Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Mason POV

“Dead puppies, dead puppies,” I mutter as I walk to the library. As much as I want to flaunt my relationship with Katie, now is not the time, and I must get rid of my erection.

However, dead puppies are not doing the trick. So, I think of my father, and suddenly I am as limp as a bag of oats.

As much as I wanted to finish what I had started with Katie, I must figure out where I stand with Kane and Axel.

They are already waiting for me, sitting by the fireplace when I arrive. Kane pours me a glass of Whiskey, and I take a seat. I take a sip and must look away, so they do not see me wince. Dear goddess, this shit is strong.

“Did I make a mistake bringing you here?” Kane asks directly.

I want to tell him that the mistake has been mine, that I never should have brought Katie with me if I had known he and Axel would get territorial.

But then we will end right back where we started ... having a useless fight. And now that I am no longer in neutral territory, picking a fight would be the stupidest thing I could do.

“Look,” I dive right in. The alcohol has warmed my body and loosened my tongue. Which is probably the reason why they offered it to me. “I spent a lot of time figuring out how to take you down.”

Kane and Axel exchange a glance, but I do not care. I have nothing to lose by admitting this, and it is not like it is news to them anyway.

“I was jealous that Alice chose you over me,” I continue. “It felt like you stole everything from me, and I wanted to take something back for once.”

Whatever jealousy I have felt, they will experience it too in some way. The difference is that they have won the Alpha title and Alice in the end. But it does not sting quite the same way now that I have Katie. Keeping her and Stella close and safe made me reconsider everything.

“I appreciate your honesty,” Kane says. “But if we team up to confront Father, what’s to stop you from turning on me and Axel after?”

They stand side-by-side, their gazes burning as harshly as the fire. It was crazy how they move so identically sometimes, almost like they are one entity. I can see the power they might have over someone like Alice. She was always easily distracted by the shiniest thing. And seeing them standing in front of me, huge and unflinching, they did seem pretty damn shiny. A sick wave of jealousy washes over me at the idea of their shine catching Katie’s eye, too. All the more reason to stake my claim on her.

“Everything’s different since I met Katie,” I admit. “I’m not going to do anything that will put her or Stella in danger.”

“When did you meet Katie?” Axel asks, narrowing his eyes like he is scanning me with a truth laser. “You must’ve had the pup right away.”

I know what he is implying. There would not have been much time between my last night with Alice and when I got Katie pregnant. They are trying to catch me in a lie, maybe chip away at my connection with Katie.

“It happened fast for us,” I say simply. “I was drawn to her the night we met, and we haven’t been apart since.” freёwebnoѵel.com

“Meeting her helped me get over the pain of Alice leaving me,” I say, taking another sip of Whiskey, which is getting easier to swallow. “She helped me see what I really wanted. And then I didn’t resent you as much as I used to.”

Kane grunts in acknowledgement, but there is still distrust in his eyes.

Suddenly, there is a brief, sharp rap at the door. Without waiting for an answer, an older man enters. A man I have not seen in months. Orion.

“Hello, son,” he greets. “We should talk.”

Kane POV

“I heard you were here,” Dad says to Mason. “I figured it was better to face the situation head-on.”

“Since when?” Mason, Axel, and I ask in unison.

We looked at each other, our eyes widening, then narrowing, still sizing each other up even though it was clear we were on the same page.

“Okay, sure,” Father says, throwing up his hands. “Let me have it, then.”

“Really?” I ask, my anger surging. “Fine. You ...”

“No.” Mason’s voice echoes through the library.

He said it like a command, but that asshole had no power over me. Axel and I call the shots here.

“You don’t deserve to even know what we’re thinking or how we feel,” Mason continues. “And we don’t give a fuck what you’re thinking or feeling.”

We? Now he is speaking for us.

I want to jump in and put Mason in his place, but I keep my mouth shut. Axel and I already tore Dad a new one. Now, it is Mason’s turn. He has been carrying this grudge since birth; it would be healthy for him to get it out.

Father opens his mouth to speak, but Mason beats him to it.

“You never thought twice about any of us,” Mason’s voice rises. “Not even your own fucking mate. You just did whatever the hell you wanted.”

“And you agree with this?” Father spins around to look at me and Axel. His jaw clenched so tight I thought it might shatter.

“I do,” I admit.

“So do I,” Axel nods.

Father truly is a selfish prick. Now that we have the twins, I cannot imagine throwing them or our mate under the bus to protect my power.

All I care about is protecting them and preserving the pack’s peace. So, when the time comes for one of them to lead, they could do so without conflict like this. Those two pups are our legacy now, and all we want is to create the best life for them.

I glanced at Mason. He is surely thinking the same thing about Stella. He does not want to repeat the same mistakes as our father.

For the first time, I actually feel respect.

“If you don’t want to hear how I feel, then I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to say,” father argues bitterly. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

“An apology would be nice,” I say icily. “You owe us that at the very least.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” he sneers.

“Yes, you do.” Mason jumps up and punches Dad right on the nose, and he stumbles backwards.

“You’ll pay for this,” Dad grunts, holding his bleeding nose.

“Go ahead,” Mason challenges him. “Go tell the Council your bastard son punched you. I’m not afraid of you or the Council.”

I smile, satisfied when Dad’s face falters. No way will he report his mishap to the Council.

“Anyone for a drink?” Axel smirks.

“Fuck you,” Dad mutters, storming out.

“I need fresh air.” Mason shakes his head and leaves.

“Just me and you then,” Axel chuckles.