After Death, My Alpha Brother Finally Break

Maia's POV

Ethan's voice softened instantly, becoming gentle and soft.

He used to look at me as if I were his entire world, but now his whole world revolved around his fake sister.

"Lyra, be good. I'll come home as soon as I'm done here." His tone was tender. "Yeah, I'll take care of myself."

He kept coaxing her in that soft voice, like she was some fragile child who needed constant reassurance.

"Ethan, the dress you sent arrived at the house today, and Maia saw it," Lyra said. "She got really angry and threw it out the front door."

Ethan's voice turned cold. "Don't worry about it. I'll have someone send you a new one right away. I'll deal with Maia, and I won't let her steal your spotlight." The venom in his words made my blood run cold. "If she dares refuse, I'll make her regret it."

My heart clenched in my chest.

"Lyrie, don't be sad. Just stay home and wait for me, okay? There are rogues prowling around, so you need to tell me before you go anywhere."

He murmured sweet reassurances, indulging her with every word.

I smiled bitterly.

"Oh, Ethan? I've got a surprise for you on Sunday night. Remember to come home early." Lyra's voice floated from the phone.

Warning bells exploded in my mind.

"Don't go, Ethan!" I grabbed his arm and shook it desperately.

But he couldn't feel me, and he couldn't hear me.

"Don't worry, I'll wrap up this case quickly and come straight home to you." Ethan smiled.

After the call ended, Lucian was still frowning. "Wait, I just called Maia and she didn't pick up. You try calling her. You're her brother, so she'll answer for you."

Ethan waved him off. "I'm busy. I don't have time to deal with her shit."

Lucian sighed but didn't push it.

Ethan turned and walked into the inner chamber of the Moon Shrine, and he stood before what remained of my body once again.

He took a deep breath and stayed there for a long time. Finally, he pulled on his gloves and started his examination.

Then his hand closed around my wrist.

My soul trembled.

Would he recognize it?

There was a distinctive old scar on the inside of my wrist—I'd gotten it when I was eight years old, saving his life.

That afternoon, we'd been gathering mushrooms in the forest. Suddenly, a rogue wolf burst from the bushes and lunged straight at Ethan.

I saw the killing intent in that wolf's eyes.

I didn't think. I just threw myself forward.

"Don't touch my brother!"

The wolf's claws tore through my wrist, and blood sprayed out. The pain nearly knocked me unconscious, but I clung to Ethan and used my body to shield him.

"Maia! Maia!" Ethan's voice was raw. "Don't die! Please don't die!"

He sobbed until his voice went hoarse, and his tears fell one by one onto my face.

"I won't let you die! I promise!"

Our father arrived just in time and drove the rogue wolf away.

After the wound healed, it left behind a white scar shaped like a lightning bolt.

Every time Ethan saw that scar, his eyes would turn red. He'd trace it gently with his fingers. "Maia, this is proof that you love me. This is proof that you risked your life to save mine. I'll never forget it as long as I live. Never."

Back then, he'd said he'd never forget.

Right then, Grandma Claire's call came through.

"Ethan, is Maia with you? She's not picking up her phone and she won't answer my messages."

Claire was the only family member who still cared about me after Julian and Aurora died.

Just thinking about her made my soul ache.

"Grandma, just leave her alone." Ethan's voice turned sharp and irritated. "She's getting more selfish every day, and she doesn't respect anyone anymore."

"Ethan! Maia brings you lunch every single day so you can focus on work, and that Lyra girl is still an outsider no matter what—"

"Grandma!" He cut her off, his face twisting with disgust. "Don't compare her to Lyra. Maia's manipulative and she never tells the truth. Now she's playing games again, hiding somewhere for attention. I don't have time for this. Look, I'm busy and I need to go."

He hung up.

Maybe hearing my name pissed him off so much that he only gave my wrist a quick, careless glance.

Then he yanked off his gloves in frustration.

Just like that, Ethan missed his last chance to recognize me.