Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Kane POV

The tension in the air turns so thick it practically chokes me. Axel and I do not have siblings. At least, that is what we were told our entire lives.

Flabbergasted, I look at Axel and Mother, but they seem just as clueless. In fact, Mother is as pale as a ghost. If Mother did not know, and we do not have another brother running around here, there can only be one conclusion.

“I thought you only had one mate,” I finally say, not breaking eye contact with Father.

“He did as far as I know,” Mother answers instead, her voice shaky and her face pale.

Axel’s shock radiates through me, mixing with mine like a megawatt jolt to the system. So, this is news to Mother, as well. Good to know Axel and I are not the only ones without a fucking clue that we have a secret brother.

“In our time, Alphas didn’t have to participate in mating ceremonies,” Mother continues. “Orion chose me, and I chose him. I thought that bond was sacred.”

Her voice breaks, and my heart shatters along with it. How dare my father keep this from her, from all of us, for all these years?

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demand, my eyes boring into Father’s soul. “How can you do this to Mother?”

“I fell in love,” he replies plainly. “During the Great Wars, the other side found out I was having an affair. They threatened me, so I gave in to their demands.”

“That’s enough!” Mother rushed between Father and me, breaking our gaze. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

“You ended the war to save your own ass?” A cry of anguish tears from her lips. “You allowed us to go back to our old, disgusting ways, all because you didn’t want anyone to know you’re a cheater?”

I have never seen Mother come apart like this, and it scares me. Normally, she is the glue that holds this pack and our family together, but now that glue is cracking.

“Gabriela, you know what the consequences are for infidelity,” Father defends himself. “Banishment to rogue territory at best. Not even Alphas are immune to it. Did you want me to rip our family apart? Did you want me to leave you alone with twins?”

He gestures at me and Axel, and my whole body flames with raging anger.

“Don’t use us as an excuse!” I roar.

“Don’t talk about things you don’t understand!” He bites back.

“Kane, no,” Axel’s hands are heavy on my shoulders, holding me back from pushing past Mother and strangling that lying motherfucker.

“You lying sack of shit,” I shout infuriated. Father will never admit that he has done anything wrong or allow his methods to be questioned.

“The negotiations I made to end the war benefited everyone,” Father says, puffing his chest out.

There it is – more cagey mentions of the Great Wars. More things I do not know, even though I am one of the fucking alphas.

“That’s not true, and you know it,” Mother says coldly.

“What the hell does that mean?” I demand.

Mother breathes deeply, struggling to keep her wolf at bay. If she loses control in front of Father, he will never forgive her. Even though I now know he has done so much worse.

“It means I trusted your father, and he betrayed me,” Mother replies.

“How could you love another she-wolf?” Mother turns to Dad. “After everything you promised me?”

Her words stir me uneasily, but I do not know why. I loved Alice, even though it did not feel like it in the end. So, Mother’s dig at Father should not bother me the way it does. Axel and I stayed loyal, did we not?

“We were faithful, right?” I turn and look at Axel.

“Yes,” he nods, though I sense he is also uncertain.

“Look,” Father says, holding up his hands. “I stopped seeing the other she-wolf when the war ended. When our sons were born.”

“Do you want a fucking medal for that?” Axel snaps.

“Then how the fuck did we end up with a brother?” I ask.

“I didn’t find out until years later,” Father’s jaw clenches. “She never contacted me after I left the day you were born. It turns out she died alone during childbirth that day.”

“She died that same day?” My voice is hoarse, and my heart beats wildly. “The day we were born?”

“Yes,” Father nods, exhaling deeply.

“What time was Mason born?” Mother asks, concerned.

“I don’t know,” Father replies. “I tried to find out, but without his mother, it’s impossible.”

“Oh, dear goddess,” I grunt, sitting in the nearest chair.

The eldest son is the heir to the Alpha title. It is one of the most basic, longstanding rules of our pack. Of any pack, for that matter.

“That means, we might not be the true Alphas,” I say, the realisation hitting me like a silver dagger to the heart.