Page 171 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wilder frowned. “No, he doesn’t.”

“From the time that little boy could walk, he followed behind your every move, Wilder. You were his hero. All you could see in his eyes wasyou.”

Wilder’s frown deepened.

“As he got older, he did a better job of hiding it, but all he’s ever wanted was his big brother’s friendship and respect—but the harder he tried, the harder you’d push him away.”

“That wasn’t admiration. He does everything in his power to get under my skin,” Wilder said. “Even as a kid. He poked and prodded, driving me insane. We’re oil and water—our relationship is just as unstable and uncapable of remaining bonded for longer than brief intervals. I was an idiot to think we could find any lasting common ground as adults.”

“Youarevery different men. On that, I agree,” Wynter murmured. “But perhaps he poked and prodded because you gave him so little attention. The only thing he could get was your irritation, but was that better than nothing to his young mind?”

Wilder cringed.“All he gotwas attention. From me, from Jamie—from both you and Father. He was always acting out and being difficult—and you allowed his behavior. You babied him.”

“According to him, I did no such thing.”

“He clearly has memory problems. The two of you have always been closer than you and me,” Wilder said.

“You and Jamie were two peas in a pod. So much alike in so many ways, even if you were omega and alpha. You were both even-tempered and quiet. Then came rambunctious little Vaughn crashing in and causing chaos, disrupting your peace. The third wheel,” Wynter said. “He was loud and brash, nothing like you and Jamie.”

“I remember you constantly forcing us to play with him—and he’d ruin our toys or our plans,” Wilder said. “I’d get so angry with you for doing that to us.”

“He was lonely,” Wynter said. “I didn’t want him to be. Maybe we were thick as thieves, but then… I couldn’t sit there and watch him be left out time and time again.”

“I honestly don’t remember it that way—he was a tornado, and I did my best to avoid his path of destruction. I never meant to hurt him—or make him feel slighted.” Wilder scratched his jaw and met his stare. “But then he relayed the same impression of our growing up a few months ago and said much the same thing. I’d been hesitant to believe him then, but I accepted that it was his perspective.”

“He’s spent his life feeling dejected—and now he’s learned terrible things about the situation behind his birth. Add in that shame, and he’s been left a wounded animal, lashing out at anyone too close. We have to remember that… and wedon’tlet him push us out of our lives. Not without a fight.”

Wilder nodded. “I will try, Papa… but we can’t force him, either.”

Max opened the office door and peeked inside. “All good in here?”

“Yes,”Wynter fibbed, slapping on another fake smile.

Max entered and strolled to the table, his hands filled with a small lockbox. “Wilder, I have some papers for you to sign. Keys, deeds, and stock certificates as well. It won’t take us long to sort it out while you’re still here.”

A thought hit Wynter. “Is there no one else mentioned in the will?”

“No,” Max said. “Should there be?”

“Jamie,”Wynter said in hushed tones, almost more to himself.

“Uh, I was told he passed?” Max asked.

“Yes, but his children,” Wynter said, turning to fully face the attorney. “The boys should’ve gotten a little something. A college fund, at the very least.”

“The children born to your son-in-law and the surrogate?” Max asked. “Warden specifically mentioned them when we drafted this document and said they got nothing. I suggested we add a caveat that said that, but according to him, they weren’t Jaymeses and therefore were entitled to nothing—not even a mention.”

Wilder scoffed. He eyed Wynter, a question in his eyes. Wynter sensed what it might be. Why would Warden hand the company over to Wilder—who he clearly knew wasn’t his child—yet scoff at giving a little something to Jamie’s children?

“I can set aside something for the twins,” Wilder murmured.

“Allof them,” Wynter said. “All four. They’re all Jamie’s children. You heard Gray. Use the proceeds from the sale of the house and we set up a trust of some kind, for their futures.”

“Rohan has that very much in hand,” Wilder said.

“Then they will be doubly blessed,” Wynter said. “They’re family… and we start here and now correcting the mistakes of the past.”

Wilder smiled slightly and nodded.“Yes, Papa.”

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