Kaden POV
The dungeons are damp and dark. It is not the first time I have been down here, and I am certain it will not be the last. I just never expected to be visiting my brother down here. Kai is sitting in the corner of his cell with his head in his hands. It has only been a day, and he looks like shit. The cot in his cell is destroyed, and splatters of blood are all over the wall.
He looks up at me when I approach the bars. I expect to see anger in his eyes, but he is broken.
"Hey," I say.
"Is she okay?" He asks immediately.
"She is still sleeping," I tell him.
His fists ball up at his sides, and he slams them into the ground. The skin on his knuckles breaks and bleeds. He attempts to growl, but the silver of the bars is containing his wolf. The longer I look at him, the more pathetic he looks.
"Dude," I plead with him. "You have got to control your anger. That's what got you into this mess to begin with."
"Don't you think I know that," he shouts at me. "I am out of control, and I don't know how to make it stop."
I look helplessly at my brother. Tears are streaming down his face, and he is choking back sobs. He is pacing his cell like a caged animal. I have only seen one other werewolf act this way, and he was a rogue. I have never seen him like this before. Yes, he has always been a bit of a loose cannon, but this is out of character for him.
"What can I do for you?" I ask desperately.
"Leave me here to rot," he replies. "I don't deserve her. Take care of her and tell her that I love her."
Walking away from his cell, I try to steady my breathing. I know the Luna Queen is waiting on the other side of this door. I am met with her bright blue eyes when I push the door open. She is waiting for me to tell her what was said, but the joke's on her. What is said between brothers is private.
I shut the door to the dungeons and face the Luna Queen and her mates. "Something is wrong with my brother," I state. "I believe he needs medical attention."
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Raven asks.
"I know my brother better than anyone in this world," I tell her. "That man in the cells is not my brother."
Raven cocks her head to the side and looks at me for a long time. I do not know if she is snooping around in my brain, but I will not allow it.
"I would appreciate it if you did not invade my mind," I growl.
Raven smirks. "If I was in your mind, you would know it. Now tell me more about your brother."
"What do you want to know?" I ask.
"When did he become this person you claim you don't know?" She asks.
"Shortly after Tish arrived," I respond. "He changed."
"How do you feel he is different?" She asks.
I run my fingers through my hair as frustration builds in my chest. How do I explain to people who don't know him how he is different?
"Kai has always had a temper, but he could manage it before Tish showed up," I begin to explain. "Dad thought it was because he was unable to mark her."
"But you did not feel this way?" Raven wonders.
"Of course, I wanted to mark her the moment I saw her, but I knew I needed to take things slowly because she is human," I tell her.
"I will have a doctor come to assess him," Raven says. "You might be on to something."
"Thank you, Luna Queen," I respond gracefully.
I step to the side to walk around Raven when she holds her hand to stop me. I freeze and swallow hard. I worry that she has something else awful to tell me.
"You should head to the hospital," Raven smiles. "Tish is awake."
Not caring enough to wait to be dismissed, I bolt toward the hospital. I don't bother getting into my car. Apollo can get me there faster. Apollo takes control, and I shift mid-stride. His giant paws hit the ground as he races toward the hospital. He takes every shortcut he knows, weaving in and out of people walking on the streets. They jump out of our way, and a few children shriek in fear.
Once outside of the hospital, he skids to a stop and gives me back control. I do not care that I am naked as I rush through the halls. I hear a nurse chasing me down, begging me to get dressed.
I shove the door to Tish's room open, and I am shocked to see her sitting up in bed, eating Jell-O. She is watching some sort of drama on TV, but when the door closes behind me, she looks in my direction. Her eyes light up with excitement, but then her eyes drop to the rest of my body. Her eyebrows furrow together and she giggles.
"Why are you naked?" She asks.
"I ran here," I tell her.
"Naked?" She asks confused.
"As my wolf," I explain. "I ruined my clothes."
"Oh," she replies. "Why didn't you just drive?"
"I was in a hurry," I reply.
Tish still looks confused, but she doesn't ask any more questions. I stand awkwardly just inside the door. I do not know if she wants me to approach her.
"I am so sorry," I tell her.
Tish pops a spoonful of Jell-O in her mouth and looks confused. "Why are you sorry?" She asks. " You aren't the one that forced a mark on me."
"I didn't protect you," I tell her. "I should have been there. I could have stopped him."
"You were doing your duties," she says. "The same thing Kai was supposed to be doing. Where is he?"
I shuffle from foot to foot. "Did Raven not tell you?"
"Tell me what?" She wants to know.
"Kai is in the dungeons," I tell her. "He is awaiting trial for force ably marking you."
Tish drops the spoon she is holding, and it clangs loudly on her tray. Her mouth has dropped open and I think it is the first time I have ever seen her speechless.
"Why?" She demands to know.
"When Raven looked into your mind she saw fit to have him arrested," I answer quietly.
"If I would have known..." her voice trails off.
"There is nothing we can do about it now," I sigh.
"Bullshit," Tish hisses. "Bring me the Luna Queen."