Page 47 of Winning the Wolf

I kept my breath even, all the while doubting her sincerity. Miranda hadn't been a good mum to either of her sons. Why had she abandoned them both?

"Did you watch the video on Nyla's phone?" I asked, feeling a sudden urge to solve the mystery of the lost son.

Killick shuffled as he tugged a phone out of his jeans pocket. "Not yet. I'm not sure I can watch him kill my mother."

Pushing to my knees, I leant over to him and held out my hand. We had to know what had happened in order to deal with Jeremy. Killick looked at me, his eyebrows pulled low. I wiggled my fingers, encouraging him to let me watch the video.

"We'll do it together," he said, turning the phone on.

I slouched to his side and sat against the wall, being careful not to get too close. Whatever we were about to watch could send him into a rage and I didn't want to get in the way.

My palms sweated as he pressed play on Nyla's phone.

"You abandoned me." Jeremy's voice was distant.

"I didn't have a choice," Miranda replied, her own voice strong. "You were forbidden."

Her hard tone made me flinch. It was as if she were talking about a cheeky kiss or an ice cream on a diet.

"My father... who is he?"

"A mistake," Miranda spat, her tone full of malice.

Shock made my arms tingle. I had never known the alpha's wife to act so cold. Who had been behind the facade all this time? Killick didn't appear fazed. In fact, his energy was calm and even.

A scuffle was heard on the recording before a feminine yelp. "Don't do this Jeremy. You might not be the heir but you're still my son."

"You gave me to a family just ten miles away from your pack, bribing them to keep your secret. Now you'll pay."

"I sent them money," Miranda squeaked, panic clearly setting in, "because I cared about you."

An amused chuckle was followed by a strangled sob. "Then admit the truth, I'm the illegitimate son of Phileas and true heir to the Twilight Moon Pack."

"I can't because..." Miranda was crying now. "...it's not true. You are my son, yes, but not Phileas'. Your father was..."

Her sentence was halted by a gulp before a scream echoed in our ears. Killick threw the phone on the floor and cupped his mouth. Miranda's cry faded until it ended abruptly. We had just heard Jeremy kill Killick's mother by pushing her over the edge of the gorge.

My stomach rolled and I surged to my feet, tripping when my legs gave out under me. Killick caught me haphazardly, grunting when I elbowed him in the face.

"I'm sorry," I gasped. "I... fuck... that... fuck. I'm sorry."

He stared at me as I settled, half over his lap, half on the cold floor. He was looking through me, not at me. A shudder moved my muscles violently. There was something about being in his lap, vulnerable and open, ready to welcome his own vulnerability. It made me want to be near him, to trust him.

"She was always a bitch to me behind closed doors," Killick said, stroking a strand of my hair away from my cheek, "but I never imagined it was because she had an older son."

"That's no excuse to treat you badly." I traced my finger over his strong forearm, absently feeling his fine hair under my fingertip.

Shaking his head, he settled back, dragging me onto his lap properly. "She was doing what she thought best. No doubt she believed that Jeremy would come knocking at the pack's door."

"And the father?" I stayed dead still, too conscious of being in his lap to appreciate it.

If I moved, he might spook and knock me off, leaving me on the cold floor.

"He's obviously some guy she had a fling with before she was matched at the mating games." Narrowing his gaze, Killick looked into my eyes. "Please don't say you've had a secret child?"

"Er..." Blinking, I shook my head. "No, I haven't. Have you?"

"Just Geralt."

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