Chapter 20 Phelan
TWENTY
PHELAN
It’d been three days since Eira’s birth.
Rawling was recovering slowly, but other than going to the bathroom and doing a slow walk around the infirmary, he was bedbound with our daughter nestled beside him. He’d refused to let her go, so I’d changed her diapers and washed her while my mate kept skin-to-skin contact.
“I never imagined what it would be like to care about someone like I love Eira.” He gave me a look. “Does that make you feel bad?”
I kissed his brow. “Nope. I adore you and we’re bonded, but I can’t describe what I feel for our daughter either because it’s bigger than the universe.”
Rawling put a hand to his chest, and I winced because as well as getting over the birth and losing blood, he had broken ribs, thanks to me. But my mate never referenced his injury. Instead, he focused on our daughter and told me how much he loved us.
My folks had snuck in yesterday to visit their first grandchild. They were staying in a hotel in town because my mate and I were students and we had a newborn and Rawling had almost died. They weren’t sure how we were going to manage, but we were taking it one day, hour, and minute at a time.
For now it was just the three of us, except when Mrs. Ardilla bustled in or Professor Barclay checked on Rawling twice a day.
My mind went back to what my mate had just said about his love for our child. But I pushed that thought away because it was overwhelming. We’d gone through so much trauma, Rawling in particular, and we were still learning to be a family.
“We should talk about Rawlins and everything.” My mate leaned his head on my shoulder. “But I want to wait until I’ve recovered and really bonded with Eira. Is that a cop-out? Am I just avoiding the inevitable?”
“Nah, it’s sensible because you’re dealing with what you can in increments.” I patted his leg. “You’ll get there.”
Though I hadn’t pointed it out to Rawling, his latent scent now mingled with our daughter’s which was natural for parents of shifters, and I was convinced, we both were, that Eira was a wolf shifter.
But thankfully, there was no hint of Atticus on him.
He had removed his ring momentarily since the birth, and his human scent had returned as he was no longer carrying our daughter.
My phone buzzed. It had to be Jack or my folks because I’d blocked everyone else for the next little while.
Atticus is destroying his room. He’s going to get kicked out of school if he doesn’t stop.
Gods, the last person I wanted to interact with was Atticus. Not just because he was an ass but because we hadn’t come to terms with what we’d discovered.
Can you talk some sense into him? she asked.
Had anyone ever calmed Atticus when he was raging about something? Jack’s bear was one of the few, and Rawling had delivered a few dings verbally. I didn’t want to leave my family. The emotional wounds from the aftermath of Eira’s birth might never leave us, and I wanted to keep my family close.
Fine, but can you stay with Rawling?
I left when Jack arrived, and she climbed into bed with my mate and Eira.
Wandering along the corridor to our old room, there was no need to knock on the door. Zev was arguing with Atticus who’d upended a chair and tossed his mattress on the floor.
“Man, you’ll get your ass kicked out of Sombertooth.”
“Get the fuck away from me, Zev. You have no idea what I’m going through.”
Zev threw his hands in the air and stormed out, muttering, “He’s all yours, Phelan.”
I leaned against the doorway and observed the guy who’d been my best friend for years and tried to summon some empathy for him.
My wolf advised me to back away and go back to my mate and daughter because Atticus didn’t care about anyone other than himself.
“Fuck off, Phelan. It’s your fault I’m in this situation.”
I sighed and uprighted the chair before sitting and crossing my arms. “Even if I hadn’t encouraged you to donate blood, the reality would be the same.”
“But I wouldn't have had it shoved in my face. I’m ruined and humiliated.”
That suggested he’d been sharing what had happened.
“Rawling, Jack and I haven’t told anyone, not even my folks.
” We would eventually but were giving Atticus the grace to do it in his own time.
Though as we were keeping Atticus’s secret, we were also keeping Rawling’s.
If my friend thought my mate being latent was bad enough, I couldn’t imagine how he’d react when he confirmed his theory of Rawling being human.
Jack and I had discussed this while Rawling was resting. I didn’t want any pressure put on my mate. He had to focus on getting well and Eira. Nothing else. So the truth about the human part of him would stay buried for now. Maybe that was wrong, but it was right for us.
Atticus turned, and his long hair swirled around him. “But I know.” He tapped his head. “I can’t unsee or unfeel it.”
I didn’t think unfeel was a word, but I zipped my lips.
“Fuck this, I’m getting out of here.” He made sure to slam into me as he passed. He was still limping, though the injury on his face had almost healed. He looked kinda swashbuckling with a facial scar.
“Get out of my way, you fool.”
I poked my head into the corridor. Bardoul had flattened himself against the wall. He glanced at me and started to walk away, but paused and asked after Rawling and the baby.
“They’re doing well. I’ll let you know when Rawling’s ready for visitors.”
Bardoul gave a brief nod and scurried off.
“Have you seen Atticus?” Mrs. Ardilla asked as she checked Rawling’s blood pressure. “He disappeared two days ago and no one can find him. His folks have been contacted, and they’re on their way here.”
“What?” Rawling shrieked.
“Don’t worry.” She patted my mate’s arm. “They won’t be angry that he donated his blood to you.”
“Not seen him,” I managed to get out.
Mrs. Ardilla shrugged and left after examining Eira.
“What are we going to do?” Rawling’s cheeks were as pale as when he’d been bleeding out. He held a pillow to his face.
I gulped because I didn’t have an adequate answer. “They’re concerned about their missing son, and they won’t come anywhere near us.” If they demanded to see me, I’d meet with them, but I had nothing to tell them about Atticus’s whereabouts.
Two hours later, Jack phoned to say Atticus’s parents were here and wanted to talk to me. They had no idea we’d fallen out and he didn’t have anyone else that was close.
“This will be quick. I know nothing and hope someone can track his scent,” I assured Rawling.
He gripped my hand and told me to hurry back.
The dads were in Atticus’s room, the one I used to share with him.
His omega father, Corvin, was in tears, saying something had happened to his baby boy.
He caught sight of me and opened his arms. We hugged, and he held on tight and didn’t let go.
It was becoming awkward, but if Eira disappeared, I’d be acting more than a little unhinged.
He sniffed my hair and whimpered, “I knew this would bite us on the ass one day.”
Atticus’s alpha father, Peregrine, put an arm around his mate. “What is—?”
I recognized the instant he sensed what had happened.
“Here? At Sombertooth? No, that can’t be. It’s not possible. We were told…”
Corvin held me at arm’s length and studied my face. “You know, don’t you.”
There was no use denying it. “A little, but not all the details.”
“Is this why Atticus is missing?”
I filled them in on the blood donation, and they sank onto the bed. Corvin put his head in his hands.
“We have to see him.”
Oh, no way is that happening. My wolf was thinking the same as me.
“He’s recovering from physical and emotional pain.” I didn’t need to point out the source of the latter.
“Corvin, is that a good idea? It was a long time ago.”
Atticus’s omega dad pursed his lips and said he wasn’t leaving until I agreed.
This was fucked up. I told them to wait, but if my mate said no, I wouldn’t override him.
“They’re asking to see you.” I hated that I was even asking Rawling. He shouldn’t be forced to make a choice, and I chastised myself for not refusing Atticus’s folks. But again, it wasn’t my decision to make.
My mate sat up in bed and patted the bedding. He took Eira in his arms. “They can come. I’m interested in hearing their explanation because I could never do what they did.”
I hugged him and our daughter. “I love you both. You’re my everything.”
I led Atticus’s folks into the infirmary, and they stood with straight spines and hollowed-out gazes at the foot of Rawling’s bed.
“How could you?” Atticus swept into the room.
Atticus
My parents gasped. “What happened to you, baby boy?” Dad slapped a hand over his mouth. “Your beautiful face!”
“Who did this to you?” Father demanded as I limped toward them. “I’ll deal with them.”
“My ex-freaking lover who was supposed to be latent but was secretly a big fucking bear.” I’d had sex with Jack and had no clue about her bear, though she was a beast in bed.
“And now this latent is my what? Tell me. Confirm what I saw in my vision. How did that happen?”
My father, Peregrine, cleared his throat and his face reddened. “As you suspect, he’s your brother. Technically, he’s your twin.”
“What?” Both Rawling and I yelled. The kid stirred but didn’t wake.
“But we have different birthdays.” Mine was a few days before Rawling’s.
Both my folks stared at their feet and spots of pinks appeared on my dad’s cheeks.
“We gave a fake birthdate to the orphanage because...” He glanced at Father, and they clasped hands. “We didn’t want him to be associated with you in any way.”
My wolf reacted to that remark, saying that was cruel.
Phelan was standing beside Rawling, holding his hand and probably wishing he could protect him from all of this.
Maybe this was why I could never find anything about Rawling’s parents online.
I was hoping this revelation and what was yet to be exposed would be enough to get Phelan and his mate out of the damned school and away from me.
No way would Rawling want to stay in such a toxic environment, and I didn’t want to be associated with him. Gods, this was fucked up.
“Orphanage. So you didn’t want me? Why?” Rawling’s voice trembled.
Of course they didn’t want him. I was overjoyed because my folks were going to say they knew he was human. They’d be doing my dirty work for me. Phelan and his mate leaving Sombertooth was no longer a possibility, but a certainty.
My parents shared a glance. “We scented Atticus as a shifter and you as latent.”
What did they say? I’m confused. Did they say he was latent?
That’s what I thought. It wasn’t possible. Jack injuring me must have affected my hearing.
“Latent? Are you sure?” My high-pitched voice sounded like someone drilling a hole in my skull. “Latent?”
“Yes.” Father nodded.
Rawling looked at Phelan, his face incredulous. He pressed his lips together but couldn’t contain his laughter.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, asswipe?” I sneered.
“Hey, that’s no way to speak to your brother,” Dad told me.
“I can speak to this latent any way I want.” I was an adult, and my parents couldn’t tell me what to do.
“And just so we’re clear, you’re still latent?” Father asked.
Why was he asking that? Though it didn’t make sense, did he think Rawling was human?
“There’s nothing else going on?” Father was still pestering the latent.
What else could there be?
“Nothing whatsoever.”
My parents let out a sigh and shared a smile.
I’d have to get my folks alone and ask why they were bugging him like that.
“We’re so sorry, Rawling, but everyone in our family found their beast, and we thought you’d be better off with someone else. We didn’t want you to feel different, and we cared about you.” Father’s embarrassed expression had me hanging my head. Even to my ears, my parents’ reasoning was flimsy.
“You can say you didn't want me, that I wasn’t good enough for your purebred family and you didn’t want to be tainted by me. There’s no need to make excuses.”
The latent wasn’t accepting my parents’ explanation. Not that I was surprised.
“I’m not acknowledging this latent as my brother. No freaking way.”
“Oh, and you think I want you as a sibling? You’re no prize, Atticus.”
Rawling and I fumed at one another. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the similarities in us because we were nothing alike.
It occurred to me that Rawling might latch onto my folks because we were rich. As an only child, everything would come to me when they passed. “You have no claim to the inheritance when my parents die.”
“Atticus!” Dad snapped at me. ‘We’re right here, and we have no intention of departing this earth anytime soon.”
I ignored my dad. “If you try to steal anything from me, I’ll sue the pants off you.”
Rawling glared at me. “The person who raised me and loved me, Rawlins—”
“Rawlins adopted you? We had no idea,” Father admitted. “He was very friendly with my brother. He stayed with us a few times over summer holidays. I liked him a lot.”
“He was the best.” Rawling stuck out his chin.
“We thought it was a married couple who adopted you,” Dad added.
“Long story, but he left me more than enough to live on. I wouldn’t take your filthy money anyway, Atticus.” Rawling dismissed everyone with a flick of his fingers.
“I think we should take a break.” Phelan was shooing everyone out of the room when Father said, “Rawling is the older twin, so he would have gotten the majority of the inheritance if we’d kept him. That’s how it’s always worked in my family.”
Fuck that, my world was falling apart.