Longer than expected chapter. Originally hadn't planned on revealing too much about their father, but shit happens lol. Hopefully, this chapter will inform you more about Vince and why he is such a dick, but definitely doesn't excuse his actions by any means. Next few chapters will be loads of fun, some interaction between Simon and Vince to come finally. Thanks for the reads, follows, comments, and votes! I really appreciate hearing your thoughts. Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Vince's POV

I remember the first time I met David, Michael's mate. I had just turned thirteen, Michael had been nineteen. David was turning sixteen, the age where a mate's scent can be discovered. Michael had known David was his mate for three years, but like most mates, the bond would only be at its strongest when both were of age. As much as I hated to admit it, David was an all-around good guy. He had gone straight to work after schooling to help take care of orphaned pups or the elder wolves within the pack, often assisting our mother and the other she-wolves in making sure they were well taken care of.

Michael had introduced us to him over dinner one night. At that point, I had only seen David in passing or seeing him briefly chat with mother over one of the elderly wolves they were assigned. He was polite, charming, and honestly a good match to my often rash and stubborn brother. Michael had told our father, Damon, that he was a friend, a close one that had the qualifications for being a great beta or bodyguard for our family. He was highly intelligent, placed top of his class, did a plethora of volunteer work, and had experience with working with other packs through internships and outside jobs he had with the humans.

And classic David, he brushed the compliments off, blushing and downplaying the qualifications he obviously had.

However, the look on fathers face during dinner seemed to suggest that Michael had more to say than suggest a job offer. There was a moment of silence before Michael sighed, and grasped David's hand. When Michael had dropped the news that David was, in fact, his mate and not just a friend, our father made a face we had never seen directed at any of us.

It was the first time I saw disappointment on our father's face. At thirteen, I didn't see anything wrong with David being his mate, but I hadn't known the gravity of what that meant, especially for our family. And as his disappointment turned to rage, our confusion had quickly turned to fear. Xavier, who was only seven had burst out crying, hiding behind mother as waves of unprecedented anger seemed to wash over our father. I could only watch in complete stillness as the events played out so quickly.

Michael had grabbed David's hand and had stepped away from the long dining table, Michael shielding David away from Damon. David, despite being taller than my brother, seemed to cower in terror as father stalked over to them.

Michael held out his hands, as father quickly approached them, pleading, "please, father. Don't–things can be different."

"Like hell!" he shouted before lowering his voice, "I will not have this happen again."

"Dad–"

"Get out!" He used his alpha voice, something he's never had to use on any of us before, which had scared all of us shitless, including our mother who had started tearing up as well, still clutching little Xavier to her chest.

That night, Michael and David were nowhere to be seen, and father had tucked Xavier and me to bed. He had calmed down significantly, but I could tell Xavier was still apprehensive as he squeezed my hand tightly next to me. He didn't always like sharing the bed with me, but he happened to stay in my bed for almost a week after that incident.

After our father said his good nights, he turned to me, mind-linking me. When you turn sixteen, you find your mate, and she'll be perfect. Michael may have fucked this up, but when you find your she-wolf, you'll become our pack's alpha. And if I find out your mate is a fucking male, I will, son and all..."

He leaned closer, whispering in my ear, "make your life a living hell."

I could do nothing but nod as he slowly walked out, his threat leaving an uncomfortable silence that left me sleepless for months.

I hadn't seen Michael or David for a few months after that, and when I did, it was like they had become an average pack member. They didn't interact hardly ever, and when they did, they seemed to dance around each other, barely touching. A part of me felt sorry for Michael. If only David had been a she-wolf, maybe things would've turned out far different.

And when Simon had told me we were mates, I had been scared shitless. I had almost forgotten his threat, and despite father being dead, I still feared what a male mate meant. He was probably rolling in his grave, wishing to tear me a new one. I was honestly surprised I hadn't seen his ghost trying to haunt me yet. So excuse me if I was angry that everyone seemed to feel sorry for Simon when really they should worry about the repercussions male mates, especially as an alpha, would have on the pack.

Now that I had to face my older brother Michael again, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I had kicked him and David out for a reason when I assumed father's role as alpha and hated that we agreed to meet face to face at the RCPP.

Our father, Damon established the Rogue Control and Protection Project roughly twelve years ago. According to him, our mother Marie had been the one to push for a more friendly border and allow their access to pack land if they needed medical assistance or seek asylum from other packs or rogues.

For the most part, our father seemed to revere the RCPP he had started up. Hundreds of rogues had been helped within the first few months, and it had seemed to make the overall safety and atmosphere of the surrounding territories friendlier and safer for both pack members and rogues. But shortly after, the program was failing. Rogues would flock to our pack seeking "medical attention" only to use the facility as a resting spot, a place to get fed and obtain free supplies to the point that the safety for pack members was quickly diminishing. Pups were rushed indoors, the elderly weren't allowed outside for more than a few hours, buddy systems were quickly being put in place.

When father died, I wanted to scrap the program completely, but I kept it for our mothers sake. I had completely overhauled the policies, making it harder for people to take advantage of it. Rogues were limited to medical emergencies only and would be granted three months for any follow-up. After that, they could only seek medical help from us after a year had passed, and if they wanted to become a pack member, it would take an eight-ten year process. Any rogues seeking medical attention were to obtain tracking devices so we could track their movements and ensure that they didn't overuse the RCPP.

The RCPP was a dilapidated building that hadn't really gone undergone any major changes since my father had built it. Of course, the medial supplies and tools were all top-notch stuff, as it had the same things as the main pack hospital had. We could house both rogues in human and wolf form, but this building was not nearly as expansive and comforting as the main clinic.

Walking up to it now, I wished I hadn't agreed to meeting with Michael at all. We were always at odds with each other, even before he had introduced us to David. He was a know-it-all, haughty at times, and relished in the fact that he was destined to be alpha being the first-born son. To him, I was always the second-best, too innocent and naive to be an alpha. But look how the mighty have fallen, and a part of me was excited to see him just to rub it in his face that I had become dad's favorite.

"Room four on the left," Xavier read from his phone. "There are three RC betas with him right now. Chase said he'll have some more on standby in case anything happens."

"He's dumber than I thought if he tries to pull anything." I opened the door to see a few of the RC betas stationed here greet me. Among them was Lucas's brother Craig, Bryce, and a couple of hunters. As I turned towards the room, Lucas caught up with us, along with my cousin Dwaine and Brady, betas that are stationed at the packhouse. It was probably overkill bringing all the top betas here, but I didn't want to underestimate him. There was no chance that I would trust him, especially with how "urgent" he was making this out to be.

I hesitated opening the door, but I knew that whatever he wanted to say to me or Xavier, we needed to take it with a grain of salt.

I didn't know what I was expecting when I opened the door, but it was weird seeing my brother in his human form. The only recent encounters I'd see him was during our hunts, and he'd always been in wolf form when we spotted him. His hair was disheveled, but aside from that and his messy choice of clothes, he still wore that cocky grin like he believed he had a one up on us. He was sitting with his arms crossed, legs propped up on the table like he owned the damn place, seemingly to brush off the fact that some of our strongest RC betas were standing next to him.

The room was rather small, but Dwaine, Xavier, and Lucas squeezed in, flanking my sides as we wondered what Michael had to say. His grin grew, watching the four of us before taking his legs off the table and leaning over the table. "Well, if it isn't my baby brothers and my cousin dearest."

I could sense Xavier tensing, before I blurted, "What do you want?"

"Well," he sighed leaning back in the chair before gesturing up at the lights. "This place doesn't quite have the same aesthetic or appeal as it once did. You know, this place used to be bustling with rogues, but it's looking more like a ghost town now that I've seen it in person."

"Quit blabbering, and start talking," I warned.

He rolled his eyes before smirking. "I think you know exactly why I'm here, Vince."

I glared at him, unsure of what he was talking about. If he wanted revenge, it didn't make any sense why now. And besides, nothing would bring his mate back nor would he ever be allowed to be alpha.

"Well it seems I have to spell it out for my poor dimwitted brother," he said before looking at the betas behind him. "If you'd excuse us, this is a private family moment."

They looked at me, and I hesitantly told them to step out, telling Lucas and Dwaine to step out as well. As soon as the door shut behind them, Michael leaned forward again, resting his head on his palms with his elbow propped on the table.

"Now dear brother, do you understand why I'm here?"

I frowned, before he continued, "I met with Simon recently, a nice fellow that one. A bit depressing if you ask me, but who could blame him? With a mate like you, I'm surprised he's still alive after all those years."

I glared at him, wanting to wipe that awful smirk from his face for good. "So what?" I spat. "You want revenge for David? Or is it about being alpha? I won fair and square, remember?"

"You know, when you killed David I was mad. Heartbroken. Devastated. It hurt worse than being kicked out of the pack by my own brother," he said. "The bond nearly killed me, still nearly kills me every now and then. There are days where I just want to jump off a cliff, drown myself, etc. I've thought of so many ways, but I knew that it would do nothing really. Nothing could bring David back, wouldn't allow me back home. But as much as you two hate me or whatever, I at least have you alive and well. Mother is alive, and the people who I used to know are still safe and sound here within the pack. Even the rogues I've met have become another family.

"But Simon...poor Simon has no one really. See you took that away from him, Vince. He really doesn't have any family, maybe a few friends, but the ones here think he's a traitor. We both know that's not the case, but somehow you got your brain so twisted that you just had to ruin his poor life all for what, father's approval?"

I nearly lunged at him, but Xavier held me back.

He continued, "He's dead, Vince. You don't have to prove anything to him. You can't ruin a bond like this, brother. My guess is that you're already feeling the effects of it. Unbearable pain, painful shifts, lack of empathy, they're all classic cases. But the worst kind of pain is losing your mate for good, Vince. It'd be a shame for the mighty alpha of this pack to go insane, all because he couldn't protect the one person he was supposed to care for. I mean look at me, is this really what you want your life to become?"

"You don't know anything, Michael," I seethed. "You were the reason our pack and father's name was tarnished. All because you couldn't just listen to him!"

Michael scoffed before glaring darkly. "You think I don't know anything? I knew everything about this pack, the ins, outs, our dark oppressive past, everything, Vince. Down to the everyday policies, pack relations, and dad's precious dirty little secrets. What? You think dad was so pure and righteous? How do you think I know what a huge mistake you're making? You're following in his exact fucking footsteps!"

I wanted to yell back, but his words stopped me in my tracks. Xavier had flinched, before gripping my arm tightly in case I lashed out.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

He brushed it off though, replying, "honestly, I don't know why I even try. You and father both, I swear you just crave power too much. I should just put Simon out of his misery, save him the torment and pain. Maybe then you'll get it through your thick skull that the bond is a precious thing that shouldn't be broken–"

"What about father?" I interrupted. "His footsteps?"

"Honestly you're more of a fool then I take you for. David and I had nothing to do with father losing his mind. The bond killed him, Vince." He rolled his eyes. "Mother wasn't his actual mate, he had a male mate like the rest of us."

My legs felt like jelly at the news. If it hadn't been for Xavier next to me, my knees probably would have given out. That couldn't be true, he scorned Michael, threatened me. To think he had a bond with anyone other than our mother was terrifying.

"Now, as I was saying," he sighed. "If you won't fucking treat Simon with just an ounce of respect, I might just have to put him out of his misery. Maybe it'll teach you a good lesson going through a severed bond."

"Michael–"

"Vince," he mocked before warning seriously. "Protect him with your life. If you have the slightest shred of decency, you would protect him not just to protect the bond, but the pack, and your sanity. At least give him that. Prove to me that you're better than father, that you earned the alpha title for a reason, brother. If you can prove to me that you are willing to at least try to salvage the bond, then maybe I won't try to rip the alpha role from you, because goddess knows that you don't fucking deserve it."

I almost wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue. The truth was if I were to fight Michael in our wolf forms, I probably would lose given how difficult shifting was. So as much as I wanted to spit at him or punch him in his smug face, I held back, knowing if he really did fight me for the role, there was a chance he could take it from me. And that honestly scared me more than the stupid severed bond threat he made.

"What do you say, brother dear?" He raised his brows.

"Fine," I spat. "I'll make sure he's still alive, but don't think I'll just let him back into the pack or anything."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but let out a sigh instead. "Fine, I'll be watching, Vince. And remember, you're capable of being better than our father. Hold yourself to a higher standing, would you?"

Making a deal with Michael seemed like a disaster waiting to happen, but I held back, hoping that this wouldn't be a complete trainwreck.

"And Xavier," Michael called out. "Keep your brother in check, even though you're younger, you turned out better than him already. I'm glad one of us turned out sane."

Xavier huffed, before leaving to get some betas to escort him out.

We seemed to stare at each other in silence for minutes, even though it was only a few seconds for Xavier to grab some RC betas that were stationed nearby.

Once Michael was officially out of pack territory, Xavier turned to look at me, a mix of worry and confusion on his face. Craig and Dwaine had resumed their normal duties, as Lucas joined Xavier and me staring out into the forest that Michael walked back into. They looked back at me, wondering what next, and bit my lip.

I sighed, looking at them for a moment before announcing, "I'll put you two in charge of watching Simon."

Lucas nearly snapped his neck to look at me with a strange look. I informed him about the deal with Michael, before explaining further. "Nothing serious, just watch him from afar, I guess. I don't want him to expect anything out of this, but if Simon gets hurt or killed, Michael will be out for blood, mine specifically. Not that I can't handle my brother, but it's best we don't try risking it."

Lucas seemed confused, which was understandable. But Lucas had been there to witness when I kicked Simon out, one of the only betas who knew the truth about what happened, and it was just easier, given where his loyalties lied.

"You guys can take turns or whatever, you can decide on your own, but don't make it obvious," I elaborated. "Can't risk anyone finding out about him."

Xavier gave me a pointed look, but I shrugged it off, suddenly craving a nice round of beers.