Chapter 63
Chapter
Sixty-Three
“What is going to happen moving forward is that I will be Alpha. If Keith still wishes to be Alpha, then he can go back to being an Alpha-in-Training.”
“Are you joking? What Alpha-in-Training is fifty years old?”
Dad glared at him. “You, if you still want to be Alpha.”
“Are you just going to give it to Marcus if I don’t?” His hand gestured toward me, and I cocked my head to the side.
“Marcus, on so many occasions, has stated that he does not want to be Alpha; it actually shocks me you would bring it up, Keith. Even if you aren’t Alpha, Marcus won’t be taking over as Alpha. If I have to hold the position myself until one of the kids becomes Alpha, so be it.”
His jaw dropped open. “You’re kidding…”
“I’m not. I don’t trust you with the flight, Keith.
That’s what you broke. My trust, and really the trust of the entire flight.
Marcus might not be part of the flight, but he is family, and that is almost worse.
You couldn’t even defend and help your brother’s mate.
If a dragon brought a mate here, someone who was on the run, I wouldn’t trust you not to hand them over. ”
“It wasn’t…! That was because Queen…!”
He frowned. “Oh, I have already outlined what will happen to Queen. She is completely separate. While I won’t make you break your bond, I will remove her from the Alford name.”
Keith whined. “Dad!”
“Her company will be dissolved. Not broken up, dissolved. They will liquidate all assets. The money will go to everything the company owns, as well as six-month severance pay for all the employees. It will not be sold to anyone else. It is…” He looked at his watch.
“…as of an hour ago, being dissolved. Any money that is left over is going to be donated to the children’s hospital. ”
“How…how could you? That’s…”
Mom spoke up this time. “She is also being removed from the territory and banned from the flight. If you take over again as Alpha, she will not be by your side. Queen will still be your mate, and she can try to earn her way back into the flight, but things have piled up against her. Too many, Keith.”
“Because of him? Some stupid Omega? Are you serious? How does he get better treatment than my mate? Just because…because…”
Beau snorted. “Because she’s a cunt? Because she’s blackmailed you?
Used you for her own financial gain? Refuses to care for the kids?
Drops them off to you to raise after they get too old?
Cares more about her appearance in the world than how she looks in her kids’ eyes?
” Her anger faded for a moment, looking at our brother.
“We’ve had to watch for years as you loved her and she used that against you.
It hurt, Keith. It hurt to watch it. We love you.
We understood why you wanted to try to make it work, but it just became too much.
We couldn’t feel bad because it happened over and over.
You let her. All for just being acknowledged. For promises that she never fulfilled.”
“Beau…”
“If anyone of us should be angry, it should be you! After everything she’s done to you and the kids, you deserve to have a fated mate who loves you. You have always deserved to find love. Queen just…she never could let it go.”
Dad sighed and tapped his finger on the table, drawing all our attention.
“I’ll be speaking with Queen directly later today.
I will give you two a week to figure out where she is going to go.
Also, I am giving full responsibility for your businesses over to Marcus.
You will earn money as an Alpha-in-Training, and that’s it.
You can provide her with what you want, but keep in mind the kids will be with you.
Queen will most-likely need to get a job on her own. ”
“That’s her company…Dad…how could you take that away?”
“Well, it was taken away from her before. I’m just deciding to do it again.
Red River and Dark Night pack together purchased the shares for her and then gifted them to her.
I know what Red River got out of it; however, I don’t know what Dark Night got out of it.
” Dad looked up at me. “Maybe Ebony thought that without Colton, Marcus would go back to her. I don’t know. Still, she was paid off.”
Peter chimed in for the first time. “When Delilah took over the company from her parents, she did nothing with it. The company has been stagnating for over seven years. They haven’t lost revenue, but they also haven’t gained anything.
She’s been the figurehead of the company, but she’s only used it for clout, not actually building it or caring about it.
” Peter pulled up his leg and shook his head.
“The number of complaints from both current employees and clients would exceed two reams of paper, double-sided.”
Keith blinked at him. “What?”
“Dad asked me to do a business rundown. It was…rough. Honestly, she doomed that company the moment she took over. It was just holding on through the memory of her parents.”
“So you’ve just…decided everything about my life. Even though I’m an adult. Even though I’m an Alpha.”
Beau looked like she was about to cut into him, but Dad stopped her. “If you want, I can turn your betrayal over to the Council of the Dragons.”
I stood up straight, my eyes wide. Everyone held their breath, not realizing that Dad had been thinking about that.
Even I didn’t think it was worth that. Keith turned white, looking as if he were about to be sick.
Mom looked down at Dad, horror on her face.
He didn’t look up at her. I’m sure she was giving him a full mind-link, but he didn’t let it show.
“Dad…”
“I thought it should and could stay in the family, but if you don’t agree, we can move to giving them everything you have done and Queen has done over the years. Let your punishment be in their hands.”
Keith’s shoulders sagged, and he nodded. “Alright. I’ll…talk to my mate.”
“I’ll go with you. This wasn’t on you. It was I as Alpha and your father.”
Dad stood, his face tired. He looked years older.
I knew he hated doing this. Being Alpha wasn’t actually something he wanted either, but his brothers all took off.
Grandpa disinherited them when they did and made Dad Alpha.
He wouldn’t push it on me, but making decisions like this didn’t bring him any joy. Even worse, when it was family.
“I need the answers to what we do with Genesis and leadership by Friday. We will meet with Dark Night on the Friday after.”
The meeting was over as Dad patted Keith on the shoulder, leaving the office first. Laila turned on Colton, and before she could say anything, I let my dragon come forward. She froze and put her hands up.
“Later, Laila. This was a lot to process. You need to give us a minute to work through it before you yell about how you think we should feel.”
Her lips pursed, but Peter grabbed her arm. He smiled up at her, and I saw her eyes soften. Nodding, she moved back to the couch now that Keith had gotten up and followed Dad. Beau was grumbling in the corner, but whatever she was saying, Lauren was trying not to laugh.
Colton tapped my arm, and I let him go. He gave me a soft smile before heading out of the office. Sighing, I ran my hands through my hair. Lauren leaned over and looked up at me.
“Is he okay?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. There is…a lot going through his head.”
“That bastard needs to die. After everything he put Colt through. Frankly, put the entire pack through. I don’t get why he’s hesitating.” Laila growled.
“I don’t think it’s hesitation about Genesis, my mate.” Peter took her hand and kissed it. “It’s about the kids. He didn’t have an issue until Dad said future generations.”
Peter looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded. “I think you’re right. I don’t think it was a matter of Dylan, his brother, or his father. I’ll talk to him.”
“Mar.”
I glanced at Beau before I headed out of the room.
“Don’t let him be kind.”
Smiling, I shook my head. “I will let Colt be himself. No matter what. Forcing him to be someone else would only get me back in the doghouse and him angry at all of us.”
Beau chuckled. “You’re not wrong.”
Walking up the stairs, I went to our bedroom.
Colton sat on the bed, Kayla pushing her way forward, only to giggle when Colton pulled her back.
He had a smile on his face, but his eyes weren’t truly paying attention.
The emotions coming across the bond were turbulent, crashing against each other as he battled through them.
I sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out, flipping Kayla over and tickling her to near tears. She took a moment, but rolled back over and kept scooting away. It only worked because of the blankets. Colton pulled her back twice before I said anything.
“It’s okay not to know the answer.”
His eyes looked up at me and filled with tears. “How? How do I? I feel like I’m failing the younger me. I feel like I’m betraying them.”
Pulling him into my arms, Colton gripped my shirt. I watched Kayla, making sure she didn’t get too far as I held him. It was cruel. The world had been cruel, and now it was asking him to be cruel in return.
“Is it about the kids?”
He nodded slowly. “I understand…I do…I get it. But…they didn’t choose to be born into those families. Just like I didn’t.”
“But you feel like your younger self would be mad?”
Again, Colton nodded. “I was a child. They destroyed me when I was a child. This has been going on for years. I shouldn’t feel bad…”
“Why?” He looked up at me, and I smiled, running my hands through his long hair, brushing it back.
“The ones who did that to you were Dylan, and then Sam standing by and not doing anything. The leadership wronged the pack. All of them. They were the ones who hurt you.” I kissed his forehead.
“Not the kids. I don’t even think younger you would be upset if you wanted to give them the chance to be free of the people who hurt you. Who could have hurt them as well.”
His head leaned against my chest. I reached out and pulled Kayla back. She squealed, making Colton chuckle against me. He turned to look back at her, tucked into me.
“I want Dylan, Sam, my father, everyone who was an accomplice in this to die. I want them to never hurt my family again.”
“And you want to leave the kids out of it.”
He nodded, placing his hand on my thigh. “Are you mad?”
“No, Colt. I could never be angry over that.” I rested my chin on his shoulder. “I would be mad if you wanted to let Dylan live. That I would care about. His children, though…”
“All nine of them.”
I scoffed. “Damn, I need to catch up.”
He barked out a laugh and elbowed me in the stomach. I coughed, putting more weight on his shoulder, making him fall forward. He laughed, putting his hands out so he didn’t squish Kayla.
“Mar!”
“You hit me in my squish. It’s not hard anymore.”
He snorted. “Good.”
Chuckling, I kissed his cheek. He hummed, leaning back into me. I wrapped my arms around him.
“I’m nervous about meeting Ebony.”
“That makes two of us.” I admitted. “I don’t know if I will be able to hold back. I want to tear her to shreds.”
Colton growled low. “I’ll get my claws on her first. Frankly, I don’t want her touching you ever again. Even if it’s you crushing her.”
I chuckled. “Only if you let me take Dylan.”
He looked up at me, suddenly very serious. I’d only said it slightly joking, but I realized he was looking at me as if I’d been fully serious. I don’t know if he was looking for something, but eventually he nodded.
“I want to be there…but…if I don’t have to touch him…if he never touches me again…I’d be okay with it.”
My eyes widened. “Colt…”
“You’re my Alpha. If you can’t destroy my nightmares, I don’t have any hope in the matter.” He gave me such a soft smile; I couldn’t help myself.
I moved his head, leaning it back so I could capture his lips. He melted into me, his hand grabbing my arm as I leaned him down on the bed. Putting my hands on either side of him, I devoured his lips. After a moment, I didn’t disengage as I reached out and pulled Kayla back.
Colton, though, burst out laughing, and I smiled against him.
I loved this little wolf so much. I loved him with my entire soul.
It was easy to give him control of Ebony and I would be more than happy to destroy Dylan for him.
I’d set him free. Allow our family to finally be free of his looming presence.
Then we would go house-hunting. Wherever Colton wanted to go, I would follow. No matter what happened, I would take care of him. Take care of him, Kayla, and every other hatchling he allowed me to fill him with.
“Mar?”
I hummed, my eyes reflecting gold in his blue ones.
“Kayla is right here.”
Kissing him again, I smirked. “Oh. I know. I am always going to kiss you until you melt in front of her. That will never change. However, I will wait until she’s asleep before I take you, bend you over, and fill you up. Again.”
His hands splayed across my chest. “Then she’s about to get away and run off.”
I looked over and reached out, grabbing the little wiggle worm who was making her way almost to the far edge of the bed. She squealed, having seen the way off, and I plopped her onto Colton’s chest. Immediately, she went for his chest, and I laughed. He groaned and kicked me off.
“This is your fault.”
“I’m going to help my mom with dinner. She’s probably stress-cooking.”
He hummed. “I’m actually hungry for once.”
Kissing his cheek and then Kayla’s cheek, I pushed off him. “I’ll link you when we are ready. Tell me when Kayla finishes drinking you dry.”
Colton had already pulled his shirt off and was adjusting Kayla. “I will.”
“Colt.”
He looked up, his head cocked to the side.
“You are amazing, my mate.”
Smiling, he shook his head. “I’m just lucky I have an Alpha who knows what I need.”
“Well, you made me a better dragon and a better person. So it’s only for you.”
“Good. You’re all mine. You always will be.”
Colton being territorial made me smile. “Yes, little wolf.”