Lycan's Affection
The Last Punishment

Matthew raised his eyes to Eric who had immediately moved back, his eyes wide.

"You think I wouldn't know? Explain to me what the fuck the remaining ashes of my supposed letter were doing in your cell. Explain to me how the fuck this guy right here...."

"Yes," Matthew said, his breath faltering. "I changed the letters. But I forced Eric to do it and..."

Alexander started to laugh, his eyes, however lacking humor. "You really are a bastard through and through, Matthew. You are still lying to me."

Silence fell between them, heating up the moment even further. None could tell what the other was thinking and the brother sat while Eric stood, absolutely scared out of his wits.

Alexander gave a small sigh, and a click of his fingers, and suddenly, Eric was attacked by Alexander's soldiers.

"Eric!" Matthew yelled, standing, his feet ready to propel him towards his now fallen friend.

"Don't you dare. I have not given them orders to spare anyone who attempts to stop them."

Matthew turned to Alexander, his eyes wide and filled with cold, livid tears. "Really?"

Eric's yells penetrated the silence, the sound of the hitting and punching aggravating Matthew even more.

"Yes. Not even you, Matthew."

Matthew gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Did you give up Eleanor to Conaan that time to save me from him only for you to be the one to kill me?"

Alexander raised a brow. "You think I didn't give that much thought? You think even if Conaan hadn't come, I wouldn't have found a way to get rid of her?"

"What?"

"Who needs a woman who could wield a sword? Who needs a woman who thinks she should protect you? Who would run around trying to save everything like she is the man of the pack? I could see through that wench fron the very beginning. She wanted to rule."

"You are such a coward."

"If that is what you call men who prefer their women submissive, tied to the bed, ready, wet and naked every other day instead of running around protecting territories, then yes. That is exactly what I am."

Matthew swallowed. "This is why, Alpha Alexander. Conaan probably knows how to get both from her. A strong woman and a willing woman. He probably doesn't even need to tie her down. And that is why he will forever be twice, thrice, a million times the man you can only look up to in your dreams!"

"Matthew!" Alexander said, weakly grabbing a knife. Without blinking, he flung it right at Matthew, and it grazed his cheek, immediately drawing blood.

Matthew laughed. "You missed. Like the failure you are."

Alexander's eyes thinned, his anger threatening to boil over, his chest heaving. "I do not see my brother in you anymore."

"I stopped seeing anything in you a long time ago."

It took Alexander a bit of time as he watched Matthew walk over to Eric. He pushed the soldiers off and grabbed his friend, hoisting him up, Eric's hand around him. He was now bloodied, his clothes torn, and he looked absolutely gutted.

"We will take ourselves to the dungeon."

Alexander said nothing as he watched them turn away and started to walk out of the room. A small smile graced his lips.

"Not so fast, Matthew."

Matthew stopped, then turned. Eric moved away from him and leaned on the wall, his eyes wide in fear.

"You love Conaan and Eleanor and whatever the lycans stand for, do you not? Well, here goes. I will drain every drop of blood that belongs to my gene pool from you and I will discard both of you idiots in the lycan territory. When they send back your battered, dead body, I will tell it that I told you so. When they send your decapitated head with the teeth of Conaan leaving marks on it, I will look in your lifeless eyes and tell it that I told you so!"

"Alexander!"

Before he could make a move, strong hands captured them, keeping them in place.

"Drain him of blood. I can not have someone with the same blood as me cross over to them. Leave him just enough for him to see how badly the lycans will treat him. As for Eric...beat him till he's almost dead. I have no use for his blood."

"Alexander! Alexander, how dare you! How dare you!"

Matthew's voice faded away, and even Eric's silent tears were burnt away into the might, as the soldiers dragged them back to the dungeon and got them ready for the execution.

Matthew stood in the dungeon, his eyes wide as they locked the gates, then walked away to bring their materials. He couldn't believe his eyes as he turned to Eric who had now collapsed on the floor, his chest heaving, his hands in his hair.

"Eric..."

"Do you think they will accept us? They will smell us and since we will both be unconscious, they will kill us. Especially with the attack sent to them already. They will kill us, Matthew and he will make good his vow."

Matthew shook his head. "Maybe Eleanor..."

"You think the Queen has the time to attend to things like these? She might not even know."

"Eric, stop. I...I need you to do something else."

"Matthew..."

He trailed off as Matthew ran to the burning torch, then grabbed a burning stick. He ran back to Eric, his eyes stoic and determined.

"What?"

"Do it fast."

Eric's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"There is something I need you to write here." He moved, showing the back of his arm.

"But...."

"I am hoping, Eric. Conaan is a true warrior and...and....I know, I hope....I hope he will see us. Just write it."

"But it will burn!"

"There is no other way! We need to. Please."

Eric swallowed, then grabbed the pointed sharp stick, his teeth clamping down on his lower lip, his chest heaving. He moved behind Matthew and slowly started to write the words Matthew screamed, hoping the pain wouldn't be a waste.