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He sighs. “What did you expect me to say? The man you know was a good Alpha, a good father. He gave Atticus the best life he could, and he raised me well enough.”
“Well enough,” I scoff, shaking my head. “My parents raised me well enough, Cev. They were amazing until I was eighteen, and we both know it. That’s when it went to shit.”
He sighs. “I need help. Real fucking help.”
I nod. “Then let’s get it for you.”
“Not until I’ve got my revenge,” he says quietly. This here, this is my moment. This is my chance to share what I’m looking into.
But I don’t.
I stay silent.
I stay cowardly.
“I can’t believe I fucking left you,” Atticus roars, storming over to us and bringing Cevon into a hug he didn’t want. The younger lion tries to push away, but Atticus is stronger. He cages his brother into his chest, cuddling him in close. “Whenever I went away—”
“It’s not your fault,” Cevon replies, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve never blamed you for that.”
Atticus shakes his head, pulling away from his brother to give him a look of… pride? “Maybe not, but it was my job to protect you, and I didn’t.”
“There was nothing to see,” Cevon says quietly. “I was too ashamed—”
Attics grabs him again, cuddling him in, and it’s a powerful moment between the two brothers.
It reminds me of the man Cevon used to be, the bond we used to share.
I hope one day he can depend on us again.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Atticus says, and Cevon nods. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” Cevon asks.
“For not being the brother you needed five years ago.” Cevon goes to shake his head, but Atticus doesn’t back down. “I fucked up. I didn’t agree with your decision to leave, but I didn’t handle it properly. I let so much resentment build, and your mate paid the price.”
“I paid the price,” Cevon says. “You were a terrible brother, Atticus, and an even worse Alpha. You didn’t protect members of your pride, and I paid the price with my future.”
Atticus nods.
“I won’t forgive you for it,” Cevon adds. “I can’t. Not while the last four men are still living.”
Atticus nods again.
“But then maybe...”
“We’ll help in any way we can,” Atticus says quietly. “I draw the line at killing innocents—”
“But hunters are not innocents,” I say, cracking my knuckles as my tiger roars in my head. He’s preparing for a hunt, but we can’t. Not right now.
We need to see our mate through her heat, and then, we can avenge our fallen.
I don’t give a fuck about Lainey.
But Cevon’s child? The nephew I would have had, if he weren’t estranged from us...
This isn’t just an attack on him. It’s personal for me now.
* * *
