Chapter 33

CEDRIC is familiar with desperation. When he was still living in his father's pack territory, he was shadowed with his alpha father's prestige. And was constantly pushed to be greater.

Out of his father's eight sons, Cedric or formerly known as Axel was the youngest one. His father loved his omega mother, but that doesn't keep him from entertaining daughters form nearby packs. Especially when his mom had a rare omega reproductive disease that had her unable to concieve. He's the only son of his mom.

He was supposedly treated differently. With love. Since his brothers were all not cared for by their alpha father. They were distant. An alpha father scared that one of his sons will usurp the territory.

He couldn't be more wrong.

Cedric's mom hope for him to live a life with a proper functioning family. Yet it never happened. His mother died, and soon did his father followed.

But not without leaving him problems behind.

Cedric regretted not bonding with his other brothers when they were young. Because they were not born from the main wife, the alpha mate, they were not treated the same. And they often work in the fields while he work in the woodshed.

They don't... think of him as their brother. Cedric doesn't know why. When he turned to ask, the damage was already done.

When his father died, his grandfather, a weaker alpha, was held responsible for dividing properties. The pack territory itself should be given to the eldest son of the main wife, but Cedric tactfully backed down. He knew he can't handle it.

Still, his grandfather wants them to fight for it. And he wanted Cedric to participate. He said he doesn't want to. He fought for peace. He wanted to live by himself. Marry one day and have a family he can call his own.

He was young back then. Easily influenced by fear and wants.

His brothers fought for the title. They fought for the right. They have forsaken their own fated mates, for the chance to be accepted in their father's pack as a true leader.

One of the requirements is that they marry a noble omega and provide an heir.

It was very simple. Indeed. But his brothers were all mated to beta women. Omega wolves were prided rare and precious. Since they were not properly accepted as an heir by his alpha father, they can't marry an omega with high status.

They have to prove themselves first as capable to provide.

It takes a very long time. His eldest brother was already thirty years old. He had already married a beta and had a kid to call his own. He was the first who left his wife. And the first one to die because of the longing.

Wolves were spiritual beings. His eldest brother and his wife were not fate mated but she loved him dearly. He treasured her as well. As far as Cedric know about the matter, they scheme to fake breaking up and his elder brother will take an omega wife. After having successfully crowned as the new alpha, he will proclaim incompatibility with that supposedly omega of his and then have Cedric bond with it instead.

His eldest brother intended to give way for him. Leave him an option and protect him under his wing. Unfortunately, Cedric didn't know this back then.

His grandfather was still knocking him unconscious with a bat when his eldest brother was planning things thoroughly.

Cedric doesn't know why his grandfather hated his decision. He called him a disgrace towards his father for letting a bunch of bastards take what's rightfully his.

He was small. He was easily angered. And so he fought back as much as he can. Until he couldn't do it anymore. He all but ran away from that place. His grandfather knew of his escape and he went after him, chasing him back with a rifle in hand.

Cedric felt like a hunted animal. The disappointment was immeasurable. He even wished for his brothers to die. Because they never offered their help.

They only stared as Cedric danced through the bullets. Crying and begging for the attacks to stop. It was the first time that Cedric got acquainted with desperation.

When it all ended, Cedric woke up in the streets. His clothes in tatters and the dirt on his face had hardened overnight.

He expected to feel scared but he can only perceive relief in his bones. Finally. He's free.

Cedric worked in the streets with odd jobs. It was at that moment that he found the joys of worldly things. Cigarettes can calm his nerves, a quick fuck can feed him a meal of stale bread and that pickpocketing isn't bad.

Cedric made connections with drug lords, the cops and the common people that way. Working labor jobs, running errands.

He remembered the first time he saw Maximilian Adenhart in a pub. The man was clean and smelled of money.

"I see you're free," he opened up, "How about spending your time with me?"

Max raise a brow. His disdain towards Cedric clear and insulting. "I don't do men. And even if I find the interest to do one, it ain't going to be a hybrid."

"Hybrid?" Cedric laughed. "Excuse me?"

"You're somewhat... one of my kind, but you're a dog as well."

Cedric received the shock of his life when he heard that he actually had a vampire's blood in him from his omega mother. It was the reason why his mother had a problem conceiving, and that no one stood up for her when his alpha father sleep around.

Wolves think low of vampires. It was the same for the vampires. Their expectations for them is unbecoming.

Now that he thought of it clearly, his mom was an omega wolf, yet why is she treated like she isn't one?

Cedric doesn't want to dwell on it anymore. He vowed to never cross Max' way again.

When he went to sleep in his home under a bridge, he saw Maximilian being ganked by two mobs. He didn't hesitate and help the guy. The man told him about his hybrid body. The only thing he can do to repay him is through this.

"You're nimble on your feet, and stupidly daring. I should probably hire you."

Cedric accepted his offer when it came. He started small, but he ended up big time.

He bought a home of his own. Yet he's still alone. Thus, he continued to sleep around. Hopping from different beds. Asking for the heat and comfort that his alpha wolf needs to survive being alone in the city.

Later on, it became a habit. When it was getting uninteresting day by day, he felt an unprecedented fear. Aside from this, where can he possibly get companionship? This is the only thing where he's exceptional. Having sex.

He can't communicate well, he isn't educated, and he doesn't have a nice temper. His wealth isn't huge and his connection ran deep but belongs to the wrong crowd.

When he saw Jefferson Duvas one day, the shock in his heart made him stutter the whole week. He can't believe it.

Does the fates really believe that he deserve someone of that caliber? That's Jeffrey! The ruler's regent!

He thought he couldn't. He said to himself, he shouldn't.

Max told him that he tends to react about things that are obvious only by the surface. He gave him the reports that they have about him.

He found out that his eldest brother died when he challenge his grandfather. The others went feral because they chose to leave their fated mates for the pack territory.

While his fifth brother died while he protected him from his grandfather's bullets back then.

Someone died for him when he thought no one cared enough to speak up.

His brothers excluded him from the meetings and the parties to protect him from their grandfather's eyes. Seeing them together in one table irks the old man. He wanted them to fight and not to make peace.

Cedric doesn't know why, until now.

His former pack beta called recently to inform him of his grandfather's death. Now that the acting alpha is gone, the only remaining family member should go back and manage it. But Cedric no longer cared. Even if the place run down and die, he no longer feel regret.

He made peace leaving like that.

At the moment, seeing Owell's dead body and Jeffrey's reddened eyes, he felt scared. Again.

He had found the culprit's body. The man who killed those young innocent women... but how come he doesn't feel right? Something's missing.

"Jeffrey." He reach for the little guy's wrist. "I'm sorry. I couldn't protect him."

"It's not your fault. It's his mate. He trust him not to break but he..." He smiled bitterly. "It's just hard trying not to hold on, right? It's difficult to deny your own mate."

Cedric know he's right. He's aware of how it hurts physically to even be far away from his own mate. This man... killed Owen himself.

What pushed him to do this? This serial killings shouldn't be that simple.

Holding the brooch in his hand, his eyes narrowed. This should have the answers to it.

"Where's Max?"

Jeffrey crossed his arms. "The elders had him be publicly questioned in the coven right now. Why do you need him? Did you found something?"

"Yes." Kissing his forehead softly, he reassured him, "It's going to be okay. I'll tell you about this once I'm sure of it."