Born One Minute Too Late, But I Was the True Alpha Chapter 09

Born One Minute Too Late, But I Was the True Alpha Chapter 09

Father gave Declan a kidney.

The doctors found an unrelated stem cell donor two days later.

Declan lived.

I learned both facts from Coach Miller.

I had not asked him to update me, but I did not tell him to stop.

Some wounds could exist beside relief.

I was glad my brother was alive.

I still did not want him back in my life.

North Coast requested my complete school records as part of my transfer.

Westbridge sent the false rankings.

Coach Miller sent the real ones.

That difference opened an investigation.

Three years of combat records showed the same pattern.

I won.

Declan received the position.

My tactical reports had been stored under his student account. My designs appeared in Brielle’s portfolio. Security footage showed Lenora entering the school office before both sets of results were changed.

The Westbridge board held a public hearing.

I attended by video.

Declan appeared from his hospital room.

He looked thinner.

For the first time, he did not look like the future Alpha.

He looked like my brother.

“The rankings were false,” he said.

Father closed his eyes.

Lenora turned toward Declan

“You are still recovering. You don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I understood every time Arden beat me.”

His voice shook.

“I understood when Father removed her name. I understood when her plans were placed under mine.”

Brielle began crying.

“Why are you doing this to us?”

Declan looked at her.

“Because she is gone.”

The hearing room went silent.

“And because I finally know why.”

Westbridge restored my rankings.

Brielle lost the design award and was suspended for plagiarism.

The Pack council opened a formal review of Declan’s succession.

Father removed Lenora from her public duties as Luna while the investigation continued.

None of it gave me back my room.

None of it repaired my eighteenth birthday.

None of it changed the moment my mother’s watch broke beneath Declan’s boot.

Father came to North Coast after he recovered from surgery.

He carried a black folder.

“Greyhaven is prepared to recognize you as the rightful heir.”

I did not take it.

“Declan has agreed to withdraw.”

“I don’t care.”

Father flinched.

“This is what you deserved from the beginning.”

No. I deserved a father from the beginning.”

His eyes reddened.

“Arden–”

“You cannot replace eighteen years with a title.”

“What do you want me to do?”

I thought about it.

Once, I had wanted him to announce the truth.

I had wanted Declan to admit I was stronger.

I had wanted Lenora to be punished and Brielle to return my work.

Now all of it had happened.

It felt very late.

“Nothing,” I said.

Father stared at me.

“I don’t want the Alpha title.”

“You were born for it.”

“I was born one minute after Declan. You made sure I never forgot.”

I pushed the folder back toward him.

“That title cost me eighteen years.”

“Now I don’t want it.”

He left the folder on the table.

I left it there.