Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 167

Knox POV

Lifting my eyes to my father, who was pacing back and forth at the head of the table. I sighed, I could feel the weight of Kane's truths weighing heavy on him. Kane had filled everyone in on the fact that Lottie was pregnant, that she had bargained with the moon goddess to save Pa and Sebastian. That I had been infected by the demon and the scum was who was responsible for Lottie's kidnapping. He had left out the part about the hit on Bash, and all the info on Anthony and Mike. Because Kane felt that would overshadow Lottie's rescue. And given my father's rage right now, I would say it was a good call on his behalf.

"Pops, it was Lottie's choice." I reassured him the best I could and my heart sank seeing his eyes rimmed with red, his eyes glossed over with the threat of tears.

"From what your brother has just said, she chose to save me... and him.." He snapped, looking at Sebastian, who had the decency to look at the tabletop. "Before she knew she was pregnant! Before she knew the cost." My father seethed, his fist flying into the closest wall, as rubble crumbled to the floor.

"No, Pops. I made that choice to save everyone with Charlotte, after. We knew the risk. But you didn't see Knox." Kane admitted sheepishly, his eyes moving to meet mine with regret. "Sorry brother." He added, slapping my shoulder.

"No, you are right. Pa, I thought I had killed you. I was inconsolable. Ma hated the very sight of me, and everything was crumbling in on me." I admitted with a deep sigh that felt like it weighed a ton. "I was not in my right mind, thanks to the fucking demon's magic that he had somehow invected me with. Kane did what he did because it was the only way to reach me and pull me through the darkness." I admitted, feeling embarrassed. "It wasn't an easy decision, I can't imagine how hard it was for Kane and Lottie!" I added, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Pussy!" I heard Lilly mutter under her breath. My teeth clenched, so tightly I thought they might shatter at her disrespect.

"Lilliah!" My mother scolded her. "Perhaps you should leave and let the grown-ups talk if you are going to act like a child." She added with a firm rise of her brow.

"Really? You're all buying this bullshit. You truly think the moon goddess approached Char like she is something special?" She laughed, sitting back in her seat.

"I mean, come on! It's just a cover-up, a story to hide the bullshit. Sebastian wasn't at death's door. It was our doctors that saved him, his wolf. Not Char and some secret pact. And daddy... Maybe you were just..."

"Sleeping?" My father asked, his eyes harshly meeting his daughters, and for the first time, I saw anger flash in his eyes. "You think the pain your mother suffered was because I was sleeping?" He asked, holding his finger up to silence my mother from speaking. I watched her purse her lips, but ultimately she obeyed.

"Now that is a trick, Pa will have to teach me because our girl is a fucking nightmare when it comes to doing as she is told" I remarked to Kane through mindlink.

"Speak for yourself, she's always a good girl for me." Kane boasted, his eyes flicking to mine with a slight sign of a smile, before quickly returning to our father, who was still waiting for our sister to reply. But given the way her lips were tightly sealed, she had nothing further to add to the conversation.

"I suggest you keep those wise-ass comments to yourself, daughter, I am allowing you to remain in this room out of respect for your mate, but make no mistake, I have no issue throwing your ass out if you keep disrespecting your brother's mate." My father warned, before turning to glare at Kane and I. Unlike Kane, I didn't bother hiding the satisfaction I wore at seeing her knocked down a peg or two.

"So how do we get her back?" My father asked plainly and straight to the point.

"I would say the better question is who killed you and attempted to kill me? And why? I don't buy that the demon did it! What reason did he have to take us out? We are at peace with the underworld!" Sebastian finally piped up, apparently finding his voice and balls. Closing my eyes, I sucked down a sigh. I had hoped we could deal with that later, but Sebastian clearly had other ideas.

"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" Sebastian asked, glaring at Adam and Liam like they had grown a second head.

"Yes." They laughed, answering in union.

"You are meant to protect me and my interests. And I want to know who tried to kill me before I invest both time and resources into finding the girl."

"The girl?" I asked, my lips curling around my teeth, all sense and reason gone.

"Yes! The girl who might or might not be pregnant. Who has conveniently been kidnapped by a demon, a demon you claim infected us and more importantly you." Sebastian added as he sat forward, resting his elbows on the table to look across at Kane and I.

I opened my mouth to speak but a low and deadly cackle ripped through the room, making my blood turn to ice, recognising it instantly.

"I tried to kill you! And if you keep moaning like a little bitch I will not fail a second time!" Astaroth announced, his smooth and silky voice that seemed to be on my side did nothing to soothe my nerves. I tried to turn my head to look in the direction that the voice came from but found myself frozen to the spot.