Chapter 68

The Dietrich's mansion was so big and grandiose, it made others either look at it with admiring wishful gazes or envious ones. It radiated wealth, and it reflected the power Christopher Dietrich possessed. After all, he was the leader of a very large pack that nobody dared to oppose or publicly go against.

Someone like Chris, who held all the power in the world, made people bend to his will. Made them want nothing but be on his good side.

Defiance wasn't something he dealt with often, and when he did, it was always from his wife or Constantine. The two were so similar in so many ways, and it made Chris wonder if Constantine hadn't been born a lycan, maybe he would have turned out to be a surgeon like his mother.

"She cuts up people for a living, and so do I."

"No, you kill them." Chris corrected giving him a sour look before he looked over his pack from the large window of his study. "She saves their lives."

The thought of his wife often calmed him down. He does miss her dearly, and it was about time he went back to her.

It's hard when they're both so busy.

"Admit it," Constantine said sitting upright when Chris gave the feet he had draped over the armrest a glare, at least he wasn't defiant all the time. "You're just upset you're not my favorite."

"Why would I be? I'm his favorite." He said gesturing at his other son who looked up at them distractedly, he was deep in thought moments ago. "Isn't that right, Alexander?"

Alexander blinked at him. "...Right."

The betrayal Chris felt was immeasurable.

Deciding not to dwell on his aching heart, Chris turned a sniggering Constantine who made his blood boil by the mere sight of him. It never ceases to amaze how different his two sons could be. Alexander was neatly dressed, well-put together, a proper normal young man.

Constantine on the other hand was...

It was better not to dwell on that, too.

"It's not often that you come to visit." Chris was indeed surprised when he found both of his sons in his study, and he almost thought that he had told someone to bring Constantine in. "Though I don't appreciate how you were threatening your brother earlier."

"He wasn't threatening me, dad." Alexander quickly refuted his father's words, but Chris narrowed his eyes in disbelief at that.

"He told you to deny that, didn't he?"

Alexander kept his silence.

The glare shifted to be directed at Constantine. "Just what does it take for you to behave?"

"It was an empty threat."

While he knew that, Chris still saw him point a knife to his brother's chest telling him that he would be disemboweled if he didn't reveal something. That something was a mystery to Chris since he cut them off right there, but the fact that Alexander was sitting there not really shaken by what happened earlier meant that he was used to it. It was concerning.

There were many things Chris decided not to dwell on as he moved on from that train of thought to go back to Constantine being there on his own volition.

"Just say it, why are you here?"

Constantine grinned at him. "Try not to sound too excited."

Chris was not amused. "Just say it."

Constantine sighed placing both of his feet on the table in front of him, and Chris knew that he dd it just to annoy him. Thankfully, Alexander was there to push them away because he knew how much his father hated it. Truly the perfect son.

"I heard that two territories are going to appear soon."

"You heard." Chris repeated not believing that for a second, but he couldn't say that he didn't expect this. He quickly realized what those words meant. "You're killing them, aren't you?"

There was no need for him to elaborate on who they were, and Alexander didn't give much of a reaction at hearing that. He just sat there looking mildly interested as he listened to the conversation they were having, but he wasn't inspired by it at all. Even when he grew up closely to his brother, he found himself not sharing his love for murder. He didn't see the appeal.

Plus, he didn't resemble a feral wolf at all – something which made his father almost tear up in relief.

But like any other younger brother in the world, he often found himself idolizing his older brother. It made him wonder what his father would think if he saw a younger him try to imitate Constantine by playing with knives. He never had the other's dexterity with them anyway so it stopped at that.

"You sound like you didn't already know." Constantine snorted making his father sigh and turn around to grab himself a drink the way he does every time Constantine opens his mouth. He did offered them a drink, but only Alexander took him up on the offer as he poured him a glass.

"I assume you're keeping my friend alive." Chris said hoping it would be the case as he poured himself a glass, too, taking a large gulp before he glared down at his son who watched him blankly. "You did promise me that."

Constantine tilted his head thoughtfully. "I vaguely remember that I did."

"Enough with your games." Chris sighed sounding frustrated and reached his glass happily for Alexander to fill it. He didn't even know when Alexander got up to retrieve the bottle, but he didn't care enough to think about it. "You tire me, Constantine."

"And you're also giving him a drinking problem." Alexander supplied to the displeasure of his father.

It made Constantine's lip twitch up in amusement and that annoyed his father further. "Let's not talk about my drinking habits and move on to something else." Chris mumbled taking a sip of his drink making Alexander shake his head at that. "For how long are you playing this game of yours?"

"Which game exactly?"

"You know," Chris twirled his glass making the liquid move around as he did so. "Pretending to take orders instead of stabbing them. Would love it if you pretended to take my orders like that, too."

Alexander turned to Constantine with a mildly shocked face. "You're taking orders?"

"Pretending to." Chris emphasized knowing that the moment he walked in and saw Constantine all tied up and surrounded by silver, he was already in a position where he could have killed the three if he so wished. That diabolical hand of his was free, he was sure of it. "Is it because of your captive mate?"

Alexander almost spat his drink.

"I needed to know where he was." Constantine drawled not concerned about his brother coughing in the background. "Other than that, I have no reason to keep the two alive."

"I am almost touched you said two." Chris smiled reassured that his old friend would remain alive like he requested as he gave his coughing son a few pats on the back. "So you're just having fun, is that it?"

"Basically."

Alexander cleared his throat and sat down next to his brother placing his glass on the table in front of him with a bewildered look, Chris, however, shrugged his shoulder. "As long as I am not involved have as much fun as you want. I do appreciate you informing me about the territories."

"See?" Constantine leaned closer to his brother before placing an arm around his shoulder to pull him close. "I am taking your place as the favorite son."

That made Chris snort as he quickly denied that. "Not even close."

Alexander watched as their father left walking out of the door before he felt a cold sharp object against his neck making him sink back in his seat with a sigh. "So where were we?" Constantine asked with a grin on his face. "Oh, right, where does he keep all the-"

"Constantine." That made the man in question sighed as he let go of his brother. "I've had it with you. Get out of here now."

And Constantine obliged walking out of the door his father held open for him. "No need to be so upset about it."

He was right, and Alexander wasn't a child anymore. He knew this was just how his brother is and he never actually followed through with his threats. It almost made it unbelievable for him that his brother was actually a killer, but if his father's words were to be trusted...

Well, he'd understand his reaction.