Rhys

Yet again, I woke up to another annoying sound, but this time, it was not the ringing of my phone. It was the sound of someone screaming Kayden’s and my names.

This time, the morning sun was already spilling through the glass windows of my bedroom, casting soft golden light across the sheets while the city outside slowly came alive beneath the early sky.

"You stupid Kayden, you better come out here! And fuck you too, Rhys. I need both of you out now!"

At first, I had thought that it was probably Miller or Leo throwing tantrums like little children, but that annoying voice did not sound like Leo’s pragmatic tone, nor did it sound like Miller’s sarcastic tone.

Then who the hell was it?

"I need the truth!" the voice shouted again, and what followed was the repeated, frantic ringing of my doorbell.

Whoever was at the door was someone I knew, because that was the only way the security guard would have let them in.

I clenched my fists tightly as my eyes fluttered open. Whoever that was better be someone of importance, otherwise I was going to kill them for ruining my sleep.

I tried to stand up, but then I felt a hand around my waist, hugging me closely. I looked toward Kayden, who was still sleeping peacefully, and smiled as I ran a hand through his brows.

I kissed his forehead gently, careful not to wake him up, and funnily enough, he did not wake up.

Once I left his side, I tied my robe carefully and then headed out. Once I reached my living room, Miller was also awake, strolling out of his room with his bird’s nest hair before pointing toward the front door.

"Now who the hell is screaming that loudly?" he demanded.

I shrugged, having no idea who it was. It could not be Damian, because he had no reason to come to my house this morning and start screaming.

"Whoever it is, I swear—" I was cut off as the scream echoed yet again. I rushed toward the door immediately and then pushed it open, and I saw red the moment I saw exactly who was screaming at my door.

Why did I not think of it? Who else would have the guts to come to my house and start screaming?

Raymond Calder, my foolish half-brother.

"Oh, you finally showed up. Now where the hell is that stupid Kayden? Where is that omega?" he demanded as he pushed past me into the house, colliding directly with Miller. "Where is that omega?" he demanded again. "I cannot believe it. Not only are my two brothers dating, but you both kept me completely in the dark about who that useless omega actually is to me!"

I frowned as I exchanged looks with Miller, whose eyes were wide with shock.

He had no idea that Raymond and Kayden were related. I had completely forgotten to tell him about that.

"Where is he? Where is that omega, and—"

"Enough!" I screamed at him, walking over to grab his arm and spinning him around to face me. "What the hell do you think you are doing this morning, screaming in my house? Did your mother not teach you any better than to barge in where you do not belong?"

His eyes widened at the mention of his mother. He angrily yanked his hand free from mine and then pointed a finger right at me. "Do not you dare bring my mother into this. You... you are the one who kept me in the dark and made me look like a fool. I cannot believe both of my brothers," he spat, his expression twisting in pure disgust.

"No, your mother is the one to be blamed for keeping you in the dark," Kayden’s soft voice resonated as he headed down the hall toward the living room.

I rushed immediately to his side, making sure he watched his steps. "Careful. I am sorry, I was unable to send him away before the noise woke you up."

Kayden smiled at me warmly. "I was going to wake up either way." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Oh, look at the two of you. Do not you feel ashamed? I am your brother! You are not supposed to be together. What kind of ridiculous feelings do you even have for each other? And even when you found out about your true identities, you still went ahead and stayed together, to the extent of announcing your engagement to the world!"

I clenched my jaw as I turned to face him. "Last time I checked, Kayden and I are not related."

"But he is my brother. Do not you know how that sounds, and how—"

"Enough!" I yelled at him again. "I will not condone your nonsense. Leave my house right away."

Raymond scoffed and pointed mockingly toward Kayden. "So you are the rejected son. The one my mother threw away and abandoned," he chuckled. "No wonder you were abandoned. Who the hell would want an omega anyway? You are nothing but a useless part of the hierarchy."

I moved forward, fully ready to strike him across the face, but Kayden beat me to it, stepping right in front of Raymond face-to-face and letting out a mocking chuckle of his own.

"I have to say that Linda did a terrible job of raising you, because who would have thought that the son she cherished so much would turn out to be a useless bum? I heard you failed to make the cut for this year’s team because there were actually talented people chosen over you. What a shame that I, an omega abandoned by his mother, am doing better than you, an alpha and the precious son she actually wanted."

A satisfaction-filled smile spread across my face as I watched them exchange words. We had only recently found out that Raymond had failed to make the official roster for this year’s team and was benched until the next season.

"You think you are better than me? You are a nobody! Nothing but an omega who was abandoned because he was not wanted, and—" He stopped talking abruptly as Kayden’s hand flew forward and struck him hard across the face.

The sharp sound of the slap resonated loudly in the room, echoing cleanly off the walls.

I let out a loud, sudden chuckle, and a split second later, Miller burst out laughing too. We exchanged a look of pure amusement, and seeing each other’s reactions only made our laughter double in volume, filling the room.

"Kayden!" Raymond yelled. "How dare you slap me across the face!" He raised his hand threateningly, and just when we thought he was actually about to strike Kayden back, his face crumpled. He suddenly burst into tears and collapsed right onto the couch. "I just wanted to..." he sniffled. "I only said all of that to get on your nerves. The truth is, I came here because I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to meet my other brother."

Kayden and I exchanged a look of utter bewilderment, and we blurted out at the exact same time, "Huh?"