Chapter 5 Empty Comfort

• Kiran’s POV
• Talia stood in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes bloodshot. She stared at me with a fierceness that made the air between us crackle. I lay shirtless on the bed, Lilith half-covered beneath the blanket in my arms.
• A wave of scorching heat hit me — the anger released by her wolf, Ember. The air seemed to warp; the temperature rose sharply.
• Talia’s voice was low and full of disgust as she spoke, word by word. “Kiran, you make me sick.”
• Lilith trembled in my arms, quietly sobbing. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you and Talia wouldn’t be in such a bad relationship.”
• I frowned and looked toward my sister in the doorway. “It’s not your fault. Blame Sienna.”
• I pulled the blanket up, fully covering the two of them.
• In a cold voice I snapped, “Talia, what the hell are you doing?”
• “Me? Going crazy?” Talia seemed to find the idea amusing; she pointed at me, her finger trembling. “Kiran, you’re a complete scumbag!”
• “You brought Sienna into the pack. You knew she was naïve about emotions, yet you led her on.” Her words came faster, harsher. “You were hurt by Mother, so you went to Sienna for warmth — you enjoyed her devotion and obedience. And now you’re here, fooling around with this… this woman!”
• “Shut up!” My anger flared. The Alpha pressure in me rose and pressed toward Talia at the door.
• Her fury, however, overrode any fear of me. She didn’t back down. “You’re still the same,” she sneered. “When you’re hurt, you use your Alpha pressure to suppress me.”
• The heat around her continued to climb. Ember — her fiery wolf appeared faintly behind her, glaring at Lilith with golden, animal eyes.
• “I’m not the little girl you used to bully,” Talia said. The words trembled, but she held them like a shield.
• “Ah!” Lilith screamed, grabbing my arm tightly. “Kiran, save me! Her wolf is about to lose control!”
• “Talia!” I pushed more Alpha into my presence, trying to clamp down on the surge. The pressure bore down on her like a mountain, meant to steady and restrain.
• But Talia didn’t yield. Ember’s power exceeded my hold. The flames in the hearth surged wildly, threatening to leap from the fireplace.
• My wolf, Dark, warned me in a voice only I could hear. Master — stop. Talia’s wolf, Ember, is not under her mature control. It’s about to lose control. If it does, the entire estate could burn.
• I immediately withdrew the pressure and focused on calming my sister.
• Talia took a step back; the blaze in her eyes dimmed but did not disappear. She still burned with anger. “Kiran, you heartless bastard. She just got out of the hospital and you made her stand in ice water. Are you trying to kill her?”
• Her voice shook. “She’s been with you for five years. She would never push someone into the water like Lilith — someone you’ve only known for three years.”
• “She didn’t know what love was before. She was bewitched by you. Fortunately, her emotions have returned. She smashed all the memory crystals about you. She won’t bother you anymore — you’re free!”
• I opened my mouth but the words wouldn’t come. A sudden, hollow ache opened in my chest.
• I asked my wolf, silently: Dark, did I do something wrong?
• Master, Dark replied, you are the leader; you have the right to punish anyone. But Sienna wouldn’t do such a thing.
• I nodded, but the knot in my throat didn’t ease.
• “From now on,” Talia said as if announcing a verdict, “I won’t try to persuade Sienna to forgive you. You’re not worth it. I was selfish before — I wanted her to be my sister-in-law. Now I believe a good girl should be with a good man. And you’re not.”
• With that, she turned and left the estate without looking back.
• Silence fell over the room.
• I sat on the bed, stunned, a sharp pain pressing at my ribs.
• “Kiran, don’t listen to Talia’s nonsense,” Lilith murmured, voice soft, trying to comfort me. “She was misled by Sienna. Sienna clearly wants to get back at us now.”
• I said nothing. Talia’s words kept replaying: Sienna smashed all the memory crystals.
• I asked Dark again, almost pleading: Dark, my sister says she won’t bother me anymore, but I’m not happy. What should I do to make her chase after me like before?
• Give her things — favors like you used to, Dark suggested. Be nicer, as you were before.
• He was right. I used to be kinder, and she would keep loving me.