Page 185 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wilder’s smile faltered some, but it was back in place quick. “I’ll see you in the office tomorrow, right?”

Vaughn nodded. “Bright and early.” He scowled. “Or at least by ten.”

Wilder scoffed, turning toward his waiting car. “See you tomorrow.”

Vaughn watched his brother leave. For the first time in days, the quicksand under his feet felt a little more like terra firma. His thoughts drifted back to the letter… and his papa’s stories of the past. He’d struggled to accept the light his father had been put in, but that letter?

It was damning.

It wasn’t that he didn’t wantyou.He hadn’t wanted children by a man who’d caused him so much pain. I mean, in his shoes, would you?

Of course his papa wouldn’t have wanted Warden’s children, but it was hard to take the personal aspect out of the equation. His papa hadn’t wantedhim.

And that knowledge stung.

Wynter Jaymes had been abused by nearly every person in his life. They’d either had a hand in tormenting him or turned their backs and allowed it to happen. Did he add his name to that list by turninghisback?

Yet, how could he face the man, knowing he shouldn’t exist?

Vaughn scrubbed his face with both hands. He was still too inebriated to consider such existential questions logically—even though the effects had already started wearing off. The letter had been a slap to the face and a bucket of ice water dumped over his head combined. After a few more minutes of maudlin thoughts, he rose and returned to his empty house.

He strode to his den and flipped on his music. Cranking up the volume, he filled the empty place with sound. While it hurt his aching head, it made it easier not to think. He collapsed into his office chair, reached for his phone, and put in a delivery at DeNardo’s Pizza, more food than he could eat himself, but whatever.

Tossing his phone aside, he rested his head back and closed his eyes. A familiar face appeared, as it had for well over a year. He forced it gone, but it was relentless and would come back at the worst moment the next time, he was sure. The omega had doneeverything he could to avoid Vaughn, thankfully, but he feared one day, they’d need to face their destiny.

He wasn’t ready.

Neither was Lake.

The kid was young, just turned eighteen according to the invitation to the birthday party he’d gotten—and ignored—a few months earlier. Lake needed time to grow up.

Hell,heneeded time to grow up, too.

In all honesty, Vaughn didn’t want an omega in his life—but even if he did, he sure as hell didn’t want a child under him. He chuckled to himself. At least that was one thing he didn’t have in common with WardenFuckingJaymes.

But then, Lake had never gone into heat feet away from him either, so it was hardly a fair comparison. Yet he’d take it as the win he needed.

Vaughn flipped the volume even higher, sure the neighbors would soon be calling the Guard to his door, but he didn’t much care. He forced Lake Stephens and all the other bullshit of his shitshow of a life out of his head and considered the only good thing going for him.

Wilder’s deal.

Maybe if he poured all his energy intothat,he could ignore the rest of the noise for a while.

Sounds like a plan.

24

Wynter cuddled close to Cav in the helicopter, almost vibrating with excitement. Any day he could get out from behind the province walls was a good thing, but it was killing him not to know where. He’d been battering poor Cav for two hours, trying to ferret out the surprise location. It couldn’t be too far, as the trip would only last a few hours, so he searched the mental map in his head—which wasn’t all that great.

“Atlantis?”

“I already said no to that one,” Cavanaugh mumbled in the headset’s earpiece.

“Maybe you’re lying to me… and I just wanted to gauge your reaction.”

Cavanaugh chuckled. “If you give it twenty more minutes, you’ll find out where we’re headed.”

“I don’t want to wait that long,” Wynter said, pouting. “Give me a hint?”

---