he recognize the other voice as Sami. "Wait, he actually said that to you?" she asked.

"Yep," Mias replied, his voice much calmer now, but still with a hint of anger. "I don't know what's gotten into him, but the Mayak I know would never act like this. What kind of nut accuses their brother like that?" he asked.

"Yes; only a tyrant would be so unforgiving," she agreed with contempt.

"Nut… tyrant…" these words stung at Mayak and only intensified his guilt. 'I know I rule with a strong paw, but I can't be that bad... can I? Having Sami think that is one thing, but Mias...'

He heard Mias sigh. "My brother is a lot of things, but he's never been like this. He's probably just venting after you turned him down… but that doesn't make what he said any less hurtful. I did my best and in the end, that's all any wolf can do. I don't deserve to have my integrity attacked because of it… maybe it would be best if I just left and go back to being a lone wolf."

'No, don't leave because of this. I'm sorry Mias - I'm so sorry my brother. I'm the one who should be questioned,' Mayak thought, ready to burst out and admit he was wrong.

"I don't want you to leave; what about me?" she said. "I'll always think highly of you."

"… Thanks. If I stay, I stay for you… my one and only love," Mias replied.

Mias' words struck him as very odd. 'What is he going on about-' his thought was cut short as he finally peeked over the bushes. Mias and Sami weren't just talking - they were lying on the ground, with her resting very closely to his side. They were nuzzling each other, and Mias briefly broke away to give her a lick on the cheek before returning to their nuzzle. Sami rolled her head around his and as she did, her eyes came directly in line with the bushes, locking with Mayak's shocked expression.

"Mayak," she said, catching Mias' attention instantly. The three wolves looked at each other, all equally shocked to see each other. Mayak walked through the bushes and approached, feeling as though everything had gone numb as he stared at the two wolves, still cuddled up with each other.

"This… you… what is this?" he asked them, his voice barely a whisper out of shock.

There was a pause as Sami and Mias looked at each other, both wearing a grave look. They knew they had been caught, and while Mias still tried to avoid looking at his brother, Sami was much bolder. "What does it look like Mayak?"

"I... don't..."

"Alright, I admit it. I was never interested in you… because I felt more for Mias," she said.

"You felt… how could this be?" Mayak asked, still trying to reclaim most of his senses.

"Easy - I love him," she replied flatly.

"Love him... but he's a beta," Mayak said, trying to comprehend this. "I don't understand-"

"That's the problem," she shot back. "All you think about is status and business. You barely pay any attention to how your own pack is feeling… which is probably why you never figured out how I felt towards him," she replied. "Mias actually bothers to care and listen to others, no matter who they are. He's led a wonderful life full of learning and adventure. You meanwhile just sulk around to keep yourself at the top."

"... How long?" Mayak asked. He wanted to know if this was just the start of their relationship, or if they had been going behind his back for much longer.

"Not long. I guess it started shortly after Mias first arrived, but it didn't really develop until he started telling us more about you two... and his travels around the land."

Mayak felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. All this time, those stories that were supposed to make him more relatable were having the opposite effect. Instead, they led to Mias looking like some sort of dashing adventurer.

"But... why? Didn't you feel anything for me at all?" Mayak asked.

"You want to know why? Alright, I thought I didn't have to tell you this, but I guess it's the only way you'll learn," she replied sharply. "I love Mias because he's actually seen the world. He's been out there and lived twice the life you have, which makes him twice the wolf you'll ever be."

Mayak was taken aback at her cutting response. Mias was one step below him in the pack, yet she saw him as greater. To him, this was a grave insult, and as he looked to his brother for his side of it, he got nothing. Mias still avoided his gaze, his ears flat in shame. "So, she loves how you've seen the world, eh? Well maybe you should go back to seeing it," he spat venomously, but Mias still said nothing. Those words hurt him, but he had no way to rebuke them. Seeing that he wouldn't get anything more from them, Mayak left.

All this time, she had been going behind his back to be with his brother. Having her do this was one thing, but Mias also kept it from him. No hints, no warning; he had been as silent over the past few days as he was a few minutes ago. Normally Mias was upfront about him with everything, including trying to urge him to let Sami go... but that was probably because he was already with Sami. 'How could this have gone under my nose for so long?' he thought. The idea of letting something get by seemed like a failure of his own leadership... and there was nothing that made him angrier than being made a fool of. 'I can't believe that they went behind my back like this! Out of all the wolves, it had to be my brother. I thought that he was the most honest one of the pack, but now I don't know what to think anymore. I don't know who I can trust anymore.'

While Mayak fumed, Mias remained behind, regretting what had happened. 'If Mayak didn't think I was a traitor before, he probably does by now,' he thought. Sami felt no regret because she had never liked Mayak much, but Mias always felt it was his duty to be honest with his brother. He meant to tell Mayak at some point, but he also didn't want to hurt his brother. He hoped to tell him when the disappointment from Sami's rejection had worn off, but Mayak had found out too soon, and his deception would forever tarnish what his brother thought of him.

---

After he found out about Mias' and Sami's relationship, Mayak became even more withdrawn, refusing to speak with anyone as he brooded. Mias and Sami knew that their secret wouldn't last much longer, so they came clean to the pack. While it was unconventional, it was not unheard of for an alpha and a beta to be involved with each other. The fact that they already knew and trusted Mias helped them adjust, but there was some talk about what it would mean for them. Usually when an alpha and a beta were together, it meant that the beta would soon challenge the alpha for his position in the pack, to keep the tradition of an alpha pair.

This was what really bothered Mayak. He could have lived with Sami's rejection along with his brother's greater popularity, because in the end, he was still the alpha. The thought of losing that, his one and last facet of control, was unbearable to him. It enraged him and he vowed to never let his brother take his place. While Mias had sworn not to do that to him, Mayak didn't know what to believe anymore. Mias had kept this from him, and if that was the case, then who knew what else he was keeping from him. It seemed like his brother had turned his back on him for his own gain. Soon, twisted, dark thoughts formed in his head, demanding he take action. He held back and didn't give in to his jealousy, which was fortunate for Mias; some of the thoughts were very, very dark.

Mias felt terrible for what had happened and thought long and hard about what to do next. He talked with Sami, and they agreed on what would be best for everyone. This time, he wouldn't hold back on his brother. He hoped his honesty would help to mend fences, but if not… then their plan would allow them to leave Mayak in peace.

"Um, Mayak…" he said timidly. The alpha wolf glanced over at him, and saw that Mias was doing his best to show some submission towards him. His ears were flat and he held his head low while looking up at him. "Please, can I talk with you for a moment?"

"Why? What is there left to talk about?" Mayak said in a low voice. "You've already shown that you don't feel the need to tell me anything."

"I know I wasn't completely honest with you brother, and I feel terrible about it," Mias replied. "All I ask is that you hear what I have to say now."

Mayak thought, before deciding to let him have his say. "Come, let's take a walk. You'd better have a good reason for doing this to me," he said, and Mias obeyed. "Start at the beginning."

"Well, it's kind of hard to say where it began. I suppose it started sometime when I was telling those stories of our youth to try to impress Sami for you," Mias started. "They worked, but not in the way we hoped. We started spending more time together, swapping stories and telling each other about ourselves, and she started to open up to me. When I tried to steer the conversation back towards you, she always refused. When she told me what she really thought of you… I couldn't help but feel for her."

"What did she really think of me?" Mayak growled.

Mias hesitated, but he knew he would have to answer him. "It