I walk back, gritting my teeth, trying to ignore the way Khaos’ mask has come back on, and he’s turned back into the little prince of alphas, the giant prat that irritated us to no end.
But there’s something strange about it…this isn’t Khaos.
We’re ushered into the massive pack house, which was once a castle. I stand in the massive stone halls, staring at the images of pack leaders past and present. Khaos’ photo will be up here one day.
It doesn’t feel right anymore. We’ve seen too much and been to so many places. I can’t imagine him ruling from here.
Angel stays with me, and I find myself pressing my fingers into his fur, needing the comfort as much as he’s needing it from me. The cold is pushed back by a massive fireplace, and the smell of roasting meat fills the air.
Food while our mate suffers? No! Absolutely not.
My heart aches just remembering the expression on her face. I can still feel the severed bond throbbing like a bleeding wound inside my chest. We’re guided into the home, but my thoughts are miles away.
She sacrificed herself and our bond to save us. I need to go get her now!
Khaos is playing good dog with his dad, laughing while he looks like he’s about to vomit. Trying not to flinch with every touch of his father’s hand. What is going on? Why is he sweating so hard?
It’s not what she gave us up for.
“Sit down, Mika,” my dad says. “You need to eat; you look too thin.”
I look at him like he’s crazy, wondering who he is and where he’s come from. Everything is like a bad dream.
Still, Angel nudges me towards the seat, and I take my place. Angel shifts back and takes his place beside me, Riot on the other side. The three of us are a united wall of hostility and rage.
If I’m confused and disgusted, then Riot is livid.
“So, tell me what happened?” Cy said. “How did this all occur?”
Khaos talks evenly, his voice reaching every corner of the stone hall. The serving staff fill out bowls and plates, leaving goblets of wine. It’s so damn pretentious.
I’m not paying attention until Angel stiffens and growls.
“It’s the height of bad manners to growl at the table, Drew,” our alpha supreme snaps, his voice booming out.
“My name is Angel,” my brother spits at our alpha. “And you,” he addresses Khaos. “You keep your damn mouth shut.”
Khaos sits back, rocked by the command. “What?”
“You don’t tell them what happened. It’s ours. And it’s hers, but you don’t get to say these things to these people.”
“These people?” Cy asks curiously. “We are your family. We are pack, and I am your alpha. Don’t you trust me?”
Angel stiffens.
That alone is the answer. No, we don’t trust you. You are not our alpha.
I feel the bond and strengthen his anger and rage with mine. Riot joins in and then Wrath. Khaos sits back as if he’s been hit.
“My apologies,” Khaos murmurs, but he puts a hand to his head and looks confused. He looks sick and in pain.
I exchange a look with Wrath. We’d had a theory once that Cy often used the alpha bark on Khaos to force him to behave in a certain way. It looks like we’re right.
The alpha is using a bark to mess with Khaos’ head. Fuck. How long has this been going on?
“My son can share anything with me, can’t you, son?” Cy almost purrs.
Khaos shakes his head like he’s trying to shake something out of it. “Not this.”
