Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Axel POV

Kane is uncharacteristically calm when we pull up to a small cabin in the woods. Hank seems like a nice enough guy, but I keep my guard up.

“Nice to see you again, boys,” Hank says as he extends his hand, but it cannot be more obvious that he is lying.

Hank walks us around the back of his cabin to a sprawling yard overlooking the woods. Mason is sitting on a log in front of an impressive fire, smiling smugly at us.

Hank gestures to the other logs, and we sit around the flames.

“You three have some shit to work through,” Hank starts. “But remember that this is neutral territory, and you two don’t have the same authority here as you do in Constantine.”

Kane and I nod in agreement, waiting for him to continue.

“I used to serve as a mediator for the Council,” he says, “and when I saw what was happening on the street, I guess I just couldn’t leave it alone.”

I raise my eyebrows and glance at Kane. There is definitely a story there.

“We were out of line earlier,” Kane apologises. “It wasn’t necessary to make a scene.”

Mason looks up in surprise as if he did not expect Kane to admit to any wrongdoing.

“Mason, why don’t you start?” Hank says.

“So, Kane, where is dear old Dad?” Mason asks bitterly. “I thought you’d bring him as backup.”

“We’re the alphas now,” Kane scoffs. “And this is between us.”

Mason growled, low and gravelly.

“I know you’re the fucking Alpha,” Mason growls, low and gravelly.

“Guys,” Hank cuts in. “If this is going to work, you both need to respect each other, regardless of your feelings. It won’t go anywhere if you needle each other.”

“We’re as mad and resentful of Dad as you are, Mason,” I say.

“Oh, are you?” Mason laughs humourlessly. “Well, at least you had him in your life. At least he knew you fucking existed.”

“Yeah, we had him in our lives, and you know what he gave us?” Kane asks. “Lies. He lied to us, to our mother, to you, and now we’re all dealing with the fallout of his secrets.” freewēbnoveℓ.com

“Everyone is,” I shake my head. “Considering what he did to end the Great Wars.”

“So, what the fuck do you want with me?” Mason asks. “What are you doing here exactly?”

“I don’t know,” Kane admits. “Honestly, I haven’t thought it through. I was told you were going around and speaking with powerful wolves at the gathering, as if preparing for an attack. And then Da... Orion told me you were here and urged me to find you.”

Mason looks at Kane and nods but does not say a word.

“Is that what you were doing, Mason?” Hank questions.

“Yes,” Mason replies after a moment of silence. “Absolutely.”

Mason POV

I wait for the Alpha explosion I am expecting. Hank hovers, half-standing, prepared to dive between us if things get ugly. Kane’s gaze locks on mine, his eyes flashing with his wolf. But he does not move.

“What did you think would happen if you attacked us?” Kane demanded in a cold, harsh voice. “If your plan was to take over as Alpha with a bunch of rogue mercenaries, then you would’ve ended up killing half of the pack.”

“You don’t make friends and influence people by killing their loved ones,” Axel says darkly. “The pack would never accept you as Alpha.”

“Did you think that through, Mason?” Hank asks.

Their eyes are all on me, waiting for me to reveal my grand villain plan and prove that I am the evil bastard child they already assume I am. I will never give them the satisfaction.

“Maybe I didn’t fucking think it through,” I growl. “I just found out that the woman I loved had died in your care.”

A snarl rips from Kane’s chest, and Axel jumps out of his seat.

“Don’t you dare act like we had anything to do with Alice’s death,” Axel barks. “You were the one fucking her behind our backs.”

Calmly, I stand up. He has no fucking right to act like they owned Alice. I was in love with her long before they forced her to be their mate.

“If she’d been satisfied with you, then she’d never have come to me,” I snap.

Kane launches himself toward me, but Hank is faster. He throws himself between us, one hand on each of our chests. Kane breathes heavily with the effort of taming his wolf.

“Hey!” Hank yells. “I said no needling. Drop it.”

“Happy to,” I say, throwing my hands up.

“Fine,” Kane grunts. “But I know you were talking to the rogue guards before Alice died. So, don’t pretend it was just some grief-fueled rage or whatever. It was calculated.”

“I didn’t have some grand plan in place when I was talking to those rogues at the gathering,” I shake my head. “I’m not the evil mastermind you think I am.”

“Why should we believe that?” Axel asks as he walks over to us.

“I knew you’d both learn the truth about me one day,” I explain. “And about Alice. And when you did, I worried you’d come for me. I’m a fucking rogue, and you’re the Alphas. I needed to surround myself with people who could protect me.”

It is not the whole truth, but if they buy it, that is all that matters. Honestly, I knew exactly what I was doing.

The twins are known for being benevolent Alphas, for giving people second chances. If some of those rogue guards could get back in their good graces, then maybe they would invite them back into the pack.

Once they were a part of their inner circle, they would turn on them one by one, taking them down from the inside, and I would move in and take over as Alpha. There would be no innocent bloodshed, just good old-fashioned betrayal.

If the twins believe my lie, my plan could still work. It would take a while, but it would be worth it.

“I call bullshit,” Axel says.

Dammit.

“And we didn’t take anything from you,” Kane argues. “We didn’t even know you fucking existed. If you’re mad about that, take it up with your father.”

“I would be happy to if that coward would show his face,” I growl. “I haven’t even seen him since the night he brought Alice to say goodbye.”

He barely even looked at me that night. Why the fuck would he tell Kane and Axel to find me when it seemed like he is avoiding me like a plague?

“I don’t know what fucking answer you want from me,” I snap, throwing my hands up. “Yes, I have wanted to get my revenge. I have wanted to watch you suffer like you made me suffer. I wanted to take from you everything you took from me. But now that you’re actually here ... I’m not angry like I was. Not at you, anyway. Orion, though ... that’s a different story.”

“Then come with us to confront him,” Kane says, looking at me.