Page 59 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

Speaking with her mouth full, ever the classy lady, she asked, “How are things with Paul?”

I shrugged. “Milo invited him over for a chat tomorrow, so we’ll see.”

“He better treat our Milo right.”

It warmed my heart that she saw him as ours. “I agree. Milo wants to see if they can save their relationship or not, and I understand he’ll need closure if they can’t.”

She shook her head sadly. “I’m just glad he has you there, guarding his heart.”

“Always,” I agreed.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Milo

I stared at the man who’d raised me and doubted if we’d ever move past this. The sun was setting, but since Dad had actually gotten dressed for our talk, I didn’t have to worry about his bare ass on our metal chairs in the backyard.

“I guess I wanted to protect you,” Dad finally said, his voice a low whisper.

“From what?” I scoffed.

“From facing the same future as me.”

I stared at him, not understanding his meaning.

“I didn’t want to be alpha, Milo. But I was forced into a role I wouldn’t have picked for myself. I also knew that as alpha, my needs would be pushed to the side for the betterment of the pack. I simply had to pick which of you I thought would be best at managing that balance.”

“And you picked Jer.”

“I did. And the main reason I did so might surprise you.” There was a smile on his lips, a glimmer of what he imagined my reaction would be.

“Carry on,” I groaned, knowing I was in for it.

“His world wouldn’t have ended if he wasn’t picked as alpha. But yours would.”

I gaped at him. “You chose Jer as alpha because I wanted it too much?!”

“No. I chose Jeremy because I knew he would have something else in his life that would make him happy. I forgot to be happy once I became alpha. I barely saw your mother and once she passed, I felt like I wasn’t allowed to mourn her either. I did not wish for you to end up as miserable as I was.”

“You were miserable?”

He nodded. “It’s not easy making the hard decisions, and I waited impatiently for the day that Jeremy could take over, simply because I know he’ll be a better alpha than I ever was. Our pack needs a happy alpha and I haven’t been that for them since your mom passed.” There was sadness in his eyes, and even though his treatment of me still didn’t make sense, I could see his reason for picking Jeremy. Then it hit.

“You wanted me to change because then you might pick me as alpha? You wanted me to focus on something other than the pack so I had more to live for?”

His smile was proud as he stared at my wide eyes. “I know now that I failed you, that I somehow crossed a line that should’ve never been crossed. But, Milo, you were always the center of the pack, living and breathing for everyone here. I wanted you to have a hobby, friends, something that would give your life purpose outside of the pack. I just took it way too far.”

“I can’t believe I never figured it out.”

“I didn’t want you to know. The passion for something other than the pack had to form of want and not of need.”

“Why are you suddenly so wise?” I growled, crossing my arms. “And why didn’t you just tell Jer this when he asked you?”

Dad sighed. “I never thought I would have to explain my reasons and, like I said, I crossed a line at one point and also forgot to change things after Jeremy had been chosen as alpha. I wanted to fix what happened between you and Jer, but I guess I was scared of what would happen to both of you if I died and you weren’t on speaking terms. I acted out of fear and stupidity. Hard to explain yourself when you’d yet to realize where you went wrong.”

I blinked, then truly saw Dad. He was a flawed father who tried his best, and yes, he’d fucked up, but he’d also been alone with two boys and a pack he had to protect. It couldn’t have been easy.

“I hate that we went through all of that for nothing,” I admitted.