Page 123 of His Forsaken Alpha

All gazes turned to Cav again, but he only met the one that mattered. Flicking his gaze to Wynter, he saw pain in his omega’s eyes and knew in that moment, he needed to be there. After crossing the room, he sat down beside Wynter and took one hand in his.

Wynter gripped it tightly and leaned a little closer before he continued. “I’ve already told them, Cavanaugh. They know you’re Wilder’s biological father.”

Cav’s gaze flicked to Wilder’s. He could see his son was reeling, as much as he had in the hotel room when he’d heard the truth.Sensing something and having it confirmed were two different things, he’d realized there. Avery snaked a hand under Wilder’s arm and captured a hand. Wilder clung to it a moment before leaning in to kiss his omega.

“And me? I assume I’m Warden’s son?” Vaughn asked. “Or is there another lover out there you’ve been hiding?”

“Yes. You’re Warden’s son,” Wynter admitted.

“Your son from the man you hated,” Vaughn murmured. “I suppose that explains a lot, doesn’t it, Papa?”

“That wasn’t your fault,” Wynter said. “You and Jamie had no control over how you came to be.”

“But it shaped how you saw us, didn’t it?” Vaughn asked. “It’s why Wilder was always your favorite.”

“Iwasn’t his favorite,” Wilder snapped.“Youwere, Vaughn.”

Cav frowned, stunned that the pair seemed to have two different versions of childhood. Wynter had admitted he’d given a little more to Wilder, but perhaps it hadn’t been heaps more for their son to not see it.

Wynter pursed his lips, fighting the shine of tears. Cav wanted to wrap his arms around his omega and protect him from the past, but he couldn’t. Wynter had to face his sons and the truth himself. “I didn’t have favorites.”

Cav knew that might be a lie, but for Wynter’s sons’ wellbeing, he’d let it go.

“You said it at the funeral,” Vaughn snapped. “He was the only one you wanted.”

“I was bound to a man who actively hated me. Why would I want to bringanychild into that?” Wynter asked. “I was greedy for wanting Wilder. I shouldn’t have wanted him to be raised in that environment, either, especially knowing my mental health issues—but the love I had for Cavanaugh made me forget all that. I wanted a little piece of the man I loved.” Wynter turned his gaze on Wilder. “And look at them.” His gaze drifted to Cav and back to Wilder. “How could I look at Wilder’s face andnotremember the past? A brief time when Iwashappy.” Wynter clutched at Cav’s hand. “I love you, Vaughn. I know you don’t think I do, but you’re wrong. I just… after all that happened at the cabin and the decades imprisoned in a loveless mating, I was broken. I didn’t have much love in me to share withanyof you boys and for that, I’m sorry. It turned me bitter, at times. I lashed out on occasion because I was in pain. Youalldeserved better than that. I wish I could’ve been stronger for you all.”

“It also didn’t help that your papa was a monster,” Avery said. Cav noticed shared looks of disgust travel around the room. Everyone seemed to agree. Wynter’s papawasa monster. “I can’t believe he could do all of that to you.”

“My papa wasn’t well,” Wynter replied. “I’ll never truly understand his motivations behind the things he said and did. I only wish I’d had the courage to stand up to him.” He squeezed Cav’s hand. “And found a way out of the pain. It might’ve made all our lives easier.”

“But it wasn’t you that you were worried about,” Gray said, his gaze drifting to Cav’s and then to Rohan’s. “I don’t know what I’d do if I was told I could never see you again—and that your life would be forfeit if I did. The idea of sending you away takes my breath away, yet the idea of you no longer living terrifies me evenmore.” Gray spun in his seat and faced Wynter. “I can see that decision paralyzing you. It likely would’ve me.”

“Especially after growing up traumatized by the man. Your entire life, you’d been conditioned to shrink back from his torment and surrender,” Wilder said. He leaned closer to Avery, who cuddled their babe closer. He brushed two fingers over the infant’s cheek. “How a parent could think to harm their own child like that—I don’t understand.”

“I realize that I wasn’t the best papa in the world, but knowing I kept that violence away from my children is something I cling to,” Wynter murmured. “It’s one thing I did right in a sea of wrong.”

“I doubt it was a sea,” Cav whispered.

Wynter leaned in closer, relaxing ever so slightly.

“How old were you—when all that happened?” Gray asked. “You mentioned it was early.Howearly?”

Wynter stiffened against Cav. “I was…” He paused, drawing in a breath. “I was young.”

“Howyoung?” Wilder asked, eyes narrowing.

Wynter rocked back and forth slightly.

“They should know,” Cav whispered.

Wynter met his stare, tears glistening. Somehow, he’d managed to make it through most of the story without crying, it appeared, but that was the thing that seemed ready to break him.

“Itwasn’tyour fault,” Cav murmured. He caressed Wynter’s cheek. The pain emanating from his omega convinced him that part had been true. Wynter had been convinced he was somehowto blame and that tore him up inside. “No matter what your papa said… itwasn’tyour fault.”

A lone tear slipped down Wynter’s cheek. Cav wiped it away and caught Wilder watching them from the corner of his eye. He eyed his son, wishing he could answer so Wynter didn’t have to, but it wasn’t his place to share a memory that was clearly so painful. It would be his omega’s choice and either way, he’d support it.

Wynter turned to them, wiping his cheeks with both hands. “My parents and Warden’s… they treated me as if it was a character flaw—that early heat. Something wrong within me. I was blamed, and while Ilogicallyknow I had no fault in what happened, their derision and scorn caused deep wounds.” He dragged in a breath. “And it’s always made me fear judgment from others.” His lips moved soundlessly, as if he fought to say the words. Finally, they tumbled from his lips. “I had just turned fourteen.”

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