Louis’s POV
The moment Golden’s words left his mouth, something inside me snapped.
My vision blurred red. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
I grabbed him by the collar instantly and yanked him toward me. "What the hell did you just say?"
Golden didn’t flinch. He didn’t back down. He just stared at me with those loyal eyes that used to look at Lennox the same way a child looked at a hero.
Before I could say another word—
"WHAT is going on here?"
Olivia’s voice sliced through the tension like a blade.
I groaned and released Golden immediately, stepping back like a guilty dog caught misbehaving. Olivia’s footsteps approached, sharp and quick.
She looked at Golden first. "Golden, talk."
Golden bowed respectfully. "The Alphas wanted information about Lennox, but he instructed me not to share anything."
Olivia sighed, turning to me and Levi. "If Lennox doesn’t want to talk, then you two need to respect his wishes."
I clenched my jaw. "He’s our brother—"
"And he is hurting," Olivia snapped. "You should both know when to step back."
Levi lowered his eyes. I looked away, annoyed, and embarrassed, before storming off without another word.
When I reached my room, I slammed the door and kicked the nearest stool so hard it flew across the room and crashed into the wall. My breath came out fast, hot, angry.
Why does everything feel like it’s slipping out of my hands?
I paced for a moment, then stopped. Closed my eyes. Forced myself to breathe.
And suddenly... an image flashed in my mind.
If I were Lennox.
If I woke up one day... crippled. If I reached for my wolf and found nothing. If I realized the pack I loved moved on without me. If I watched Olivia abandon me and raise kids with Levi and me... If I felt forgotten... replaced...
My throat tightened.
A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. The pain hit me so hard I had to sit down.
"Oh God..." I whispered. "If that was me... I would’ve broken. I would’ve gone mad. I... I might’ve killed myself too."
And that was the truth.
I realized that even I wouldn’t have survived what Lennox went through.
My wolf whispered inside me, calm but sharp: "You have to make things right."
I nodded slowly. "I know. I know..."
I sat there the whole afternoon, just thinking. Really thinking.
And for the first time... I understood Lennox’s pain.
Not the surface pain.
Not the anger.
The deep one.
The one that kills a man slowly.
By evening, when it was time for dinner, I washed my face and went downstairs. The dining hall was warm and filled with chatter. The boys were talking excitedly to Olivia and Levi about their day.
I managed a small smile and took my seat beside them.
But then—
The air shifted.
A cold silence spread across the room like a shadow.
Every head turned toward the door.
And there he was.
Lennox.
Being wheeled in by a guard.
Lennox’s face was blank when the guard wheeled him into the dining hall. No emotion. No anger. No sadness. Just... still. Like he had locked everything inside.
But the air around him—
It wasn’t the same as before.
It wasn’t weak.
It wasn’t fragile.
It wasn’t the broken energy he carried the last few days.
This one felt... stronger. Heavy. Controlled. Like he had made a decision inside himself and didn’t care who noticed.
The guard removed a chair and positioned Lennox’s wheelchair neatly at the table. Lennox didn’t look at me. Didn’t look at Levi. Didn’t look at Olivia either.
He only looked at the boys.
And instantly—the boys jumped in excitement.
"Father! You’re joining us for dinner!" Liam burst out, practically bouncing in his seat.
For the first time since he came back... Lennox smiled.
A real smile. Wide. Genuine. Not forced. Not pained. Not tired.
"Yes," Lennox said softly. "I am."
That smile hit both me and Levi like a punch. We stared at him, shocked. Olivia hadn’t blinked; relief washed over her face so fast she had to place a hand on her chest.
Leon leaned forward with his usual soft voice. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes," Lennox answered, still smiling at them. "Much better."
My jaw tightened. Levi looked at me. We both felt it.
Something was different.
This wasn’t the Lennox who broke today.
This wasn’t the Lennox who cried.
This wasn’t the Lennox who wanted to die.
This was something else. Stronger in a strange way. Scarier in another.
We all began to eat. Lennox filled his plate quickly. And as usual, he pushed the crab legs aside.
Liam noticed immediately. "Father, you don’t eat crabs?"

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