River nodded, keeping her un-wavering eyes on the boy. "Correct. I guess you've heard your mother speak of him before, I take it?" She murmured, her voice unchanging.
"I didn't like him at first, either. A little over dramatic in some ways, needs to keep his mouth shut sometimes, has a temper. But he grows on you, gets less annoying. Somehow." She said, giving Alec the same look as earlier, trying to pick up and analyzed his every movement. "Here's one piece of advice you'll always want to remember, Alec. When you meet someone new, be cautious, but be indifferent. Let what they do shape the way you think of them, not someone else's words. Learn them."
Everything in Alec's body wanted to absolutely panic.
Wolfram was his brother. But he didn't. Father's words echoed in his head, and he calm down, the emotion fading from his pale face.
Some people are very good at reading others, Alec. Remember this. You cannot let them see through you.
"No." That's the only response that forced its way out. "I don't believe you. He can't be my brother. And why should I listen to you? I would rather listen to my mom then some stranger."
Lachlan whirled around to face him. "Thank God, you're back." He sighed, glancing at River and Alec. "So I went to see who that kid was, asked his named. Apparently it's Alec. But he asked me where his mom was. I asked him who she was." He shook his head. "Wolf, it's Mapleshade! He's her son. And that boy, that Toby shot? The one who Mom said killed Sherri? That was his brother. Mapleshade had two sons." He paused, turning back to Wolfram, looking into his sky blue eyes with his grassy ones, wondering how his friend would react to learning that he had brothers-- One being already dead.
"Wolf, I asked who their father was. He said it was Michael. He's got your brother."
Mapleshade had a son. Strike one.
Mapleshade had
two sons, one which was dead. Strike two.
Said sons were his
half-brothers. Strike three.
The knowledge of this drained the joy in his chest, his gaze snapped to Alec, the little boys face completely emotionless as he stared at River. But those
eyes. He should have known. His eyes were all his fathers, and he had a face shape similar to his mothers. He should have
known. But he couldn't quite believe it.
"I have a
half brother!?" Wolfram stared at Lachlan with rounded eyes. "No...no,
two half-brothers. That Shadow kid...he's dead...oh God..." He let his weight fall against the van, shaking his head. "I killed his parents." He knew it wasn't funny, but he gave a harsh laugh, looking back at Lachlan. "
I killed his parents! I killed my own half-brothers parents!"
Harshly, he slammed the side of his fist against the van, swearing under his breath. "What am I supposed to do, Lachlan?"