74.

Lucian

I paced around the room as the revelation sank in. If I said I wasn't shocked by the news, I'd be lying. I had never imagined something like this would happen. I turned to my mother, who was seated with her hands rested on her lap, with Evelyn by her side.

"Why, mother? Why did you have to hide such a truth from me? Why now?" I lamented.

My mother's voice quivered as she looked at me with remorse in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Lucian. I never anticipated that keeping this truth hidden would lead to such a predicament for our family."

I ran my hand through my hair, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Even if Gabriel is my brother, he has no right to the Alpha position. Not after everything I've done for this pack. It's not going to happen."

"Have a seat." She said.

I didn't make a move and also my eyes didn't waver on hers. I took a deep breath and turned my emotions still raw. "Mother, I don't want to hear what you or Gabriel has to say. Nothing is going to change my