Chapter 54: Chapter Fifty-Four

Roan

Roan’s entire body froze when he saw his brother standing beside Sullen. He had tunnel vision. Ridge was … Duke? How had he fooled Roan so easily?

He’d masked his scent well. He'd never once thought it was his brother that left the pack decades ago.

It surprised Roan how well he'd kept it from him. He hid his face until the right moment, changed his name, and Roan never suspected anything.

So he could sweep the rug out from under Roan. He’d done a great job.

“Brother?” Sullen asked, looking between the two of them. She tossed her head back dramatically and laughed. “You’re joking? This is your brother?” she asked, looking at Roan.

Roan gave her a clipped nod. “I told you I had a brother, I just didn’t realize he was this person. Obviously, I didn't think my own brother would attempt to take down the pack that raised him."

Sullen cringed. She’d slept with his brother. The knots in his stomach twisted and made him feel ill. He watched Sullen bend down to her knees, fall back on her butt, and laugh.

“This just keeps getting better and better.”

Roan cleared his throat, trying to weigh his options. He hadn’t seen his brother since he abandoned the pack long before. He always thought he hated pack life and took after their mother. But he was stewing in the fact he wasn’t the alpha all this time.

He resented Roan for taking the position when it was Roan's to take.

“Are you surprised?” Ridge asked. “Because you look surprised.”

Roan glanced at Sullen who looked grossed out and pissed, and shrugged. “I guess so. I didn’t think my own brother would betray me, but oddly enough, now looking back, I guess it isn’t too far out of character for you is it? You left the pack without a peep. Those are characteristics of a coward, so why wouldn’t you gather an army of rogues to destroy the only home you’ve ever known?”

He chuckled. “On the contrary, brother.” He pointed at Sullen. “This was my home before she found you. Somewhat. I lived with Sullen for a few years, ya know. That reminds me," he said, looking over at Sullen. "I went by the apartment and rent is due. I'll need your share soon.”

Roan felt his wolf skim the surface, begging to be set free to kill Ridge. He wanted to kill his own brother.

“Calm down,” Ridge said. “It was all a coincidence that I met her. When I realized she was your mate, it just made my plan so much easier. I’m surprised you changed this one. She seemed content living a life with me, away from the pack. I guess true love really does beat all.”

Roan felt some of his pack members making their way closer. They’d followed his scent as he asked. Natalie finally listened to him and gathered everyone quickly.

“So what’s your plan, Ridge? Kill me and take over the pack? Do you plan to kill Dad? Mrs. Andrews? I know you’re this big, mean pack killer, but I don’t see you doing it.”

Ridge’s face turned serious. “You’d be surprised at what I’ve learned to live with, Brother. Now. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I know the pack is on the way, and my friends are waiting nearby. You give the pack to me, and I’ll let Sullen live. You fight me, and she’ll be dead within ten minutes.”

Roan hadn’t seen his brother in years, decades, and he didn’t know what he was capable of anymore. Would he kill Sullen, or try, he didn’t know.

But he couldn’t risk it.

The alpha inside of him, though, would not let Ridge win this. Roan’s wolf howled, and pawed, in desperation to get free. “You think you’re stronger than me?” Roan asked with a laugh. “Have you been hitting the gym, because we both know that you weren’t growing up?”

Walking a circle around them, Roan sized his little brother up and down. Something he knew he hated. “Don’t look any bigger than before. Are you sure this is going to go in your favor?”

Ridge’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. “You’re the same asshole as before,” Ridge laughed.

Roan shrugged. “All alphas have a little bit of that in them.” He stepped in front of Ridge, all his pent-up anger boiling to the surface. “But you wouldn’t know about that, would you, Ridge?”

Roan watched Ridge fight his wolf. Roan eyed Sullen, hoping she caught his hint for her to make a run for it when this started. He still couldn't get through to her with a mind link.

“Don’t get scared now, Ridge. I’m ready to show you why I was chosen as the alpha.”

Ridge snapped quickly, his body shifted into wolf form, and he landed inches from Roan’s face, teeth bared.

Roan watched Sullen scurry up to an upright position and run for the woods like he wanted her to. He felt his heart tugging to follow her, but he needed to end all of this.

Roan shifted and faced his brother for the first time in decades. The passive part of him wanted to feel sorry for Ridge, blame it on mommy issues, dig deep, and find out why Ridge had gone down this path.

The alpha inside of him wanted to taste his blood for threatening his pack.

For threatening his mate.

For putting him through hell.

Memories of them playing in the woods surfaced. He wanted to shake him, make him remember all of the things they went through together. How Roan comforted Ridge when their mother abandoned them.

How he made sure Ridge had everything he needed for school.

And that he made friends on the pack land.

Roan never knew he resented him for becoming alpha. He felt the tension in the woods, his wolves squaring off with Ridge’s, and he sent up a silent prayer that Sullen made it to safety. That she ran into her father or someone that would take care of her.

Ridge would either give up or die trying, either way, Roan was ending this once and for all.