Chapter 89: Secrets Unfolded

MADDOX

“What do you mean he collapsed? Healthy wolves don’t just ~collapse~!”

“I don’t know how else to tell you, Reign. He ~collapsed~! I’m surprised you care.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what! You are his mate! Wolves need their mates. Did you think avoiding him like you have been would end well? Are you seriously that fucking stupid?”

“You can’t talk to me like that, Storm.”

“I can talk to you in whatever way fucking pleases me. You aren’t my alpha, and you sure as shit have no royal hold over me.”

My eyes flickered open. Storm was standing on one side of me, and Reign was on the other.

“Hey.” Storm smiled. “How’re you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been thrown off a ten-foot building,” I grumbled, sitting up and rubbing my head.

“I’ve been worried about you,” Reign offered softly.

I smiled awkwardly at her. Our mating bond tugged gently.

Soon we would need to talk about why she had been avoiding me, but that was a matter for a later date. We both looked to Storm.

“So what happened to me?” I asked. She sighed heavily and leaned back against a table behind her.

“A power surge.”

I blinked at her. Reign’s head snapped up so fast I was surprised she didn’t break her neck. “I’m sorry. A what?“

“I know, I know. I can’t explain it either. But that’s the only logical explanation for how my witches found you the other day—”

I held a hand up to interrupt her. “Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean the other day?“

She grimaced and looked at the door as Axel made his way into the room. “You’ve been unconscious for two days,” he said, standing at the foot of the bed I was lying on.

“When you didn’t wake up after a few hours, we phoned your family to let them know what had happened.

“They made their way here to wait for you to wake up. They’re sitting in the living room downstairs.” He excused himself, shutting the door behind him.

“When you’re ready, you can meet them down there.” Storm spoke softly as she exited the room.

Reign looked on sheepishly from the corner. “Maddox, I’m sorry about everything. I never should have avoided you for so long.”

I shook my head, climbing out of the bed. “We can talk about that later. Let’s go see my family. I have some questions.”

She nodded and followed me silently as we made our way down the three flights of stairs to the living room.

Mother and Father were sitting on a couch talking to Raphael and Frieda. They laughed at something my father was saying.

“Maddy! How are you feeling, darling? We have been so worried!” Mother rushed to hug me as Reign greeted the others.

“I’m feeling much better now, Mother. Thank you. But there was something I wished to discuss with you both.” I motioned for her to sit back down and joined Reign on the couch.

Raphael cleared his throat. “This is family business, so we shall excuse ourselves. Noah, Natalia, it was a pleasure catching up with you both. Hope we can do it again soon.”

Frieda kissed my mother on both cheeks and left with Raphael.

“You look well, son.” Father cleared his throat, fixing his suit jacket as he spoke.

“Thank you.”

“You said you had something to discuss with us?” Mother looked between Reign and me with a hopeful expression. Reign shifted uncomfortably beside me under my mother’s gaze.

“Yes. Storm, one of the witches here and Prince Axel’s mate, said that the reason I collapsed was because of a power surge.

“But that cannot be possible, as I am a full-blooded wolf, so I was wondering if you knew what she was talking about?”

The color drained from my mother’s face, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

Father shuffled uncomfortably and clasped my mother’s other hand tightly. Mother let out a soft cry. “Oh, Maddy! I had hoped we would never have to have this discussion with you.”

I looked on, confused, as Mother jumped to her feet and began pacing. “It was a moment of weakness, and your father was so forgiving.

“It never should have happened, but we were having troubles, and we were on a break and—”

“Wait, are you saying you had an affair?”

Reign almost choked in disbelief beside me. Wolves mated for life. It was rare they separated, and it was even rarer that they would cheat.

“Yes, unfortunately, I did. Your father and I had separated briefly. Things were stressful just after your brother was born. Our pack was under attack from the witches.

“It became too much, so we agreed to separate briefly so that your father could focus on saving and rebuilding the pack, and I could focus on Wyatt.”

I scoffed and crossed my arms. “So who is he then?”

“Who is who?“

“My real father. I had a power surge, Mother. Did you sleep with one of the witches that were attacking the pack? Who is he?”

I was getting angry. Everything I thought I knew about my life was an absolute lie. It was no wonder Father always favored Wyatt. I wasn’t his actual son.

Mother looked at Father desperately.

“Maddox, is it really necessary to put your mother through all of this stress? You are alive and healthy. That is all that matters,” he grunted.

“Yes! Yes, it does! Who was he? This is a part of who I am, and you’re acting like I have no right to ask. I want to know who my real father is. I want to know what is happening to me. Unless…”

My voice trailed off as a new thought came into my mind. “You already killed him during the war, didn’t you?”

I sank back down onto the couch. Reign rubbed my back gently, and I placed my head in my hands.

“No, Maddox, he’s not dead.” Mother’s voice was barely a whisper now. I looked up at her and waited for her to finish.

She closed her eyes and took a calming breath before dropping the bomb on us.

“His name is Keir.”

Reign’s hand dropped from my back, and you could hear a pin drop in the room.