Lines Are Drawn

“It wasn’t supposed to be you,” Catherine Brooks snarled at her youngest son. Pol stepped between his mother and Castor, sacrificing his body to protect his younger brother and his snarling wolf animus.

“It should have been you, Pollux,” she shrieked, spittle flying from her lips. “You’re the gifted one! You’re smart and strong! He'll be a failure as an Ani-mage!”

Pol stood steady, a rock between his mother and his beloved brother. “It’s his heart that proved worthy,” Pol said. “The wolf chose rightly.”

“Then the wolf is a fool and so are you,” Catherine hissed.

Castor’s heart wrenched.