Page 59 of The Alpha's Mates

They hadn’t had the best of starts. Within weeks of taking the first steps of claiming his mates, his father had shown up in town with his mother and the Alpha of the Osaka Pride. He always knew his father was a disgusting human being. Christoph understood the situation he and his mother lived in, wasn’t normal. After being with Bell and Jackson, and seeing her parents, the conflicting ideals of family threw him for a loop. The biggest issue he had with his Pride, was the fact there were no children. There was no land. He couldn’t put his finger on all the inconsistencies he’d noticed now over the years, but as he rushed to get ready to go, the locks on his memories released and his past came flooding in.

“We need to meet a child at the Sheriff’s department,” Jackson whispered. “A girl named Alexia. Come on, blondie. We can’t lazy around all day.”

She frowned. “A child? Shouldn’t they have gone to my aunt or to a nearby Pack or Pride?” She scrubbed those beautiful blue eyes of hers and Christoph’s cock twitched. She was perfect for him. Both of them were. Where she was soft and cradled his body, Jackson was hard. He gave Christoph the power and control he craved when they were together. His mates stabilized him. He knew his life would never be complete without Bell and Jackson.

Christoph couldn’t say when he figured out he wasn’t like others. He supposed, if he were being cliché, he’d say in college, because that’s when everyone experimented. But, deep down, he probably always knew, but repressed his feelings because of his father. What Jackson and Bell experienced with his father the few times they’d met him was nothing. The man had been a tyrant for as far back as Christoph could remember.

Of course, he didn’t put two and two together until he was almost eighteen and thousands of miles away from his Pride. At least now he understood why his mother gave up on his father. It became painfully obvious before he left. She only showed her loyalty to his father when it helped her. She’d even climb over her son to get whatever his father offered her, which should have hurt Christoph, yet in the end, he’d been more disappointed than anything.

“Not if they were part of my father’s Pride,” Christoph said. Of course, it was all speculation on his part. Maybe someone saw him and—What, idiot? Left you their kid?“Could be wrong though.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth dropped open. “Oh, wow.” She scrambled to the edge of the bed. “Then I suppose we should get ready.”

He grunted, stomping into the bathroom to change. “We only have a single name for her, Alexia. The detective didn’t tell me how she got here, though.”

“I like her name.” Sweet, soft Bell. Fuck, she could make his back teeth ache with her sugary voice. Obviously, she handed him his ass a couple of times in the very beginning, but she was always so cordial. She didn’t meet a stranger, and she had this prim properness to her. He wanted to fuck it out of her, but held back because something about her screamed fragile. Like, everything she did was a mask or a performance. He couldn’t put his finger on it. The one time he and Jackson really hurt her feelings, she’d forgiven them within hours. She didn’t even yell.

Guilt ate at him.

Anger chased the guilt.

Whatever happened to his Bell left her this Stepford acting mate. He made it his goal in life to see the woman beneath the veneer. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he pulled up short. Bell faced the mirror over her dresser. She wore a pair of skintight jeans and a tank top—not normal Bell attire. A quick glance at Jackson showed the man wore the same confused expression as him.

She turned around and stared at both of them, placing her hands on her hips. “What? Can I not wear comfortable clothes today?” The knees of her pants were threadbare and open, exposing her creamy flesh. She’d tucked the front of her shirt behind her top button on her button-fly jeans, challenging the whole esthetic of who their Bell was. Or at least, who he thought Bell was.

“You can, kitten,” Christoph said. “Do you wear clothes like this often?” Had he missed it? They’d all been busy trying to get through school so, some days they got little time together. This, though... he couldn’t say whether or not he liked it.

She frowned. “No. Zoe gave me some of her clothes. She said I needed to update my wardrobe.”

Jackson coughed to cover his chuckle. “She was right, blondie. You look amazing in street clothes. Not that I mind the innocent version of you, too. Makes me want to corrupt you.” He joined her at the dresser. “This though, fuck Bell. I can’t take my eyes off your ass.”

In an instant, he hated Jackson and appreciated him. From the very beginning, he’d been able to say the things Christoph couldn’t. He’d done it at the gala dinner for the GSG—Greek Shifter Games. Then he broke the tension at Bell’s sorority party when Laney and those stupid bitches almost wrecked everything. He was smooth where Christoph was stoic. “I like both versions of you, Bell. This though...” He scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “I feel like I’m cheating on you.”

She laughed while Jackson shook his head.

“Are we ready?” Christoph hedged. “Don’t want to be late.”

Bell nodded. “I—”

The doorbell rang, drawing their attention to the front of the house. No one knew they were out there. This place had been Jackson’s. Built into the side of the mountain, the mansion boasted six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gym, family room with a view of the forest, and a home theater. Not to mention the ten-car garage and pool/jacuzzi combo. He’d only told Christoph and Bell about the house the year before when they wanted to spend more time together instead of with family. So, it begged the question, how had they been found? The chime signaled again, and Jackson started for the stairs.

“It’s probably nothing,” Jackson said as Bell and Christoph followed him. “I’ve had several reality agents contacting me recently to ask if I’m selling.” He opened the door and the man who stood there with a small boy in his arms didn’t appear to be any kind of real estate agent. “Elgor?” The way Jackson said the man’s voice sounded more like he’d been gut punched by confusion. Like he’d actually thought an agent would be standing there.

“Master Jackson,” Elgor said, stepping forward. “It has been years, young sir.”

“Please, please come in.” Jackson stepped aside, sliding his gaze to Christoph. The flames he’d usually banked with obsidian flickered and raged. “What... Who is this?”

“Acest lucru este, Maliki,” Elgor said. “Your young brother.”

Jackson’s mouth fell open. “But, I thought, I mean, they were...” He swallowed hard. “I need to sit.”

The elderly man nodded solemnly. “Yes, your aunt. I have so much to tell you before I must take my leave, young master.”

Christoph watched the play of emotions on Jackson’s face. “You stay here, Jackson. Bell and I will go check out what’s happening at the Sheriff’s Department.”

Jackson nodded. “Sure, yeah. It’s for the best.” His distant tone made Christoph's ears twitch and his lion sit up and take notice. However, he didn’t have the time to sus out what was happening to Jackson or how he had a younger brother. He needed to book it to the station and find out why—better yet, who Alexia was, and why she was there.

“Bell, would you like to go or stay?” Christoph hated putting her in the middle. It wasn’t fair to her. She shouldn’t have to choose. Everything important should be done together, but this... “I won’t force you to go with me.”

---