Page 58 of Warwick

My mother’s sudden shriek had everyone looking at her and Warwick and his beast on edge. He pushed me behind him, placing himself between my family and himself.

“My baby!” Mother shouted. She came rushing over toward us as I peeked around Warwick’s massive back. I wanted to know which of my brothers she was upset about now. When she continued toward us with her arms outstretched, I grabbed Warwick’s sides. His loud growl had everyone in the room freezing and Mother squealing before she jumped and ran back to my father.

“You need to keep Kaija in check, Daniil,” Grandpa Lev said. Mother glared at Grandpa, but her face cleared in a blink when Grandfather stepped into view.

“What are you going on about, Kaija? The only reason you are here is for us to talk as a family and to see if Cecil’s siblings treated him as the two of you have his entire life. There will be no lying among us, and if I find that any of you are guilty of the abuse that I think you are, there will be consequences. Family or not.”

“You can’t enforce consequences on us,” Father said. “Your reputation wouldn’t survive among your precious council.”

“Yeah, I’m ready to go now,” I told Warwick as I stepped out from behind him to look up at my mate. He was still staring at the others in the room.

“My first priority is you,” Warwick said. “But as an enforcer, I have to provide protection to Alpha Vitomir as well.” Warwick looked over to Grandpa Lev. “Lev, would you please take Cecil to the other side of the room?”

“Are you serious?” Mother asked. “He’s my baby! And he’s finally not broken. Look, he’s clearly pregnant.”

Mother was simply digging her hole deeper.

I took Grandpa Lev’s hand and looked up at Warwick. “Please, Warwick? Can you send us home?”

Warwick touched my face, and then his eyes met Grandpa’s before I felt my stomach flip. When I looked around seconds later, I was standing in my own living room. Grandpa Lev was still holding my hand.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the difference when hellhounds do it.” I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Oh, sweetie, you’ve done nothing wrong. But your mate is right. He’s taken care of you and the alpha mate. Now, his duty is to the alpha.”

“What’s going to happen?”

Grandpa Lev shook his head. “Well, right now, we’re going to raid your kitchen and find something to eat and drink. I’m thinking tea, but maybe you would rather coffee?”

I shook my head. I wanted neither but would drink whatever Grandpa Lev gave me. “I want Warwick. I’m not worried about his ability to protect himself. I know he can.” I smiled, thinking about my father trying to take on Grandfather, let alone my mate.

“Do you know what’s going to happen to them?” I asked again as I followed Grandpa into the kitchen.

He sighed. “The amount of abuse your parents inflicted upon you in your lifetime is enough to have them facing consequences. Alphas who treat their den members such as your parents did you are removed from their positions and are often sentenced to the holding facility in Alpha Sergei’s territory.”

I raised my eyebrows. “What about Mother? She’s human. She won’t survive living in the middle of Siberia.”

Grandpa Lev snorted. “They aren’t sent out to live in the wild, Cecil. There is actually a facility there in the middle of nowhere. The only way out is through magic, or if they’re really adventurous, they shift and travel hundreds of miles in the right direction. Only there is a magical fence surrounding the area. Once they reach it, the only way out again is through magic. It’s truly inescapable.”

I’d not known that. “So are they going? For how long?”

“Your grandfather won’t be the one to pass judgment. It would be unfair. Someone else from the council will hear their sides and will put down judgment.”

I couldn’t help it; I swiped at my eyes. “This is all my fault.”

Grandpa Lev’s arms encircled me. “No. This is your parents’. I’m not sure where Igor and Mila went wrong with your father. They have been too upset about the news to even think about coming. But they do send their love and are awaiting news about your babies.”

I smiled. “I never told anyone, Grandpa. I figured I was to blame.”

“That’s because you experienced years of abuse. Often, the victims of abuse feel as if they are to blame. It’s how it often works. You have done nothing wrong though, and the only ones to blame are your parents. Your mother specifically. Your father for not putting a stop to it. They will have to understand their actions have consequences.”

“What about my siblings?” They were all out of the house by the time I was even born. They’d left as fast as they could as well.

“They will be questioned.” Grandpa Lev handed me a paper towel. I used it to wipe my eyes and then my nose.

“They didn’t really have anything to do with me,” I told him. “They were gone. I always knew I was an unwanted mistake. Mother made sure I knew that often enough.”

Grandpa gave me a hug. “I wish we had all paid closer attention to you and how your parents were always too happy to keep you away from us. Your grandfather will never forgive himself for allowing one of his own to be treated as you were.”

I didn’t blame any of them though. I’d kept quiet because it was simply easier. “How long do you think they’re going to take?”

---