Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
The ironic part was, he looked like a picture-perfect omega. He’d been widely called the diamond of the social season, universally praised for his golden hair, lovely face, and grace. A flawless, quintessential omega, people said. Liam always wanted to laugh when he heard that.
If only they knew how very far from perfect he actually was. But then again, Liam hadn’t shared his doubts even with his brothers, so it was hardly surprising that the rest of the world had no idea. People saw only what they wanted to see, and Liam had always been good at smiling even when he wanted to cry.
Last month, as he stood in the crowded royal ballroom, watching his baby brother smile radiantly in the arms of the Duke of Westcliff, Liam had to employ all the tricks in his arsenal to keep the smile on his face while everyone stared at him, expecting him to break down. He had been happy for Jules, truly. He didn’t resent him for falling in love with Liam’s suitor. But he couldn’t deny that he had felt painfully envious watching his brother with his duke. Jules might not seem like a perfect omega, but he was one, for all intents and purposes. Jules was nurturing, passionate, and likely fertile, if his strong heats were any indication. Jules was capable of being in love.
Liam wasn’t sure he was. He had been wooed by hundreds of alphas and betas, and he had been courted by the most handsome alpha on the planet, and while he could appreciate Westcliff’s gorgeous face and physique aesthetically, they had affected neither his heart nor his body. Liam smiled, Liam flirted, Liam danced and charmed people, but on the inside, he felt… nothing. Empty. Cold. By the end of the season, he had started feeling like a fraud, and the thought “defective” kept rearing its ugly head, no matter how hard he tried to push it away. Not that it mattered. Liam would still have to marry someone to secure his and Eric’s future. He refused to depend on Westcliff’s generosity.
But now… if Anthony was alive, he wouldn’t have to. Their eldest brother would be their alpha and would take care of them. Liam wouldn’t have to marry anyone and his possible defectiveness wouldn’t be an issue.
Unless… unless Anthony didn’t care for them. He’d been gone for fifteen years, after all. How much could he really care for his younger brothers?
That was the question.
Chapter 2
Liam was sitting on the bench outside the house, browsing the Internet, when he heard the helicopter. He lifted his gaze from his tablet and watched an unfamiliar helicopter land on their front lawn. Could it be…?
Clearly sharing his thoughts, his younger brothers emerged out of the house, excitement on their faces. Uncle Wayne followed them, but his mood couldn’t be more different: his expression was stony, his eyes hard and grim.
Liam barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Uncle could have at least pretended to be pleased that his nephew was alive.
The helicopter’s door opened.
Liam watched curiously as a dark-haired man jumped out of it onto the ground. He was dressed in a blue military uniform, the arm bands on it denoting his rank of colonel. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and well muscled but not too beefy, his body exuding strength and grace.
The man turned to them.
Liam bit the inside of his cheek, eyeing him uncertainly. His memories of his brother were hazy at best. He remembered that Anthony had been handsome. He was still handsome, but something about his face surprised Liam. He didn’t remember his brother being this… striking. There was something captivating about the harsh lines of Anthony’s eyebrows, high cheekbones, and chiseled jaw. But then again, Anthony had been just sixteen when Liam had last seen him, not fully grown into his features yet. It was entirely possible that his appearance had changed and improved with physical maturity. Or maybe his five-year-old self’s memories were too unreliable. Either way, Anthony was strikingly handsome now.
“Anthony?” Jules said, stepping forward. As usual, he was the bravest of them. Or the most curious.
Anthony’s blue eyes settled on Jules.
And then, he smiled.
“Jules?” Anthony said, looking at Jules with something like wonder. “Look at you, you’re all grown.”
Liam frowned, trying to decipher the niggling feeling that appeared in his gut. Something about Anthony’s words seemed off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Jules didn’t seem to share his reservations. He grinned and threw himself at the alpha, hugging him tightly. “You’re really alive!”
After a moment, Anthony returned the hug, before letting go of Jules and turning to Eric. “And you must be the little Eric.”
“Not so little anymore,” Eric said with an awkward smile. He was more reserved than Jules, so he didn’t go for a hug. Anthony was the one to do it, hugging him once tightly before letting go.