“Stop it, Dad.” Lavos moved swiftly, reaching Lorn and their mother. He pulled her into his arms. “What are you saying to her, you bastard?”

“The only bastards in this room are the two of you.” Ladius snarled. “That bitch made you weak! She’s always indulged you both too much. Is this what you wanted, Tussa? Two sons who defy their father? I hope you’ve learned your lesson before we have the next ones.”

Lorn glanced at his mother, seeing tears streaming down her face. It outraged him. No man should ever hurt his mate, even if just with painful words and thoughts.

She shook her head. “I won’t have more children with you if you kill our sons. How can you think that way? They aren’t failures. They are good men with honor! You could learn from them!”

“How dare you!” Ladius lunged toward his mate.

Lavos lifted their mother and swung her out of the way, just as Lorn blocked their father’s path. He’d wanted to hit the son of a bitch all his life and for once he didn’t hold back. He punched instead of using his claws and landed a fist to his father’s face.

Ladius grunted as he flew backward and hit the dining room table; it collapsed under his weight.

“No!” their mother screamed.

Ladius sat up and shook his head. His eyes darkened to solid black and hair erupted all over his face and arms. Lorn began to shift too. It wasn’t ideal wearing jeans but their father had no interest in a fair fight, since he wasn’t stripping out of his clothes before the change.

“Don’t do this,” their mother sobbed. “Please, Lorn. I can’t lose him!”

It tore at Lorn’s heart, hearing the desperation in her voice. He didn’t look back, knowing Lavos would keep hold of their mom to prevent her from jumping into the fight. He managed to tear off his boots to get them out of the way. His clothing became painfully tight around his hips and thighs as he transformed, material splitting and ripping. He was just grateful he hadn’t worn a belt that day.

Ladius tore at his clothing as he transformed, the loose outfit he’d worn easier to be rid of. He dropped to all fours and ran at Lorn.

He had a second to note his father’s fangs and open jaw, guessing the older man planned to go right for his throat. Lorn jerked his body to the right but the impact of their bodies clashing together forced his paws to skid on the hardwood floors, his claws scarring them. He rammed his head against the side of his father’s when fangs sank into his shoulder.

He hit hard enough to stun Ladius, to loosen his hold. Lorn sank his teeth in too, biting his father’s upper arm. Blood filled his mouth as he gave him a hard enough shake to knock the older VampLycan off his feet. Ladius hit the floor and they both rolled. Lorn released him and used his clawed fingers to grab hold of his throat.

“Lorn, no!”

He couldn’t ignore his mother’s screams. Lorn squeezed instead of ripping into his father. He threw his hindquarters down, pinning Ladius’s slightly smaller body. He jerked his head and shoved his muzzle in front of his father’s, snarling a warning.

“Ouch!” Lavos roared.

Someone grabbed Lorn’s tail and yanked hard. It hurt, and the tug shifted his weight enough that his father managed to roll away and jerk out of his hold. Ladius scrambled to his four legs. Lorn swiveled his head in time to watch Lavos grab their mother around her waist again and lift her away, making her release Lorn’s tail.

Ladius used the moment of distraction to attack. Sharp fangs bit into Lorn’s throat.

He instantly threw his weight forward, toward his father, and landed on top of him, hard. The action made Ladius grunt and his jaw loosened enough for Lorn to get free. He batted at his dad with his claws, slapping him in the side of the head. The smell of blood from both of them filled his nose.

They each backed off, snarling as they rose to their legs again.

“Stop it! Let me go!”

Lorn ignored his mother. He knew she wasn’t in danger. Lavos would only prevent her from coming close to the fight a second time.

His father attacked again. Lorn lunged, head lowered, and slammed his forehead into the bottom of his father’s jaw. Bones cracked and the impact threw his father back, sending him sliding across the floor until he hit the wall.

Lorn trotted over and stared down at his father. Blood spread across the floor as Ladius lay on his side, eyes closed. He seemed to be down for the count. His jaw hung open at an unnatural angle. It normally would have been a good time to rip out his opponent’s throat to end it.

Sobs filled the room, and hearing his mother’s grief tore at his heart. Lorn began to shift back, watching his father for any sign that he was coming around. He kept his claws and fangs out, then crawled closer and gripped his father by his throat, waiting.

“Lorn, please don’t!”

He couldn’t glance at his mother.

Ladius opened his eyes, a dazed look in them. It cleared fast as Lorn gripped him more firmly, allowing his claws to be felt. They stared at each other.

Lorn had to clear his throat before he could speak. “For once, be smart. Concede. Don’t make me kill you in front of your mate. I will if I have to.”

His father panted.

“You leave this clan today and never come back. I don’t even want you around the other clans. You’re banished to the borderlands between our clan and the next. You stay there, and nowhere else, so I can keep an eye on you. I’ll hunt you down if I ever find out you’ve spoken to Decker or anyone associated with him after today. I’m only giving you this chance out of mercy for my mother. I don’t care about you anymore. I’m no longer your son. I’ll kill your ass if I even suspect you’re up to no good. There won’t be another chance. Live or die. Make the choice.”

His father’s gaze slid away and he whined.

Lorn released him and stood. He wasn’t about to turn his back on the bastard. He blindly moved closer to Lavos. His brother must have released their mother because she came up next to Lorn and paused, resting her hand on his arm.

“Thank you for sparing his life.”

“Don’t. I just subjected you to a hellish future. You’ll be living in the borderlands without a clan. And I will kill him if he breaks his word. He starts any shit and he’s done. Understand?”

“I do.”

“You’re always welcome here. He’s not.”