Page 16

Ersa

“H e’s the father. He has a right to his cub.”

The words echoed through Ersa’s mind, each syllable striking like a hammer until his vision blurred with rage and disbelief. His whole body felt taut, every muscle coiled as he fought the overwhelming urge to leap off the couch and rip Benjn out of Nath’s arms. He forced his hands under his thighs, digging his nails into his skin to keep still. The cub’s cries rose in pitch, raw and desperate, the sound slicing through Ersa’s heart like a knife, while Nath fumbled awkwardly, trying and failing to soothe him.

The room felt suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken fury. Ersa’s pulse thundered in his ears, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the frail, trembling figure clutching his son.

With a low, dangerous growl, Xander moved forward, his towering presence radiating fury barely held in check. He extended a steady hand toward Nath, his voice low and measured despite the storm in his eyes. “Please give him to Ersa so we can talk.”

For a moment, Nath hesitated, his wide eyes flicking to the officer who had just shattered Ersa’s world with those cruel words. When the officer gave a single, authoritative nod, Nath’s grip loosened.

Ersa was on his feet before he realized it, arms outstretched, desperation clawing up his throat. The second Benjn was back in his arms, he held the cub tight, pressing his cheek against the soft warmth of his hair. The cub’s sobs quieted, his small fingers fisting in Ersa’s shirt. Relief flooded through Ersa so fast his knees threatened to buckle.

Xander’s strong arm circled his waist, grounding him. But the battle was far from over—and the war had only just begun. Together, they turned to face two council officers, a lawyer with a face like carved stone and Nath, pale and fragile but with a glint of determination in his hollowed-out eyes.

Xander’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Can someone explain what this is about?” His fingers slid into Ersa’s, their grip tight and reassuring.

Nath’s eyes dropped to their joined hands, and the flicker of distaste that crossed his face was unmistakable.

“What are you doing here, Nath?” Xander’s voice hardened. “You left Benjn. You left me. And now you’re back, claiming him as yours? Are you insane?”

“Please refrain from using inflammatory language, Master Quin,” the lawyer interrupted smoothly. “Especially given the circumstances Nath has been through. Perhaps we should all sit and discuss this calmly.”

“No,” Xander said. “Say what you came here for, then get the hell out of my house.”

The lawyer adjusted his pristine jacket, his expression unreadable. “Nath wants to come home.”

The words hit like a physical blow. Ersa’s breath caught, his heart slamming against his ribs.

“What?” Xander’s voice cracked with disbelief. “This is not his home anymore. He broke our bond—he left.”

“He wasn’t in his right mind,” the lawyer said evenly.

Xander’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

The lawyer’s gaze remained steady. “When Nath left, he checked himself into a mental health care facility. He was suffering from severe depression. He broke your bond not because he stopped loving you, but because he believed he was a burden—that you and Benjn deserved better. He relinquished his rights so his son could have the best possible care, something he felt incapable of providing at the time.”

The story was so compelling, so heartbreakingly plausible, that for a second, even Ersa’s anger faltered. His throat tightened. No omega would leave their cub unless they truly believed they had no other choice—unless they were drowning.

But the pain in Benjn’s cries, the way the cub had clung to him—that was real too. And the ache in Ersa’s chest reminded him just how much damage Nath’s departure had done.

Xander’s face was hard, his voice clipped and furious. “That doesn’t change the fact that he abandoned us. He broke our bond. It’s over.”

“Not necessarily,” the lawyer said smoothly. “If he can prove he wasn’t in his right mind when the bond was dissolved, the council may deem the severance invalid. Legally, you could still be bonded.”

The world tilted beneath Ersa’s feet. He clutched Benjn tighter, his nails digging into Xander’s hand as if it was the only thing keeping him upright.

Xander turned on Nath, his voice a dangerous whisper. “Why are you doing this? You never wanted to be here. You never wanted me. Why now? Do you hate me that much?”

“I’m doing this for our family,” Nath said softly, his eyes glassy and pleading. He stood and reached for Xander—but the alpha stepped back, evading his touch.

“You’re my alpha,” Nath continued desperately. “I worked so hard to get better—for you. For Benjn. I want us to be a family again.”

Xander’s laugh was bitter, his eyes blazing. “You show up with council officers and a lawyer, and you think you can just walk back into my life like nothing happened? No. It doesn’t work like that.”

The lawyer’s calm mask didn’t slip. “The council appointed me to this case. As your legally bonded mate, Nath has rights—and you, Master Quin, have a responsibility. Especially considering his mental health struggles.”

“I have a responsibility to someone who abandoned me and our son without a word?” Xander’s voice shook with rage and disbelief. “He left without telling me what was happening, without even giving me a chance to help him. And now you’re standing here, asking me to take him back like none of that happened?” His eyes flashed dangerously. “I don’t recognize him as my bond mate anymore. I’ve moved on. Please—leave my house and take him with you.”

Nath rose unsteadily to his feet, his frail frame trembling. The sight of him—pale and barely holding himself together—was almost too painful to look at. His once-vibrant eyes, now dulled by suffering, lifted to meet Xander’s. When he spoke, his voice cracked, full of desperation and regret.

“I—I thought maybe you and I could reconcile our differences,” Nath whispered. “I know… I know I wasn’t the best mate to you. You were my first aggressive alpha, and I—” His breath hitched, his fingers curling at his sides. “I came into this with so many fears, so many wrong ideas, and I pushed you away because I didn’t know how to handle you. I was scared—scared of you, scared of myself, scared of failing. And then when Benjn came…” His voice broke, and for a moment, the room was thick with his sorrow. “Everything spiraled out of control. I couldn’t cope. I couldn’t even breathe . So I left—because I thought it was the only way I’d survive.”

He looked up, his eyes pleading. “I went away to get better, to work on myself—and I did. But I couldn’t tell you because I didn’t want to give you false hope when I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be strong enough to come back. But now…” Nath’s gaze flicked to Ersa. “If you’ve moved on, then I’ll take Benjn.”

Xander’s entire body went rigid. “You can’t have him,” he growled, the sound low and dangerous. “You left him at the most vulnerable moment of his life. You abandoned us both when we needed you the most. What makes you think I’ll ever let you back into his life?”

“That decision isn’t yours to make, Master Quin,” the lawyer cut in smoothly, his expression cool and impassive. “Nath clearly didn’t leave his cub out of neglect. No omega in their right mind would willingly leave their cub.” He adjusted his cuffs, his voice heavy with the weight of authority. “Considering his documented mental health condition at the time of his departure, he retains full parental rights. And if you refuse him access, the state will have no choice but to strip you of your parental rights and award Nath sole custody of Benjn.”

The room fell into a suffocating silence. Ersa felt Xander turn cold beside him. The air grew heavy with restrained fury, but beneath that, Ersa could feel the flicker of fear Xander rarely let anyone see.

The lawyer’s voice softened, but it only made his words more sinister. “Your best option,” he said, “is to reinstate your bond. The paperwork for dissolution likely hasn’t even been finalized. You still have time to fix this—to repair your family before it’s too late.”

Ersa’s heart sank like a stone because he knew what those words really meant. They were asking Xander to choose—between his son and the life they’d started building together. And no matter how much Ersa loved him… he wouldn’t let him choose.

Xander’s mouth opened, his eyes blazing with fury, but before he could unleash the words simmering on his tongue, Ersa reached out, his fingers brushing Xander’s arm in a silent plea.

“Let’s talk,” Ersa said, though his heart pounded like a war drum in his chest. His gaze flicked toward the lawyer and the council officers, then to Nath, who looked close to tears. Ersa’s throat tightened. “Please. Let’s… figure this out without tearing everything apart.”

They left the room in tense silence, the air thick with unspoken fears and barely contained anger. When they reached Xander’s office, Ersa watched as the alpha began pacing behind his massive desk like a caged animal. His steps were quick and sharp, his jaw clenched so tight Ersa thought it might snap.

“Nath has some damn nerve coming back here and demanding things,” Xander growled, his voice low and dangerous. His hands flexed at his sides like he was imagining them around someone’s throat. “Is it even true? This story about the mental health center? Or is this just another one of his manipulations?”

“I’m sure there are ways for you to find out,” Ersa said softly, his eyes never leaving Xander’s restless form. “But the council wouldn’t appoint a lawyer if there wasn’t at least some truth to it. You saw him, Xander. He’s clearly been through… something.”

Xander stopped pacing, his eyes snapping to Ersa’s face. “Are you defending him right now?” he asked, incredulous, like the idea was too absurd to even comprehend.

“No,” Ersa said quickly, shaking his head. “I’m not defending anyone. I just need you to think rationally about this—because if you don’t, you’ll lose Benjn.”

His arms tightened around the small, warm weight of the cub, the fear of that very possibility wrapping around his throat like a vise. Benjn’s soft snuffles against his chest only made it worse. The thought of him being taken away was unbearable. And that was why he had to do what he was about to do.

Xander’s eyes softened, his fury giving way to something more fragile—something that looked an awful lot like fear. “Ersa?” he whispered, as if he could already see what was coming, as if he could already feel the distance building between them.

Ersa stepped forward slowly, his heart breaking with every step until he stood right in front of Xander. He reached up and cupped his alpha’s face, his thumb brushing over the tense line of his jaw.

“You’re an amazing alpha, you know that?” Ersa whispered, his voice trembling. “But more than that, you’re an amazing dad. And I can’t… I won’t let them take him away from you.”

Before Xander could react, Ersa gently transferred Benjn into his arms. The cub whimpered, his tiny fists reaching back toward Ersa even as the distance between them grew. Ersa forced himself to step back. Then another step. And another.

“Ersa—” Xander’s voice broke, raw and desperate.

But Ersa didn’t stop. He couldn’t. If he stayed one second longer, he’d never have the strength to leave. And this was the only way to protect them—even if it broke his heart in the process.

***

Xander

Xander took a step toward the door, ready to chase after Ersa, but Benjn’s cries grew louder, raw and frantic, the kind of sound that shattered his heart. His son needed him. And no matter how desperate he was to go after the love of his life, he couldn’t leave Benjn like this—not after everything they’d been through to help the cub feel safe and secure.

He forced himself to take a steadying breath, though his muscles remained coiled with frustration and fear. Relief flooded him when the door slid open and Vina rushed inside, her eyes wide with worry.

“I came as quickly as I could,” she said, reaching for the cub. Benjn quieted almost instantly in her arms, though his little face was still scrunched with distress. “Hicks said there was trouble. I saw Nath and the officers downstairs. What’s happening, Master?”

Her panicked eyes searched his face, but Xander couldn’t answer right away. His mind was a storm, a whirlpool of anger, fear, and heartbreak pulling him under. He scrubbed a hand over his face, willing himself to focus. But there was only one thought screaming through the chaos: Go after Ersa. Find him before it’s too late.

“Ersa ran out,” he said, his voice rough and strained. “I need to go after him.”

Vina’s grip on Benjn tightened. “He asked Hicks to take him somewhere,” she said softly. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“Fine?” Xander’s frustration cracked through his voice. “He’s not fine! None of this is fine!” He raked a hand through his hair, pacing the room like a predator barely holding itself back. His muscles burned with the need to act, to fix this before everything fell apart.

But he didn’t even know where to start.

His eyes fell on the workstation on his desk, and without another thought, he strode toward it and powered it on. The screen flickered to life, and his fingers flew over the interface, the soft beeps filling the room as he initiated a call. Seconds later, his brother Fury’s face filled the screen, his signature smirk already in place.

“Do you miss me already?” Fury teased, but the humor faded the second he saw Xander’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I need your help,” Xander said, his voice low and taut.

Fury’s expression turned serious in an instant. “What do you need?”

The immediate support settled some of Xander’s fraying nerves—knowing he had someone in his corner made it just a little easier to breathe. Quickly, he laid out everything: the confrontation with Nath, the lawyer’s claims, the threat hanging over their heads. By the time he finished, Fury’s nostrils flared, his eyes dark with rage.

“Are you okay?” Fury asked, his voice gentler than Xander expected.

“I will be,” Xander said, his throat tightening, “once I fix this—and once I have Ersa back in my arms.”

“Then let’s fix it.” Fury’s voice hardened with determination. “I’ll get Thron on this. He’ll dig into their claims, find out if this mental health center story checks out—and I promise you, we’ll find a loophole. There’s always a loophole.”

Xander let out a slow breath, some of the weight on his chest easing. “Thank you, brother.”

“No problem,” Fury said, and the screen went dark.

For a long moment, Xander just stood there, his hands braced against the desk, his head bowed. He pushed all his emotions away and forced his mind to think, to find a way to get out of the mess Nath had brought into his life.

“Master?” Vina said, pulling Xander from the storm of his thoughts. She stood there, cradling Benjn, her eyes filled with concern—for the cub, for him. He couldn’t fall apart now. Not when his family was hanging by a thread.

He forced his voice to stay steady. “Can you put Benjn to sleep?” he asked. “I need to go down and talk to the officers.”

Vina nodded without hesitation. “Of course.” She rocked Benjn gently, the cub’s whimpers already quieting in her arms.

Xander gave them one last lingering look before turning on his heel and heading downstairs. The sharp sound of his footsteps echoed through the hall, matching the pounding in his chest. But when he reached the foyer, his steps faltered. The officers were gone.

“I told them to leave,” Nath’s soft voice floated from the shadows. Xander turned to see him standing near the window, his thin frame backlit by the dim light outside. “This is between you and me, anyway.”

Xander swallowed the bitter words that rose to his tongue. It wasn’t just between them—not anymore. But he kept his temper in check, reminding himself that this nightmare would end soon.

“Come,” he said tightly. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Nath followed, his steps slow and hesitant. When they reached the stairs, he paused, his eyes flicking upward—toward the master bedroom. The room that had once been theirs. But Xander kept walking, ignoring the silent question in Nath’s gaze. He stopped at the door to the guest room—not the one he’d shared with Ersa during their most incredible nights together, but the one next to it.

“Here,” Xander said, pressing his palm to the access panel to open the door. “Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

But Nath didn’t step inside. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing Xander’s arm. The touch sent a spike of irritation through him, but he forced himself to remain still.

“Can we talk?” Nath’s voice was soft, almost pleading. He walked slowly to the bed and sat down on the edge, his shoulders slumped. “I… I saw the omega leave.” His eyes lifted, filled with something that looked suspiciously like regret. “Do you love him?”

“That’s none of your business,” Xander said, his voice like ice. He turned toward the door. “If you have nothing else to say, then I’ll leave you to rest.”

He didn’t wait for a response. The moment the door slid shut behind him, his chest heaved with the effort of keeping his rage in check. But it wasn’t just anger eating at him—it was loss. The scent of Ersa still lingered in the air, warm and familiar, and it made his heart ache.

He followed it like a lifeline, moving past his bed to the nursery. Inside, Vina sat on the settee, her eyes half-lidded with exhaustion as she watched over Benjn’s sleeping form. She rose to her feet when she saw him enter.

“Please prepare something for Nath to eat,” Xander said quietly. “He looks like he hasn’t eaten in days.”

Vina blinked, clearly stunned. “Why are you being nice to him?” she demanded. “You should be throwing him out of this house!”

Xander was silent for a long time, the weight of his decision pressing down on him like a boulder. The reason he was keeping Nath here made his stomach twist—because it wasn’t out of kindness. It was fear. The fear of losing his son. And he would do anything, anything, to keep Benjn safe. Even if it broke him.

The soft chime of his connector broke the quiet, and his heart leaped into his throat when he saw Fury’s name flash across the screen. He answered immediately.

“Hey,” Xander said, his voice tight with hope and dread. “Tell me you have something.”

Fury’s face filled the screen, but his expression was grim. “I couldn’t get a hold of Thron,” he said, “but I reached out to one of my buddies at Alpha Force. He confirmed it—everything Nath said checks out. He’s registered at Marinet Mental Health Center. He’s still a patient there.” Fury’s voice softened. “How the hell did you not know this, Xander?”

Xander’s knees went weak. He staggered back, sinking onto the edge of the bed—the bed that still smelled like Ersa. His throat tightened, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

“I didn’t handle him leaving well,” he admitted, his voice raw. “I shut everyone out—you, the family. I kept hoping he’d come back on his own. If he did… it would mean he wanted me. I thought if I just waited, I wouldn’t have to chase him. I wouldn’t have to force him to stay.” He ran a shaking hand down his face. “But I was wrong. And now, my entire life is falling apart.”

Fury’s silence stretched across the line. When he finally spoke, his voice was cautious. “So… you’re still legally bonded?”

Xander’s heart sank like a stone. “I guess so. Since he wasn’t in his right mind when he broke the bond,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry, Xander.” Fury sighed. “I wish there was another way. I know how happy you were with Ersa. I’ve never seen you like that before… so in love.”

Xander’s throat tightened, the ache almost unbearable. “It was too good to be true, wasn’t it?” His voice cracked despite his effort to stay strong. “Now… now, I’m going to look like the worst kind of bastard if I try to break the bond with my very mentally ill bond mate.” He forced out a laugh, but there was no humor in it—only pain. “It doesn’t matter that he left us. It doesn’t matter that he abandoned Benjn when we needed him most. All everyone will see is me turning my back on him when he’s at his weakest.”

Fury was quiet for a long beat, his face tight with frustration. “Yeah,” he finally said, his voice low. “I’m sorry, brother. I really am.”

Xander closed his eyes, the weight of the situation crushing him. “Thank you for trying, Fury,” he whispered. His fingers gripped the edge of the bed so tightly his knuckles turned white. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”

But he knew there was one thing he needed to do. He had to tell Ersa everything he found out. He wished he didn’t have to.

He didn’t want to break the omega’s heart.