Taming a Wolf

20. The heir

When Shawn stepped into the study that had once belonged to his father, he couldn't help but sigh at the sight of his brother. Seth sat on his chair hunched over the desk head covered in his hands. His almighty Alpha brother looked like his will and strength had been knocked out of him. Shawn had seen him this weak only once. Seth didn't seem to realize his presence so he cleared his throat. Slowly Seth turned his head to him. Seth tried to give him a smile, but it turned into a sad grimace.

"You're here," Seth said and leaned against the back of the chair. 

"You look awful," Shawn said.

"I feel worse."

"She's in this house?" Shawn more stated than asked. He had smelled a human scent coming from the guest room and knew Evelyn was with her that very moment. 

"Yeah."

Shawn shook his head. He didn't understand how Seth could take it. It must have felt like a knife twisting in a wound. 

"Why?" he asked. He himself would not have any problems seeing her thrown out of the house. 

"I want her here."

"Ok. You've always been crazy," Shawn said. This made Seth smile. He had missed his little brother. 

"Please don't make it any harder for her than it already is. She's going through a lot."

Shawn lifted his hands up.

"Hey, you don't have to worry about me. I think mom has it covered, though."

"She's civil."

"Mom is civil," Shawn chuckled. "Hard to believe after the talk she gave me over the phone. Apparently, she's ashamed how I handled meeting Evelyn. My ears are still ringing from her I raised you better and your father would be so disappointed. So her being civil with Fay is truly a miracle. I mean Fay is Fay."

"Well, you did deserve to be reprimanded by mom. You need to handle your wolf better."

Shawn decided not to get annoyed by his big brother's lecture. He had a point. He had handled it really badly.

"Everything's good now. Wolf is in check and Evelyn wants to be by my side. Speaking of wolves, shouldn't you let yours out? It might help."

"No. I shifted yesterday. It's easier to keep my anger and resentfulness in control in my human form. Especially after I realized that her losing the wolf side doesn't only mean losing the mate bond." 

Shawn frowned. The eery look in his brother's eyes made him nervous.

"What are you saying?"

"I just might be the very last alpha of our family."

"What!" Shawn asked. He needed to remind himself to breathe. 

"Evelyn is not a full wolf. Fay is not a wolf at all," Seth spoke. He needed to look anywhere else but his brother. He had been wallowing in this realization for several hours and the hopelessness had overtaken him many times.  His words slowly hit Shawn. He run his hand through his hair.

"Shit," Shawn muttered. The portrait of their father hung on the wall behind Seth. He looked at it and couldn't help but feel like a failure under those stern eyes. "But... Serafina! She can have children. She can have an heir."

"She can have children but not an heir. Oliver is a half-wolf."

"So now what?! What are we going to do?" Shawn asked. He felt like hitting the wall. 

"I don't know." 

He's big brother didn't know what to do. That felt wrong. He had always been on top of every situation. Shawn walked to his brother and put his hand on his shoulder. 

"We will figure this out. I got you back," he said feeling the need to ease his brother's pain. "Tell me what you need me to do."

"Thank Shawn. You need to make sure we know Robert Finnigan's every move. Make sure everyone's on alert. Ok?"

"Ok. 

"And be civil with Fay."

Shawn chuckled.

"If mom can do that, so can I."

************************************

A short chapter.

I feel so bad for the brothers. I just want to give Seth a big hug and tell him everything's going to be fine. And, gosh, I hope everything will be ok!

Who is your favorite Cage brother?

A. The big-hearted dutiful and loving alpha 

B. The brooding and relentless tracker

What do you think about Phillip Cage? What kind of man was he?

Once again, votes and comments are appreciated. They make me fly with a smile! (Ooh! That almost rhymed!)

M