Chapter 114: Collateral Heartache

Kane’s POV

My father and Sebastian both needed to be dealt with—or so the plan went. Feign ignorance, pretend Astaroth had wiped our memories, then strike when the time was right. After that, they’d face death. Everyone agreed it was the only way to end their treachery. The logic was sound, but each time I heard their names linked to an execution, something in me twisted.

The simple truth was, it wasn’t simple at all.

"You’re telling me," Rolo grunted at the back of my mind, his usual gruffness underlined by a tinge of sorrow.

I leaned against the corridor wall, my gaze falling on Charlotte. She stood with her arms folded under her belly, eyes fixed on the distance. She tried—and failed—to hide how the looming deaths weighed on her. Part of me almost wished she’d lash out, cry, anything. But she just… stood there, struggling to reconcile all the hurt they had caused.

"She’s hurting in ways she won’t admit," I told Rolo, my chest tightening at the sight. Leigh was basically her father. As fucked up as that seemed.

"Now she sees that man was never truly on her side." Rolo let out a low, rumbling sigh. She clung to him for guidance once.

My jaw clenched. The sting of betrayal ran deep for me, too, but in a different way. Alpha Leigh was my father—blood—and he’d betrayed us all. I had warned Charlotte—warned everyone—not to trust blindly. But I’d never truly believed my own father would turn against me, turn against us. Anger sparked in my veins. If I’d been more vigilant, maybe I could’ve shielded Charlotte from at least some of this heartache. That regret dragged at me.

I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting to Charlotte's profile.

"She can’t just forget the good she once saw in him," I thought grimly. "He taught her to hold her ground, helped her develop her powers—made her think he cared." That notion fanned the old, familiar ache in my chest: a father who’d taught me the basics of being an alpha, only to twist that power for his own ends.

"He manipulated her," Rolo remarked darkly, "Used her faith in him to further his goals." My hand curled into a fist, nails biting into my palm.

"No one messes with my mate." I despised seeing her so torn, so full of conflicting emotions. Sometimes I felt like a coiled spring, ready to lash out if it meant easing her pain. But I also knew part of her still felt affection for him, an affection that was like a slow poison in her veins.

"She’s not the only one crumbling," Rolo added gently. "Look at yourself, Kane. Leigh’s your father, and you know he has to die."

I let my head fall back against the wall, a harsh breath escaping me.

"I can’t fix that for her—or for me. All I can do is stand by her while she processes it." And then there was Sebastian—Charlotte’s cousin by blood. I’d watched how mentioning his name brought a flicker of sorrow and anger to her eyes. She’d once hoped to share the throne or give it up if he wanted it so badly. But he threw any chance at family away in pursuit of a power she never asked for.

"He resents her for a birthright she never even cared about." Rolo gave a short, furious snarl in my head.

"Exactly," I agreed, recalling Sebastian's sneer. "Charlotte might hide it well, but losing his respect stung." I felt it through our bond, that constant hum of anguish she couldn’t quite smother.

"She’s losing sleep," Rolo muttered. "Nightmares keep her pacing the halls at all hours." I closed my eyes, remembering how I’d found her, arms hugging her belly, staring into nothing when I snuck in to see her one night at her brothers' manor. I’d creep away before she saw me—caught between wanting to comfort her and fear that she might reject my help.

"She has to face Leigh’s and Sebastian's betrayals on her own terms," I reasoned. "No one can do that for her." But it killed me to watch. There was no tidy solution—only the knowledge that, soon, they would be gone from her life forever, and she’d have to live with the aftermath. She dreaded it almost as much as she needed it done.

A floorboard creaked under her weight, drawing my attention. Charlotte leaned against a windowsill, fatigue etched around her eyes. If I were braver, I’d fold her into my arms and promise her things I was no longer sure I could guarantee.

"Tell her she’s not alone," Rolo urged quietly. "She shouldn’t have to shoulder this heartbreak by herself." A swirl of memory tugged at me, memories of my father’s harsh lessons, how quickly family could turn into something else.

"I don’t want her crushed the way I was," I admitted, finally stepping forward.

“Leigh and Sebastian,” I ventured, my voice nearly catching. Her posture went rigid. She didn’t want to discuss it, but I could sense the crack in her resolve.

“I know we decided on their… fate,” I uttered, my throat tight. “But you’re struggling with it.”

She shot me a flicker of a look, eyes bright with unshed tears. Her gaze slid away, and for a moment, I thought she’d tell me to leave. Instead, she exhaled, a shaky breath that let down all her defenses.

“I hate that it hurts,” she whispered, dashing a tear from her cheek. “I feel so guilty, Kane—like I should be relieved they’ll be gone, but I’m… not. I’m heartbroken.”

I stepped closer, my palm itching to cup her cheek.

“He was like a father to you. And… he is my father.” That admission tasted bitter. “But blood doesn’t erase what he’s done, doesn’t wipe away the betrayal. It just… complicates it.” I explained truthfully. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears tracking down her face. We stood there, enveloped in a sorrow-laced silence. Finally, I mustered what strength I had left.

“You’re not weak, you know that, right?” I asked, voice shaking. “Loving someone who never deserved it—that’s on them, not you.”

She let out a small, broken sound and leaned in, forehead against my chest. My arms slid around her almost on instinct, hyper-aware of her swollen belly.

“He used me,” she choked. “And Sebastian—he hates me for a role I never wanted. Why do I still… care?”

I swallowed, recalling my father’s many betrayals, Sebastian cutting words.

“Because you have a heart, Charlotte. And that’s why you’re everything to me…" I smiled, lifting her chin to look at me, her eyes rimmed with tears. I wish she would let go to ease her pain.

"To us." Knox added as he appeared to the right of her, pressing his forehead against hers tenderly like he also so effortlessly did.

"You can’t just shut off compassion. Charlotte.” I added after a moment, she lifted her head, swiping at her tears.

“If only I could.”

“No. That would break something essential in you.” A strained smile curved my lips.

"And you ARE perfect the way you are." Knox winked at her, forcing a smile to tease her lips finally. Offering Knox a smile, I felt him relax through the link, our minds and hearts finally at ease knowing she would be OK.. We would make sure of it… Together.

"She’ll come out the other side of this." Rolo stirred in my mind, a deep assurance echoing through our bond.

"She has us."