~Matteo POV~
I slipped out the side door of the mansion while the others worked to clean up the broken glass and overturned furniture from the fight. Lucas had stepped outside a few minutes earlier, claiming he needed a moment alone to clear his head. I did not believe him for a second. My boots made almost no sound on the damp grass as I kept my distance, staying hidden behind the thick line of trees that bordered the property. The night felt heavy around me, but I moved carefully, heart steady even as questions burned in my chest.
Lucas walked fast toward the old storage shed at the far edge of our land. He glanced over his shoulder once, but I stayed low and out of sight. I had known him for years. We had stood shoulder to shoulder in more battles than I could count. Part of me still hoped this was all a mistake, that the brother I trusted would not turn against us. That hope made my steps feel heavier.
