Alpha's Little Secret

Chapter 32| Two Families (2)

Drake's P.O.V

Early on set Alzheimer's was the diagnosis. All of my brothers sat in the quietness of my living room, taking in the new information. Anthony was the first to speak, standing as he did so. "I'll take over mother's care," he said sternly. I knew as the oldest he felt obligated to take care of the family's problems. Anthony had always been that way since I was a pup. Taking the lead on things he thought was the most challenging or important at the time so we wouldn't have to.

"No, we all need to pitch in. It's only right. It shouldn't just be left to one person. You have to a life too, Ant" William contested. Everyone seemed to nod in agreement, everyone except Patrick.

"The only person in this room who should have a say in whether they take care of mom or not is cookie," he argued out of respect for me. I didn't hate my mother. I don't think a child could ever hate their mother. I just didn't want to be like her. I didn't want my life's purpose to be dedicated to raising pups and taking care of my alpha.

"I agree with William. It should be an effort by all of us. She did the best she could to raise us, so I think she's at least owed..."

"Cookie, but..."

I shook my head, silencing Patrick. I knew where his heart was, but I was never one to hold grudges against people who didn't have much control, much less my own mother.

"It's okay, mom did the best she could with me. I don't blame her and I don't blame any of you," I explained with a glimpse of a smile.

There was about a 30 second window of silence before Alex spoke up. "You should at least blame me. I can't stop thinking about how much I failed you cookie." His eyes were filled with remorse that I appreciated. We were so close once upon a time and I'm sure he missed that. We still hadn't talked since everything happened out our family home. Most of my brothers kept in contact, at least trying to text me every know then, besides Alex.

"Alex, it's okay." I had so much more to say but I didn't know where to start with him. I wished things were normal between us. I wish I didn't still feel betrayed by him. I knew he was sorry and willing to do anything to make things right. He was just the last person I expected to let what happened to me happen.

"It's not. Even after everything, we still don't talk. I don't even know if you want to talk to me. I..."

"Alex! Cookie said it's okay," Ben spoke up. He had been lounging around in the corner watching all this play out. I nodded in agreement letting my smile grow a little.

"Alex, I don't hate you. I want you in my life. It's just with you..." I took a moment to think, remembering how my relationship with Patrick was. I was honestly overly protective of Patrick because he was my younger brother. That's how my relationship with Alex was. I was his younger brother and he used to look after me. That's why I felt the way I did. "With you it hurts a little more and I'm scared to let you back in fully. So I think we should start slow," I explained.

Alex didn't say anything after that. His simply nodded, his face fighting back tears that made me feel like I was making a mistake in making him move slower than the rest of my brothers.

Sure it would never be the same again, but I wanted all of my brothers in my life and if that took time, then that's what it'll take.

...

I never got used to the flashing lights. No matter how many red carpet events Maxwell got invited to. I spent a considerable amount of time avoiding them. I couldn't take all the people screaming at me to look in their direction, so most of the time I stayed in a hotel until Maxwell returned or in the car if there was no where for me to go. However, Maxwell insisted I walk the red carpet with him. He "needed me" is what he said. Not that he really did. He was a pro at these sort of things. It was just something that came with being a highly respected and sought after actor.

"I don't know, I'm not really in the mood," I grumbled. Max looked up from his phone, eyeing me like a hawk.

"What's the matter?" He asked, automatically knowing something was wrong.

In the background of all the mayhem going on in my life, from telling everyone about us getting married, my mother, and Max's entire family coming to visit within the next week, I was also dealing with the fact that one of Max's new costars made me uncomfortable. He had just signed onto the project and meeting him for the first time didn't exactly go well for me.

Charlie Bushnell was an old client of mine. A client that used to stalk me before I met Maxwell. I never mentioned him to Max because there was no point. He hadn't actually done anything outside of what he paid for and stalking the high end hotels I worked out of.

I looked at Max, knowing that I couldn't keep things from him anymore. It would ruin his entire day if I let him worry about me until I finally told him. "It's Charlie, I know him," I admitted. Maxwell blinked a few times, prompting me to believe he was thinking through what I meant by that.

"Was he one of your clients?" He asked, his voice becoming a bit more softer as to ease the tension.

I nodded, suddenly feeling dirty. It had been so long since I felt this way. I didn't regret the things I had to do to afford the things I needed but now that it was catching up with me. It made me feel like I was nothing but an object for pleasure.

I was within Max's arms in seconds, wishing I wasn't so weak all the time. It was like any little disturbance sent me into this mode of panic that Max would have to pull me from.

"If he makes you that uncomfortable then I understand. I won't do that to you. I just wanted us to be together through all of this because you're my rock too. But right now you need me more," Max relayed to me.

I hated this. I hated that he was always the one sacrificing for me. Why couldn't I just suck it up and do this for him. It wasn't like Charlie was still after me.

"But it's a big night for you. I want to..."

Max kissed me into silence, running his fingers along my inner thigh at the same time. "I'd rather have you far away from any boy who has touched you in any capacity," he whispered to me in a dangerous tone. I gulped, realizing how jealous he could be on top of him wanting to protect me. He never said it, but I knew he'd never let me get close to any alpha that I was sexually involved with.

I had unknowingly just placed Charlie on his shit list.