005: “I Think Your Tongue Will Do A Better Job”

KNOX

I hated mornings. Nothing good ever came of them, and today was no exception.

‘Where are you? Our old man is getting really upset.’ Kael mind-linked me as I lazily descended the stairs to the main lounge.

I rolled my eyes. ‘He better take some chill pills. I'm close by.’

Sharp and early at dawn, our father, Alpha Killian, had sent news to the three of us to meet him at the main lounge at 7 am sharp.

It was past 7 am but who cares? I already knew it wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.

I glanced at my brothers as I walked into the grand hall, curtseying slightly to my father and taking a seat.

Kael, as usual, looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, his hair a mess and his expression, flippant.

Kai, on the other hand, was never caught unprepared. He looked freshened up in a plain tee shirt and a pair of jeans. But... his expression was as unbothered as ever.

“What took you so long?” Father growled, glaring at me. “You boys think I called you here for fun?”

“We’re here now,” I said, crossing my legs. “What’s so urgent?”

He pointed a finger at me, his voice sharp. “Don’t test me, Knox. You might think you've outgrown my punishments but I promise you, you haven't.”

“Can we make this snappy?" I muttered between gritted teeth, trying to hold my temper that threatened to snap at any second.

The old man paced a while in front of the fireplace, raking his hand through his hair in frustration.

When he finally halted, he looked over to the three of us. “Now, you boys, listen to me, I don't need to tell you about the great significance and position of my Pack. You all know it,” he started and I noticed my brothers shift uncomfortably in their seats.

We all knew Father never called for anything good.

“I'm your father– not just your Father but the Alpha of this Pack. You all are my sons yet you don't act like it,” he paused, pointing his feet towards me. "Especially you, Knox. I've said this countless times, if y'all want to take my position as the Alpha, you can't bring rogues character to the throne–”

‘Do you guys think he's calling us about that little fox?’ Kael’s voice cut through my head.

His worry was palpable through the mind-link, I could almost feel his heart rate.

‘What? The fact that the Moon Goddess decided to humiliate us with a mate who’s not only an Omega but also a complete nuisance?’ I replied, dreading the possibility.

‘No way,’ Kai objected calmly. “I warned her off from telling anyone about it. She wouldn't dare.’

‘I hope so.’

“What are we even supposed to do with that little–"

“Are they even listening to me?" Father's bark swerved our attention back to him.

I rolled my eyes. “We’d rather skip the lecture, Father. What’s the big announcement?”

“You’d rather skip my words of wisdom?" He flared but Kai cleared his throat, stepping in as the diplomat he always was.

“Father, you said this was important. Why not focus on it instead?”

“Fine, but I'm coming back to it.” He glared, jabbing a finger at me.

I looked away without a word and there was a brief pause in the room until Father straightened, his expression grim.

“In a few days,” He drawled, searching our faces for what only he knew. “Vander is returning from Juvie.”

My jaws clenched at the mention of his name.

That bloody motherfucker.

I knew Father was up to no good.

“Oh, that's great news,” Kael chimed. “After all, no one wants to stay in Juvie all their life.”

"Right,” Father smiled, nodding approvingly.

"And what has that got to do with us?” I arched my brow.

My question seemingly dismantled his smile. “He's going to be staying here in the manor. Vander is your older brother and I expect all of you to–"

“Whose brother?" I spat, slamming my fist on the glass table.

The air in the room grew stale.

Not caring about the cracking sound of the table, I sprung to my feet, anger simmering in my blood. “You call him our brother? When he's just a messy product of your infidelity to my mother who was–”

"Regardless!” Father’s voice thundered, his nose flared in anger. “He's my son, Knox. And whether you like it or not, he's your older brother. Hold him with that respect!"

"Respect, you say?” I scoffed, raking a hand through my hair and pulling at it briefly. "Grandmother should have named you ‘Shameless’ because that's what you are, Alpha Killian.”

“Watch your tongue, boy,” Father growled, his authority heavy in the room.

“Why should I?” I shot back. “You’re bringing that illegitimate son of yours into this house like he didn’t leave chaos in his wake the last time he was here.”

“Vander is my blood,” Father said, his tone icy. “And he deserves a place in this family.”

Blood. That’s what he called that walking disaster of a son.

“I guess blood means less and less to you.” I laughed bitterly, snorting. “What’s he coming back for anyway? To cause more trouble? Or does the Alpha simply miss his favorite mistake?”

Father’s nostrils flared, but he kept his voice measured. “This is where Vander belonged from the very beginning, Knox. He has been away for a while and It’s high time he returned to his home.”

“His home,” I echoed, a smirk crawling to my lips. “You mean his home is in this Manor, under the same roof as us? The same son of that worthless whore you couldn’t keep your hands off of while Mom was still alive?”

“Knox,” Kai muttered through our mind link, his tone low and cautioning. “Calm down."

But I couldn’t stop. “I’ve never seen anyone romanticize their mistake as shamelessly as you, Father. Vander shouldn't stand where the princes of this nation stand because he's nothing but a mis—”

“That’s enough!” Father’s voice cracked through the room like a whip, his face turning red. “Vander is my blood, just as much as you are. And my word is final. He will stay here.”

“You're so pathetic." I gritted.

“Yes, I am." Father’s eyes blazed as he held his ground. “But you should look in the mirror someday, see who you resemble. Don’t forget that I am the Alpha, and my word is law.”

I took a step back, shaking my head in disgust. “You’re not an Alpha. You’re an incompetent coward who clings to past wrongdoings and never learns from them.”

The tension in the room was suffocating as I turned on my heel and stormed out.

The heat of anger simmering beneath my skin was enough to contend with the sun.

Vander. Vander. Vander.

The name was a distraught echoing in my head.

My vision blurred as I dived through the corridors, unsure of where I was going until I rounded a corner and slammed into someone.

Hot liquid splashed across my chest, scalding my skin.

“What the fuck!"

“Oh, crap!” The girl gasped, fumbling to steady the tray she’d been carrying. “I- I’m so sorry!”

It was her. The little Omega.

Momentarily, my anger subsided as I watched her hurriedly put down the tray and tried to dust the liquid off my shirt.

I gritted my teeth, not because of the burn on my skin, but the rising heat in my chest as her hands brushed against my skin.

The burn was uncomfortable, but the feel of her hands? That was something else entirely.

I felt my dick twitch in my pants.

“What the hell are you doing?" I hissed under my breath.

"What does it look like?” She snapped, her hands still rubbing my chest, grazing my nipples. “Of course, I'm trying to help."

“Fuck," I growled, unbuttoning my shirt.

Her eyes widened as I yanked off my shirt, exposing the reddened skin underneath.

She gasped, fanning the spot with her hand. “It doesn't look really good! I should get ointment."

She turned to leave but I grabbed her hair, pulling her head to my chest.

“I think your tongue would do a better job, little Omega."