My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 144

Tarryn

“I’m actually a bit nervous about meeting your parents,” I admit, and look at Alex, who is driving the car.

“Don’t be nervous. We are only going there to pick up my things, and then we will leave as quickly as possible.”

Hearing Alex speak in that unemotional voice saddens me. My mate is such a kind and loving guy, but it’s been two months since we were kidnapped, and his parents still haven’t sought him out. It’s strange, and tonight, we are going there for answers.

I sigh in the passenger seat. “No matter what happens, you know my family is your family, right? My parents love you, and so does my brother. Everyone appreciates you, and it’s so sweet that you’ve been helping my brother with his football practice. I also adore you for helping my mother with her garden. You’re a nice person, Alex, and I’m sorry, but if your parents can’t see that, they don’t deserve to be part of your life.”

Alex blushes behind the wheel. “Thanks, but… I’m still a monster, so my parents might not have contacted me because of that. Someone might have told them what I turned into during the war. Every pack member was there to see it.”

“I doubt that, but…” I hesitate before continuing. “Josie found a magic book with spells to help the lycans with their curse. Avery, Misha, and Damien are all working on combing their magic to help them. And after they are done, perhaps we can ask them to help you take on a less hideous form? Would that be okay?”

I’m afraid Alex will hate me for suggesting this. Technically, I accept him as he is. I couldn’t give a flying f**k about his monster form, but I don’t want him to be unhappy about what he has turned into.

I swear I’m only saying this for his sake.

So please, please don’t be mad that I suggested this for you, Alex—I pray for that as I glance his way.

To my relief, Alex doesn’t look offended. He actually smiles at me with a warm light in his eye before speaking. “We can if you want to, but I don’t mind what I’ve become, Tarryn.”

That surprises me. “You don’t?”

“No, I might be hideous in my fox form, but I’m stronger than every werewolf in the pack. No one can challenge me, which is a relief since my mate tends to get herself in sticky situations. With my new fox form, I can actually protect you.”

My chest grows warm at his words, and my cheeks flush. I lack words to describe how happy I am. Instead, I squeeze Alex’s larger hand over the middle console. He is such a sweet guy.

We drive in a silence that grows heavier the closer we get to his parent’s house. Once there, I get hit with a sense of discomfort.

Alex’s siblings died that night when we were kidnapped, but there are too many bicycles in the garden. It goes without asking they belonged to Alex’s siblings, and that gives birth to dread and anxiety.

I glance at Alex, trying to read him. He is staring at one of the bikes, and my heart hurts for him. I reach out my hand, and he immediately grabs it with a sad look. His brothers might have been shitty werewolves, but they were still his family, and Alex is mourning them.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I whisper. It can’t be easy for Alex to visit his parents, knowing he is the only son alive.

“Thank you,” Alex says in a broken voice, inhaling deeply before taking me to the door. He glances down at me. “My parents aren’t good people. So remember, we are only here to grab some of my old stuff. I want my football shoes, trophies, and pictures. Some of my equipment is entirely new and never used—I plan to give it to your brother.”

I smile at that. “Zeke will be thrilled.”

Alex smiles back, but it’s hesitant and disappears the moment he opens the door. Mine does, too, when I notice the pungent smell coming from inside. It smells like garbage, and I quickly see why: plenty of plastic bags are leaning against the wall, filled with trash.

It’s almost like Alex’s parents were hoping someone else would notice them and take them out…

“f*****g shit…” Alex mutters above me, then raises his voice. “Are you guys seriously not even taking out the trash?! I’ve been gone for two months, and you’re just leaving it for what? For me to come back and take it out for you? Are you guys even for real?!”

If I weren’t uncomfortable before, I definitely am now. Alex is furious and drags me forward to a closed door. I’m happy to notice the room on the other side, most likely his, is perfectly clean. But someone is storming toward the hallway, and I know there will be a fight.

“Alex? Is that you?” It’s a woman’s voice, but it’s hoarse. I believe it’s his mother, Sally, who sounds hungover or possibly on drugs. I look toward the voice, swallowing once I see a thin figure wearing only a dirty, stained white t-shirt and pajama pants.

Holy s**t.

Sally doesn’t look well. She is so thin you can see her cheekbones clearly, and her hair doesn’t look like it has been washed for days. There is also a foul smell following her, and are those bruises on her face?

I don’t know what to say or do. Alex is frozen in motion, too, before taking a staggering step forward. “Mom? W-what…what happened to you? Why do you look all beaten up?”

“Sally?!” A new voice barks. I recognize it. It’s the former Beta of the Grimfang pack speaking, Owen. “Where is my goddamn dinner, woman?! For f**k’s sake! Can’t you do nothing right?!”

Three seconds later, I hear the thuds of someone approaching, and then I see a fat, middle-aged man wearing boxer briefs. He has a stained t-shirt too, but it doesn’t cover his hairy beer gut.

And surprise, surprise, Owen smells disgusting too. Judging from his shaky steps, I also believe he is drunk, and I gasp when he grabs Sally’s hair for no reason.

“Stupid woman!” Owen bellows and pulls her hair. “Where is my dinner?!”

Sally’s head is bent at an unnatural angle as she cries hysterically. “No, please don’t hurt me! Please, please, please!”

Her begging doesn’t help. Owen only pulls her closer to him. He is taller than her by at least a foot and smacks a beer bottle into her head. Sally winces in pain, and that’s when Alex comes out of his trance.

“What the f**k are you doing?!” Alex roars and pushes back his dad to help his frail mother stand on her gangly legs. It’s obvious that she needs medical attention, not to mention rehab after this.

“Who the f**k are you?” Owen snaps back at Alex. He is squinting at his son, who he doesn’t recognize. Probably because Alex is older now. “What are you doing in my house?!”

“I used to live here, dad, and I came to get my stuff,” Alex explains, glaring at Owen. “But it seems I will be taking mom with me too,” he glances at me. “Could you call the pack healer and Misha? I believe the Alpha needs to hear about this.”

I nod. “Absolutely.”

I pick up my phone and dial the number while steering my footsteps outside the stinking house. And while I know Alex’s mother should be my main concern, I can’t help but worry about my mate.

What sort of sick childhood did Alex have? He is the nicest guy on the planet, and back in school, I overlooked that. Since he was popular, I assumed he was cocky and arrogant, but seeing this, how his parents are, I realize how f*****g wrong I was.

What do I even know about Alex, to begin with? Have I even paid him enough attention? s**t. Now that I think about it, most of our conversations have been about me—I’m such a self-centered prick.

Poor Alex…