Chapter 54

Chapter 54
  Hunter’s POV:
   I never wanted to be the kind of brother who wished badly for his own blood. I’ve always wanted the best for him. At least, that’s what I told myself.
   But after hearing what Stefano just said, I realize maybe I was better off in the silence of his absence. 
  At least when he’s gone, I don’t have to deal with the chaos he leaves behind. If he thinks he can just walk in, vanish, and then reappear whenever it suits him… he’s wrong. Dead wrong.
   “You’ve got to be joking, Stefano.”
   He doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he smirks and lets out a low chuckle. “Joking about what? That I couldn’t care less about what you think? Or that I’m here to take my son back?”
   “Really? That’s it? No explanation?” The words tumble out, and I shoot to my feet before I even realize I’ve moved. My fists curl at my sides as my eyes lock on his. “You disappear without a single word, and the one time you bother to show up with Neo, you do what you do best—you disappear again! Where the hell have you been?”
   “Is that even your business, Hunter?” His voice sharpens as he steps closer, and I notice the difference in him instantly. 
  It’s only been three months, but he doesn’t look like the same man. He’s changed so much it makes my skin crawl.
   “I didn’t come here to explain myself to you,” he says coldly. “Brother or not, you don’t deserve that. Now, Where’s Neo?”
   “You’re not leaving with him.”
   He doesn’t say a word right away.
   Just stares at me like I’ve spoken the most unforgivable thing imaginable.
  And then after a second, he throws his head back and laughs. Loud. 
  The kind of laugh that scrapes my nerves raw. He even clutches his stomach like I’ve just delivered the year’s best comedy.
   “You’re a clown, Hunter,” he finally says, straightening and wiping the corner of his mouth.“Don’t tell me you’ve actually grown attached to my son. Too bad for you, he’ll never see you as anything more than his uncle.”
   I clench my jaw so tight it hurts. Damn it, he’s right. I’ve come to love Neo as my own. So much that sometimes, I forget he even has a father out there. To me, he is my son.
   “Just tell me where he is,” Stefano continues, voice clipped. “I’ll go get him myself. With Mum? Or at school?”
  “For fúck’s sake, you’re a terrible father, Stefano!” I snarl, my voice rising before I can stop it. “We both know that. And even if I let you take him, where the hell would you even drag him off to?”
  “Anywhere but this damn pack.” His jaw flexes as he steps closer, eyes blazing. “You think he’s safe here? You think this place protects him? I heard how he almost died because of that pathetic virus that tore through your pack. He almost fúcking died!”
  “Well, he didn’t die. He’s very much alive.”
  “Yeah yeah. All thanks to your ex-wife stepping in and saving your sorry asses.” He says mockingly. “I still don’t understand why she even bothered when you were nothing but a prick to her. It’s a good thing she’s with a better man now”
   My whole body trembles with rage. 
  How dare he??
  My fists curl at my sides as I step closer until we’re nearly chest-to-chest. My voice drops, thick with fury.
   “Watch your words, Stefano.”
   “Or what, brother?” He smirks, eyes gleaming with that sick satisfaction. “Sure, we’ve always had a strained relationship, and yeah, you’re the elder one… but that doesn’t change the truth. You’re still the most foolish Alpha and broth—”
   Before he can finish, my hand shoots forward, faster than I can think, slamming hard against his throat. His smirk falters as I snarl through clenched teeth, “You bastàrd!”
   “Oh my God, Hunter!” Kyle’s voice cuts through the red haze, and I suddenly remember he’s even in the room. He shoots to his feet, eyes wide, shaking his head. “Stop! Put him down.”
   “Stay out of this, Kyle,” 
   “Okay, what now?” Kyle says, stepping closer,“You gonna kill him, Hunter? Is that it?”
   “I think he deserves it.”
  Kyle throws his hands up. “Oh, come on!”
  I return my gaze to Stefano.
   His lips twitch into a bloody smile even as his face reddens, eyes turning glassy. A hoarse laugh bubbles out of him. “Ha… haha. So this is it, huh? You wanna kill me so you can st..steal my son? No chance. If you want a kid so badly, brother, then make one. Or…” His voice cracks as my hand clamps tighter, but he forces the words through. “…or are the rumors t..true? That You’re impotent after all?”
   Okay, That does it. The last thread of restraint snaps.
   With a vicious snarl, I squeeze harder, rage coursing through me, before shoving him off with all my strength. He stumbles back, choking and coughing, then crashes to the ground in a heap.
   Stefano lets out a wince as he hits the ground.
  Then, he coughs once, twice, three times—before glaring up at me.
   “You’re… you’re sick in the head!”
   I can’t help the grin tugging at my mouth as I take a slow step forward. “Oh no, brother. You don’t want to see me reallysick in the head. Push me one more ti—”
   “Hunter!”
   The door bursts open with a loud bang, cutting me off mid-threat. My head snaps toward the sound just in time to see her rushing in.
   What the hell? How did she even know I..
   “Oh my God, Stefano!” Mum’s voice cracks as she drops to her knees beside him, crouching at his level. Her hands flutter helplessly over his chest, his arm, his face. I see her features twist, pain carving into every line, and tears glistening in her eyes.
   “W… where have you been?” she chokes out. “Do you even have any idea how worried you’ve made me?Are you okay? Is you—”
   But she doesn’t finish.
   Her body suddenly trembles, her words cut off in a strangled gasp, and before I can even process what’s happening, she collapses. 
  To the ground.
  One moment she’s clinging to Stefano, the next she’s crumpling to the floor with a sickening thud. Blood spills from her mouth, staining her lips and pooling on the ground.
   What. the. hell?
   “Mom?!” My heart stutters and skips two beats as I rush towards her.