Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 526: Loved

It was strange, stepping back into the same room where his mate had nearly killed his mother just moments ago. Roman didn’t even think about inviting Violet this time. This was his mess, and he’d deal with his parents himself.

"Where is she?" Alexa demanded, tapping her feet impatiently against the floor.

"Why?" Roman shot back, his voice dripping with venom. "So she can finish the job? Oh, right—" his lip curved in a snort—"you’ve always been a sucker for punishment. What a masochist." He muttered under his breath, but with meaning. Roman hadn’t just heard the rumors about his mother, he’d witnessed it firsthand.

Fire flared in Alexa’s eyes. She caught the jab immediately, and her mouth twisted. "Fine. Since you want to unpackage everything, let’s do it right now."

Alexa started, "All your life you’ve looked at me with disgust because you caught me in bed with another man at a young age. But I wasn’t the only guilty one. Your father—" she jabbed a finger at Leon—"was in it too. We had an open marriage. So why is it only me who is painted as the monster here?"

For once, Leon said nothing, his expression grave.

Alexa taunted him. "What’s the matter, Leon? Cat got your tongue?"

"Your mother is right," Leon said at last, locking eyes with his son. "She didn’t deserve all the hate. We were both in it together. If there’s anyone you should hate, it’s me, Roman."

His shoulders sagged, but his gaze never broke. "I’ve been a failure of a father. With the kind of life I chose..." He shook his head in regret. "I never should’ve brought a child into this world. No, I never planned to. That was your mother’s and my agreement from the start. But then Henry came along and convinced me of the advantage of having a powerful heir, especially with Elijah sterile..."

He chuckled bitterly at the memory. "I guess, I got greedy. The thought of an heir who could be Alpha King... all I saw was the benefit the South Pack would reap. I didn’t stop to think about the damage my lifestyle would inflict on the child I brought into this world."

Alpha Leon’s voice thickened with regret as he confessed. "Your mother never wanted a child. That was the agreement we made when we married. But I pushed her. I convinced her to have you, and I promised her I’d take care of you. So don’t blame her, Roman. Blame me. I’m the one you should hate. It’s all my fault."

Roman Draven was as still as a tree. Then the tears came, dripping down his cheeks like a river. He didn’t know which hurt worse, the fact that his mother never wanted him, or that his parents only birthed him for power. Either way, something inside him cracked.

never borne me," Roman said, his voice breaking as the hot

saw his smile and thought nothing could ever shake him. Others looked at his

was Roman Draven wore his heart on his sleeve. He just hid it behind a mask of nonchalance. Underneath, he was painfully emotional, and right now, the dam had burst

through him, she’d break that door

was on his feet now. "Roman,

back so his father couldn’t reach him. "Sorry doesn’t repair what you did to me." His eyes burned as he finally bared the wounds he had carried

lifestyle did?" he asked, his words cutting like shards. "It ruined me. It destroyed the way I saw love. You made me believe sex was all a relationship ever was. That’s all I knew. That’s all I thought I was

once. Everything was shallow, just another game, just another bed, and I thought

the first time, tears glistened in

actually belong to someone. To love honestly and to be loved in return. Without that bond... I’d just be a broken product. That’s what you both made me.

She wiped it away in

was rough and raw as he said, "So please, don’t ruin my bond too. That’s

throat worked, voice thick with emotions when he quickly promised, "Violet’s

dipped his head in

he turned on his heel, and walked away from the two people

to call out his son clawing at his chest but

had already done enough damage. The least

suddenly spun, his grief curdling into rage. His fist slammed down on the table, splintering the wood. Then, he grabbed

ground, the sound of breaking glass mingling with his ragged breaths. His

husband to his fury. Yet, as she passed the doorway, she

that was the truth, but that boy was still a piece of her. And she had

the cycle of weakness he inherited. He