Oh, Moon Goddess. Does he mean...?
“Yes, Nora, you got it. Nate and Damian hid me in that hole so our father wouldn’t hit me when he was drunk. Most of the time, I fell asleep fast and didn’t hear a thing. Only when I grew older, I started to realize Damian and Dad fought when I was in that hole. Nate used the mind-link to tell me to stay hidden until it was over. Then, I would come out and find my brother beaten up bad. Nate, too, sometimes.”
Liam looks very sad when telling this. He plays with his fork with a sullen look, bending it and putting it back, with that same frown as Damian when he’s conflicted. Suddenly, he looks at me, and from his eyes, I feel like he is holding his tears.
“You know what’s worse? The one that dirtbag really wanted to beat up was me. But my brothers never let him touch me, so he would beat Damian instead. He let our father hit him until he was satisfied, because once he had enough, he would go out again and stop looking for me. You have no idea how many times I found Damian soaked in blood, Nora. He was strong, so my father never held up. But Damian never complained, not a single time. Instead, he just smiled at me anytime he saw me, saying he was fine. Lying again, to protect me.”
I feel tears coming from hearing this. Liam had already told me that Damian fought with their father and confronted him a lot, but... This all sounds way too real. Liam’s voiceis breaking. What kind of mess did they grow up in? I hate their father so much! He was a monster to his own kids. Liam wipes away a couple of tears and drinks a bit before going on.
“Damian is that kind of guy, Nora. He never shows how hard it is for him. Do you know why he rarely visited our mom in the hospital? Because most of the time, he had bruises and cuts, all from our father’s beating, and he didn’t want mom to see it. Damian is doing the same with you now.”
I frown. What does he mean with that? Damian’s engagement, that whole situation, how is it related to me?
Looking more serene, Liam takes a severe tone. “Nora, you are the most important person in my brother’s life. He would do anything, and I mean anything, to protect you. Just like he did for our mom and me. And sometimes, that idiot is willing to make foolish decisions, sacrificing himself for this.”
“...Like the engagement, you mean?”
He takes some fries and nods. “Exactly. He accepted the Gold Moon Clan’s proposal because he believed he could protect you, and us, with it.”
I don’t get it. I shake my head. “Liam, you’re going to have to be a lot more precise if you want me to believe that Damian got engaged to another woman for my sake.”
“Nora, Damian has treated you like a little princess, shielding you from whatever is going on in Silver City right now. But trust me, my brother is going to need a lot of help from now on, and I don’t agree with getting it from that King bitch.”
“What are you talking about? What is going on in Silver City?”
Liam smiles and eats another portion of his burger. Why can’t he answer me first before stuffing himself? It’s nerve-wracking! After a few very long and annoying bites, he takes agulp of his diabolo, and just when I’m about to lose patience, he smiles at me.
“A war, Nora. Forget vampires and witches. Silver City is about to get in a mean, violent, and bloody war between all the werewolf Clans if we don’t do something soon.”
I stare at him, totally confused. A war in Silver City? The last war happened not ten years ago when Damian killed their father to take over the Blood Moon Clan! Why would another one erupts now? I thought the Black Brothers were unmatched in terms of strength, so why would anyone choose to start a war now?
“Liam, I don’t get it. I thought...”
“We were the untouchable Black Brothers? Well, that part is true, but a werewolf Clan isn’t all about its Alpha, Nora. Sure, Damian is the big bad wolf in town, no questioning that. If he had to single out any Alpha in the area, he’d win. Easily. But what if he had to fight fifty wolves at once?”
He’s right... The Black Brothers are feared by many because they win in terms of power, dominance, strength. No one would be stupid enough to force them into a duel. If anyone wanted to overthrow them, it would have to be in a massive attack, with enough people to attack not only Damian but the whole pack. Now I’m worried.
“You’re telling me other packs want to attack the Blood Moon.”
“We are not popular, Nora. Our father’s reputation did a lot of damage, and for most of the population, Damian is just as fearsome.”
“But Damian is not your father! He is not looking to fight the other packs! He—”
I stop, realizing I started yelling a bit too loud. A lot of eyes are now staring at us, and I mumble some apology before turning back to Liam. That idiot is smiling, mocking me.
“So cute... You are so prone to defend my brother; I’m feeling reassured now.”
“Oh, shut up! Tell me, who wants to fight the Blood Moon?”
Liam takes three of the sauce pots, placing them in a triangle.
“Right now, the situation is like this: the three main Clans are ours, the Gold Moon Clan, and the Sapphire Moon Clan. In terms of power, number, and wealth, those three clans hold the most power. But those two are still behind us. The Gold Moon is large, but their Alpha and warriors aren’t that strong. As for the Sapphire Moon, it’s the other way around: they got strength, but they are not as numerous or wealthy.”
“If those two are still behind, what is the problem, then?” I ask, confused.
I already know that through the Black Corporation he established, Damian made sure his Clan had the most possessions in Silver City. They dominate about one-third of the City, leaving the other packs to share what’s left. Liam moves some fries, placing them behind the sauce pots.
I observe his patterns and take a guess. “The Clan alliances?”
