What is the point of having a brother?
Why have a brother?
What even is a brother?
Those were the kinds of questions running through Ren's mind. He had never asked to have a brother. That's why he couldn't understand why he had one.
He couldn't digest his brother's answer. It was as if he wasn't even trying to hide the truth.
Ren clenched his fists, staring at the ground.
"It's true… you're not the one who brought me into this world."
His brother looked away.
Then Ren lifted his head.
"I don't even know why I asked you such a stupid question."
His voice was lower now.
Less aggressive.
His brother sighed.
"Haven't you found yourself a name yet, my dear brother?"
Hearing those words made Ren flinch.
"Don't call me that."
"You are my brother, whether you like it or not."
Ren gritted his teeth.
"I'm just a simple rejected beta because of my appearance, while you're a superior alpha, respected and loved by everyone. How could I ever call myself your brother?"
Silence.
His brother's expression shifted slightly.
"Hm. It's true. You're really pathetic. No one loves you or respects you."
Ren frowned.
"What? How can you say that to me?"
"So what? Did that hurt? You looked at me like I was your enemy."
Ren froze.
Elijah's memories surfaced, blurry and not very happy.
"You know… I wish you would die…"
His brother let out a short, humorless laugh. Maybe Ren's words had hurt him.
"Do you really think your wishes have any value? And who are you to wish for my death? Look at yourself. You look like a living corpse."
Ren didn't answer. He was tired.
His body was still trembling.
His brother stepped closer, more gently this time.
"Look at you. You can barely stand."
Ren wanted to protest—
But his legs gave out slightly.
His brother caught him by the shoulders.
"Stop pretending to be strong."
Ren lowered his eyes.
"I'm not pretending to be strong. I am strong. Let go of me!"
He pushed his brother away and ran toward the villa, and this time he didn't look back.
He almost tripped, caught himself on a tree, and kept going.
"Just… a little more…"
He finally saw the villa in the distance.
He crossed the gates almost falling.
The servants looked at him, surprised.
"Young master?!"
Ren didn't answer.
He entered, climbed the stairs while holding the railing.
When he reached his room, he closed the door behind him and leaned against it.
His heart was beating too fast.
His legs gave out.
He slid down to the floor.
"Why… is everything so complicated…"
His heart was still racing.
"Idiot…"
He ran a hand over his face.
In the forest…
When he had asked:
"Tell me what my name is."
His brother hadn't known how to answer. He tried to find an excuse, but in reality, it was because he didn't know.
Because no one had ever taken the time to give him one.
In this family, they only said:
"the younger one"
"him"
"that boy"
Ren clenched his teeth.
"Not even a nickname…"
In the forest, his brother had never said "Elijah."
He had only said:
"You shouldn't have come."
"Stop being stubborn."
"You're weak."
Never his name.
Because he didn't have one.
Elijah…
That was the name given by the system.
Not by his family.
Ren lifted his eyes and slowly took a breath.
"If no one took the time to give Elijah a name… then I won't give my time to those monsters I call family."
In the courtyard, he could see his brother.
He clenched his fists.
"What's wrong with him…?"
He didn't understand.