We’re not brothers.
The statement repeated itself in my head with no end in sight. It was loud, louder than the hospital machines, louder than my own heartbeat, louder than the fear sitting heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe. It was louder than the love I feel for him.
For her.
We’re not brothers.
Suddenly, I was hit with the exhaustion of being the one who always had to hold everything together. My life, Kraven’s, Isla’s, my whole existence and identity was based on being the older brother. I took care of him and provided for him. I was his only family.
We’re not brothers.
I didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t even breathe the same. If I did, if I let anything slip, if I let go of the control I had to have, I wouldn’t survive it. My mind was protecting my body from itself. I couldn’t snap, or else there’d be nothing left of me.
Nothing left for her.
For him.
For this baby.
Was I the dad?
My entire life, everything I’d done. Every decision. Every sacrifice. Every line I crossed and justified becausehe was my brother…
It was built on something that didn’t exist.
We’re not brothers.
“That’s…” I let out a slow breath, dragging my hand over my mouth, buying myself a second, just one second to figure out how to stand there without utterly dismantling. “That’s not possible.”
Neither of them answered. It was possible, making it worse.
Is that why Melody came back? To tell us the truth? Does Joe know? Who the hell are my real parents? Where are they?
“I have the paperwork here. You can take a look for yourself.” He handed Isla the envelope. “The paternity results are also in there, and I’ll let you open them at your leisure.”
We all stared at the envelope as if it were magically going to grow legs and walk off.
“I’m going to give you all some privacy.” The doctor walked to the door and left, shutting it behind him.
I didn’t falter, rasping, “I raised you.” The words tasted like vinegar on their way out. I looked at Kraven again. “Do you understand that? I raised you.”
His expression mirrored mine. “I know.”
“I built my entire life around you,” I spewed, louder now, not yelling but close. My control thinned at the edges in a way I couldn’t fully hide anymore. “Every choice I’ve ever made… every fucked-up thing I justified for you… it was because you were my responsibility.”
“Julius.” His arms raised in a gesture of surrender. “I know.”
I laughed, but it came out wrong. It was hollow, like it didn’t belong in my chest. “You’re not my brother.”
The words felt like glass in my mouth, and I hated them. There was nothing left to anchor, nothing left to fight for. Maybeit was shock, maybe it was loss, or maybe it was just defeat, but I couldn’t think straight. I could barely see.
KRAVEN
I didn’t expect any of this. Especially the devastated expression on Julius’s face. I expected him to come at me the way he always did when something changed too far out of his control.
The way his voice cracked without actually breaking. The way he kept talking like if he stopped, he wouldn’t be able to start again. The way he looked at me like he didn’t recognize me anymore. It hit harder than anything he’d ever said to me.
“I didn’t know.” I didn’t have anything else to say—no words of reassurance, no perfect explanation, no excuses for Melody or Joe.
