The Lone Alpha // Book Two

𝑇𝑤𝑜

𝐵efore starting to speak, I wasn't sure how much to tell Callum. I knew my face looked puzzled, but I couldn't risk him taking matters into his own hands. He always had a tendency to be autocratic while ruling, and while I appreciated his support at this time, I didn't want him to decide the future. My future.

After all, there was no easy way to say it was my - not impossibly - future father-in-law behind my wrongful conviction.

So, I stuck with the facts. Nothing more, nothing less.

The words started slow. The more I spoke, the easier it became. From how an assassin had entered, how he had given me the ultimatum of choosing my life or Papa's, about the poisoned blades, and how Otsoa had pushed me away.

Callum was a silent listener, letting me talk without interruption. The starlight drew out the slight frown on his lips as he pressed his index finger on his cheeks and propped his chin on the rest of his clenched fingers. His deep green eyes were focused with such an unblinking gaze that at one point I couldn't look at my brother's face, afraid that he'd somehow figure out I wasn't being entirely truthful. It seemed easier to speak to the night. I turned to stare at the silhouette of the Enforcer who had brought me here and let the words flow.

It started bitterly, a rant, and by the time I spoke about Papa, they refused to come out. Unsure how much to say. These had been Papa's secrets, his guilt to carry. To do his death justice, everything would have to be moved out in the open. Aurora's relation with Otsoa, her brother being the one to shoot. My bond with Raven.

God, but it was a mess.

When I stopped talking, Callum watched my face with steadfast scrutiny. If he wanted to learn something by my expression, he was mistaken. I think I looked nothing but tired.

"Why?" he asked the word I dreaded.

Why me?

I sighed and turned towards him. "It started with the rejection of his mate three decades ago."

My brother leaned forward and frowned at me. "Father rejected his mate?" A snort left him. "That filthy hypocrite. He told me rejection was for cowards, and I should accept mine without question."

"Its easier to appreciate mistakes in hindsight, especially when it comes to mates," I said.

The image of a dark-haired mate with a weathered soul swept through my mind. Hopefully, Raven won't be a mistake. I couldn't seem to feel of anything right now, let alone about him. I locked the vision in deep, refusing to think about him. Maybe it was cowardly to hide from myself, but I didn't want to ponder on the what-ifs and what-nots. Not when we still had all this humongous baggage between us.

Callum gave me a look. "Mates are complete bullshit. We have evolved too far to be dragged around by our dicks."

"You exaggerate."