Page 167 of His Forsaken Alpha

“That’snottrue,” Wilder murmured.

Max sized Wilder up.“Shouldn’tis perhaps the better term. I’d rather not do it twice, and it’s best you all heard it together. Give him another call.”

Wynter eyed Wilder. Wilder sighed with irritation and lifted his cell from his pocket. Before he could hit more than a few buttons, the outer office door swung open, and Vaughn stumbled in. Wynter gasped inwardly at the sight of him. Vaughn was disheveled—unshaven with unkempt hair. His clothing looked as if it had been slept in. Dark rings hung under his bloodshot eyes, and Wynter could scent a wave of alcohol wafting closer.

Vaughn met his gaze for half a second before forcefully dragging it away.

“I was just trying to call you,” Wilder murmured, his brow furrowed, as he dropped his hand with the phone.

“Saved you a coin,” Vaughn muttered. He glanced at his watch. “We ready to get this shit over with?”

“Indeed, we are,” Max said. “Follow me.”

Max turned to lead them, his back to the trio. Wilder spun to eye Wynter and Vaughn, none of them moving, the air thick with emotion.

“Go on in,” Wynter said to Wilder. “We’ll be along shortly.”

Wilder’s gaze flicked between them before he strode past the doorway Max had disappeared through. Vaughn attempted to follow, but Wynter snatched his arm. Up close, he could smell the alcohol even stronger and see just how bad his son’s appearance was. Even more, he caught a glimpse of the turmoil swirling behind those sad, beautiful blue eyes.

“Let go of me,”Vaughn growled lowly under his breath.

“You’ve been ignoring my calls,” Wynter said, his tone measured, as he used his palms to smooth out some of the wrinkles in Vaughn’s suit jacket.

Vaughn’s gaze pinged about the waiting room, never fully landing on Wynter for more than a half a second. “I havenothingto say to you.”

“Oh, I suspect you have plenty to say. You’re not one to bite your tongue, Vaughn, darling.”

Vaughn finally looked at him and glared.

“You look like hell,” Wynter scolded but there was no real admonishment behind his words. More concern.

“I just found out I was the unwanted child of two incestuouscousinsforced to mate and live bound to one another for forty years,” he whispered hotly. “I know you’d rather not be reminded I exist.”

“You were a surprise. Not unwanted,” Wynter replied. How cruel he’d been to say what he had at the funeral. If he could go back in time and repair it… hell, he’d have repaired a lot of things given that skill.

“Save your lies,”Vaughn barked. “After hearing what you went through, howcouldyou have wanted me? Had I been in your shoes?” He looked away, but not before Wynter saw the shine in his eyes. “You said it yourself. Wilder was the only one you truly wanted. So, cut me loose. I’m no longer your son to worry about.”

Wynter grasped his son’s chin and forced Vaughn to look at him. “You are and will forever bemy son.”

Vaughn glared at him.

“I wasn’t in my right mind when I said what I did. I didn’t mean it, not truly. I’m sorry. Deeply, sincerely sorry for uttering that nonsense, but I know that doesn’t take back the sting of it, either.”

Vaughn pulled his chin away, turning to the side so he didn’t have to look at Wynter. “You can be as sorry as you want. It won’t change the fact of my birth. You never wanted me. I sensed it at times growing up but knowing it’s certain now? It’s somehow harder to bear.”

“I may not have wanted his child, but that didn’t stop me from loving you,” Wynter whispered. “I know I’ve struggled to show emotions—but it was because I feared the minute I showed something real, that was the moment the façade would shatter and I’d be only a raw nerve, throbbing painfully and left unprotected.”

Vaughn eyed him silently.

“I wasn’t the papaanyof you deserved. I was broken and battered and barely holding on. I didn’t have much left to give you boys. Had I been stronger—a better man—perhaps I could’ve risen above that but treading water took every ounce ofstrength I had. The fault here lies with me and Warden and he’s no longer here to shoulder the blame, so I will. You were only an innocent babe… You never chose your parents.”

“We can agree on that,” Vaughn muttered. “I would’ve chosen better had I the chance.”

Wynter ignored the anger in Vaughn’s tone. “I would like the chance to fix the mistakes of the past. If you’ll let me.”

Vaughn scoffed. “Just how do you plan to dothat?”

“I don’t have the tools. Clearly. I need help—so I suggest therapy. I think we should both get individual help as well as have family sessions, some with Wilder involved. He and I discussed it this morning in the car ride here.”

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