Page 148 of His Forsaken Alpha

The sounds of screams deeper in the house caused Wynter to flinch. Whatever it was sounded terrible, like a wounded dog moaning in despair. His gaze flipped to Arthur’s. His brother cringed, eyeing the others.

“What is that?” Wynter asked.

“Papa,”Arthur murmured.

Wynter’s eyes widened.

“I mentioned his Schizophrenia and Dementia on the phone,” Arthur said. “But I don’t think you can truly understand how badit is until you see and hear him. Most days, he lies in bed and just screams until he’s too hoarse or tired to scream anymore. We can never figure out what he’s screaming for. We’ve had to cuff him to the bed, otherwise he tries to scratch his skin off or his eyes out—or he falls out of bed and tries to pull himself through the house with his arms. I nearly shit my pants the first time I found him in the hallway floor in the middle of the night, dragging himself along.”

“Dear gods,”Wynter whispered.

Arthur shook his head. “It’s… hell. I thought the beatings we grew up with were bad. This is worse.”

“And trying to raise your boys in the middle of all this… and Dad?” Anders said. “It’s rough.” He eyed Wynter. “My omega and I take the boys to our place when things get really bad to spare them some of it, but it’s not enough.”

“Why not put them into a care center for the elderly?” Wilder asked. “I know you made a promise they could live out their lives here, but this is too much.”

“It wasn’t just a promise,” Arthur said. “Buta contractI signed with them.”

“You know,” Wynter said. “They broke the social contract between parent and child. Perhaps you need to do the same. Put them in a place capable of caring for their needs and free yourself from the torment.”

“I would if I could,” Arthur said. “I went before a judge and pleaded my case, given their serious health needs…and I lost.No care facility in the province will take them.”

“Then take them to one outside the province,” Wynter replied. “The contract might only be valid here. You might be able to convince one elsewhere.”

Arthur sat up straighter. “But… the distance…”

“After all they did to us, do you really care?” Wynter asked.

Arthur turned to their brothers, eyes wide.

“You should try. You’ve been through enough, Arthur,” Broderick said. “You deserve some peace and quiet. Your whole family does.”

“Agreed,”Anders added.

Arthur sighed. “I kept telling myself they couldn’t last much longer. I knew one day we’d have peace.” He shook his head. “But you’re right, Wynter. We’ve done enough for them. I’ll look into it.”

“Did you want to see Papa for yourself?” Anders asked.

Wynter didn’t. While he hated his parents and found some small solace in the fact they suffered, he didn’t want to see them suffering, either… but how would he ever heal if he didn’t face them? Yet, if they didn’t know or remember what they’d done—or even remember him at all—would it even matter one way or the other?

“If he doesn’t remember all the vile things he did to me, I don’t know there’s anything to be gained from seeing him,” Wynter murmured.

“He might not remember, but you do,” Wilder said.

Wynter eyed Wilder, and then Cavanaugh—who still refused to look him in the eye. He faced his brothers. “Can you give us a moment alone?”

“Sure,” Arthur said, rising.

His other brothers did, as well, and they left the three of them alone in the family room.

Wynter rose and stared down at Cavanaugh.“What’s wrong?”

Cavanaugh shrugged, yet still didn’t meet his gaze.

“I thought you were here to be in my corner?” Wynter asked. “You can’t even look me in the eye right now.”

“Is Warden’ssecret what you used to get him to go onyour trip?”Cavanaugh asked, his voice dripping with ire. “Him being alpha attracted?”

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