Pierce doesn’t respond, choosing to disengage and march away.
Wren decides he wants to be as far away from the omega as he can. Decides he doesn’t want to be here when it all goes south. He’s tired of picking up the broken pieces.
Just as he did when Luther’s sister died.
Just as he did when Pierce was sent to prison.
Just as he did when Charles came into their home.
He knows Charles is safe, but it does nothing to appease his concern that their son is in danger. That he would be safe in their home if it weren’t for the Rossis.
That if this omega stays here, it isn’t a matter ofifbutwhenthe Rossis will show up at their door.
seventeen
Xenia
There is pressure on my back, my arms, my chest. Comforting, warm.
I feel safe, secure, protected. Humming my pleasure, I relax further onto the alpha below me.
Luther.
The name suits him. He is a large, burly, older man. One arm is nearly the size of two of mine. It should terrify me, but it doesn’t. I recognized his scent when he gathered me up outside.
It was what brought me back down from the chaos in my own mind.
“Charles was your son?” I ask softly.
“My sister’s. When she passed, we took up the role as his fathers. We raised him as our own. Eventually, he even took on our last name by his own choice.” His voice is husky, the country drawl thick with emotion.
“What happened to him?” I can’t help myself. My curiosity is burning. Especially since it’s connected to the Rossis.
Pierce’s hand on my back strokes comforting circles. “You asked if he’s dead. I imagine Wren told you he is. For all intents and purposes, heisdead. But the truth is, Charles is in hiding. Tucked away, awaiting the Rossis’ interest to die down. He saw something he shouldn’t outside of First Chapter Clinic, and the Rossis have been after him ever since. We haven’t been able to make contact—we don’t have a number to call him, but we know he’s safe.”
My heart crawls its way up my throat and I choke on my next breath. “I’m sorry.”
I always knew Vinny was a bad guy, it’s why Tony kept me away from him. It’s why I had done all I could to maintain that distance.
“You have no reason to be sorry.” Luther squeezes me to him, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I think he means it to be friendly, but my traitorous body rolls against him. The scent-blockers, which had been doing their job so well, begin to fail as I perfume into the air.
I can tell when Luther scents me, his entire body freezing, a low growl reverberating between us.
“Pierce, you need to leave.Now.”
Turning to him, I catch his charcoal eyes, see the question swirling in their depths. But then he realizes exactly why.
His already dark irises turn nearly black, bleeding into his pupils. His hand on my back digs into the fabric of my shirt.
“Leave!” Luther barks. “You can’t handle this. You haven’t been around a perfuming omega.”
The bark causes both Pierce and me to jump. But it works.
Pierce snaps to his feet, retreating quickly out the door, offering me one last indescribable look as he slams the door shut.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
