Page 36 of The Alpha's Mates

The guy came running from somewhere Christoph couldn’t see. He was shorter, leaner than the other man, and happy. Almost like he couldn’t help but exude the emotion. “Yeah?”

“Take the kid and bring him inside. I bet the girls will fawn over him.” Rapier didn’t take his eyes off Christoph.

“Sure. Cute kid,” Wy said. “Come on Isaac. Let’s get you a treat.”

Christoph watched as his son took the man’s hand and followed him into the house. “I’m sorry. I’m dropping all of my bullshit on you, and I shouldn’t be. But, you’re my only hope right now and I’m fucking scared out of my mind.” He vomited up the words in such a rapid succession he didn’t know what would happen next.

“Shit, son,” Rapier said. “Breathe.”

He glanced at the man joining him. “Uh…”

“It’s okay.” Rapier threw a pair of gloves at Christoph. “Helping us while you talk will focus on some of that aggression. This is Osirus. Utah’s father. Isaac will be just fine in the house.”

Yeah, sure. He could assist them. He glanced back at the house before jumping down into the pit. “Good to meet you.” He grabbed a piece of the broken concrete and threw it out of the pool. “I met my betrothed—the one my father insists I take as a mate.” He shivered.

Rapier stilled. “And?”

“She’s a kid. A fucking kid. Sixteen.” He took several deep breaths, trying to rein in his anger. “Her father beats the shit out of her. She has cousins who can carry on the bloodline, the same for my family, yet I am being forced into this.”

“That’s some seriously messed-up shit.” Osirus dropped the sledgehammer in his hands and started throwing the debris over the edge. “I didn’t know lions still subscribed to the old ways.”

“We don’t. The old ways were outlawed during the late eighteen hundreds when we began to co-habitat with humans. Alphas and other leaders gathered together to refine our definition of mating and hierarchy structures. Introducing humans came later, when shifter populations remained steady.”

“Well, my father and Aislinn’s father believe in the old ways, and, for whatever reason, both believe I should mate a child.” He snarled, throwing another chunk out of the hole. “I won’t do it. Thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach. Even after he threatened my son.”

Rapier touched his shoulder, halting him. “Run that by me again. I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

Christoph’s shoulders slumped. He slid down into a crouched position and ran his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, you did. Isaac is my son. I know who his mother is. It happened the day I told you about before I came here.”

Rapier whistled. “Fucking hell, kid. You had no idea?”

He shook his head. “I keep going over in my head what happened that day and why she wouldn’t call me. I’ve concluded the worst has happened. My father killed her.”

“Fuck,” Osirus muttered. “That’s some messed up shit. What happened to his eye and his face? Do you know who did that?”

Christoph swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn’t cry. God knows he had that beaten out of him, but at the moment, tears burned the back of his nose and gathered at the corners of his eyes. “My father did it with his silver tipped claws, I’m almost certain of it. He threatened to kill him last night if I didn’t follow through.”

Rapier roared, bringing the work to a halt, drawing the worker’s attention to the pool where Christoph curled into himself. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Crazy mother fucker,” Osirus spat. “What do you need from us, son? What can we do at this moment to help you and your boy?” The calm, loving way those words blanketed Christoph eased some of his pain and worry.

“I have a plan. It’s why I’m here, and I know I have to tell Bell and Jackson the truth about everything.” Christoph took a few more seconds to steady himself before standing.

“What is your plan?”

“I need to get Aislinn and Isaac away from both of our fathers. I fear if we don’t mate, her father will beat her to death and Michel will kill Isaac.”

“What’s his name? Her father.” Rapier pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Reyku Makino.”

Osirus wrinkled his nose. “The Osaka Alpha?”

Christoph nodded. “Yes.”

“Hey, man. How’s it going over there?” Rapier glanced at Christoph. “HB is fine. She finally mated Nico.” He laughed. “No, I won’t stop calling her that. She’ll always be honey badger to me and she’s fine, better than fine. Happy. Look, I need your help.” He hit the speaker button and held the phone out in front of him. “We’re all here, Kalkin.”

“If Hayden ever hears you call her that, she’s going to kick your ass, and I’d pay good money to see it.” The man grunted. “So, what can I do for you?”

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