EPISODE THIRTEEN
THEME: Who is at fault?
MOON STONE FORTRESS
FLASHBACK
TEN YEARS AGO
Claire ran past him with his favorite boots on her legs getting dragged against the grass. Jaylen yelled after her as he also laughed his head off in the process.
“Claire! I am so going to tell mom about this!” He called after her.
“Let me see you try.” She teased, still running.
Still laughing he sat down on the grass, marveling at the beauty of the garden and also his cute little sister running around. He loves Claire so much and would do anything to protect her and also make her happy. Even if he had to with using his favorite boots to run round the muddy area.
Obviously tired from the marathon she set for herself, Claire sat next to her brother resting her sweaty head on his shoulder.
“You are the best brother in the whole world, Jaylen.” She praised.
Jaylen snickered. “You only say so after getting your way with me. I really don’t believe you.”
Claire’s lips formed into a pout and she made a hurtful face. “I really did mean it. You know I would never say that to Jayden.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because he is an asshole!”
“Claire! No bad words.” He cautioned her.
“He is an asshole.” She repeated.
“Don’t cuss at your elder brother.” He pulled at her cheeks gently.
“Can you not defend him please. He finds every way to get into a scuffle with you. Just look at you…” She pointed at the exposed scars on his body. “See you looking like the member of the furry clan with different stripes on you.”
Jaylen chuckled. “Your sense of humor is too much for someone your age.”
“But you know I am right. Someday I wish you would become the alpha instead of him.”
Jaylen pulled her away from him and he looked into her eyes. “Don’t let anyone hear you say such words, they would think I am planning some sort treason.”
“You do so and I will support you.” Claire whispered.
Pulling at her little mouth, he laughed. “You are too confident. You know both of us will end up in the dungeon if we ever try that.”
“Dad would never allow that.”
“But the pack people might.”
“I still don’t care. I love you more than anything else in this world.” Claire embraced him.
Jaylen ruffled her hair. “Except mom and dad right?”
She grinned widely at him. “Of course. I love them the most.”
They both held on to each other and with bright smiles on their faces. All of a sudden, Jaylen felt a sharp pain run through the side of his shoulder that Claire was resting her head on. His brother had hit him hard with a rod the last time they fought.
It had been bloody and extremely violent as usual. Everything about him gets on Jayden’s nerves and it was becoming more of an habit of pass time for him. Every time their parents have to call them into the punishment hall to give each of them the punishment they deserve for not laying good example as the member of the alpha family.
Still, Jayden would always find a way to have a fight with him. It was tiring and he was losing his patience as time passes.
“Promise me you would go far away to find peace when it gets too much.” Claire said, staring dead into space.
Jaylen chuckled nervously. “What do you mean by that Claire?”
She looked up at him. “I hate to see you get trampled on by Jayden. Please promise me you will do what is necessary and leave.”
“How about you.”
“I would be fine, but you might not.”
Jaylen stared at his eight years old sister. He was dumbfounded, as absurd at it might seem she was absolutely right. It is of tradition in Moon Stone Fortress that the eldest of a twin, the one who had arrived first would be the alpha.
Jayden already knew it from a very young age that he would be the one to keep up the family legacy. Jaylen has no issues with it but it was glaring Jayden and some clan council members saw him as a threat. And it always made him feel unwanted. The thought of where he would have to go if he steps out of Moon Stone Fortress scares him so much. Most times he tries not to think about it, hoping and trusting that his parents would stand by him.
But the day had turned into a day of doom as Jayden decided to get possessed by a demon and unleashed his wrath on Jaylen.
“Where the fuck are my boots?!” Jayden yelled in the hallway.
Jaylen and Claire were just returning from the garden and looked so dirty from the mud. Claire had a pair of dirty boots in hand.
Jayden came stomping down the stairs when his eyes caught sight of the boot on Claire’s hand. His brows clenched together, as he took slow strides towards them. Jaylen stood with his arms folded looking straight at him, as Claire hid behind his back looking scared.
“Wait a minute! Is that mine?” Jayden questioned.
“Does it look any where like yours, you should check your room.” Jaylen retorted sounding pissed.
The boot had been bought for them by their grandmother. It is a Nike shoes and quite expensive. She had gotten it for the boys fifteenth birthday. The shoes were a bit identical green, but different shades of green and sometimes can be mistaken for the other. She had thought it might bond them and had ordered for the same shade of color.
“That boot is mine, Jaylen.” Jayden insisted.
“I just told you clearly that it’s not yours.” Jaylen said.
“Claire!” Jayden boomed, causing her to shiver behind Jaylen. “Where the hell did you take that boot from?”
“Come on, Claire, tell him.” Jaylen urged her, believing she wouldn’t have taken Jayden’s pair but his.
She looked between her brothers and bowed her head slightly.
“Can’t you speak?!” Jayden snarled.
“Actually I had taken it from Jayden’s room, hoping to ruin it a bit. I knew you would let me play with yours, which was why I decided to not-”
Jayden didn’t wait for her to finish before tossing a loose punch her way but Jaylen was quick to retaliate by pushing him back roughly. Jayden’s back hit the edge of the flower vase table in the large room.
Claire ran back, towards the stairs scared at the next action to come up. She ran to look for their parents or anyone who can help to separate them.
Jayden rubbed at his back wincing a bit. “Wow! Did you just push me? You’ve got the nerves now!”
“You were about to hit her. We don’t hit women here.” Jaylen argued.
“You bastard! How dare you confront me?!” Jayden yelled. He picked up what his eyes met first, a heavy flower vase and haul it at Jaylen’s head.
He hadn’t seen it coming and couldn’t protect himself from it. The vase landed on his forehead making him fall to the ground. Not letting him recover,
Jayden ran up to him and punched his face consistently. “How dare you talk back at me?” He questioned landing him a blow on his chest.
Blood tickled down Jaylen’s forehead and his head was spinning. He groaned in excruciating pain. He was feeling too weak to even fight his twin brother back.
“I am your alpha! And you bow and listen to me when I fucking speak!” Jayden kept plummeting his brother with wild and intentional punches.
Jaylen was about to pass out when he felt Jayden’s weight being lifted off him. Spitting out Jayden snatched his arms away from his captors. The whole room was filled with their parents, sister, the pack councils and other pack house workers. They all stared in shock.
“I don’t want to ever see your face again, Jaylen! Leave right this minute and never come back, if you do I promise to kill you with my very own hands!” Jayden threatened as he snatched himself finally from those trying to hold him down. And he succeeded in getting out of their hold, he stomped out in fury.
Jaylen felt his guts were punched out of him and no one came to help him up. They all stared like he was the culprit. His mother and sister gave him a pitiful look while Carl had stared down at him in disappointment. Not willing to seek for their sympathy, Jaylen made himself stand up. He held his bleeding head, his battered side and limped away from everyone else.
And that very day, he made up his mind to get his inheritance and never return.