Page 154 of His Forsaken Alpha

“Oh, Wynter,” their father said with a soft smile. He turned and looked at Wynter. “Wynter. I remember Wynter.” His smile faded, and his brows knitted. “I had a son named Wynter.”

Wynter turned his face away, unable to handle the emotions welling inside.

“I lost my son Wynter.” He scuffled closer and Cav appeared, putting himself between them—protecting Wynter.

“Dad,you need to go inside,” Arthur said.

“No,”Wynter’s father said. “I lost my Wynter. I want him back.” He shuffled closer. “Barnaby,whatdid you do with Wynter?Whereis he?”

Wynter gasped inwardly.

“Iknowyou did something. You killed him, didn’t you?”

Wynter blinked back tears. Did that mean Archie had believed the story of his death? His fatherhadto have known he’d been in Alexandria all that time, didn’t he? It wasn’t as if it would’ve been hard to find him there, had the man only looked. He wasn’t sure what he believed, and if the man was as far gone as his brothers said, he’d likely not know either way.

All the hate he’d harbored in his heart, he couldn’t find it in that moment.

Did it really matter if he knew or not? They wouldn’t get that time back. Nothing could change the past.

“You did find him, Daddy. I’m right here,” Wynter whispered.“I’mWynter.”

Archie Jaymes lifted his weathered hands and gently took Wynter’s face in them. He smiled, his rheumy eyes bright. “You came home.”

“I did,” Wynter whispered.

Archie struggled to lean closer and pressed a kiss to Wynter’s forehead. “I always knew you would.”

Wynter closed his eyes, a tear sliding down his cheek.

Archie backed away a couple of uneasy steps. His smile slowly faded.“Barnaby?”

“Dad, you’re going to have another spell. We need to get you inside,” Arthur said, urging the man away from Wynter.

Arthur met Wynter’s stare before growing more insistent of Archie’s departure. Finally, their father allowed himself to be led away and back inside the house.

Cavanaugh wrapped his arms around Wynter from behind. Wynter spun, burying his face in his alpha’s chest. He fought more tears and melted into his Cavanaugh’s strength, stealing a little for himself.

“Are you okay?” Cavanaugh asked.

“No, but I will be,” Wynter replied. He stepped back and stared up at his mate. “Thank you for being here with me.”

“Nowhere else I’d want to be than your side.”

Wynter glanced over to one of the pool tables and noticed Wilder’s concerned look. He nodded that he was okay and Wilder continued his conversation with his uncle, Harris. Wynter smiled at the sight. The two had been thick as thieves,talking in depth since the end of lunch. About what, Wynter wasn’t sure.

Arthur reappeared a few minutes later. “I’m sorry. I’d asked the nurse to keep him inside. Seems he drifted off while Dad was napping and didn’t hear the old man get up. It won’t happen again.”

“It was an accident. Not your fault.” Wynter sighed. “One down… one to go, I guess.”

Arthur cocked his head to the side. “You want to see Papa?”

“Like Wilder said, he might not remember what he did, but I do… and maybe seeing him will allow me to break the hold he has on me—like it just did with Daddy.”

Arthur smiled softly and offered an arm. “Follow me.”

Wynter eyed Cavanaugh.

“Want me to come?” his alpha asked.

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