Kane POV "Get the door." I told Knox with a nod to the servant's exit. I couldn't keep my Father here much longer. Someone was bound to walk in, and I wasn't ready to answer the questions they would have, much less deal with the pity cast in their eyes. I knew my pack would be grieving as much as Knox and I soon enough. I didn't know how much of that shit Mike had given everyone but going by Lotties experience, I guess we had around another twenty minutes to get my Father somewhere secure. "Careful!" Knox growled from the doorway. As I gently lifted my Father into my arms. Fighting back the tears that blurred my vision, I carried him from the ballroom and out of the servant's quarters. "Watch his head!" Knox roared when I knocked our Father's head on a pillar on the back stairs. "Sorry, Pop's." I whispered, my eyes falling to his face, hoping that, by some miracle, the bump to the head would wake him up. It wouldn't. I knew that. He was gone. Grounding the lump back down my throa
Knox POV "Knox.. she just needs time." Kane tried to say, but even I heard how weak it sounded. Looking down at my Father, I tried to imagine just for a moment what Ma was going through; the man in my brother's arms wasn't just our Father. He was her mate! And he was gone... potentially at the hands of their son! Me! The pain must be unbearable... I understood why she couldn't stand to look at me! I pulled my eyes from my Father's empty gaze, unable to handle the feel of my brother's pitty-filled eyes on me a second longer; I didn't deserve their pity! Instead, I looked ahead into the glass panel on the wall, seeing my own reflection, naked and vulnerable, but my skin was free of marks and bruises, clear of any signs of the devastation my brother bore; the only similar thing we shared was the marks we accepted from Lottie. I wanted to reach out to Lottie and tell her I needed her, but what right did I have to the comfort she offered? Despite Havoc's whining, I knew she needed the s
Mike POV "Some partner you are!" Anthony snapped into my head; his words rang cold and angry like the fucker was delusional enough to think he had a leg to stand on. "Ten minutes ago, you were considering whether or not to have that fucking demon kill me... Remember!" I reminded my one-day father-in-law, refusing to even glance in his direction. "I was joking! Fuck take a joke, Mike!" He had the audacity to snarl into my mind, but his words sounded weak even to my ears. "Let the fucker stay on the floor, maybe it will remind him that even the mighty can fall." I laughed at Flint, "Where he belongs for what he has done!" I waited for a reply but frowned, remembering he was not going to answer any more than he was going to heal me! I kept that from my face as I looked ahead at the three Alphas whom I had personally welcomed earlier, even though that was meant to be the twin's job! I had done everything to ensure they felt welcomed when Knox and Kane were busy fucking and mating m
Lottie POV Knox was in all-out meltdown mode, Kane was utterly and unequivocally heartbroken from what I could sense through our mate bond, and I wanted to be with them, yet here I was dealing with his shit show. Lilly had mind-linked and asked me to hurry up with whatever 'fix' I had promised for Bash because he was going downhill fast. So, as we entered the office on the middle floor, close to the infirmary, I knew I was running out of time.. and patience! Fast!"Thank you!" I nodded respectfully to Chase and Liam, who were hovering in the doorway after bringing my father and Mike in. My father had been shoved to his knees before me, more of a humiliation attempt from Chase, I guessed, but whatever, my father's pride was the least of my worries. Mike had taken a seat in a chair opposite the desk. "Adam and his men are securing the grounds; I will make sure everyone visiting is aware that we are here to support, not make matters worse." "And if they don't have the same outlook on
Lottie POV I never claimed to be a great interrogator, but I would be damned if these two got the better of me. Every ounce of suffering I felt through my mate bond was because of one of these two, and they would be paying for that. "In blood?!" Sage cackled, hopping from foot to foot inside my head, excited at the prospect of being allowed to play. "If you like!" I replied calmly before turning my attention back to Mike, who was groaning like the coward he was."I won't ask again!" I warned him. Slowly, his head lifted from his bloodied hands to my face; something had settled behind those eyes I once loved and felt safe with that made me feel good: Doubt! For the first time, he was apparently doubting the he had on me. "I don't.." He started to say, but I cut him off by pressing my finger into his shoulder wound caused by Knox. "Charlotte!" My father screamed, and I shook my head, resolving myself to do what needed to be done."Help me out, Sage!" I expressed aloud, and to Mike'
Kane POV "I told you I was more stocked than you, Pops!" I uttered as I walked out of the bathroom after slipping on a pair of my father's sweatpants and a T-shirt"He knew; he just liked to tease!" Rolo replied when my father did not. I sighed, feeling wrong for wearing a dead man's clothes, and not just because they were too tight. I simply couldn't bear to leave him alone and go to get my own... And I wasn't exactly going to sit here in my birthday suit and wait for my Mother! My eyes caught my parent's large oak-carved bed that Father lay on peacefully. He had had it designed for my Mother on one of their anniversaries. If you looked at the beautiful carvings, you would see that the bed told the story of their union. Pulling my eyes from the craftsmanship to my father with a whimper at how peaceful he looked, it would have almost been like he was sleeping if he didn't smell like rot already, and his body wasn't rigid and stiff. "Pops.. If you can hear me wherever you are, know
Kane POV"Problem?" The stranger stood before me asked, Smiling at me, smug and self-assured. Something about the chill that licked up my spine set my teeth on edge like I was dealing with a monster but not the kind with fur and sharp claws.. the sort that dwelled in the shadows and came out to wreak havoc.. literally... on the world."Why are you in here!" I barked, taking a photo of my Mother and Father from his hands and placing it back in its place. "I was helping your Mother; I found her sobbing in the hallway; she could barely breathe; bless her! She asked me to help her get to her room.... she needed to see her mate." He explained with a warm nod to my Mother. "I can't even begin to imagine what she is suffering!" He added, his tone laced with warmth and compassion that felt so false there was no way even my Mother was buying it."Well, you have done your good deed." I announced, narrowing my eyes on the creep, "Now, if you don't mind, this is a family matter," I warned with a
Lottie POVThe sounds of Mike's cries almost drowned out the Alphas question; scrunching my nose up, I looked down at Mike, who was sweating like a whore in church. The satisfaction of seeing him in physical pain should have made me feel better, but it didn't. Not even a little bit."Luna Charlotte?" It was Alpha Adam who broke the trance I was in, my fingers so far into Mike's wound that I watched the colour drain from his face and his head lull to the side. It still felt weird being called Luna. I wanted to correct them, but I had more important concerns right now. "Lottie is fine." I whispered simply."Why isn't his wolf healing him? He doesn't have cuffs on." Adam asked, stroking my wrist carefully to get my attention; lifting my eyes to meet his, I sucked down the sob that was suffocating my throat. "You will have to ask him." I snapped, pulling my wrist away and out of Mike's open wound. Turning from the concerned eyes of the visiting Alpha, I approached my Father, seeing him