Dad isn’t the type of guy to waste a lot of words. He is fun and laid back and pretty cool… that is when he isn’t pissed at us… but hearing him so sincerely declaring his pride and love for us makes my chest churn slightly.

Being responsible isn’t always fun; it’s also difficult. It’s even more difficult sometimes to do the right thing. My thoughts go back to Tony and the look on his face when he thinks no one is watching, and to how Arlo said Lysander is dormant.

I’ve debated with myself for days, wondering what I should do. I want to do the right thing. As twins, the bond to my sibling is particularly strong, and I can feel it more and more every day, how there is something weighing on his mind. What started as a hint of a feeling gets stronger and stronger, especially now that I know what to look for.

Arlo tried to reach out to Lysander several times, but it was in vain every time.

I want to do the right thing, even if doing the right thing means that Tony will be mad at me.

Arlo, what should I do?

I don’t know,Arlo says quietly.But I know that if we don’t do anything, then it might hurt Anthony and Lysander in the long run.

Is it really that severe?I want to know.

Lys and I are twins, too, just like you and Tony. We share a very similar connection. Just imagine your bond suddenly disappearing. They are hurting, but we can’t help them like this.

I feel appalled by his words.Are you fucking serious? You can’t feel the connection to him anymore?

Just a hint of it,he tells me.That’s not good, Henry.

I’ve never gone behind Tony’s back before,I mutter.

I know.

It doesn’t feel right.

There is no right way to do this anymore,Arlo points out.Sometimes, doing the right thing means to do the wrong thing. If Tony knew what would be the right thing to do, he’d have already done it. We can only choose what we think is the best outcome.

Socrates,I say.But his legacy about ethics is more complicated than what you just recited. He says someone else’s wrong might not be my wrong, I might not feel the same. So, while I’m aware someone else finds it wrong, I still do it because the outcome might be good for me.

Socrates doesn’t judge, though,Arlo says.Besides, is it important?

No, but you started it.

He lies down, stretching his paws a bit.That’s true.A pause.Talk to Dad. We can’t help Anthony, and I think what hurt him and Lysander is rooted too deeply for anyone else to truly help. Dad has a lot of knowledge, and he has influential friends. If he can’t help, then Uncle Elden can.

I sigh, licking my lips nervously. “Dad?” I ask. “Do you have a moment?” I ask him. “Alone.”

He looks surprised. “Sure.” He nods, and with one final glare at the rainy sky, he leads me to his office, where we sit down. “What do you want to talk about?”

Oh fuck, this is more difficult than I thought it would be. It feels like I’m betraying Anthony here. “I… I think Tony has a problem,” I say nervously.

“What kind of problem?” Dad asks, appalled. He has to know it’s bad when I’m asking for his help.

“I’m not sure,” I say. “Just that Arlo said something about his lycan being… weakened.”

I don’t have it in me to tell him the whole truth. A hint about it needs to be enough, but I can’t out Anthony completely. If this approach truly won’t help, I’ll need to force him to spill the whole truth anyway.

“Weakened.” Dad stares at me. “You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say.

“You twins can be so insufferable,” he grumbles before his gaze softens. “You’re worried, or you wouldn’t be here.” He looks at me insistently. “Can Arlo still reach out to Lysander?”

I feel my body stiffening. I didn’t think he’d ask the most important question so directly. “It’s difficult,” I mutter evasively.

Dad, however, gets the message. His eyes clouded with worry. “I will try to talk to him,” he mutters. “You did the right thing telling me, Henry.”