Chapter 0022

Alexander

Athena lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of the blanket as she waited for me to speak.

She's like a forbidden fruit. Titan murmured. So close, yet completely untouchable. Are you certain it would harm her?

I could hear the raw desperation in his voice. I understood exactly how he felt because I battled my own urges every time her blue eyes met mine. It wasn't just Titan who wanted her. I craved the deep satisfaction of claiming her as ours.

Until her matebond with Marcus is truly severed, we must wait. I told Titan firmly.

This wasn't what Titan wanted to hear, and it certainly wasn't what I wanted to acknowledge.

Do you truly believe she is our destined mate? Meant for us and no one else? I questioned.

I feel it in my very soul. Titan responded with absolute certainty.

"You... haven't said anything?" Athena whispered, her eyes still downcast.

Even her slight stutter sent heat rushing through me.

"I have some matters to attend to," I stated as I stood up.

She nodded silently, offering no questions as usual. Yet I distinctly felt her gaze following me as I exited the room.

Moving through the house, I could hear my brother arguing with Sebastian.

"You can't be serious, Sebastian!" Julian shouted.

"I am completely serious," Sebastian snapped back. "You think being Alexander's brother gives you special privileges? Not this time. It doesn't matter who you are - I outrank you!"

"Come on, Sebastian, I'll make it up to you."

I felt my frown deepen.

What has he done now? Titan groaned.

You know Julian - he probably seduced Sebastian's partner.

I pushed the door open and fixed my brother with a hard glare. "What the hell have you done now?"

"Go ahead," Sebastian snarled. "Tell him!"

"It happened months ago," Julian pleaded. "We had too much to drink, okay? Just one night. It never happened again." His dark eyes shifted toward me, and I immediately knew I had guessed correctly.

"Seriously? You slept with Natalie? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I snapped.

Sebastian and Natalie had been together since they were thirteen, with two children between them. Maybe it wasn't just his hands that needed severing.

Titan laughed darkly at the thought.

Sebastian was furious, though he masked it well. His eyes flashed toward me. "Tell me you're not letting him get away with this?!"

I loved my brother, but he was completely out of control.

"Julian." My voice turned icy cold.

"I know, I'm temporarily grounded. I won't leave the house without you or Sebastian."

"No, not this time. You've had warning after warning, and you never change. To you, it's all just fun and games." I kept all emotion from my tone. "So I'm giving you a choice."

He stared at me with wide, dark eyes.

"Banishment or..."

My eyes shifted to Sebastian's. He knew what was coming next, and even he looked surprised.

"Or what?" Julian asked nervously.

"Death." I stated clearly.

His jaw dropped open. "Are you actually serious? I'm your brother! You raised me and Isabella! I'll change, I won't do it again!"

"Clearly, I didn't raise you well enough!"

"All because I slept with his mate?" Julian scowled.

"But it's not just Natalie, is it? What about all the brides you've seduced? What about all the women you've taken who belonged to others? It's like a challenge for you - to claim women who are already taken. Enough is enough, Julian. As I said, you've had warning after warning, and you still tried to pursue my bride."

"Bullshit!" He jumped to his feet, his eyes turning stormy gray. If he wanted a fight, Titan was right here and ready for him.

"Really? What about that comment you made about Athena being family? Implying she was to be shared! Isabella tells me everything, Julian. If you want to chase women who don't belong to you, go elsewhere and do it. Mess with the humans for all I care."

"Better yet, leave and take Natalie with you." Sebastian snapped.

"You want me to take your boys?" Julian asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, just her." Sebastian growled.

"Bro, you can't do this!" Julian pleaded with me.

"Sebastian isn't the first to bring this to me. I have a list as long as my arm. Your time is up. What do you choose?"