A Brother's Words

[Aera's POV]

The next day, I woke up early to wait for Alphonze's arrival, even though I had barely slept the night before.

When he arrives, he is accompanied by Christian, Silas' beta, and Trixie. They busied themselves setting up his wheelchair and then helping him out.

As they begin to roll him forward, another car pulls up and parks. More men exit and start to unpack Alphonze's machines so that they can be taken to our room.

"Aera!" Alphonze calls when he spots me. "You didn't have to wait for me."

"Of course I did," I counter, giving a small smile. "You're my brother."

I keep my smile in place as Alphonze examines me curiously. I’m sure from the look in his eyes that there is something he wants to ask, but he refrains.

"That’s cute," Trixie giggles, breaking the silence. "You’re such a devoted little brother. I remember when you were just a kid and attached to his hip."

As she speaks, images of the past begin to appear, causing a pang of pain to shoot through me.

"Trixie," Christ