Chapter 544

Louis’s POV

Everything was upside down.

Our home, which used to be peaceful at least at some hours of the day, now felt like a storm lived inside the walls. And even the boys could sense something was wrong. They didn’t ask questions—that was one thing I loved about them. They observed. They felt things. But they didn’t push. They were smart that way.

“Can I go see Father Lennox after breakfast?” Liam asked quietly.

I swallowed hard. “I’ll go check on Alpha Lennox first and see if he is ready to receive anyone p>

Liam looked like he wanted to say more, but he held it in and returned to his meal.

A moment later, Olivia walked back into the dining room and sat down beside me. One look at her and my stomach dropped. She wasn’t herself. Her eyes were tired, her shoulders pulled tight, her thoughts clearly far away. I wanted to reach for her hand but the boys were still at the table, watching.

We finished breakfast slowly. The boys said their goodbyes and were taken to school by their caregivers. Once they were gone, the house went quiet again—too quiet.

I turned to Olivia immediately. “How’s Levi p>

She exhaled. “He’s fine. Just… drunk. But he’s awake p>

I nodded. “Everything will be fine p>

She looked at me for a moment, like she wanted to believe that. Then she sighed. “Louis… can you please go check on Lennox? He hasn’t eaten. He didn’t even touch anything yesterday p>

“Okay,” I said softly.

“I have a meeting with the she-wolves,” she added. “I need to leave p>

I leaned forward, kissed her lips gently, and whispered, “Be safe p>

She gave me a small, weak smile, and walked out.

The moment the door closed, I headed straight to Lennox’s room.

When I entered, he was halfway out of his wheelchair again, wiping his upper body with a towel. He was struggling, but he didn’t ask for help. He refused to.

“You should let a male servant assist you,” I said quietly.

He didn’t respond.

Not a nod. Not a sound. Not even a glance in my direction.

My jaw tightened.

“Lennox, I’m talking to you,” I tried again.

He continued cleaning himself like I wasn’t even in the room.

Annabella hovered beside him, holding a bowl of warm water and another towel. I could see the way she looked at him—too focused, too attached. It bothered me.

I stepped closer. “Annabella, leave us p>

She blinked, stunned. “Alpha Louis, with all due respect, Alpha Lennox needs proper care. I cannot leave p>

“You can,” I cut in sharply. “And you will. I am an Alpha too. I don’t repeat myself p>

She stiffened, her lips tightening, but she bowed slightly. “Yes, Alpha Louis p>

I watched her walk out.

I didn’t like her. Not one bit. Something in her eyes felt wrong.

Once the door closed, I turned back to Lennox.

He still ignored me.

Still wiping himself like his strength wasn’t fading. Still acting like he didn’t need anyone—especially me.

My patience snapped just a little.

“Lennox,” I said, stepping closer, “you can hate me. You can ignore me. But you can’t shut everyone out. Not like this p>

Nothing.

No reaction.

It was like speaking to a ghost.

I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my rising anger.

“You have a family,” I continued. “Three sons who care about you. A mate who almost died saving you. And brothers who p>

“Stop talking,” he muttered finally, his voice low and cold.

I stared at him, my jaw clenching.

At least he said something.

“You’re pushing everyone away,” I said quietly. “You think you’re protecting yourself, but you’re only hurting the people who want to help you p>

He didn’t turn his head, but his fist tightened on the towel.

Good. He heard me.

“You haven’t eaten,” I added. “Olivia cooked something for you p>

His shoulders stiffened.

“You should p>

“Get out,” he said, still not looking at me.

I felt heat rise in my chest. “No. I’m not leaving you like this p>

He dropped the towel and snapped, “I SAID GET OUT p>

And still—my feet didn’t move.

Because I was his brother.

Because I wasn’t letting him drown alone.

Because Olivia asked me to try.

I took a slow breath and finally said, “I’ll get the food. Whether you eat or not… that’s your choice p>

Before I could say another word, the door opened again.

Not by Annabella.

But by Levi.

He walked in holding the tray of food Olivia made—his face still tired, still swollen from crying, but calmer than before.

“I brought it,” he muttered quietly.

I stiffened. Lennox stiffened. The tension in the room shot straight up.

Levi walked slowly toward the bedside table, but before he could even set the tray down properly—

Lennox slapped his arm away.

The plate flew off the tray and crashed onto the floor.

Food splattered everywhere. Tea spilled across the tiles. The plate shattered loudly.

Levi froze.

I froze.

For a moment, the whole room went silent.

Lennox’s chest was rising and falling hard, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with rage and pain.

“I don’t want your food,” he growled. “Who knows, you might have poisoned it p>

Levi swallowed, his throat working, his fingers trembling slightly.

“I’m… not here to p>

“I SAID I DON’T WANT IT!” Lennox roared, eyes flashing with fury.

Something snapped inside me.

I stepped forward.

“STOP IT p>

Both of them looked at me.

“Just stop,” I said again, louder. “Stop acting like this p>

Lennox glared at me. “Get out, Louis p>

“No,” I snapped. “Not until you listen p>

He narrowed his eyes, but I didn’t back down.

“You’re acting like a spoiled kid,” I said, my voice sharp, shaking with frustration. “Yes, we messed up. Fine. We messed up badly. But you’re not the only one hurting p>

His breath hitched, but I continued.

“You think you’re the only one who lost something? You think you’re the only one who suffered? Levi drank himself unconscious last night. Olivia cried until she could barely breathe. The boys feel something is wrong. And I p>

My voice cracked for a second. I clenched my jaw.

“I’m here trying to hold this family together while you’re tearing yourself apart and pushing everyone away p>

Lennox looked like he was about to snap again, but I stepped closer.

“You almost died yesterday,” I said quietly. “And we watched it with our own eyes p>

I swallowed. “We thought you were gone. Again p>

Levi lowered his head. My eyes burned.

“And now the first thing you do is shove us out? Break plates? Throw food? Pretend you’re alone p>

I shook my head.

“You’re not alone, Lennox. Stop acting like you are p>

He looked away, jaw tight, breath uneven. “I’m alone… because if you care, you would have come to visit. So stop pretending you all care. Because you don’t p>

Levi finally whispered, “Please, Lennox… we’re trying, Lennox… even if we’re doing it wrong p>

Lennox didn’t respond.

He just stared at the floor where the food had scattered—his expression dark, torn, broken.

I took a slow breath and stepped back.

“Eat or don’t eat,” I muttered. “But stop pushing the people who love you p>

Lennox’s fingers tightened on the arm of his wheelchair.

His voice came out low, barely above a whisper.

I didn’t argue this time.

I grabbed Levi by the arm gently and pulled him toward the door.

As we walked out, I glanced back p>

Lennox wasn’t looking at us.

He was staring at the broken plate.

And for a second—just a second—I saw something behind that anger.

Not hatred.

Not rage.

Not pride.

Just pain.

Raw, deep, silent pain.