Chapter 6

Eva's POV

I grew uncomfortable at the sight of them being so close. I didn't care enough about the rude guy amongst them. But I questioned Alexander's morals to be friends with such a man.

"Hey look! My kitten is lurking over there!" A blushing finger was pointed at me. It was the naked brunette from before!

Dammit! They found me eavesdropping!

"Hey!~ Eva, right? Heard your name from the healer!~" I raised an eyebrow at Alexander's drunken words.

"I wouldn't like being called by my name," I said, a small insecurity coming out as a concern.

"Okay~ Then what do I call you?" Alexander tapped his chin dramatically.

"I'll give you many, many nicknames!" Alexander said. As much as I wanted to melt at his words, I knew he was drunk.

"Drunk people are inclined to lie. More often than not." I said, stepping into the chilly breeze. What was up with the weather around here? I thought we were in the middle of the dark woods. A place known to be notoriously cold.

"Drunk people also tend to speak the truth. More often than lie." Nicholas, who wasn't as drunk as the other two responded slyly. I didn't like his tone, as usual. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the way Nicholas was sharpening his knife. I don't remember that activity being done so nonchalantly.

"You're obliged to call me Eva. Not anything else." I responded just as wittily, letting him know there was no warmth for him in calling my name. He jumped his eyebrows, an irritating expression sitting on his rather sharp, handsome features, "Fine by me."

"Lucasss come here, you!" Suddenly, Alexander pounced on Lucas, and they hugged roughly. Was that even a hug at that point?

"You're seeing what I'm seeing, right? Didn't I tell you?" Alexander slurred. While he talked to Lucas - I assumed the brunette's name was Lucas - Alexander was looking straight at me.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed your hangout. I don't associate with drunken men." I stated assertively and tried to leave.

But oh well,

"No wait!" Lucas freed himself from Alexander's grip and rushed to me!

"Don't go~ You're my first ever— never mind. The night is cold and young. Stay with us for a bit." I raised an eyebrow. I could see Lucas sobering up with one 'Never mind'.

What was he holding back?

What was I his... 'first' for?

I was curious.

He was better drunk,

And Nicholas was right. Drunk people speak the truth more often than lie.

"Please sit back down," I said, feeling uncomfortable.

"Only if you sit with us. We want to talk to you." Said Lucas. Lust wasn't glowing in his eyes anymore. Unfortunately, I couldn't read people's admiration gleaming in their eyes either.

"I insist too," Alexander added. He looked at Nicholas who remained quiet and to himself.

So I sat down with them. It felt as though there was a fourth wooden chair just for me. And not 'just in case'.

The packhouse knew there were only three brothers, right? Anyway...

"How far have you come to healing?" Alexander asked. He had sobered up too, it seemed.

"The head healer said I was doing well...for someone's wolf being poisoned," I said, looking down at my lap. I enjoyed the dwindling of my fingers more than thinking about my past.

"Your wolf was poisoned?" Lucas, who was unaware of my situation questioned. It seemed hard to even nod.

"I'm sorry about that." Lucas was surprisingly warm and comforting. I thought he'd find a way to touch me in the guise of 'comfort', but he didn't. It was...genuine.

"So...are you all mutual friends or something? I know you two are brothers..." I said, pointing at Nicholas and Alexander.

"Well," Suddenly, Lucas smirked and shifted in his seat, as if he was about to drop a fact bomb, "I'm the third brother. Lucas Silverclaw, rightful third Alpha of Silverclaw."

My eyes widened.

"Wait...really?" I was dumbstruck! How couldn't I tell!? Oh...right. My wolf was poisoned.

"You couldn't have known until I told you, right?" Lucas mumbled and relaxed back on his seat, hands supporting his head. The smug expression sat back on his face. His young, strikingly handsome face.

...I shouldn't have described him that way.

"But...I don't understand. You two look so different from him. You're blond, he's a brunette. Even the eye colors are different." While the blonds - Alexander and Nicholas had striking ice blue eyes to pair with the blond hair, Lucas had a deep hazel color. Almost like honey. Like...sunset.

Looking into their eyes, I noticed they represented the dawn and dusk together.

"I've got an interesting lineage," Lucas started, shifting in his seat again. He seemed to like telling stories or talking a lot, in general.

"We share the same mother. However, Silverclaw belongs to them entirely. Not that I'm not capable, but my drunkard royal father prioritized someone more mature and in power." Lucas's smile fell.

"It's a long story, to be honest. Long story short - my father was Gambit Rob. He was actually named 'Gambler Rob', but he preferred Gambit." Lucas scoffed towards the end.

"Lucas was three when his father showed up. Our mother met this wealthy, seemingly royal-descent man and fell in love. But..." Alexander stopped himself too.

My eyebrows were crushed.

"I...understand if you don't want to tell me the story. You don't have to rile me up twice." I said, slightly pissed.

Alexander gave a bitter laugh before turning to his brother,

"Just that it isn't my story to tell. It's his." Alexander said, pointing to Lucas.

The fumes from my head cooled down when I noticed how uncomfortable Lucas was. I felt...guilty. Responsible. So I wanted to change the subject.

"So...who's the eldest? What's your guys' age? To start with, I'll reveal mine. I'm 19." I rumbled out.

However, I was taken aback by their reactions. Their eyebrows jumped, as if not expecting my age. They glanced at each other.

I couldn't tell if they thought I was older or younger than they expected. Either way, my age wasn't what they thought it was.