Chapter 142: Chapter 142

Chapter 53 – Father vs. Son

“Lying is done with words, and also with silence.“–Adrienne Rich

Neron

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Bonus

02:57

It wasn’t long until I made my way to my father’s home, pack members avoiding my wrath. I wouldn’t want to deal with myself with how furious I am. The sun was blistering against my flesh, but my rage burned hotter. Discovery upon discovery continued to solidify the future of this pack because this insanity has to stop. I have to stop it. This is not the legacy I want to pass down to my children, and it hurts.

Goddess, it hurts to realize how ignorant I’ve actually been, not just to Kiya’s experience but to my lineage.

“Hey, hey Neron.” Onyx spoke up, a little panicked. “I know you’re angry, but don’t do anything crazy, please.”

“No promises.”

“No, that won’t suffice. Promise me, Neron. You’re hurt and we want answers, but control your anger when you do, okay?”

Stopping at the midway point between Dad’s home and the pack house, I shut my eyes to steady my breathing. My heart hammered against my chest, arduous and deliberate under the rush of fire licking my veins. I heard fluttering and felt talons press against my shoulder; Diana came to me. I petted her head in appreciation. In a short time, this owl has become the being I could lean on for support.

Relatively calmer, I eyed the small white house several meters away from me, questions ricochet around my mind. I didn’t know what I would do or say once I’d face him. I’ve been so sure about the confrontation, but now I worry. Was this the reason he wanted me to learn about our family history?

Slowly, but surely, the image of my Dad, exploded into dust, an accumulation of displaying the truth underneath the floorboards of Zircon Moon. I’ve always looked up to my father, even when he was at his

lowest.

But lying to your son?

Dad, relaxing on his couch, was dismayed at my abrupt intrusion. He didn’t get the chance to speak before I

carelessly tossed the journals on the table for him to see. I didn’t care of the loosened yellowing pages scattering on the table. Diana flew from my shoulder and perched on the fireplace ledge between framed pictures of Mom and Nuria.

Pale blue widened with shock upon acknowledgment of the journals. “Where the hell did you get those from?”

He demanded.

“So you knew about them.” I rebutted, crossing my arms. “When were you going to tell me that Grandpa and Great–Grandpa were tyrants in wolf’s skin? On my deathbed?”

Dad sighed in exasperation, glowering at my transgressions. He never liked it when I rebelled against him; he expected me to be the dutiful son who did as he was told. Of course, his attitude intensified when Mom died,

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Chapter 53 Fasher vs Sen

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and he turned to liquor to cope. No matter how often he’d punished me, I never criticized him. I love him.Bonu never got angry or upset; playing it off as a grieving man who couldn’t handle with his loss.

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I wanted to be on his good side, constantly. Goddess knows what would happen if he got angry, even when he stopped drinking.

Gathering the books in his hands, Dad fixed the pages and set them at the corner of his table. Even now, he respects the men who hurt others. Folding his legs and his hands, he shot me a disgruntled expression, lips pursed in disappointment.

“They weren’t monsters, at least not in the way you think, son.” Dad spoke with a rough sigh. “They were men who knew what they wanted and stopped at nothing to get it. Ambition is in our blood.”

“Ambitious, maybe, but is it worth it when people’s livelihoods are destroyed? Great–Grandpa took pleasure in the packs he ravaged.”

“Occasionally, we have to resort to taking to safeguard our legacy. The world does not favor the weak, Neron.” He frowned. “Your forefathers realized that and did something about it and look at where we are today. You should be thankful that you’re endowed with Alpha blood, notably from two. Not everybody is as fortunate to be a pureblood.”

“Power, power, power! Is that all you care about!?”

“It is what kept the Prince Family stable for over two centuries, so yes,”

I curl my lips in revulsion, neglecting the living pain in my heart. I inspected his face, anticipating for a hint of remorse on his aging face…but detected none. Nothing. “You lied to me, Dad. You could have told me the truth about my parentage from the beginning.”

“I did what I have to do.” He replied callously.

“I deserve to know why.”

“To make you the Alpha you needed to be, not what you wanted to be.” Dad sprang from the couch, striding toward me until we were a few feet apart. When I peered into his eyes, the father I’ve cherished disappeared. Now, it a different person–the father who’d didn’t hesitate to strike me during my Alpha lessons. “You were deviating from your destiny, so I had to reel you in. If you knew the truth at such a young age, you’d walk away from it all. As a child, you always lacked focus. However,” He quickly shows me a smile that sent shudders down my spine. “Since you are older now, I’m pleased you’ve taken the time to understand your heritage, but I’d prefer if it were from one of our many history books you’ve allowed to collect dust.”

“A glorified history book.” I sneered in disbelief of his rigidness. “I understand why you were so hellbent on me studying those specific books. You still think I’m a weak–willed boy, incapable to handle the truth.”

“You were never the most studious boy.”

“Well, you sure changed that through your ‘discipline‘, huh?” Suddenly, the look on Dad’s face blackened, eyes flitting to black in his anger. We promised each other to put our past contraventions behind us, but I couldn’t anymore. I felt like a kid all over again, trying hard to appease him while simultaneously dodging his hits. “Either with burning my sketches or striking me. The latter was more appealing, so it seems.”

“I didn’t do that.” He grumbled. “Can you hear yourself?”

“Do you hear yourself, Dad? Hurting Kiya wasn’t enough, so you had to hurt me too.”

you

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Bonu

02:52

“That is enough!” Dad’s growls rumbled loud enough to shake the foundation of his home. I darted my eyes to Diana to see her gentle, big eyes following our exchange carefully. “There was no other way to make listen. If you weren’t so inattentive, I wouldn’t need to discipline you, Neron! You never took your duties seriously. Your mother was much too lenient with you.”

“Don’t bring Mom into this!” 1 exclaimed. “She wished me to be a regular kid before becoming Alpha! You wanted to rush! There is more to life than acquiring power. Power shouldn’t be the sole reason we exist. It only makes us monsters in the end…like what Kiya said.”

“That girl has been poisoning your mind, endangering your duties. I told you, many times, to keep her on a tight leash! It’s your fault that she is in the clutches of another!”

1 froze. Not out of fear, but out of bewilderment. Scenarios flooded my mind as my growls rumbled in my chest, threatening to pick up volume. Onyx, impulsive and aggravated, is on his paws in my mind, snarling at my father. “How did you know that?”

“Know what?” My father asked, freighting innocence.

“I never told you what happened to Kiya.” With every step he took backwards, I advanced, feeling my claws ready to sprout from my fingertips. “In fact, the only people who know what happened are my Betas and Gammas. And I know Garnet Moon didn’t tell you either. So, I’ll ask you again, Dad…how the fuck did you know what happened?”

He remained hushed, avoiding my eyes. Growling, I advanced until his back hit the wall. I swear to my Moon Goddess, if Dad had anything to do with Kiya’s kidnapping, I lose it. However, my intuition recognizes his guilt. His car wasn’t in the garage when I drove to the crash site, and he hasn’t been seen since.

Spiteful blue sent shock waves of fury into my own, gnawing and crushing at my resolve. It wanted me to yield; surrender and stop talking. But I didn’t. Standing firm, I glared back, throwing his onslaught back at him. Pictures and images of the passenger van flashed in my vision, pointing out every detail of the impact. Cerberus could have hit the car with his fists or his body, but a gigantic fist or a barreling body didn’t make

the impressions.

Another car made them. The only other person who didn’t want Kiya to leave, besides me, was Dad. The connections sparked with life, thrilled at my recognizance, but ignited my impulsivity and the beast behind

the man.

“You hit Kiya and her family! Your silence says it all! I told you that if you touched her, I’d kill you!”

A violent smack against my cheek accompanied his response. Heat and pain radiated in waves. “You won’t do a damn thing. Without me, you’re nothing!”

I’ve had it. Or rather, Onyx had it. My control slipped, and he took advantage, pouncing on my father, starting a brawl. Fire and fury pulled the strings of my limbs, controlling me as a puppet as I fought, punching my father in the face. My wolf and I abjured our earlier promise to be calm because all I could think about is how scared Kiya was, the pain she experienced, and how distraught her family was. A quiet trip home turned to an

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egregious nightmare.

Bonu

02:49

I wanted to blame Osiris. He must have manipulated Dad like how he did with Odessa, but I realized th treacherous snake didn’t need to convince people boarding on the edge of madness. They’d fall themselves.

We wrestled, throwing each other against the walls and swiping at each other with our claws. Blood rained from our wounds, dripping onto the carpeted floor. Crashes and shatters created a ciphony of disorder. conducted by two vengeful Alphas. Onyx and I wanted his pain, his blood–everything from all he’s done. Not just to my mate, but to me.

He’ll never regret what he’s done. No matter what I do, I’ll be nothing but a useless cur in his eyes. Maybe at one point, Dad truly loved and cared for me. But when Mom and Nuria died, his compassion went with them.

After five minutes of incessant fighting, Dad and I came at a stalemate, panting as we caught our breath. Open wounds sealed up hastily, leaving behind dried blood. Calming down, I wiped the blood from my healed lips, straightening my shirt and smoothening my hair. An overpowering sense of tranquility pulled me into its embrace as the chaos of this house died down. I looked around to see scattered papers, broken glass and fallen picture frames littering the ground.

A reflection of our lives.

“I’m done.” I said coldly. “I’ve given you enough leniency because we’re family, Dad, but you’ve bullied. undermined, and insulted not just my mate, but me as well. I much rather be a failed Alpha than your type of Alpha.”

“I’m changing the future of this pack, and you won’t be in it. You won’t be in control of my life any longer.”

“You’re betraying your family! You’re a mistake to the Prince name for being a weak–willed Alpha easily

seduced by the words of a manic woman.”

“So be it. You’ve proven to me you doubted my rule because you butted into business that doesn’t concern you, more so when Kiya came back. Alphas shouldn’t make people fear them. They shouldn’t plunder and destroy over a grandiose fantasy of power. They guide and lead with respect and kindness, and that is what you lack! I rather die with my dignity than live my life in your disgrace.”

Diana fluttered to my shoulder, pressing her tiny beak against my cheek. I turned around and strode toward the door, inches away from the knob when my father yelled again.

“Deny it all you want, Neron, but the Prince blood is in you. It is you. Preach love and kindness and friendship all you want, but you were bom to be just like your forefathers. You’re just like me, your grandfather, and everyone else before him. It’s only a matter of time before you understand you cannot change who you are and where you come from. I may be a monster, but you are too. I wasn’t the only one who hurt your mate; yo

did too!”

“I know.” My jaw clenched.

“It was the only time you were strong, being able to maintain control. But you let it slip away, and that is your fault. You’ll regret the choices you’ve made. If only you did what you were told! Walk out that door. Neron, and you’ll no longer be my son!”

My heartstrings were plucked and tormight from their valves, gripping me in agry. But I couldn’t made my decision. With a weighty sigh. I walked out of my dad’s home in silence, breaking our bond

and son.

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02:4

Somehow, I reached

It hurt. So much. I couldn’t stop my lungs from heaving or the tears blinding my was my bedroom without trouble, simply to gain the picture frame of my family and bundle in against the wall

no

Glass shattered and fell into a worthless heap. My family reduced the glass broken. I slumped to the ground next to my bed, powerless to stop the sending tears incinerating my cheeks and gaping as burning t throat. The air chilled and the sunshine faded, bathing me in obaty. Diana walked toward me but stopped a couple of feet away

I lost my family

I’m alone, always.

“You’ll never be alone because you have m

aya spoke with his voice m with corridence “We may not agree an everything, but you’ll never lose me. You’re my human, but you’re like my brother too.”

“Am I a mistzke, Or

conditional, and you get it when you were what be wanted you to be Box stuck to your belly dan and I’m proud of you. Yes, you lost him, but the people who care for you mondtionally am meam is be in your life”

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my thigh. “See She unes veu premes.”

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