Page 11 of His Forsaken Alpha

Give him a little happiness.

Please.

When he returned home, Wynter struggled to get to his feet. Exhaustion pulled at his limbs, making them heavy. No wonder Jamie had grown tired. He wasn’t dealing with cancer and their conversation had drained him.

He entered the back door and slowly climbed the back stairs, avoiding the heavy, curious looks he felt from the staff. Waiting for him at the top of the stairs as a furious Warden.

“You couldn’t wait ten minutes to disobey me, could you?”

Wynter eyed Warden, the fear he’d felt during their earlier argument nothing in the face of loss. “He knows.”

Warden frowned.

“That we were not fated mates and that his creation was not a pleasant one.”

“Youtoldhim? And you calledmecruel?”

“He guessed. He’s seen the love of an alpha and realized we didn’t share that. He told me that today—and that he’s suspected that our coming together wasn’t happy or pleasant.”

Warden scowled.

“It wasn’t pleasant. I hated you touching me. Still do.”

“As if touching you has been enjoyable for me, either?” Warden spat.

Bitter silence hung between them.

Decades thick.

“I’ve never told you this, but I methim.My fated mate,” Wynter murmured. Why he said it, he wasn’t sure. Perhaps he wanted to injure the alpha… to make Warden hurt as much as he did.

The lack of surprise on Warden’s face shockedhim. “You knew?”

“I suspected,” Warden muttered.

“I loved it when he touched me,” Wynter said. “The only time I’veevercraved a man’s touch.”

“Stop,”Warden spat.

“It was on the train to Blacksburg,” Wynter said. “You remember that, don’t you? When you sent me away?”

“If you cross this line, we can never go back,” Warden warned.

“He and I spenthourstogether on the train,” Wynter prodded. “Him showing me real pleasure. I screamed for him, shaken to my core.”

“I’m going to retire from the company soon,” Warden said, interrupting.

Wynter narrowed his eyes.“As if I want you here more often?”

“No, but what you say next might impact which son takes my chair.”

Wynter stilled, eyes wide. Had there been an insinuation in his threat?

“Once Wilder is ready to take over, I will retire, though I’ll remain the President of the Board of Directors,” Warden said. “A year. Maybe two. I don’t want to deviate from that plan, but don’t force my hand because I will.”

Wynter remained silent, every nerve firing at once. His body tingled painfully.

“All these years… you assumed I was oblivious to your deceit.” Warden chuckled wickedly. “I’m not a stupid man, Wynter. Far from it.”

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