by Kelex
Kai let out a long sigh.
“That good, eh?”
Kai met his stare briefly. “I met him over at his office, told him I wanted to clear the air and only ended up causing another argument.”
“Great.”
“But, the argument was over Gregor.”
Lane tensed. “Regarding?” He hoped like hell Kai hadn’t lobbed the Declan killed Gregor theory into his brother’s lap.
“What do you remember of the omegas before we left the valley?”
Lane frowned. “I dunno. They kept to themselves. Father used to have an omega hired hand to help with repairs around the cabin on occasion, but otherwise, I wasn’t close to any of them.”
“Did you ever see where they lived?”
“No,” Lane answered. “What does this have to do with Gregor?”
“Our omegas, our own bear brethren, lived in falling down homes, were paid slave wages, and weren’t allowed to attend school or seek medical care at the clinic.”
“What?”
Kai was silent a moment. “Declan told me there were things I didn’t know about our father. He dragged me to that new Omega History Museum and showed me. The pictures… my gods, Lane, the pictures of their living conditions. The dilapidated houses. The hopelessness in their eyes. It was heartbreaking… and it all was going on under my father’s watch.”
Lane didn’t know what to say. There had always been a divide amongst the classes—one he’d struggled to understand. “I had no idea.”
“As Declan put it, we all turned a blind eye and didn’t pay attention. He’s changed all that. Made things better for the omegas.”
“Dad could only rave about Declan and all he’s done for the valley. Seems your brother has really grown into his role as alpha. If he’s corrected some things Gregor got wrong, even better.”
“Yeah,” Kai said. “But this goes beyond Gregor getting a few things wrong. I want you to see that museum and the pictures on the walls. It’s stark.” Kai glanced his way. “You need to see it for yourself.”
“Now?”
“No, it’s late, and they were about to close up when I left. LJ and Chase should be getting in tomorrow. Maybe I can take all three of you over. LJ needs to see this, too.”
“This really seems to have impacted you.”
Kai nodded. “I’ve spent the last ten years hating my brother and blaming him for our father’s death. In a matter of days, I learn my father wasn’t the man I thought him to be, that my brother might be the true hero of this tale, and I’ve wasted a decade of our lives being a muleheaded asshole, including keeping you from your family for no good damned reason.”
“I’ve told you there’s no fault there for you. I could’ve come home to visit if I wanted to. I’m just as much to blame,” Lane said, thinking of the time he’d missed. “We’re at an odd point here. Limbo. A potential mate. A sick papa. I feel like we’re being drawn back to Bear Mountain.”
“I feel it, too,” Kai murmured.
“I think we need to consider making the valley our home again,” Lane said. “Maybe we take Royce up on his offer.”
“Take over the inn? Oh come on… I don’t want to be responsible for that.”
“It’s a place to start.”
“I think we could find something else here. It’s a new city on the cusp. Plenty of opportunities,” Kai said.
Lane smiled. “So you’re not opposed to staying?”
Kai smiled, never taking his eyes from the road. “No. We belong here. Now the only question is—how’s Benny going to take this?”
* * * *
An exile in Bear Mountain…
Kai was waiting outside the hotel as LJ and Chase pulled up in their big, black Escalade. His brother jumped out and stretched before walking closer and giving Kai a bear hug. “How’s things going in the old homestead?”
“That remains to be seen,” Kai answered as Chase came around the vehicle to the sidewalk. “Chase.”
They shook hands while Chase and LJ looked around.
“Things have definitely changed since we were gone,” Chase said, popping his dark sunglasses back on.
“Has it been as long for you two?” Kai asked. “I haven’t been home since we left. I don’t think you two have been back either.”
“We came back a couple of years after we left,” LJ said. “Didn’t tell anyone. Just came in for a quick visit.”
“To see family?” Kai asked.
“In a way,” Chase murmured.
“Chase came to pay his respects to his fathers,” LJ said, his voice low.
Kai frowned. Both of Chase’s bear fathers had died in the fighting that had occurred. His papa had soon left the valley. “Are you in contact with your papa?”
Chase shook his head. “He called me once. To say he was leaving the valley. Never heard from him again. The number was disconnected when I tried back a few days later.”
Chase’s parents had never been too parental. It’s why he’d spent most of his time with them growing up.
“I’m sorry,” Kai said,
Chase shrugged. “It is what it is.” He looked around. “Never thought I’d ever come back to this hell hole.”
“Nor did I,” Kai said. “But Lane and I might be staying indefinitely.”
LJ frowned at him and opened his mouth to say something when another big black Escalade pulled up behind the first—with Illinois plates.
“Who’s that?”
“Uncle Benny,” LJ answered. “And family.”
Fuck.
“Why’s he here?”
“Declan came to Chicago to invite us all to the statue’s unveiling ceremony,” LJ said. “All of us.”
Benny climbed out of the back of the Escalade and turned to offer a hand to his shebear, Mary. Once the whole family was out, Benny made his way over. He gave Kai a big bear hug. “You don’t remember how to call? I’ve been worried sick about you, Kai.”
“There was no need to worry.” Kai said.
“You duck out of town and speed off to the woods and I’m not supposed to worry about you? That’s not how family takes care of one another.”
“Hiya, Kai,” Mary said, leaning in for a kiss to the cheek.
“Hi, Aunt Mary.”
“Don’t let Benny get you all riled up. He’s just excited to be home,” she said with a grin before she rubbed his cheek, likely rubbing away her bright red lipstick.
Kai nodded to his Uncle Jack, who threw back a nod of his own. He saw Keir at the back of the Escalade, pulling luggage out of the rear. “Where’s the rest of the family?”
“I left the boys in charge while we were gone, gods help us,” Benny answered loudly. “Now show me to this half-assed hotel. The Four Seasons it ain’t.” He shook his head. “It’ll have to do. I gotta piss and wash my face. I’ve got travel dust all over me.”
“Right in there,” Kai said. He didn’t move. He wanted to talk to LJ and Chase alone.
“You coming, Kai?” Benny said, waving him over. “We have much to talk about, you and I.”
“In a minute, Benny. I need to talk to my brother.”
Benny’s jaw clenched. He never liked to hear the word no. Not that Kai was used to telling him that.
They had a bit of a staring contest before Benny finally smiled and turned away. “Let’s go get our room already. Keir, get those godsdamned bags unloaded.”
Once they were finally alone, Kai turned to his brother. “There’s somewhere I need to take you. Something you both need to see. Lane’s heading down shortly… so why don’t you go get your room and take your bags up… and then meet me in the lobby as soon as you can.”
“Something wrong?” LJ asked, frowning.
“Yeah. But you need to see it with your own eyes. It’s about our father.”
LJ frown deepened but he didn’t ask more questions. He turned to Chase, and they unloaded their bags. Kai carried one and helped them inside. Lane came down shortly after everyone had headed up.
&
nbsp; “They get in okay?”
“Benny’s here,” Kai said.
Lane’s eyes widened. “But he’s exiled.”
“Apparently Declan offered an invite to the Gregor celebration,” Kai said. He hadn’t discussed Benny’s plans with Lane—there had been enough on their plate as it was. “There’s something I haven’t had a chance to tell you.”
Lane turned to him.
“Benny talked to me about taking over the business. Running things.”
Lane frowned. “Is that what you want?”
“Not after I got a little peek into the kind of things he does to stay on top,” Kai said. “And I’m sure he came here to put pressure on us to return.”
“We don’t let him.”
“You’ve seen how he can be.”
Lane put his hands on Kai’s chest. “We. Don’t. Let. Him.”
Kai chuckled. “Okay.”
“See. I can be just as obstinate as he can when I want to be.” Lane caught Kai’s stare. “We have Turi to think about now. A future with our mate. A future that feels like it’s bringing us home. Here to Bear Mountain. Not Chicago. Don’t lose sight of that.”
Kai nodded, but then heard Benny’s bellow in the lobby before he saw the man. He grimaced before turning to see Benny was right smack in the middle of LJ and Chase.
“Your brother says you’ve got something important to show him regarding Gregor. Makes me curious,” Benny said before Kai could say a word. “I figure if it’s something about my flesh and blood, maybe I need to be there.”
Kai wanted to tell his uncle to back off. He wanted to show his brother and their brother bears the exhibits alone. They needed quiet to process what was inside.
Benny didn’t do quiet.
His presence wouldn’t be appreciated. But then, how in the hell did he tell his uncle no?
“We’re just going to a museum. Boring stuff. I’m sure you want to rest after such a long trip,” Kai said.
Benny’s eyes lit up. “Ain’t tired. Let’s see what you got to show us.”
Kai’s jaw clenched, and he was almost sure he saw his uncle smiling. “Fine.”
He led the pack of them to the museum. Once inside, he urged them on. “Take a look. At everything. Read the inscriptions.”
All four of them continued on, with Kai trailing them. By the fourth one in, Lane turned to look at him. Horror was in his eyes.
Their quiet solitude was soon shattered. “Maybe I shoulda stayed and become the alpha,” Benny said loudly. “My brother didn’t seem to have done a great job.”
“This isn’t who dad was,” LJ snapped. He looked to Kai. “This isn’t true.”
“I’m afraid it is,” Kai said.
“Gregor wasn’t prepared to lead like I was. He was in over his head, so it’s no surprise he couldn’t do the job,” Benny said. “And now your brother throws him to the wolves, blaming Gregor for all of our society’s ills—just as he swoops in and saves the day. Declan’s shrewder than I thought.”
“How is he throwing Gregor to the wolves?” Kai asked.
“This museum. Propaganda. Clearly Declan wants the den to see him as Superman. He’s already ensnared you in his trap. Killed your father and then makes you feel bad for thinking it.”
Kai frowned. That wasn’t it. Was it? “No… no. That’s not it… you can see it with your own eyes.”
“It’s all lies! He’s bastardizing your father,” Benny cried. “Why can’t you see that? Are you just gonna stand by while he ruins Gregor’s good name?”
LJ shook his head. “We can’t let Declan get away with this.”
Lane walked closer to Kai. “You can see the truth of what the omegas went through right on the walls. How is this propaganda? It’s their truth. Their experience. And it was horrific.”
“He got you, too, Lane,” Benny said, shaking his head. He looked around at the walls. “I’m not staying in this joke of a museum. Let’s get out of here.”
Benny stormed off, heading for the exit.
“LJ,” Kai said as his brother went to follow.
“Do you really believe all this?” LJ demanded.
“I do.”
LJ shook his head. “Our father was a great man. He didn’t do these things. Benny’s right. It’s a smear campaign.”
Kai began to doubt himself. Was he seeing things wrong?
LJ left, Chase following.
Kai turned to Lane—who looked horrified.
“He just got here after hours on the road. He’s exhausted. You should’ve eased him into this. You can’t expect him to change his views on his father overnight.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Kai said.
“And Benny’s two cents didn’t help. You should’ve told him not to come.”
“I tried,” Kai said.
“Try harder next time,” Lane said. “Don’t let Benny railroad you. Because the next train pushes us back to Chicago.”
Kai nodded. “You’re right.”
Lane glanced around the museum as a group of older schoolchildren entered. “Harsh stuff in here. It couldn’t have been easy to look at this alone.”
Kai lifted a hand to caress Lane’s cheek. He gave his brother bear a quick kiss before they left the house of horrors. They walked the short distance before reentering the hotel lobby.
Where Turi was just coming through, headed out.
Kai paused, a smile spreading on his lips. After the morning he’d just had, he needed to see that face.
Especially as Turi’s smile grew as he neared.
They stopped face to face, a foot apart.
“Headed out?” Lane asked.
Turi nodded. “Appointment. I really need to get going.”
Yet he didn’t move away from them.
“Before you go, there was something I wanted to ask you,” Lane said.
“Oh?”
Kai smiled as he noticed an expectant look on their mate’s face. It was a good sign. Things were moving in the right direction.
“Who’s your handsome friend,” Benny asked, barging into their conversation. He thrust an arm over Turi’s shoulders and smiled seductively. “Your very handsome friend.”
Kai had been so focused on their mate, he hadn’t seen Benny coming.
Turi looked panicked and tried to pull away from Benny—but Benny wasn’t letting go.
“He needs to go,” Kai said, leaping forward. “He’s late for an appointment.”
“Oh?” Benny asked, squeezing Turi even closer. “I have a car and a driver. I can take you wherever your heart desires, young man.”
“No, thank you,” Turi said, moving away from Benny.
“Let… him… go… Benny,” Kai growled.
Benny’s head whipped up, and he pinned Kai with a stare.
“Let him go,” Kai repeated, adding another growl.
Benny didn’t move an inch. He held Kai’s stare, his eyes growing bright with anger. When it looked like Benny might lash out, he instead let go. Turi quickly raced off, looking scared. Lane eyed Kai before running off after Turi.
“What the hell is your problem today, Kai?” Benny demanded.
“He doesn’t like to be touched,” Kai said.
“He doesn’t like to be touched,” Benny parroted. “Who is he?”
“No one,” Kai lied.
Benny took a step closer, sizing Kai up. “No one? I seriously doubt that with the glow coming off your eyes.”
Kai cursed inwardly at the dead giveaway he was giving off. Shifter eyes glowed with strong emotion. Who would bring out the strongest of emotions? A mate. “I said he was no one.”
Benny glanced over Kai’s shoulder to the doors Turi and Lane had just raced out of. “Yeah. That’s why your brother bear went chasing after him. Because he’s no one. No one have a name?”
“Nope,” Kai said.
Benny glared at him again, anger storming in his eyes. “A couple of nights home and suddenly I’m the bad guy? Gregor was a sadist and dest
royed bears. What else is Declan feeding into that head of yours? I thought you were stronger than this, Kai. I know you are. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid, son.”
“I’m not your son.”
“No, you’re Gregor’s. And don’t forget it,” Benny spat. “And your mine… I raised you up, helped you learn to be a man.”
Kai simmered. Benny had been there for them… but he wasn’t the man’s son. “You have sons of your own.”
Benny frowned. “This weekend needs to hurry up and be over. Once you get back to Chicago, your head will clear up.”
“We’re not going back,” Kai stated.
Benny smiled at him, working over those words. He stared at Kai, searching his face, and the smile began to fade. A grim glare took its place. “Not going back.”
“Our place is here.”
“Bullshit,” Benny spat.
“Not bullshit. We’re staying. I’m sorry, but I can’t be the one to run your company.”
“You ungrateful piece of shit. This is how you repay me for all the years I’ve invested into you?” He shook his head. “No. No way. I don’t accept.”
“I appreciate all you’ve done for us, Benny. But we need to be here now. Lane’s papa is sick… and it’s just time for us to be home.”
“Home? Your home is in Chicago. Declan’s twisted that mind of yours up into a knot,” Benny said. “He’s never going to let you be anything here. You are a threat to him and everything he’s built. An alpha leaning beta… the son of Gregor. You have just as much right to claiming that seat as he did and he knows it, boy-o.”
“I don’t want his seat,” Kai said.
Benny frowned. “Maybe you aren’t the man I thought you were. Maybe you’re just as weak as your brother bear is.”
“Lane isn’t weak.”
“He’s soft. Just like you.” Benny shook his head before spinning and stalking off.
* * * *
Lane chased after Turi and finally got him to stop halfway down the block. Their omega stopped and turned to him, fear still in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Benny… he’s just… Benny. He can be a bit of a dick,” Lane said.
Turi didn’t say anything for a moment. “No reason for you to apologize for someone else’s bad behavior.”