The Royal Alpha

Chapter 27: Confession Time [Part 2]

FENRIS

"What answers was the witch talking about?" Zion asks, his gaze sharpening as his senses brush against Alcina's concealed aura.

"Something happened at the school," I reply, keeping my tone deliberately vague. "Something that made me question who my true parents were. I have reason to believe our fathers know more than they've ever told me. I came to ask them."

Zion studies me for a moment, then exhales slowly. "Anything serious?" he asks. "And how is Caliana?"

"Your sister is fine," I say. "She found her mate. You'll likely receive an invitation for the claiming ceremony."

"What?" His eyes widen, panic flashing across his face. "Please tell me it's not you."

I snort softly despite myself, and his relief is immediate.

"The future Alpha of Moon Stone," I add. "Lycidas Volkov. You remember him."

Zion grimaces. Of course he remembers. Lycidas had once dismantled one of Zion's public tantrums with nothing more than calm words and an unreadable gaze—had made him feel small without ever raising his voice.

"I hope you threatened to rip his throat out if he so much as looks at her wrong," Zion mutters, fists tightening at his sides.

"He won't," I reply evenly. "He stayed away from every she-wolf who tried to claim him for his title. Waited for his mate. Clearly a concept foreign to you."

I expect the jab to land.

Instead, Zion shrugs, unusually thoughtful, offering no defense for his reputation. That alone tells me more than any words could.

Zion never took well to my adoption. The Luna had been consumed by a battered pup dragged into her home, and Zion—still a child himself—had been left to fend for his own emotions. Then, just as I began to settle into the pack, Caliana fell ill, and Zion was pushed aside once more.

Surrounded by wolves, yet always alone.

In a twisted way, I understood him.

Our wolves did too.

Never close. Never truly apart. Always circling the edges of each other's lives, watching without admitting it.

The Luna's voice calling our names pulls me back to the present, and I shake my head, refocusing on Zion.

"It's good to see you didn't get bullied at the school," he says smugly. "Nice that you followed my footsteps."

"You wish, old brother," I shoot back.

His hand cracks against the back of my head before I can dodge. I retaliate without thinking, and within seconds we're grappling, shoving, fists landing where they shouldn't—two grown wolves acting like reckless pups on the Alpha's porch.

"Zacharias!" the Luna shouts. "Get out here before these idiots rip each other's heads off!"

The Alpha appears almost instantly. Strong hands clamp down on our necks, hauling us apart and shoving us in opposite directions hard enough to make us stumble.

I regain my balance and wipe blood from the corner of my mouth, smirking when I see Zion doing the same.

"Zion!" the Luna snaps, her voice calm in that terrifying way that brooks no argument. "Is this how you welcome your friend after so long? Apologize. Now."

"That's fine, Luna," I say before he can open his mouth. "It's good to see you."

Her expression softens slightly. "It's always good to see you, Fenris. But this time, you made us wait longer than usual." She pauses. "I hope you're home for good."