Page 126 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wynter’s heart broke hearing that. “I love that you loved him that much. And you, too, Rohan. That he knew the love of his fated alpha and a loving friend before he left this earth brings me incredible joy. He deserved that love. He was a beautiful person.” Wynter trembled, and Cav squeezed him gently. He leaned into his alpha’s silent support, happy the man had stayed. He wasn’t sure he’d have been able to get through it all without Cav there. “The last time we saw one another, Jamie said he’d come to realize Warden and I couldn’t be fated mates. He’d experienced that kind of love and knew we didn’t have it. He suspected his arrival had been—difficult—and asked me to tell him the story. I refused. I wasn’t going to cause him pain like that as he fought with everything he had against the cancer. It killed me to deny his request, but I feared it would only torment him. Since a little piece of him resides within you, Gray, maybe I’ve finally satisfied his last request.”

“You should’ve come to see him more,” Gray whispered. “You should’ve snuck out again.”

“I planned to, but when I returned from sneaking out, Warden confronted me. He implied he knew Wilder wasn’t his biological son and if I went to see Jamie again…” Wynter paused, struggling. “He said he’d turn his back on Wilder, refuse to hand over the CEO position, strip him of everything he’d worked for, and threatened to‘make it hurt.’Did I allow him to destroy Wilder’s future, or did I hold Jamie’s hand at the end? Either choice I made, I’d be wrong.”

“You should’ve chosen Jamie,” Wilder said, wide eyed. “I would’ve survived.”

“But would you have? Would he have blackballed you and prevented you from finding work here? Would you have been forced to leave the province? Had you left, would you have met Avery? I didn’t know how far he was willing to go to hurt me, and I couldn’t allow him to destroy you in that attempt.” Wynter turned back to Gray. “Jamie and I had a heart-to-heart that last time I was there, and I told him how much I loved him. I apologized for all the things I’d done wrong. Was it enough? No… but I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to be there. I wanted to make his last days better than his first, but I also didn’t want to Warden to destroy Wilder’s future.”

“But it’salwaysWilder,” Vaughn muttered. “The literal golden child. He always gets the best of you, Papa.” He rose and glared at Wilder. “But now that I know he’s not a Jaymes, perhaps it’s time I took that chair away from him as my father should have.”

“Wilderisa Jaymes,” Wynter murmured.

“He’s Wilder Cavanaugh’s son!” Vaughn blasted.

“But he’s also a Jaymes,”Wynter roared. He couldn’t allow the pair to war for the CEO’s chair—which might destroy the entire company, and their futures, in the process. Even Warden hadn’t wanted that. He’d made his choice—Wilder.

Vaughn scoffed. “Just because Dad raised him doesn’t mean Dad’s blood pumps through those veins.”

“If your father knew Wilder wasn’t his and still chose him to run the company, I think that speaks volumes for his opinion,” Rohan snapped at Vaughn.

“Wilder… is a Jaymes,” Wynter repeated. “He wasborna Jaymes. He has just as much right to the company as you do. And he was groomed to take that seat, by Warden.”

“Are you daft?” Vaughn asked Wynter.

“Watch your tone,”Cav snapped at Vaughn.

“You keep out of this,”Vaughn barked at Cav.

Cav growled, but Wynter laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t. He’s hurt and upset by what he’s learned today. He’s also just lost his father.”

“Myfather. That’s right,” Vaughn snapped. “Not Wilder’s father. I’m sure the board will side with me when they find out Wilder isn’t a Jaymes but a bastard my whore of a papa popped out.”

Whore.

All Wynter saw was red after that comment. He jumped to his feet. “Wilder is a Jaymes becauseIam a Jaymes!”

The whole room went silent.

Wynter’s blood thundered in his ears, and his stomach turned after the admission. He’d not planned to share that secret, yet he’d allowed his emotions to get in the way once more. Instead of protecting his sons, he’d lashed out in anger.

“What do you mean—you’rea Jaymes?” Wilder asked, his tone soft.

Wynter faced a confused Vaughn instead of Wilder, as the implications of what he’d say next would harm his youngest more. “Warden was my cousin.”

Vaughn’s eyes widened, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. Wynter dragged his gaze away, unable to look at anyone after that admission. The tension in the air made his stomach turn again. Words fell from his lips, the silence too uncomfortable. It needed to be filled. “Warden was staying with us while he interned at my father’s bank because he was family. Wilder has the same Jaymes blood you do, Vaughn,because I do.You’re both the great-grandsons of the founder, therefore, Wilder has an equal claim.”

Vaughn rose, wavered on his feet, and stormed out, the front door slamming behind him. Somehow the arguing hadn’t done it, but the sound of the door awoke Emory, who let out a wail and a whimper before breaking into a full cry. Avery quietly opened his tunic and brought the child close to nurse.

Wilder leaned in, a protective arm wrapped around his omega and child.

No one seemed capable of meeting his eye—except for Cavanaugh. He saw nothing but tenderness in his alpha’s eyes and that gave him the strength he needed in that moment of weakness.

Wilder watched his son nurse a few seconds before turning and eyeing Wynter. “Are there any more shocks left because I think I need a warning before the next.”

“I think that’s likely all of it now,” Wynter said before collapsing beside Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh drew Wynter closer. Wynter leaned his head on Cavanaugh’s shoulder, thankful for the man’s presence once more.

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