Page 11 of Cursed Wolfsbane

Me, on the other hand? I’m the Wyldhart family fuckup. I’ve made enough mistakes for a hundred people. Sure, I can makepeople laugh, but beyond that, anything I can do Xander can do better.

Yet, he thinks no one needs him and we’d all just move on without him?

Xander needs his head examined because I’ve never heard a more ridiculous statement in my entire life.

One thing that’s super clear, Xander’s been hiding how he actually feels from all of us. He’s a fucking expert at making everyone think he’s fine. But as his twin, I should’ve known, goddammit.

It feels like the walls and ceiling are closing in on me as I try to process just how much pain Xander’s hid from everyone. My breathing speeds up, and I squeeze my eyes tightly shut as I try to rein in my emotions. When that doesn’t work, I know I need Kai.

I take off at a jog through the infirmary, but I’m not sure where Kai would be. He left five minutes or so after Briar did. While she tried to pretend she was fine, both Kai and I could tell that something was wrong when Briar abruptly left the room. Kai went after her to make sure she was okay. Seeing Xander get shot screwed with her head, too, I bet.

I’m not sure whether I’m relieved or worried that our mate is just as messed up as the three of us. I don’t think our issues will send her packing, but I also wish she’d lived the cushy kind of life she deserves. I’m determined to give her the carefree life she always should’ve had going forward.

When I reach the stairs, I decide to check Kai’s room first. After I bound up the stairs and down the hallway, I push open Kai’s door. I accidentally shove too hard, and it bangs into the wall. Whoops.

Shrugging at the door that totally overreacted, I glance around Kai’s room. My gaze lands on Briar’s wide icy-blue eyesstaring at me from over Kai’s shoulder. “Pretty girl? Whatcha doing here?”

Briar’s pale cheeks redden at my question. She ducks her head but not before I catch her pretty blush. My own brows rise at her reaction. What exactly have they been doing that has her embarrassed?

I cross to stand in front of the couch and behind Briar. I raise an eyebrow at Kai, wondering if he’ll tell me. He gives me a small shake of his head, and I nod in response. I’ll never make Briar talk about something she doesn’t want to. Having been on the receiving end of Kai’s attempts to get me to talk before I was ready, I know how much it sucks.

“You need something, Bastian?” Kai asks as he rubs Briar’s mostly bare back with one hand. His other is squeezing her waist comfortingly.

My dick starts getting hard at the sight of her in only a sports bra and shorts.Christ.It apparently takes nothing at all for me to get aroused when it comes to my mate.

“Yeah. I need, uh, help….” I trail off, wondering how much I should say in front of Briar. It isn’t normal to need my brother to beat me up when I feel overwhelmed. While I want her to like me for who I am, I also realize I’m an acquired taste. I don’t want to show Briar too much of me at once and scare her off.

Not that any of us would let her go, but that’s beside the point.

Kai knows what I’m asking without me having to say the words and nods at me. “In the ring?”

“Yeah,” I confirm.

Briar twists around to look at me before glancing back at Malachi. “You’re not spanking him, right?”

My mouth pops open in surprise. “What?” I ask in confusion. I’m not sure what kinks Briar thinks I have, but my brotherspanking me is hardcore not one of them. Anyone spanking me isn’t really my thing.

Kai snorts. “No, baby girl. That’s only for you. Bastian needs more pain than you do, so we practice fight.”

Briar’s face flames bright red when she realizes Kai just answered my question of what they were doing. I fight not to let the intrigue show on my face. If Briar’s into spanking, I wonder what else she’d like to try. Being tied up can be a calming experience. At the thought of tying Briar up, my cock gets even harder. I try to adjust my erection, but it’s pretty hard to hide in sweats. Clasping my hands in front of my groin is the only thing I can do.

“You ready now?” I ask him.

“Yeah. I just need to get changed.” Kai tenderly kisses Briar on the forehead before standing up. She squeaks at the position change, and I smile at her cute noise. Once Kai lets go of her legs, she slides down his body.

After Briar steadies herself, she turns around. I’m standing so close behind her that she bumps into me. “Sorry,” she gasps as her gaze connects with mine.

“You can fall for me any time, pretty girl,” I purr and give her a flirty wink. Today’s been a zero out of ten, would not recommend type day. We could all use some cheering up. If I can do that for her, I will.

She rolls her eyes, but her lips twitch up. Her small smile makes me feel on top of the world. I grin at her and dart in to press a quick kiss to her forehead. Before she can react, I stride out of Kai’s room.

It only takes me a minute to strip out of my sweatpants, throw on my fighting shorts, and wrap one of my hands. While I’m wrapping the other with the lime green fabric, I walk out of my room, intending to head back to Kai’s. But Briar and Kai are waiting for me in the hallway.

Kai’s winding one of his dark blue wraps between his fingers. “After wrapping around your palm, you want to make sure to wrap in between all of your fingers. That’ll help keep the small bones in your hand from breaking. Then, you’ll wrap it around your wrist multiple times for stability.”

Briar’s watching Kai intently.

“You interested in fighting, pretty girl?” I ask.