Page 199 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wynter leaned on the table, eyeing Gray. “I can’t promise I’ll succeed, but I do promise that I’ll try my damnedest. Since Warden’s passing, I don’t know how much social clout I still have, so I?—”

“Hedruggedyou?” Wilder asked, storming up to the table and eyeing Wynter.

Wynter glanced at Cavanaugh before returning his focus to Wilder. “Technically, I took the pills, so I don’t know if we can label that asdrugging me.”

“What are we talking about?” Avery asked, frowning.

“Warden Jaymes drugged Papa for thirty years. The sleeping? The fogginess? The weird conversations and outbursts? They’re all side effects of an unnecessary antipsychotic drug Warden gave to Papa.”

Avery and Gray’s eyes widened with shock.

“I thought they were from my doctor. His name was on the bottle as the prescriber, so I didn’t question it,” Wynter murmured.“Only we contacted the clinic, and my records show no notes of it being prescribed and my doctor there has no memory of ever putting me on it. We assume it was Warden.”

“Assume?Wynter, whoelsewould it have been?” Cavanaugh asked. “He brought you the pills and maintained the supply for over three decades. Hedruggedyou.”

“You have a regular physician, don’t you? He never questioned you taking it?” Wilder asked.

“No, he didn’t. He knew and never said a word. I didn’t question it because I’d slept a lot with the postpartum after Jamie, so I assumed the fatigue and fogginess were just symptoms of my depression.”

“And the more you took, the less likely you were to question it,” Wilder said. He turned to stare at Cavanaugh. “I’m glad you figured it out.”

“It wasn’t me,” Cavanaugh said. “It was Wynter. He realized he hadn’t taken his pills in a few days yet felt better. I wanted to know what pills he’d been taking, and it went from there. From what his doctor at the clinic said, he should start feeling stronger and more himself in the next week or so.”

“After thirty years, I don’t know what feeling like myself should feel like,” Wynter said. “I suppose we’re all going to find out.”

“He missed his chance to kill you, so he just kept you zonked out instead,” Wilder snapped.

“Kill?”Gray and Avery both asked.

Wilder winced, and Wynter’s cheeks warmed. Apparently, Wilder hadn’t yet shared that news with everyone. Wynter wasn’t sure he wanted to repeat that evil himself.

“At the reading of the will, Papa got a letter from Warden,” Wilder said. “Gleefully detailing a hit he’d taken out. He’d paid a man—and those Wildlings—to attack the train. The man was supposed to abduct Papa and kill him, using the attack as the cover to explain his disappearance.”

“Dear gods,this just gets worse and worse,” Gray murmured.

Wynter eyed Gray.“Nowyou know why I’m angry.”

“As you should be,” Gray said.

Wynter took a deep breath, trying to let that anger out. “As I told Wilder, Wardenfailed.Not only failed, but likely ensured Wilder’s existence. If it hadn’t been for the attack, I don’t know that I would’ve shared my heat with Cavanaugh. While it’s upsetting, I want to focus on the positive. I’m tired of living under threats and dark clouds. I’m finally getting my chance at happiness. No more talk about Warden Jaymes. Let’s focus on the future.”

Silence filled the kitchen a few seconds.

“Speaking of happiness and the future,” Wynter continued. “Cavanaugh has asked me to join with him in an official mating ceremony, and I’ve agreed.” He turned his attention to Wilder to gauge their son’s reaction. “While I know that society dictates that I remain in mourning for some time, I’ve waited too long for this chance. I hope you can all forgive me, but we’ve decided to have it this autumn.”

“You owe no grief to Wa—that man.”Wilder paused, smiling wanly. “Grab onto your happiness with both hands now that you can.”

The backs of Wynter’s eyes stung.“Thank you.”

Wilder walked closer to Cavanaugh and offered a handshake. When the handshake turned into a hug, Wynter’s eyes more than stung.

“I’m glad you two can finally be together,” Wilder said to Cavanaugh.

“Same here,” Cavanaugh mumbled, his eyes bright.

“Congratulations,” Avery said, reaching for Wynter’s hand and grinning from ear-to-ear.“You know,our backyard is a great place for a ceremony and reception.”

“I saw the pictures and wholeheartedly agree,” Wynter said. “But I don’t know if there’s enough space.”

---