by Nora Phoenix
But how could he explain that? It would be hard enough to share it with Ruari, whom he wanted to protect from the gruesome details, if only because his father had been responsible for the whole thing. But sharing this with Bray? Strong, unflappable Bray who had fought much harder than Kean had, who had killed several men in both attacks, and who seemed so much better equipped to deal with the aftermath. How could Bray ever understand the depth of Kean's sorrow right now?
"I know," he said finally, which was true to some degree.
Bray studied him for a few seconds, his brows furrowing as if he knew Kean was deliberately hiding something from them. “The fight continued after he shot Jawon and then Lidon showed up. I didn’t realize how bad it was yesterday, I swear,” Kean said, eager to avoid further questions.
“That’s the adrenaline rush,” Bray said. “It takes a while for your body to register the pain.”
“It sure as fuck is registering it now.” Kean sighed.
Bray’s face tightened. “We should’ve had you checked out last night. Anyway, Enar should be here in a few minutes, and as soon as possible after, we have a pack meeting in the main house."
Kean didn't care if Bray would have to carry him there, that was one meeting he wasn't missing. "I'll be there."
Palani thought that after all he had seen and encountered as a journalist, he couldn't be so easily shocked anymore. But when he saw Kean shuffle in, half-carried by Bray and Ruari, rage blazed through him all over again. And when he gently lifted Kean’s shirt and was confronted with the colorful palette of bruises on his brother’s chest, he had to swallow back nausea. It was one thing to know how hard the men had fought but another entirely to see it with his own eyes, especially on his own brother, who was one of the gentlest souls he knew.
He'd fought himself, but side by side with Adar and Isam, and while he'd gotten a few good punches in and had earned a few bruises in return, it was nowhere near as bloody as what Kean had faced. He'd wanted to say something, but Kean had quietly shaken his head, a signal that Palani knew all too well. He wasn't ready to talk, or maybe he didn't want to in public, and Palani would respect both. Besides, his brother was right. The pack meeting was about to start, and this wasn't the time.
"He'll be okay," Enar said quietly, stepping up behind Palani as they waited for the last people to arrive. "It looks worse than it is. But I checked him out, and he has no internal bleeding. It’s a vast collection of cuts, scrapes, bruises, and some bruised ribs. Maybe a hairline fracture in his clavicle, but he’d need an X-ray to diagnose that. It will all heal."
Palani leaned back, drawing strength from Enar's presence. "He's in a lot of pain, I can tell."
"He is, I'm not denying that. But he'll be okay."
Palani watched Kean as he sat in the back, not interacting with Ruari, who was sitting right next to him. "Physically, I'm sure you're right. Mentally, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he's far from okay."
Enar let out an appreciative little hmmm. "Maybe we should consider some trauma counseling."
Palani liked that suggestion. "You know, on one hand, it really doesn't sound like it's the highest priority, considering what we’re facing, but on the other hand, I can't help but think we’re all going to need it. Some more than others, maybe."
“He's never been exposed to violence," Enar said so softly only Palani could hear it. "And he not only watched a man get shot right in front of him, but he held him as he died. I don't think there's a single man in this room who would be unaffected by that, least of all your brother, whose heart equals yours in size and tenderness."
"God, I hope Bray will step up and be there for him," Palani said, somewhat relieved when he saw Bray have a whispered conversation with Kean and Ruari before taking a spot near the front.
"I'm sure he wants to be, but he may need a little help in how to," Enar said, practical as ever.
Palani watched his brother for a little longer, then deliberately pushed his worries about him to the back of his mind to focus on the pack meeting. They started by giving everyone a complete rundown of what had happened and how everyone was doing. Adar had made it through the surgery okay, and Enar assured them he would be fine. Lars, though pale as a sheet and visibly in pain, was present at the pack meeting, practically held up by Grayson. If the looks Grayson shot him were any indication, he wasn't happy Lars was there, but Palani was. They needed each other now more than ever.
"It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I have to confirm Jawon was killed in the attack," Lidon said, and his voice wavered just a little. "I'm at a loss for words as to how to express my anger and grief over losing him. He wasn't just a pack member, he was my cousin, my blood. His parents will be absolutely devastated to hear of his passing, and Palani and I will head over to them as soon as this meeting ends."
"This is not on you, alpha," Ori said, surprising Palani by speaking up. The alpha, another cousin of Lidon’s, was usually content to listen, both in pack meetings and impersonal conversation. He had to be the most introverted man Palani had ever met, but there was something wonderfully attractive about his calm, steady presence.
"Rationally, I know that to be true, but emotionally, it's not quite so easy to believe that," Lidon admitted. "I'm the pack alpha, and this is a heavy loss I have to face. I can't help but wonder if we could’ve prevented it."
"The fault is never with the victims for not doing enough to fight off their attackers," Ori said, his voice quiet but steady. "He wouldn't have died if they had left us alone. Instead, it was their choice to attack us. He died defending not just a building or people, but our identity, who we are, our way of life. All things considered, I think that was a cause he was willing to lay down his life for."
Near the end, Ori's voice broke, and next to him, Servas let out a soft sob, then clamped his hand in front of his mouth.
"It's okay to cry," Enar spoke up, his voice betraying his own emotions. "I know that we've been taught in society that alphas shouldn't show weakness, least of all emotions that are considered un-alpha, like sadness. But a loss like we're facing right now is too heavy not to process. We all loved Jawon, and we don't honor his memory by pretending not to be devastated."
Palani fought hard to keep his own tears at bay at those words, then realized the stupidity of that. Wasn't that what Enar was saying, that it was okay to cry and show that he was sad? Even for him, a beta, his first instinct was to push it down, to force back the emotions bubbling up inside him. But he was sad, and he was angry. And he should damn well show it, not just to set the right example, but also to help himself by facing his emotions.
And so he let them go, his tears, allowing them to roll down his cheeks. They were tears of sadness for the lives they had lost. Tears of rage for the injustice that had been done against them. Tears of anger for the hurt they were dealing with. Tears of desperation for the heartbreaking visit he and Lidon would have to make in a few minutes.
He had sought Lidon's presence without realizing it, linking their hands, and seconds later, Vieno and Enar joined them. Palani closed his eyes when the power of their connection hit him, rolling over him from his heart outward, until his body was softly tingling. It didn’t stop his tears, but it helped to cry and grieve together.
In the room, pack members sought comfort with each other as sobs and raspy breaths filled the room. Palani was happy to see Bray leave his spot and find a position between Kean and Ruari, pulling them both close. His tender care for Kean's battered body made Palani's heart a little lighter.
They waited for minutes until the room quieted, the sadness still there, but less oppressive.
"Where do we go from here?" Grayson asked, his voice subdued but strong. Palani was so grateful for his wisdom and leadership role in the pack, since people looked up to him.
Palani shared a look with Lidon, then nodded at him. "Our biggest dilemma right now is whether or not we should alert the authorities," Lidon said. "We know they will find out sooner
or later, and if the prime minister’s previous remarks about keeping an eye on the AWC were true, we can expect that to be sooner rather than later. The question is how we should handle this. Do we call the authorities ourselves and invite them to investigate? Do we wait until they show up, maybe with law enforcement? Do we try to cover up?"
"You can't cover up fourteen dead attackers," Rhene said, and Palani had to smile at the realization that common sense really seemed to run in their family.
For all his alpha arrogance, his youngest brother had shown he had a spine when it came down to it. He’d taken a stand, and even though he hadn't taken part in the fighting but instead had hunkered down with Sando and Lucan in the clinic, he'd shown a cool head under the circumstances.
"No," Lidon agreed. "It would definitely not be the wisest course of action. But we’re at a loss to figure out what would be."
"Has their leader revealed anything yet?" Isam asked.
Before he could say anything, Ruari rose from his seat in the back of the room. "Palani, would it be okay if I said something about that?"
Palani nodded, relieved that Ruari was choosing to speak up himself.
"As some of you may have heard, the attack was led by a man named Bennett Wyndham. He is the known leader of the radical arm of the AWC. Moreover, he's a notorious crime boss from the south side. He's also my father."
A small gasp traveled through the room, indicating not everybody had caught up with the rumors just yet.
Ruari lifted his chin ever so slightly. "When he discovered I had the Melloni gene, he locked me in my room without telling me why. After my second heat, when I got pregnant, I ran away, fearing not only for my own safety but especially that of my child. I've heard he's been looking for me ever since, which is why I decided to take on another name. I’ve known about his dealings ever since I was a teen. He is a bad man, rotten to his very core. I know it sounds harsh to say that about your own father, but there is nothing redeemable in him. So as hard as it is, I'm asking you to not take into account that he's my father in any of the decisions. I want you to make decisions as if he were a total stranger to all of us. Because believe me, there is nothing more I’d love than for him to be a total stranger to me."
Palani sent him a warm smile. "Ruari also confirmed to us that Wyndham was behind the first attack on the ranch, which we already suspected, but now we know for sure."
"And no, we don't know for sure what his objective was with both attacks," Lidon took over from him. “He’s not talking, though we haven’t deployed all measures of persuasion on him yet. For this last attack, evidence suggests they were after Hakon, though we don't know if it was to abduct him or…"
Lidon's voice broke, and the alpha slowly looked at Vieno, who was sitting at his feet, holding Hakon. A new wave of anger rolled through Palani, and he suspected it would be like that for a while whenever he thought about the attack.
"He went after the alpha heir," Grayson said with thinly veiled anger. "Under pack law, that is a death warrant in itself, let alone the lives he and his men took. I say you let hell’s own fury rain down on him until he talks.”
3
They had talked about it for an hour, weighing all the pros and cons of every approach, but in the end, the consensus had been that they didn't have enough information. They needed to know what the objective of the attack had been. How many enemies were they facing? Had the prime minister really known about the attack or had he merely guessed?
Bray agreed with the final decision, which was that they would lean heavier on Bennett Wyndham to find out what the AWC was after, as well as try to make contact with the private investigator who had worked for Wyndham, a guy named Watkins. That second part was not something the entire pack was privy to, but Lidon and Palani had discussed it with Bray as soon as they'd had the meeting with Watkins. Hopefully, he would also be able to give them an update on Melloni and share his whereabouts, especially now that they had the biggest threat to him in their custody.
"How are you going to make Wyndham talk?" Palani asked Bray when everyone else had left the room and it was just the three of them.
Bray hesitated for a second, but before he could say anything, Lidon put a hand on Palani's shoulder. "Leave this to Bray," he said. "There are some things you don't want to know. This is one of them."
Bray shot the alpha a grateful look. He was right. Bray respected the hell out of Palani, but this was not something the beta should be involved in. For all his leadership and analytical skills, he had too soft a heart for this necessary evil.
Palani capitulated easily, and Bray suspected he didn't even want to know. "Good luck," he merely told Bray as they, too, walked out.
Time was of the essence, so rather than checking in with his mates—and there was a word he never thought he'd use—he went straight to the storage room in the basement where Wyndham was being held. Jay, Bray's man who was guarding him, rose from his chair next to the door when he spotted Bray coming down.
"Any news on him?" Bray asked.
Jay shook his head. "No, sir. He's drinking water, but not eating. He hasn't spoken a word."
"Thanks, Jay. I'm going to go in. Please stay here outside, no matter what noises you may hear. If I need you, I will call for you by name. Is that clear?" He met his eyes, and Jay only blinked twice before Bray saw understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Yes, sir. Crystal clear."
Bray took a steadying breath, then opened the door and walked inside, closing the door behind him and locking it again. He found Wyndham on the bed, his posture probably intended to communicate disinterest, but Bray could easily spot the tension in his muscles. The man was lying on his back, his hands folded behind his head.
Bray grabbed a chair that was in the room and dragged it close to the bed. Wyndham studiously avoided looking at him as he set down, then leaned forward with his elbows on his legs, studying Wyndham.
"You need to tell me what the AWC is up to," he said calmly.
He had expected Wyndham would ignore him for at least a little while, but the man's head immediately turned in his direction. "No small talk?"
Bray shrugged with one shoulder. "I've never been particularly good at small talk, and even less interested in it. I figured I wouldn't bother wasting our time."
Wyndham pushed himself up into a sitting position, leaning with his back against the wall and crossing his legs. Bray reminded himself not to underestimate this man. There was a reason why he had evaded the cops for so long and ran one of the most successful crime empires in the city, as Lidon had stressed.
"Give me one good reason why I would tell you anything," Wyndham said.
Bray debated telling him the truth right away, then decided it would be more fun to let him guess himself. "You lost fourteen men yesterday," he said conversationally.
Wyndham's face tightened. "How nice of you to remind me."
"I never said I was nice. I'm just stating facts here. Were you expecting to lose that many men?"
He wasn't only goading the man into a more emotional reaction. Ruari's remark that his dad might have planned the attack with the sole purpose of showing to the world how vicious and cruel the wolf shifters were kept playing around in Bray's head.
"We were prepared and willing to die," Wyndham stated.
"Were you now? Yet you're still alive."
Something flashed over the man's face. "Not by choice," he said, but it didn't ring true to Bray.
A picture started to emerge. He went over it in his head, the way the attack had been carried out, where the men had tried to breach the main house, who had gotten killed where… And where they had found Wyndham.
"I think you were prepared and willing to let your men die, but I doubt the plan was ever for you to perish as well. I think you wanted to sacrifice your men in order to expose the viciousness of the wolf shifters, while at the same time staying alive yourself and achieving a different goal. You were after the alpha heir."
The only th
ing that changed on Wyndham's face was a small tick in his jaw, but it was enough to alert Bray that he was on the right track. "I wonder what you want with that baby. You know, some of the pack members suggested you wanted to kill it, but I doubt that's the case."
This time, he did get a reaction from Wyndham. "It's an abomination, that child. Same with James’s kid. He should’ve had an abortion."
Now it was Bray who had to force himself not to react. Wyndham's eyes were trained on him as he continued. "I can't believe a self-respecting alpha such as yourself would want to shack up with my whore of a son. You have no idea how many men he spread his legs for. He's not worth an alpha of your caliber.”
Bray supposed it was meant as a compliment or at least some convoluted way of appeasing him, of gaining his favor by appealing to him as an alpha. The man had no idea how much that wasn't working.
"Besides, what alpha would even want an omega who already had someone else's kid? That's sloppy seconds of the worst kind."
Bray kept his voice level as he answered. "He's my son."
Wyndham forced out a bitter laugh. "How noble of you to claim another man's bastard as your own."
Bray leaned forward and made sure to make full eye contact. "You're not hearing me. That baby boy is my son. My biological son."
For the first time, he saw a genuine surprise on Wyndham's face, and it brought him a deep satisfaction. "How is that even possible?" Wyndham asked, then seemed to catch himself.
Bray smirked. "Seems to me your control over James wasn't as complete as you thought it was. Not only did he manage to sneak away for a rendezvous with me during his heat, but he also managed to hide his pregnancy from you and escape. He's much smarter than you've given him credit for."