Chapter 15

15

A s the door closed behind Cav, Wynter turned toward his son. Holding back tears, he sat down and continued to pick at his barely touched breakfast. It was better to focus on something other than the questions burning in Wilder's eyes. "Are you hungry?"

"I've eaten," Wilder replied, a bit sharply.

Silence lingered, a heavy weight. Wynter pushed the scraps of food about, the only sound his fork on the bone china.

"I need answers," Wilder said when the tension grew too tight. "Cav told me to be easy on you, but… at the very least, I have to know if that man's my father."

Wynter continued to push the food about, his stomach twisting. "He is," Wynter whispered before peeking up to see how that news was taken.

Wilder remained silent, appraising him a few seconds. "How? How did this happen and why were you with Dad— Warden —if he wasn't your alpha? I need to understand."

"Wilder, you deserve to know everything. And I promise you that I will tell you the whole sordid story—but I haven't slept in days and after what I just shared with Cavanaugh, I need a break before I lose my mind." He crossed his arms and rubbed the upper parts to chase away the chill. "I'd like a shower and a bed. I told Cavanaugh I didn't need you here, but he was insistent. You can go. I'll call you once I'm awake and coherent again."

"I have to agree with him. You shouldn't be alone right now."

After fearing he'd lost everyone in his life, sensing his son's concern—unnecessary as it was—he realized that might not be the case. Once again, a wave of emotion hit him and had him near tears. He'd worked so hard most of his life to be emotionally neutral and hide everything deep, but the past days had shattered all that. He was a raw nerve, crying at the drop of a hat.

Wynter waved at the sitting area across from the bed, fighting the tears. "If you want to set up shop while I sleep, be my guest, but I need to lie down before I fall down."

"I'm taking you home."

"Honestly, there's staff here if I have any needs. Not much different than at home."

"I meant my home. You need family around you right now, not servants."

"Oh," Wynter whispered. "I assumed you'd be angry and… wouldn't want me too close right now."

"I want answers. And having you there at the house means you can't run from me once you wake up." Wilder smiled slightly. "Or it'll be harder to do, at least."

"I won't run from this," Wynter promised. "I've wanted to tell you for a long, long time."

Wilder searched his face. "I'll get you packed up."

"I haven't really unpacked," Wynter said. A realization hit. "Cav's staying with you. Maybe I shouldn't be there. He asked for space, and I want to respect that."

"He's up on the third floor. I can put you in the pool house. It's not finished yet, but the basics are there."

Wynter released a sigh of relief. He supposed that might be enough space apart. "But what about Avery? I've not been kind. I doubt he wants me there, either."

Wilder inhaled and glared down his nose. "Avery already told me to bring you back with me. He didn't like the idea of you being all alone here."

"After the things I said to him?"

"My omega is a force to be reckoned with. Not only is he brilliant, but his heart is vast. Just like his uncle's."

Wynter winced. "I owe them both explanations and apologies. I'll work on those when I wake up, too."

"See that you do," Wilder said. "I won't have my omega disrespected in his own home—as he heals from giving you another grandson."

Wynter smiled and teared up. "And I get to meet him? Your son?"

"That's up to Avery. Considering your one and only meeting didn't go well, I won't force him to share our son with you."

Wynter nodded. "I was rude to him, I know… but I truly was worried for you. He'd just gotten out of prison, darling."

"And you knew he didn't belong there."

"He'd lied about who he was. I didn't know if he was capable of do?—"

"Stop," Wilder barked, lifting a palm. "You don't get to condemn him when you've been lying about who my father was my entire life."

Wynter's eyes widened. "You're right."

Wilder's eyes narrowed.

"He may have had his reasons, and it was wrong for me to judge him without talking to him and learning more. But I was simply worried, Wilder. That's all. I love you, and I don't want anyone to hurt you."

"Not even you?" Wilder asked, his jaw tight.

Wynter cringed, but remained silent.

Wilder grabbed Wynter's overnight bag. "Let's get you packed."

Packing didn't take long. He'd only pulled out a single change of clothes. After he'd checked out at the front desk, Wilder led him outside as a car pulled up to pick them up. The vibration inside tempted him to rest his head on Wilder's shoulder and close his eyes.

The next time they opened, he was in unfamiliar settings. He sat up in a very basic bedroom, bare white walls with only a bed and a lone dresser where his bag sat atop—but then the realization of where he was hit. He glanced outside the window and a saw a gorgeous pool glittering under the dying sunlight. The main house was in the distance, a rose garden behind it.

After a peek through the bedroom's doors, he found a small bathroom and a small, separate living space. There wasn't much furniture and no decoration, but it was functional enough for his needs. With his emotional state, the plain, stark white walls and uncluttered environment was almost soothing. He unpacked his toiletries and made use of the shower before changing into a comfortable tunic and soft pants. Warm evening air met him outside the door. It was twilight, the magical hour filled with lightning bugs and chirping crickets. He stopped for a moment, standing in the waning light and wishing for a little magic of his own. Once he felt ready, he walked toward the house to face his son.

Buoyed by the glittering night, he made his way across the lawn to the back door and knocked. Wilder appeared, clutching a tiny bundle in his arms. A smile spread across Wynter's face as Wilder neared. Before Wynter could speak, he leaned in to get his first peek at his grandson, Emory Jaymes.

"Oh, gods, Wilder—he's gorgeous." Magic indeed. Wynter fought back tears, but he'd spilled enough of those. The babe needed to know joy, not sorrow.

Wilder smiled, looking down at his son. "He is." Wilder lifted his gaze. "Would you like to hold him?"

Wynter drew his arms close to his body to prevent himself from snatching the babe away and sniffing the fresh scent of a little one. "Can I?"

"Yes," Wilder murmured. "You're Avery approved."

"Let me sit down. I'm still a bit shaky," Wynter said.

"Come on in," Wilder said, backing up a step.

Wynter entered and followed Wilder through a lovely kitchen and into a den. A lion's den, filled with faces both neutral and annoyed at his presence, it seemed.

"The gang's all here," Wynter murmured, eyeing Avery, Vaughn, Gray, and Rohan. All the people in his life that could be considered family. All but Cavanaugh, to his dismay. While he wasn't sure if he could call the man's face a happy one, they'd left their talk on somewhat better terms, he thought, and it would've been nice to have someone there in his corner, so to speak.

He'd been ready to tell Wilder the truth, but he'd not anticipated a room full. Yet, they all deserved to hear certain parts of his tale, too.

"We can go speak privately first," Wilder murmured, lowering the babe into Avery's arms.

"Actually, I think you all should hear what I have to say. While I wasn't planning on an audience, perhaps I'll only have to tell it one more time." The tears stung before he got the first words out. "Hopefully it might explain some of my decisions over the years."

Gray and Avery shared a look before they turned back to him.

"Of course, if you want to hear it. I won't force it on you, either," Wynter whispered as he sat in a chair facing them. "But as my family… you should know my story."

"Family," Gray said, rising. "I think we should see our way out of this, Rohan."

"No," Wynter said, reaching out to take Gray's hand. He fought tears. "Please stay. I can't say these things to Jamie, so… I suppose you two are the next best thing."

Gray held his stare, hesitant. He slowly sat down, pulling his hand from Wynter's. His gaze flicked to Rohan, whose eyes were filled with anger, and rightly so.

"I've wanted to know what made Wynter Jaymes tick for years. Might as well stick it out and listen for a bit, I suppose," Gray said, lifting a brow.

Wynter leaned back in his chair, preparing to recount the tale again. Hopefully, it would be the last. He took a long breath, steadying his nerves. "As you've already likely deduced, Warden Jaymes wasn't my alpha. We were forced together by circumstances out of our control, neither of us happy in having to share a life with the other. That unhappiness colored everything that followed it, and I'm sorry to say, has touched all of your lives. I wish it hadn't."

"Enough with the soliloquy," Vaughn said. "There's only one thing we want to know—who was that man at the funeral?"

"Oh, we have more questions than that," Rohan said, glaring at Vaughn.

"His name is Wilder Cavanaugh," Wynter said to Vaughn. "He's my alpha. My true fated mate."

After a long shower, a longer nap, and some time looking over the file he'd brought with him, Cav slipped downstairs and found the family in the den, gathered around Wynter. He hovered near the edge of the room, the outsider, and didn't want to intrude—yet he quickly deduced that Wynter was sharing the same tale he'd told in the hotel. Wynter's gaze drifted to his, and he paused in his retelling.

"Cavanaugh…" Wynter murmured.

All eyes turned to Cav, and he sensed they knew more about him than he might want them to. He wasn't sure how much had already been told.

"I don't want to interrupt your time with your family," Cav murmured. "I think I might head back into town and get the car from the hotel."

"Oh," Wynter murmured, disappointment washing over his face.

"Before you go," Wilder said, turning to look Cav's way. "Did you really fight a Wildling to the death? With just a penknife?"

Cav chuckled. "It was a foldable tactical knife I used for hunting and protection, not a little pen knife, but otherwise—yes." His gaze drifted back to Wynter. "No one was going to lay a hand on my omega."

"Why did you walk away from him?" A young, dark-haired alpha asked. Cav had noticed the man at the funeral. "If you cared about him that much?"

"Cavanaugh, this is my youngest," Wynter murmured. "Vaughn."

"I'd say it was a pleasure, but I'm not sure it is yet," Vaughn snapped.

"Vaughn, can you please stop?" Rohan asked.

"Why the fuck are you even here?" Vaughn asked Rohan. "You moved on from this family, didn't you?"

"Fuck you, Vaughn," Rohan roared back.

"Rohan and Gray are here because they loved Jamie," Wynter snapped before eyeing Gray a moment. He turned to Vaughn. "Either deal with that, or you can leave."

Vaughn scowled, eyed Cav and scowled harder, but sat back quietly and sulked, arms crossed over his chest.

"I'll leave you to finish it," Cav murmured, curious at the usage of loved—in the past tense. He'd heard Jamie's name years ago and was fairly sure he'd seen the child at the bookstore that fateful day, but he saw no signs of the omega there.

"Or you could stay," Avery said. "It seems you're a big part of this story, so you might be able to shed some light here and there."

Cav met Avery's stare. "I don't want to intrude on family stuff."

"It's not like you haven't heard the story before," Wilder said. "And technically you are family. Of sorts."

All gazes turned to Cav again, but he only met the one that mattered. Flicking his gaze to Wynter, he saw pain in his omega's eyes and knew in that moment, he needed to be there. After crossing the room, he sat down beside Wynter and took one hand in his.

Wynter gripped it tightly and leaned a little closer before he continued. "I've already told them, Cavanaugh. They know you're Wilder's biological father."

Cav's gaze flicked to Wilder's. He could see his son was reeling, as much as he had in the hotel room when he'd heard the truth. Sensing something and having it confirmed were two different things, he'd realized there. Avery snaked a hand under Wilder's arm and captured a hand. Wilder clung to it a moment before leaning in to kiss his omega.

"And me? I assume I'm Warden's son?" Vaughn asked. "Or is there another lover out there you've been hiding?"

"Yes. You're Warden's son," Wynter admitted.

"Your son from the man you hated," Vaughn murmured. "I suppose that explains a lot, doesn't it, Papa?"

"That wasn't your fault," Wynter said. "You and Jamie had no control over how you came to be."

"But it shaped how you saw us, didn't it?" Vaughn asked. "It's why Wilder was always your favorite."

"I wasn't his favorite," Wilder snapped. "You were, Vaughn."

Cav frowned, stunned that the pair seemed to have two different versions of childhood. Wynter had admitted he'd given a little more to Wilder, but perhaps it hadn't been heaps more for their son to not see it.

Wynter pursed his lips, fighting the shine of tears. Cav wanted to wrap his arms around his omega and protect him from the past, but he couldn't. Wynter had to face his sons and the truth himself. "I didn't have favorites."

Cav knew that might be a lie, but for Wynter's sons' wellbeing, he'd let it go.

"You said it at the funeral," Vaughn snapped. "He was the only one you wanted."

"I was bound to a man who actively hated me. Why would I want to bring any child into that?" Wynter asked. "I was greedy for wanting Wilder. I shouldn't have wanted him to be raised in that environment, either, especially knowing my mental health issues—but the love I had for Cavanaugh made me forget all that. I wanted a little piece of the man I loved." Wynter turned his gaze on Wilder. "And look at them." His gaze drifted to Cav and back to Wilder. "How could I look at Wilder's face and not remember the past? A brief time when I was happy." Wynter clutched at Cav's hand. "I love you, Vaughn. I know you don't think I do, but you're wrong. I just… after all that happened at the cabin and the decades imprisoned in a loveless mating, I was broken. I didn't have much love in me to share with any of you boys and for that, I'm sorry. It turned me bitter, at times. I lashed out on occasion because I was in pain. You all deserved better than that. I wish I could've been stronger for you all."

"It also didn't help that your papa was a monster," Avery said. Cav noticed shared looks of disgust travel around the room. Everyone seemed to agree. Wynter's papa was a monster. "I can't believe he could do all of that to you."

"My papa wasn't well," Wynter replied. "I'll never truly understand his motivations behind the things he said and did. I only wish I'd had the courage to stand up to him." He squeezed Cav's hand. "And found a way out of the pain. It might've made all our lives easier."

"But it wasn't you that you were worried about," Gray said, his gaze drifting to Cav's and then to Rohan's. "I don't know what I'd do if I was told I could never see you again—and that your life would be forfeit if I did. The idea of sending you away takes my breath away, yet the idea of you no longer living terrifies me even more." Gray spun in his seat and faced Wynter. "I can see that decision paralyzing you. It likely would've me."

"Especially after growing up traumatized by the man. Your entire life, you'd been conditioned to shrink back from his torment and surrender," Wilder said. He leaned closer to Avery, who cuddled their babe closer. He brushed two fingers over the infant's cheek. "How a parent could think to harm their own child like that—I don't understand."

"I realize that I wasn't the best papa in the world, but knowing I kept that violence away from my children is something I cling to," Wynter murmured. "It's one thing I did right in a sea of wrong."

"I doubt it was a sea," Cav whispered.

Wynter leaned in closer, relaxing ever so slightly.

"How old were you—when all that happened?" Gray asked. "You mentioned it was early. How early?"

Wynter stiffened against Cav. "I was…" He paused, drawing in a breath. "I was young."

"How young?" Wilder asked, eyes narrowing.

Wynter rocked back and forth slightly.

"They should know," Cav whispered.

Wynter met his stare, tears glistening. Somehow, he'd managed to make it through most of the story without crying, it appeared, but that was the thing that seemed ready to break him.

"It wasn't your fault," Cav murmured. He caressed Wynter's cheek. The pain emanating from his omega convinced him that part had been true. Wynter had been convinced he was somehow to blame and that tore him up inside. "No matter what your papa said… it wasn't your fault."

A lone tear slipped down Wynter's cheek. Cav wiped it away and caught Wilder watching them from the corner of his eye. He eyed his son, wishing he could answer so Wynter didn't have to, but it wasn't his place to share a memory that was clearly so painful. It would be his omega's choice and either way, he'd support it.

Wynter turned to them, wiping his cheeks with both hands. "My parents and Warden's… they treated me as if it was a character flaw—that early heat. Something wrong within me. I was blamed, and while I logically know I had no fault in what happened, their derision and scorn caused deep wounds." He dragged in a breath. "And it's always made me fear judgment from others." His lips moved soundlessly, as if he fought to say the words. Finally, they tumbled from his lips. "I had just turned fourteen."

Nearly everyone gasped. Avery lifted a hand to cover his mouth, eyes wide. Both Wilder and Vaughn looked sick. The expressions matched the way his gut had twisted learning it himself. His omega had been a mere babe.

A childhood stolen.

"Oh gods," Gray whispered on Wynter's other side. "You were a child." Gray cringed. "You were… the same age as Auggie is now!" He eyed Avery. "Could you imagine? Auggie pregnant?"

"No…" Avery said. "He's still a baby."

More tears slipped down Wynter's face. Cav wiped them away, caressing his mate's cheeks.

"That wasn't your fault," Gray said, adamantly, squeezing Wynter's arm. "It wasn't."

"It happens, and too often it's considered shameful," Cav said. "In almost every place I've ever traveled, a young omega's heat was vilified and condemned. The omega treated as if it was their fault somehow. Thirty-five years ago, it was even worse than it is today. How anyone can blame an omega for his nature—I don't understand. We don't blame alphas for theirs."

"We're often blamed for things outside our control," Avery said. "Alphas don't want to have any blame focused their way nor do they want to come up with solutions, in most cases, so we suffer the indignities. Too often in silence. I wasn't willing to suffer them, and I ended up being tossed into prison for simply wanting an education and the right to provide for myself and my brothers. Our whole system is ridiculous."

"I'm amazed it took so long for things to change in this province. In parts of Europa and in the west, omega rights have spread like wildfire, yet here and the surrounding provinces, you're stuck in time," Cav said. "I'm glad the spark has finally been lit."

Wynter chuckled. "I remember you said Omega Rights would hit the entire Palatinate in a decade. Yet here we are thirty years later and it's only just begun."

Cav shrugged. "I was a bit off on my prediction, but not wrong—thanks to your son-in-law."

"Your son-in-law," Avery said to Cav with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. Emory whimpered in the small bassinet beside Avery, stealing the omega's focus for a moment.

"I hope you two don't…" Wynter said, turning to Wilder, and then Vaughn. "I…" He paused, struggling.

Wilder slipped from his seat and knelt in front of Wynter, taking one of his papa's hands. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. The only people who should be ashamed are Warden's parents and yours for forcing the mating in the first place and treating you the way they did. It wasn't right. And it wasn't your fault."

Wynter leaned forward and pressed his forehead to Wilder's. He slipped his hand from Cav's and took Wilder's head in his hands. "Thank you for that. I feared telling you—and how you might see me after." He sat back, his gaze drifting to Vaughn.

Vaughn's face was impassive, and Cav clenched a fist, the protectiveness within roaring to life once more.

"Vaughn?" Wilder asked, lifting a brow.

"It's hard for me to say I wish they'd never done that to him, knowing had they not been mated, I wouldn't exist," Vaughn said. He looked away, dragging in a breath. "But it wasn't your fault, I guess. Whatever it is you need me to say, consider it said."

Cav growled but sensed that was about the best they'd get from Vaughn.

"How old was Warden?" Gray asked, perhaps trying to fill the awkward tension left from Vaughn's comment. "When all that happened?"

"Twenty-five," Wynter replied.

Wilder rose, pressing a kiss to Wynter's head before returning to his seat beside Avery. He wrapped an arm around his omega and tugged his mate close.

"He was an adult," Gray said. "So there was an imbalance there, as well."

"Warden had the upper hand for a long time. I was so young and accustomed to living under my parents' rule. I was expected to do as he commanded, so I did. When I got older, I'd had moments of rebellion, but he always managed to find a way to get me back under his thumb."

"So there you were. Fourteen and a new papa," Gray said. "With a child you didn't want. I don't say this to hurt you, but… that explains a lot about your relationship with Jamie, too."

"I wasn't ready to be a parent. I was terrified of it, in fact. I was a baby myself when Jamie was thrust into my hands, and I was expected to know what to do when no one had taught me what to do. I grew incredibly depressed, slipping deeper and deeper into it. I attempted to take my life when Jamie was still small." Wynter pulled up his long sleeves and displayed his wrists. "It's why I always wear long sleeves or bracelets around my wrists—to hide the scars from everyone."

Silence hung around the room as Wynter pulled the sleeves back into place. Gray silently took Wynter's hand at his side, and Cav felt the sob vibrate through his mate. "I was sent away to a facility where I heard the words Postpartum Depression for the first time. I felt better when I left, but Warden refused to allow me to continue any treatment once I was home. He promised I could, but later refused. He feared we'd be found out and I'd somehow be seen as lacking in the eyes of society." Wynter turned to Gray and Rohan. "None of what happened was Jamie's fault–—logically, I know that—but we started off on shaky footing and it got a lot worse before it got better, though it was never really better."

"Your papa abused you, Wynter," Gray said. "You were never shown how to be a good papa. Then you were expected to be one as a child , after being taken and claimed by a man who wasn't even your mate, which I'm sure had been terrifying." Gray shook his head. "I can't imagine enduring that… and then to find your fated alpha and have that ripped from you by your family? Forced to return to the man who'd taken your childhood and future from you?" Gray eyed Avery before turning back to Wynter. "It explains a lot. It does. But there's one thing that has made me so angry at you over the years and I need to understand why. Why you weren't at Jamie's side at the end. I might find a way to forgive you for the mistakes you made, but that one? I don't know I can."

At the end?

Cav searched Wynter's profile, stunned.

Jamie was dead?