the clouds or settle in another tribe?” Marvin was displeased. “Why would you make the assumption that I would settle in another tribe? Of course not. I want to stay in the human world. The human world is interesting to me, and I adapt better there than among the werewolves.”
This was absurd. Aldrich thought, a werewolf wanting to settle in the human territory, “Are you crazy? What will Father think of you, and what will the tribe members think? How can you suddenly have such an unreasonable idea?”
Marvin was not pleased. “Why are you reacting so strongly?”
At first, he wasn’t sure if he should tell Aldrich. Part of his hesitation was because he knew Aldrich would react this way.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t express opinions on things Aldrich had already decided, nor would he have opinions about Aldrich himself. If Aldrich scolded him loudly, he would stay silent, as he was doing now. He didn’t know what to say.
Alisa snatched the phone expressionlessly. “Why does he care about what others think? He’s finally determined to live the life he wants. As a brother, shouldn’t you be the first to support him?”
“Would you let your brothers and sisters experience a life engulfed by public opinion?”
“Marvin is an adult, and in your werewolf time calculations, he’s been an adult for a long time. He can make his own decisions. Whether to stay or leave is his choice!”
The two argued fiercely, and Marvin, standing on the side, watched these two highly intelligent people hurl insults at each other without using a single dirty word.
“You wanted to take Maggie away from me before, and now you want to take away my brother!”
“Maggie is my sister! You took her away from me!”
They escalated again to their initial disagreement over Maggie’s different decisions.
Feeling like his head was about to explode, Marvin suddenly interjected, “If you don’t like it or think I’m useless, just give me those trivial tasks you’re doing in human society. I can handle them. As long as you’re willing to let me stay in the human world.”
Aldrich fell silent.
After a long silence, he said, “That’s not what I meant, Marvin. I just want you to stay by my side and Father’s side.”