Chapter 62: Chapter 62
Axel POV
My body is numb, but my mind is buzzing with all the information. Kane was born first, and therefore, is the true alpha, followed by me. Because we were so close since birth, it was Kane’s idea that we share the title. He did not want to do it without me. Now, it seems there is a possibility that neither of us will be the alpha.
I pick up a log, toss it into the fire, and watch the flames flicker. I cannot imagine a world where Kane and I are not the Alphas of this pack, and I do not want to.
“Dad,” I break the heavy silence. “When did you find out you had another son?”
“Mason found me,” Dad slumps into the chair across from Kane, but Kane averts his eyes from Dad, looking into the fire instead. “He found a hidden photo of his mother and me in a drawer.”
“Do you believe him?” Kane asks.
“I don’t know if I will ever believe anything he says,” I answer honestly.
“What about Alice?” Kane’s head drops into his hands. “I need to know the truth about her and the twins.”
Orion clenched his fist and pounded it down onto the chair.
“For Goddess’ sake!” Dad booms, clenching his fist and pounding it onto the chair. “Speak out loud! I will tell you what you want to know. But you won’t humiliate me with whispers again.”
Kane’s head jerks up to face Father, and the wave of his fury crashes over me, mixing with mine.
“You’re the biggest fucking hypocrite,” I roar. “You disgraced our family, and now you’re demanding respect.”
“How does Alice know who Mason is?” Kane asks, defusing the situation.
“She didn’t find out until after they’d been seeing each other for a while,” Dad pinches the bridge of his nose. “One night, when she came to see Mason, she saw me there with him and left. She confronted me later.”
“A while?” An anguished growl rumbles from Kane’s chest.
An intense sadness strikes me. The whole time we thought Alice was in love with us, she has been fucking another guy. Our brother, no less.
My mouth goes dry, and my stomach churns. How were we both so blind?
“So, these pups,” my voice is shaking. “Are you telling us they’re Mason’s?”
“I don’t know,” Dad answers. “They could just as easily be yours.”
“Well, it would sure be nice to fucking know,” Kane spit the words, jumping out of his chair. “Given the whole next in line for Alpha thing.”
Kane is right. Regardless of whether the pups are biologically ours, Alice was our mate, and we officially claimed her. No one will ever question the paternity, and the Alpha title would automatically be handed down to the eldest child.
“It is my advice to forget this happened,” Dad exhales deeply. “Alice is gone, and there is no one who will tell ...”
“Out!” Kane cuts him off, pointing towards the doorway. His eyes are flashing a dangerous crimson, and his chest heaves with effort to contain his wolf. “I don’t want to hear another fucking word from you.”
“As you wish, Alpha,” Dad smirks, rising slowly out of his chair and stomping away.
A part of me wants to run after him and completely tear him apart. But then our whole pack would dissolve into chaos. It is better to keep it contained within the walls of this room.
“Don’t ever trust his advice,” Mother murmurs from the corner of the room.
Kane and I look at her. She has been so quiet, we almost forgot she is there.
“I don’t intend to,” Kane says through gritted teeth.
“Then what are you going to do about Mason?” she asks.
“What are you going to do about Mason?” I snarl. “Your cheating husband is responsible for that motherfucker’s existence!”
As soon as I speak the words, I regret it.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I mumble, turn away and wipe over my eyes.
I have never spoken to Mother this way and never thought I would. This was no way to treat a Luna, especially not my own mother. “It’s not your fault, and I’m out of line.”
“You’re upset, and I get it.” Mother takes a deep breath.
“Once you both calmed down,” she continues with a cold and even tone. “We need to discuss what to do about the baby girl.”
“What about her?” I frown, confused. Can we not fix the first problem before we move on to the next?
“She’s a girl,” Mother says. “And she’s the older twin.”
“So?” Kane huffs. “What the fuck does that matter?”
“She can’t be the heir to the Alpha title if that’s what you’re suggesting,” I add.
“The eldest boy is the heir,” Axel agrees, but Mother shakes her head.
“The eldest child,” she corrects us, and sighs. “Goddess, what are we going to do about this?”
“Will anyone know the difference if we say the boy was born first?” I ask. I never heard of a she-wolf Alpha before. It did not seem like a possibility before now.
“You mean besides the midwife and doctor?” She raises her eyebrows.
“We’ll pay them off,” Axel suggests.
“Let’s hope so,” Mother replies. “The Constantine pack values tradition above all else. As much as I would love to see a she-wolf leading the pack, I think people would have a hard time accepting that. And the Elders ... I can’t imagine how their mating ceremony would go with a female Alpha.”
“Then we keep this a secret,” I say. “We’ll tell everyone the boy was born first.”
“Yes,” Mother agrees sadly. “Otherwise, you’re putting this pup in grave danger.”
