Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon
Chapter 0164

Kane POV

I watched as my father's jaw tightened, his brows furrowing deeper with each passing moment we sat at the table in the dining room waiting for everyone to get here. He had been silent but the mood in the room was anything but calm. Knox sat beside me practically vibrating with nerves. Without a word, I reached out and placed a calming hand on his knee, halting his anxious bouncing.

I understood his pain. I could feel him searching the mate bond for our girl, and like me, he found it empty and lonely without her. Although I could sense it hadn't been severed like last time, only muted, it didn't ease the wrenching pain in my gut at the loss of her. I needed this sh*t over with and quickly, so I could get to the matter at hand; hunting the bastard that took her from me and killing him.

Slowly!

"You're making the table shake!" I whispered to Knox, squeezing his leg as two of the Sparrow Brothers, Adam and Liam, strode in, flanked by Anthony and Mike, bound and silenced. Despite their restraints, the two men still bore the marks of a severe beating. It made me grin with satisfaction, seeing them in such a state. A chuckle left my lips hearing Knox emit a low growl when Mike was seated at the table close to him.

"He is up to something." Knox announced through mindlink, his eyes fixed on Sebastian as he trailed behind them, looking worse for wear, his eyes avoiding mine and Knox's purposely. I watched Sebastian take a seat at the far end of the table, his demeanour sour. With a silent nod, I found myself agreeing with my brother.

"Well, it's about damn time!" My mother snapped as she waltzed into the room, with Lilly in tow. With her usual kiss to our foreheads, she greeted Knox and I, before her gaze landed on Anthony's battered face, and she gasped in shock at the sight of her friend's condition. "What the... What happened?" She demanded, her voice taut with restrained anger.

"Just a little chat. Nothing you need to worry about, Luna." Adam shrugged casually as he headed for the door, Liam hanging back, his eyes fixed on Knox and I.

"Yeah, just some friendly persuasion, Ma." I grinned slowly, tugging on my mother's arm to get her attention, spotting my father's grip tightening on the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. "Come sit."

"Friendly? This looks anything but friendly, you imber*les!" She snapped, pulling her arm away, but there was no harshness in her tone. Sebastian, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the table in front of him, his expression unreadable. I could sense the tension thickening in the air, each of us bracing for what was to come.

"Sit down, Laura," Alpha Leigh commanded, his tone firm as he gestured to an empty chair beside him, indicating for the family meeting to commence. Ma's shock was noticeable as she hesitantly took her seat, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you for real?" she blurted out

incredulously, her gaze flickering between Alpha Leigh and the Sparrow brothers. "Have you seen your beta? Who could have done this?" Her voice quivered with mixture of concern and anger opened my mouth to explain, feeling the weight of this whole mess drowning me, but Adam and Liam exchanged a knowing glance before answering in unison and cutting anything I had to say off.

"Us, Luna."

"Why?" she demanded, her voice sharp as she locked eyes with the Sparrow brothers, seeking answers. The revelation seemingly sent a surge of fury through my mother, her features twisting with rage.

But Adam and Liam remained silent,

their expressions unreadable as they turned their attention to me, awaiting my permission to speak. met thei gaze briefly before shaking my head, indicating that they should keep silent for now. As much as I wanted to get the show on the road and get everything laid out on the table, so we could find a way to save Charlotte, it was my father's place to start this meeting, not mine.

"Someone best start talking!" My mother groaned, her frustration. mounting. "Kane Maddox, So help me goddess, you are not too old to be put over my knee, young man sighed as she turned her attention to me and Knox, her voice trembling with emotion. Pursing my lips, I said nothing, ignoring the giggles coming from Lilly, who sat beside Sebastian smugly.

I