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Understanding fills George’s face as I try to keep my expression clear. They’ve lied to their parents. Again. They’re not sharing about us seeing Ethan or how often he’s been on pack lands.
I just don’t understand why. I know the trust is gone, but at this stage, couldn’t George give some information to help, if he knew?
“But whilst we’re on the topic of murder,” Ben says, rising to his feet in a very dramatic move as he grins at his mother. “We’re here for a specific reason, mumsy dear.”
“You are?” Her eyes narrow, and there’s a degree of hostility in her gaze that hasn’t been present with any of her other kids.
Is that because Ben’s the runt, and therefore, perceived to be weaker?
“Did you or did you not order the death of Ryan Grey, Mum?” Topher asks, his tone calm and steady, his eyes focused purely on his mum.
“Christopher Wolfe, how dare you ask your mother something like that,” Charles snaps.
“Are you joking?” Edward asks with a frown. “This is a very serious time, Toph, and with everything else we’ve had thrown at us, we’re?—”
“I’m being deadly serious,” Topher says, cutting his father off as he stares his mother down. That uncomfortable feeling fills me once more as Orion pushes forward, and although it’s not painful for me, it still makes me antsy.
Since our bonding, this emergence of Orion—and Max and Fluffy—has incited feelings of a good nature, but now, it’s not that at all. I’m nervous about what will happen if Topher loses control of him.
I’m terrified a fight is going to break out.
Topher’s gaze is locked on his mother as he asks her a question, forcing the answer from her wolf. “Did you or did you not arrange for Ryan Grey’s death, Mother?”
“I did,” she whispers.
And that’s when all hell breaks loose.
40
MAIA
The spring sun is bitter, the wind having a slight chill even with the barrier of my cardigan and coat. I hate that we’ve been sent to sit out here in the garden, even if it’s at the requirement for mine and Phoebe’s safety.
“Are you okay, darling?” Ben asks from across the wooden garden table. I nod slowly before sighing and shaking my head. “Yeah, me neither.”
The moment his mum confirmed she did arrange to murder my fiancé, her sons—Topher and Ben—started to shout at her, which caused her mates to retaliate in their mate’s defence. Topher was going at it with George, and from my viewpoint, it seemed that he was airing a lot of his grievances. Neither man cared very much about Ryan, their arguments and displeasure going into a much more personal tone.
On the other hand, Charles was lecturing Ben, who was attempting to interrogate his mum, and Ben was arguing back as a surly teenager would. They were winding each other up, both unable to control themselves, as they fought.
Edward and Alex seemed the most alike and were trying to calm everyone down. Edward appears to be the peacekeeper of his trio, like Alex is for his quad, and I’d be interested in exploring their family dynamics further, if things weren’t the way they are.
Their efforts didn’t work, though, when Seb decided to join in on the fight. My quietest mate is not someone who can be contained, and all of the attention turned to him, as he designed.
Seb was so gentle when he unstrapped Phoebe from his chest, and even more so as he helped me put the baby carrier on. His touches were soft as he secured Phoebe to me. He gave both of us soft kisses on our foreheads before he let loose a roar that silenced the room.
My mate let everyone feel his fury, as he and Kane merged together as one, just before they shifted into their very large grey wolf form. He lunged forward to attack one of his dads—George, maybe?—which resulted in Topher, Charles, and George shifting, to intercept the angry alpha.
The room is most definitely not big enough for four alpha wolves to fight, but even more so when it’s packed with furniture and people.
I was hustled out of the room with Ben, by Alex, before my heart exploded, and although I’m grateful to not be in that horrific atmosphere, I’m now sitting out here as my anxiety builds and builds, instead.
I’m trying to use the bonds to settle myself, to let their emotions and presence be my grounding force. But without a tie to Seb, and the majority of the feelings from Alex and Topher being rage, I’m not very confident.
Ben snuck back into the kitchen for some tea once I was settled out here, and we’ve been sitting out here in the cold for a good twenty minutes, sipping at our thermos, whilst they do whatever they need to.
The soundproofing of the house has both helped my anxiety and made it worse, but I don’t think I could sit here and hear whatever is going on every time their rage becomes murderous or a flash of pain emerges.
I hate not knowing what’s going on or what words are being shared, sure, but more than that, I hate not knowing who is hurt and how. I can feel the echoes, but I can’t feel enough. I’m confident that my mates are going to win this little battle with their fathers, they’re evenly matched.
