Kael.
For several minutes, I didn’t move; not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t. My chest hurt so badly, it felt like I’d been thrown into a crusher... and the sounds of my mother’s wails, tearing through the silent compound, broke something within me.
I walked into the house, not caring if anyone followed and when I got in, I sat down, not on a chair or anything, but on the floor.
I needed time to process all of these. I needed time to mourn the incredible loss I’d just been dealt with. It wasn’t enough that we’d lost some money... then Leilani. Now, father had to join in the equation too? He had to leave even before seeing us?
I gripped my chest so tightly but no tears would fall. And do you know what was more upsetting about this whole scenario?
It is the fact that now, we’ve hit rock bottom.
Figuratively. Literally. In fact, in every sense that was possible.
First, we had all signed the restraining order, meaning that we could no longer get in touch with Leilani... and now that father is dead, we would be forced into accepting our sham wedding with Chalice or risk losing it all.
My hands cupped my face and I cried into them, shaking as the crazy thoughts wouldn’t stop swarming around my head.
My brothers and mother came in shortly afterwards, and seeing me like this, they instantly rushed to come sit by my side, whilst draping their arms around me as they tried to console me.
Growing up, father was the only one who didn’t see us as triplets. He had trained me specially to ascend his throne after him, seeing as I was the eldest of the trio. From there, a close bond had begun to develop between us, and before we knew it, I was following him on trips, meetings and was even made ’acting Alpha’ one time when he had to travel for a long-term business with some vampires.
My shoulders shook violently at the memories before I could help myself and tears poured out of my eyes so much, I feared I would lose my sight.
Just then, mother wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a crushing hug, and maybe that finally undid me because I soon began to sob uncontrollably, my loud wails echoing around the house as I struggled to reign these ugly emotions in.
We cried together for so long, and by the time we finally stopped, it felt as if all our strengths had been drained from our bodies.
"Just like you drained Leilani’s blood." My wolf commented, but I quickly blocked him out, not wanting to add guilt to the already ginormous emotions weighing down on me.
Discarding these thoughts, I glanced up at my mother and whispered the one sentence I never hoped to say. I asked; "So when is his funeral?"
And at that she froze. It seemed to dawn on her that her mate was no more because then another loud cry slipped past her lips. She shook her head vehemently, shaking uncontrollably as she muttered over and over again; "I don’t know... I really don’t know."
"Mom—"
"All I know is that he’s now in the morgue, and that he’s always wanted to be buried on his island." She cried.
"That means we’ll all be travelling soon, right?" Zevran asked but before I could respond, mother chirped in;
"Yes, but not without your wife. I don’t care if you don’t love her or if she’s a fox, but you must take her along with you!"
Zevran rose to his feet, his face darkening as he growled; "Why?"
"For appearances!" Mother answered, "...because that is the only way to counter this ’broken marriage’ news circulating around the family."
I frowned. "No."
"We were asked to get married to her and now, we’ve done that to save face. What else do you want from us?" Zevran added in anger.
"They heard about the chaos that happened at your wedding. They think it’s enough ground for a separation—"

"We won’t give him a reason..." I answered slowly, drawing my brothers’ attention to myself. They immediately turned to me and cocked their eyebrows but I said nothing;
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Fated To Three Betrayed By All Until She Rose (Leilani) by Ahvahh