Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 151: Confession and realization

Chapter 151: Confession and realization

Rian’s proud smile slowly crooked and turned into a nervous one after Athan appeared. He cleared his throat and averted his eyes, pondering whether to go back to the bedroom or walk to the living room with his head held high.

’I didn’t do anything wrong. Why do I feel guilty?’ he thought and decided to proceed and stand beside Diva. His eyes shifted to the omega whose eyes were reddened and swollen, and pity flashed on his own.

Athan, after a while of silence and seemingly assessing the situation, finally reacted. He walked to Azrael, ripped him away from his younger brother, and successfully landed a punch.

"Athan!" Knox shouted frantically. He tried to come between the two, but Athan shoved him away. The alpha was expressionless, and all his eyes expressed was fury.

Knox was rooted on his spot. Aside from the enraged Athan, he saw when he was kidnapped, the ’Athan’ before Knox now was like the sharpest blade that might kill someone with just a slight graze.

"Oh my God!" Diva’s shriek cleared Knox’s muddled mind. He dared to block Athan who didn’t stop punching Azrael, but his body was pulled by Kayden, away from the two alphas. Shawn grabbed his arm and shook his head rapidly, as though warning Knox not to involve himself in two raging beasts going against each other.

However, to Knox, it was a one-sided battle.

Sandro came closer and tried to convince Athan, "Hey, bro, calm down!" he pulled Athan’s shirt from the back, but Athan just turned back to him and glared angrily, throwing poisonous daggers with his sharp amber eyes that made Sandro shivered unknowingly.

He almost stepped back away, but steeled himself and suggested, "Why don’t we talk about this more diplomatically, Mr. Horace? Punching someone might earn you another court—," Sandro bit his lip after Athan’s expression changed into a fiercer one. ’Oh, shit. Did I make him remember something upsetting?’ he thought inwardly.

His eyes darted to Azrael who was half lying on the floor; lips bruised and bleeding, with a purpled cheek.

Azrael expected rapid swelling and a wet feeling on his face after welcoming a hard punch right on the nose. Soon, he tasted copper in his mouth and a sharp stinging pain right between his eyes.

He could feel his eyes twitching trying to shut themselves from the pain, but he persevered and stared at Athan without malice, without anger, and with no plans of revenge. He just lay there, silently showing Athan that he’d receive his anger, no matter how many punches he threw at him.

Inside his head, a part of him was laughing mockingly at what he had become. It was before, a tiny scratch on his face would make him growl like a mad beast and lunge at the perpetrator. But that moment, from an obnoxious beast that accepts no reason, he was turned into a silent lamb that accepts its suffering like a goddamn martyr.

He couldn’t lift his hands to throw back a punch. It was the same reason that he’d freeze and accept Athan’s insults when Knox was harmed because of him.

Athan clenched his teeth and grabbed Azrael’s collar, "Why aren’t you fighting back, you shithead! Are you trying to frame me up again? What? Filing a case for your battered face and blackmailing me and my family to approve you?!"

Azrael wiped his bloody philtrum and replied, "Hell, no. Not gonna pull something like that again, you have my word, brother-in-law."

Veins popped into Athan’s forehead. His hands on Azrael’s collar gripped tightly and he was compelled to drag the guy out of the room, only if it was not his home.

Rian palmed his face. Azrael wasn’t fighting, yes, but just looking at his smug face was enough to earn him another punch. He was making Athan Horace’s nostrils flare more.

Athan was about to throw another punch, when Knox, who wriggled himself out of Shawn and Kayden’s grasp, grabbed his older brother’s arm with both hands. And with a shaky voice, he muttered, "B-Brother stop...please. Don’t punish him. Punish me too. I was the one who broke our father’s trust and our agreement. I’m the one who deceived you and him. Azrael...he was innocent."

Knox’s eyes watered. He cursed himself as he thought, ’Why do I always cry over this? When did I become so weak-hearted and crybaby?! I must show Athan my resolve!’

He pursed his lips and bravely exclaimed, "I’m the one who approached him! I know you knew how badly I wanted Knoa to have a complete family, A. The last thing I want to do is to raise him like I am!"

Everyone in the room went silent with that declaration. Azrael, Sandro, Shawn, and Athan, knew very well about Knox’s background, while Rian, Kayden, and Diva knew the gist of it because of Knox’s family situation.

Azrael’s face changed upon seeing Knox’s forlorn expression. He pushed Athan away, taking the guy aback with his sudden movement, so Athan fell on the floor. Azrael was about to stand and hold Knox, but the omega shook his head and continued.

"I admit I was scared at first. I feared meeting him again, thinking how enraged he might have been after I deceived him and ran away. I could have continued running away again after I was found out. With your help, it would have been easy, right? But I chose not to. Azrael threatened me, yes, but when I found out his intentions, I walked in willingly. Deep inside me, I was hoping he was genuine because I wanted us to work out, for Knoa...and for me, Athan."

Knox gazed at his older brother with moist and honest eyes, "He and I are bonded."

"What?!"

Everyone screamed except Kayden and Azrael. Knox’s pupils trembled. He was unsure of it now, seeing that he could smell the pheromones of the six alphas in that room already.

Athan’s jaw fell. He was extremely shocked, but after he saw Knox ran to Azrael and heedlessly wiped the alpha’s nose with his sleeve. His mind steered to the present and he grimaced, yet he stopped coming in between the two, seeing how worried his younger brother was.

Knox checked Azrael’s face left and right after he stuffed the alpha’s nose with his handkerchief. However, rather than pain, a smile was plastered on his face. For a moment, Knox wondered if his brother smashed Azrael’s head and loosened some screws in his head.

Knox worriedly exclaimed, "Are you okay? Is your head alright? Dr. Kayden, is Azrael—

"He has a head as hardest as a boulder. You should worry about your brother’s knuckles more," Kayden answered, cocking his head in Athan’s direction. A shadow passed him and quickly checked the alpha’s hands, bringing a pang of pain in his chest.

Shawn grabbed Athan’s hands and checked his bruised knuckles. They were reddened and a bit swollen. He looked at Athan and whispered, "Does it hurt?"

Athan simply shook his head and met Knox’s guilty eyes. He then cursed under his breath and stood, walked out of the room, and slammed the door loudly. He stayed outside, calming himself. He wanted to drill some sense in his brother’s head, but just looking at his glossy eyes made him weak.

For a sibling he only met four years ago, Knox really had completely gripped his heart in his palm. Perhaps, it was the guilt and pity, mixed with his sense of duty towards a pitiful brother who lived miserably half of his life.

He carried the guilt of his father’s neglect and indifference on his conscience, and he found himself giving all his brotherly affection to Knox, to the point of spoiling him.

Should he be grateful that the omega never took him for granted? But even so, letting him get involved with dangerous people, scares him.

’Why, of all people, it had to be that bastard?’ Athan pondered, conflicted. He let out a heavy sigh and turned his head to the door when it suddenly opened. Knox came outside, wearing a distressed look, yet hoping not to be chased away.

Athan turned away and put his hands on his waist as he engaged in a breathing exercise, inhaling the quiet atmosphere in the wide corridor of that floor while exhaling the negative emotions swirling in his diaphragm.

Knox cautiously spoke in a lowered voice, "Brother...I know you’re worried, but Azrael...can’t you trust him? Can’t you trust us? Me? He might have a dark past...but he loves me. Me and Knoa, he treats us well. He’s a good father. If you could only give him a chance to prove you wrong..."

Knox sighed. His shoulders drooped when it seemed like he was talking to a wall. Athan wasn’t turning around to face him. Knox wasn’t even sure if the alpha was listening.

The omega bit his lower lip and quietly uttered before he opened the door, "I’m sorry, Athan."

Athan did not hear the door closed, so he thought Knox was still behind him. A few minutes of silence passed and he didn’t hear anything, he whirled around, only to see the door was left open. Knox left it for him because the omega believed in him.

The younger brother believed that his older brother would accept his plea.

Athan smiled bitterly. He sighed deeply once more and walked back in again. He was in the foyer when he heard sobs erupting in the living room. He quickly came in and witnessed something that tugged his heart, unwillingly.

Azrael was rocking the sobbing Knoa in his arms, patting the kid’s back as he hummed and gently danced around, lulling the crying kid back to sleep. Knox was behind Azrael, carefully wiping his son’s damped forehead.

It was a beautiful picture of a warm and loving family.

Athan was rooted on his spot. Shawn looked at him, with eyes as hopeful as the other alpha’s eyes. They were all waving their support for the family of three, and putting pressure on him. However, as Athan turned away and finally left, he realized there was no need for pressure and guilt-tripping.

He could feel his heart opening a little bit for the man he thought he’d never like.