Shadows of Destiny

{Book 2} Chapter 51 – ~Leo~

I wanted to mind-link Amelia about Alexei, but I knew it would be best to go home, tell her everything,

and prepare her for the meeting. I did not know if she would want to see him too.

“You are right,” I told him, sitting up.

“I will have Casper keep you company while I return home to speak to her. I will inform you through

Casper what she decides.” I said, and he smiled. There was gratitude in his eyes.

It was sad to think they had to run around and hide because they had family members pursuing them.

I also felt bad for their mothers.

Amelia was right when she said I was blessed to have had a normal childhood.

Somehow I knew it would be silly to remain mad at my father and mother because they were there for

me when I needed them the most.

I did not grow up in an orphanage or on the streets. I did not have to take care of myself and fear for my

life. I was blessed.

I linked Casper to keep Alexei company while I headed to my house.

As I walked, I rehearsed how to break the news to my mate.

I did not know how she would take it or what she would think. Honestly, I could not predict her response.

Amelia was easygoing and Kind, but I could not imagine what she would do when I broke the news to

her.

I thought of it, and it baffled me.

I did not know when I reached my front door. I was about to knock on the door when my phone rang.

I hesitated, then took it out to answer.

It was Timothy.

I had sent Delta Gabriel to head Timothy’s pack on my behalf. I wondered what the issue was now.

I answered the phone, and he was a bit hysterical.

“Alpha Leo, they have taken over Brent. I heard it was Alexei Kuznetsov. I think he will soon head my

way. I know your delta is here, but I doubt he would respect your claim on the pack.” He said.

I could understand his fear.

What had happened to Kyle would scare anyone, but he had no reason to panic.

“And how do you know it was Kuznetsov?” I asked, and he was silent.

I was right; the old man had guessed it was Alexei.

“So, what do you want from me now?” I asked him.

“Let us combine our packs, Leo. Mirabel will make a good mate. She even likes you, so it will be easy. It

won’t be forced.” He said, and I let him finish his sentence because it sounded funny.

It wasn’t really about his pack at this point. The guy just wanted me to marry his granddaughter.

“I am already mated, Alpha. My wedding is coming soon. She is my fated too, so I am no longer

available. Although Max is, and he does not have a pack for now,” I said, and the man was silent.

I was shocked that he was considering it.

I should have watched my tongue because I doubted Max was ready for commitment, and he might not

fancy Mirabel.

“I will have to check with him, though,” I said quickly so he would not think it was inevitable.

“That will be great, Alpha Leo. Mirabel will like him too. Please talk to him. I am too old for his alpha shit.

He can take her and the pack.” He said, and I laughed. He was now confessing his truth. The man

wanted to retire badly.

“I will then get back to you on the matter,” I said, feeling weird because it sounded like a transaction and

love isn’t supposed to be like that. If Mirabel and Max don’t connect, there will be no forcing it.

Timothy must look for someone else if Max doesn’t want to commit to anyone.

I opened my door and walked in.

Amelia was on a couch reading.

I looked around, and Max and Kyle weren’t there.

“Where did they go?” I asked her, and she smiled at me.

“To check on the displaced people,” she said, and I nodded. It was their responsibility anyway, so it was

okay.

I looked at my mate on the couch and prayed that she would take the news well.

“How did it go with that cheater?” she said, and I cringed a bit now that I knew he was her brother.

I shut the door behind me and went to sit beside her on the couch.

She sat up and moved close to me. Her scent filled my sense, and it calmed me down a bit.

“I need to discuss something with you,” I said, looking at her. She opened her eyes wide with

expectation, and it was so cute. To think she managed to hold on to her innocence after all that had

happened to her showed her inner strength.

I placed my hand on her bare thigh and caressed it.

“I need to tell you something important,” I said, and she nodded, showing I had her attention.

“Alexei is like you,” I said, and she frowned.

“He has your eyes and hair. He dyes his hair and wears contacts,” I said, and she frowned at me. I knew

she would wonder why I was telling her this. I sighed.

“He is your half-brother,” I said, and she gasped.

“Clay Newton too. They are both your siblings. Your grandfather was Adrik Stepanov, as we suspected.

His mate was pregnant when they executed him, so she ran to the east and had your father, Luis Ivanov.

Other Stepanovs escaped the massacre and went into hiding too.

The people that attacked us in the north are from that lineage. They also have a cult headed by your

distant relative, Erik Kozlov.

Alexei only took over Hill Valley to protect it from the cult and tried to take over Brentwood to protect

Brent from them.

Unfortunately, I interfered by getting the ban order from the King, which was why the Stepanov cult could

attack Brent,” I said and sighed.

“A cousin of yours has been watching you to protect you because the same cult wants to have you

mated to Erik Kozlov so he can have superior pups.

They were the ones that hunted your father down.

They Killed Alexei’s mother after she had fled with her son to the north, forcing Alexei to grow up on the

streets. Your father mated with Clay’s mother to blend in, but they found him, and he had to leave them

to protect them.

He met your mother, Gezel Westwood, in the west and had you.

The cult found out and knew you had fully inherited your grandfather’s genes, so they wanted to take

you.

Your father died protecting you.

Your mother went into hiding and gave you to her maid to raise.

I guess the maid panicked and took you to the orphanage.

Alexei says your mother is alive but still in hiding. She is a beta from the Stepanov bloodline, which is

why you are enhanced.

Erik is trying to recreate something stronger by mating with you.

Your brothers decided to own packs so they could take you in and protect you, but you had come to me

before they could succeed.

So they have been watching you from afar ever since.” I said, putting everything together, and she stared

at me dumbfounded.

I saw tears form in her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. She was overwhelmed.

“I have brothers,” she said with a breathy voice. She could not believe it. I guess she only heard that

part.

“I have relatives?” she asked, still in tears, and I began to feel the mix of her emotions.

“Alexei is my brother?” She asked, and I knew it was rhetorical, so I remained silent.

“May I see him, Leo?” she finally asked, wiping away her tears.

There was an eagerness in her.

I knew I was her family, but there was something about people you shared the same genes with. The

connection was different.

Alexei was the closest she would get to know her father. The man that had given his life to save hers.

“My parents loved me, Leo,” she said with a smile slowly forming on her face.

“My family loved me,” she repeated, and I knew she was telling herself.

“Miss Lucy always said otherwise. She made me feel unloved. The matrons at the orphanage said I was

useless, a product of an affair, a bastard. That only high-born bastards that their families are ashamed of

end up in orphanages.

They made me feel like shit for fourteen years. I carried the weight of being unwanted and unloved for

fifteen years. I …” she said and began to weep.

I pulled her close, and she buried her face in my chest and wept.

“I used to hate my mother. They told me she was an Omega that didn’t want to have anything to do with

me. I hated my father and did not wish him well either. I was jealous of children that got adopted.

Anytime I saw a child with their parent, I would believe that I was truly unwanted because even poor

people keep their young ones,” She said, weeping.

“My mother went into hiding to protect me; my father died so I could live. What greater love is there than

that of a parent willing to lay down their life for their child to live,” she said, and I knew what she was

doing.

“I thought the worst of Alexei because of what he did to Max. Although not from the same mother, he

looked for me.” She said and looked at me with a happy teary face.

“I was wanted all along. I was loved and cherished. I was needed.” She said, and I knew she was giving

herself closure in those moments. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tightly.

“You have brought me joy, Leo. Goddess bless your soul, and I pray what we have last,” She said. Her

words touched me, and I wrapped my arms around her and then kissed her head because her face was

buried in my chest.

“I will love you until I take my last breath, Amelia. You are worth everything and much more,” I told her,

letting her know the people at the orphanage were wrong.

“I want to see him, Leo. I want to see my brother.” She said, and I linked Casper to bring Alexiei to my

home. I told him to drive down. Walking would take thirty minutes, and I didn’t want Amelia to wait.

They arrived twelve minutes later. Casper did not know what was going on.

He entered my house while Alexei remained behind him. Casper was about to speak when I asked

Alexei to come in.

Amelia broke away from me and looked at her brother. There were genuine emotions in Alexei’s eyes,

and I could see he truly meant well. He looked nervous and uncertain. Casper excused us.

Amelia broke away from me and rushed to hug Alexei.

The moment she wrapped her arms around him, he began to laugh with joy and wrapped his arms

around her.

I heard myself growl.

Alexei looked at me and removed his arms from around her. I felt a bit embarrassed, but Black was

possessive like that.

They broke the hug, and Amelia offered Alexei a seat.

I knew they had much catching up to do, so I told Casper to keep Max and Kyle occupied and not return

to my house until Alexei left.

I would have to deal with Max later and ease his hatred towards Alexei, but I was glad Amelia finally

found her family.

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