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However, that doesn’t mean Topher isn’t raging because his dads do not know that it’s “just” Ethan. To him, this oversight is an even bigger issue, and he’s furious at it.
“No arguments here. But let's reserve judgement until we actually get their side of the story, too.” Alex sounds tired, and I wish I could reach over and just soothe him.
“Their side of the story?” Topher roars, glaring at his brother. “There’s no side here. There’s just protection and reckless endangerment. They’ve had a huge threat hanging over their heads—over the heads of our pack—and rather than using their full resources to handle it, they’ve been hiding it from us.
“They’re cowards. The lowest scum of the alpha totem pole. Men who refuse to hand over the reigns long past their expiry date, and I’m mortified to know that I’m related to them. They’re weak, pathetic, and dangerous. What the fuck do they think they’re doing hiding something of this level?
“This behaviour should be impossible. Scents don’t just disappear. They don’t just fade away and lose track. Seb should’ve been informed. We should’ve been informed. We’d have worked our fucking asses off to do something about it.”
“I know,” Alex says.
“And yet you’re wanting to hear their side of things.” Topher snarls, whirling around to give Alex the biggest glower he can muster. “I’m honestly going to go over there immediately and?—”
“Enough.” My eyes widen when I realise it was me who spoke, and Topher falls silent.
“Sorry.” Topher sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He’s embarrassed but still has adrenaline flooding through his system.
“You don’t need to be sorry,” I say softly. “But there’s no use shouting at Alex over it. Or any of us.” I scoot closer to the edge of the sofa and reach for his hand. “Could you go for a run or something? Calm down a little? We’re safe. Phoebe and I are home, and we’re unharmed. The pack is safe.”
He takes a deep breath and nods. “I’ll go for a run.”
“Run the patrols,” Alex says. “Check everything is okay. It’ll help Orion settle.”
Topher nods. He bends down and presses a kiss to my forehead before heading outside, not bothering to look back.
“Did you and Cade get much of a chance to talk?” Alex asks me, and I shake my head, getting comfortable against his side. “It’s a surprise that you both know each other.”
I rest my head on his chest and press a soft kiss to the bare skin. “It’s not like we’re friends. He was older—is older. But it’s nice to see someone familiar up here.”
“Have you known him for long?” He sounds pretty interested.
“Since he was about twenty, I think,” I say, trying to do the maths in my mind. It’s been about fourteen years or so. “He was always willing to help me do my homework when he was there. He started at first, just during an internship, and then once he started working for his firm, they were a big benefactor.”
He nods, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Interesting.”
“How come?” I ask, peering up at him.
“I’ve always thought he was the dickhead of Iris’s mates. He’s quite stern, very serious, and is the one who is… less willing to entertain Iris during her more dramatic moments,” Alex says, smiling wryly at me.
I push away, raising an eyebrow. “You’re mean to your sister.”
“After her kick off here tonight, you can’t say it’s not justified.”
I shrug, hating the tears that fill my eyes at her words. “I don’t know her, and so I can’t judge that. Your history with Ryan’s family is hard, and it’s… they don’t have me and Phoebe to work through it. Even you guys struggle.
“I don’t expect her to understand or to even accept it. Her words hurt. They hurt because of the way that she talked about Phoebe. The pure… nastiness. It hurt. She hates Ryan, and that was upsetting, sure, but my daughter.”
I sniffle, wiping my eyes, and I take the offered kiss.
“I’m so sorry, little butterfly.” He squeezes me tight. “I love you.”
“I know.” I rest my head on his chest again. “It’s not your fault. Tell me more about Talia and your mum.”
He sighs, but it’s one of relief. “My mum’s always had it hard in her eyes. You know about the issue with Aurora, with Henry choosing her over my mum. Then, and probably more importantly to my mum, there was the fact that Aurora had a wolf-born daughter, whilst my mum didn’t. She’s constantly been hard on the twins because of the fact that they weren’t wolves.
“It’s ridiculous, and my mum really should seek therapy and deal with her issues, but she’s content to blame the girls for being weak. So when Talia was pregnant, my mum was elated. In her eyes, this was her “fix”. Her way for Talia to reclaim the glory for our family.”
Alex sounds so pissed off here, and I know for a fact he doesn’t feel the same way that his family does. I love it. I love him.
