17. Ex Alpha

Konstantin

“Lilith’s wolf spoke with you? How is that possible?” Fenriz asks after I tell them what happened.

I shrug. “I don't know how it's possible. Maybe it has something to do with our Mate Bond? She

hasn't rejected it or been forced to reject it.” I say while leaning against the door in Kai's study.

It's only Kai, Fenriz and Zephyr present. Dimitri is holding down the fort in Billionaire’s Row, and

Caterina’s feeling too tired to be here with us. It is understandable since she’s carrying the child of

an Alpha God and nearing her due date.

“But she disappeared in a cloud of green smoke just as she was about to tell me what Stefan is,” I

say, and I can still hear my wolf's sad whine.

I see a frown forming on Zephyr's face when I say this. “Got something to add, Z?" I ask.

He looks up at me. “He stinks of sulphur, and now you're mentioning green smoke. All the signs

point to him being a demonic entity. But what could he possibly want with Lily? What's the point in

keeping her at his side when the child in her womb isn't even his?”

Shrugging, I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. “I fucking wish I knew,” I say, “but her wolf also

mentioned that she’s not half-human as we all suspected; she’s half of whatever he is,” I say,

crossing my arms.

"Half-wolf, half-demon? I'm starting to feel like I'm stuck in an unaired season on Supernatural,”

Zephyr mumbles, sitting forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

Fenriz gets up from the edge of Kai's desk and paces the room. “If Lilith is half of what he is, could

he possibly impregnate her? If this is the case, that child is the only reason Lilith is still alive; he

could be thinking that the child is his.” He says

Fenriz and I then look at one another, the same horrifying thought crossing our minds.

“No, fuck NO!" I roar and punch the wall behind me. It can't be true; it really cannot be true.

“Caterina saw Volkov blood in her womb, not his!”

Kai gets up and walks over to me, his gaze shifting between Fenriz and me. “What is this about?” He

asks Fenriz, who walks back to the desk and perches on the edge.

“The prophecy spoke of two children being borne of simultaneous love and lust, ushering forth the

resurrection of a false god. Konstantin seems to be thinking the same thing as me.” He says, those

permanent crimson eyes glowing with anger.

Kai's brow furrows. “Two children? If there were two children, Caterina would have seen the other.”

The Lycan Alpha shakes his head. “With all due respect, Kai, Caterina’s visions are like an unfinished

puzzle and sporadic at best. Stefan could have cloaked the child if he knew of her foresight.” Fenriz

says.

Even as my brother stands there, gritting his teeth, I know this to be true. Major chunks are missing

from her visions, and we are left to figure them out.

Like when she saw three beheaded blonde women when she walked into my club; they were

actually Fenriz's wives and not connected to the murders of our girls. After being exposed to the

Alpha's scent on the warriors he had sent to help us, she got those visions.

I walk towards my brother and clap him on the back. “One problem at a time, brother. Let's make

arrangements to see the previous Vega Alpha and take it from there. We're no good running around

with our heads up our asses.” I say.

Kai scoffs but then nods. “Arrangements have been made. Caterina will be fine here with Dimitri and

my men since we won't be gone for longer than a day, maybe two.” He says.

I don't want to mention how leaving her with Dimitri got her kidnapped last time, so I keep quiet.

But I think the same thought is going through his mind because he silently tells me over the link

that he asked Zephyr to stay here with her.

I nod at this, not that we don't trust our brother, but we know how much he struggles with his

beast, and since he’s not the fighting type, how would he defend Caterina? Right now, we need to

keep her protected since she’s the most vulnerable.

“My father looks forward to seeing you,” both our heads snap to where Fenriz stands as he suddenly

says this with a deep scowl forming on his face.

"When did you speak with him? I thought he refused you last night,” Kai says.

Fenriz sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I just spoke to him over our mind link, and he

approved.” He says, not looking happy at the prospect. “Are you ready to leave?”

“I'm ready anytime,” I say and look at Kai, who nods at Fenriz.

“I'll go say my goodbyes to Caterina and meet you in the underground parking,” he says, then walks

past the Alpha and me.

There's an odd air around Fenriz right now, especially when I notice his double irises returning. A

low growl reverberates in his chest, and he rakes his fingers through his hair before he stalks out of

Kai's study towards the elevator. Geez, I wonder what's gotten into him now.

I don't bother to ask him what's wrong because, frankly, it's none of my business. If it had anything

to do with Lily, I'm sure he would have told me, so I'm suspecting that it's Vega stuff.

As I said, not my business.

Not much happened on our way back to Las Vegas, but Fenriz was quieter than usual. Even Kai kept

his distance from the Lycan, so that's saying a lot.

“You're not getting the Vega treatment this time around, don't worry,” he says as we depart the

Volkov jet and walk towards Fenriz's waiting entourage of motorcycles and one lone SUV.

“Thank fuck,” I mumble, following my brother into the SUV as Fenriz opts for his bike. The Alpha

then leads the way, and we follow.

“Kon,” Kai says through the mind link. “Fenriz has received news from his father with regards to his

new wife.”

“What the fuck? New wife?”

"Yes, it was one of the conditions for meeting with me,” Kai replies. “He's seeing her later today, so

we have to get things wrapped up as soon as possible.”

"What?! Why the fuck would he do that?!”

Kai shrugs, then speaks. “He wants to help us and find his sister while he’s at it.”

I look at my brother, shocked as shit at what he's just revealed to me. “Is this why he’s been so

pissed off the entire time?”

“Yes,” Kai says, leaning back and breathing out a sigh. “We owe him so much after this.”

This I agree with; if his father's information helps us in any way, we will be indebted to the Vega

pack even more than before. I need to remember to thank Fenriz for everything he’s done, including

linking Lily's mother to Stefan.

The SUV comes to a stop in front of a different villa - not gated like the estate. I spot Fenriz as he

removes his helmet and walks up to us, still looking majorly pissed.

“This is my father's place; follow me.” He says before turning on his heel and gesturing to the large

steel gates, which I can smell has a faint scent of wolfsbane on them.

I expected Fenriz's place to be more of a fortress but looking at the ex Alpha’s place, I can safely say

that his son lives a normal life compared to him. Everything looked derelict and forgotten like he

moved in here alone and left everything to rot around him.

The inside doesn't look any better than the outside. I can literally smell the years of caked dust and

grime over everything before Fenriz comes to a stop in front of a large wooden door. He turns to

Kai and nods.

"He only wishes to see you; go inside and state why you've come,” Fenriz says, then does a series of

knocks before opening the door. I wonder what the meaning is behind the different knocks, but

then again, it sounds like too much of a headache to remember.

Kai heads inside without so much as a backward glance and closes the door. I realise then that I

can't hear anything from the other side of the door; as if it has been spelled to remain soundproof.

I know that he can more than hold his own, but I can't help feeling uneasy. Fenriz and the old Alpha

don't really get along from the sounds of things, so why did he want to see Kai?

“Don't think about it too much,” Fenriz suddenly speaks up, leaning on the wall next to the door.

I look at him and shrug. “I know; he’s my brother; what can I say?”

Fuck, I don’t know what I would do if I had to lose Kai; he's our Alpha and probably the strongest

Alpha since Xamnir. There's no way I could take his place - not in this lifetime.

“By the way, Fenriz, thank you for-"

"Don’t mention it,” he interjects with a growl, not allowing me to complete my sentence. Before I

can shit on him about it, the door opens, and Kai steps out with a visibly upset face.

He looks at Fenriz and holds out his hand. “Thank you for everything, brother. But your father was of

no help to me. We will make do from here.”

What?! All of this was for nothing?!

I can hear Fenriz gritting his teeth as he shakes Kai's hand. “Apologies for this fruitless endeavour,

Kai. If you need my help again after this, please don't hesitate to ask.” He says.

/“Don’t speak; the Alpha told me more than we need,”/ Kai tells me over the mind link while he

maintains a poker face with Fenriz.

I frown but take Fenriz's hand as well while we say our goodbyes.

“My warriors will lead you back to the airport; unfortunately, I have to meet the family of my newest

bride. Call if you have any news about Lilith, please.” He says, shaking both our hands.

Kai nods. “Of course. Thank you for everything.”

When the SUV drives away, I can still see the anger radiating from Fenriz before he gets on his

motorcycle and speeds off, ready to meet his newest dead bride.