“Ro, we just—” Alfie started.
“You just want me to fall into his arms and say ‘I love you,’ is that it?” He knew his voice was getting louder, but he couldn’t help it. “You want me to trust this person I’ve just met because he says magically we are meant to be.Fuck that. Just because the two of you fell for it, doesn’t mean I have to.”
Axel jumped to his feet and poked him in the chest. “Don’t… Don’t youdarebelittle my relationship just because you’re too scared to let yourself believe that what Mikhail says is true. I knowhe who shall not be namedhurt you, but you’ve been holding on to it for too long.”
“Yeah,” Alfie chimed in.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ro shot at his brothers, fists balled.
Axel and Alfie looked at each other again, and Rowan wanted to scream at them to stop it.
“We know that if Zac found his mate,” Axel’s voice was soft, as he added, “…hisfatedmate, then he didn’t do it to hurt you.”
But Rowan didn’t want to hear it. “Don’t.” Rowan stepped back as if physically putting space between his siblings would stop the memories he’d forced into a box from coming through.
“I know he should have spoken to you first instead of coming back and telling you it was over and he’d found his mate.”
“Stop,” Rowan yelled.
“But, you never even gave him a chance to explain.” Axel continued.
“Shut up. Shut up.Shut up!” His voice got louder each time.
“You’re acting like a child.” Axel shook his head in that disappointed teacher way he had perfected for his students.
“Why, because I don’t want to talk about my business with you guys?” Rowan folded his arms across his chest and glared at his brothers.
“No,” Alfie took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice was filled with sadness. “Because you’re too scared to take a chance, and that’s no way to live.”
Hearing those words from his baby brother cut deep, mostly because the man was right. Still, Rowan couldn’t deal with any of this, especially not that kiss with Mikhail. He shut his eyes and could remember the feel of Mikhail’s mouth against his, those strong arms around him.
It would have been so easy to give in. Let his heart—no not his heart, his hormones—lead.
“You’re making Mikhail pay for someone else’s mistakes, Ro.” Alfie’s voice was filled with sadness. “Don’t miss out on happiness just because you’ve been hurt. Trust me.”
Ro held Alfie’s knowing gaze, but then he had to look away. What did it say about him that his baby brother was stronger than he was? Alfie had been through hell, but he’d embraced Malachi when he’d come along.
“I don’t want to watch you throw away your chance at happiness,” Axel chimed in.
“Well, you don’t have to,” Rowan said. “I will be leaving tomorrow. I got a text from the agency asking if I could come in for the weekend, and I said yes. Since the two of you are fine, I might as well make some money on the holidays before I go back to work on Tuesday.” Not looking at his brothers, he quickly added, “I’m going to bed, so I won’t be making it to the party tonight.”
Alfie shook his head, and he didn’t have to say it. Rowan could see his disappointment. He wished he could be brave, but he wasn’t. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—let himself believe Mikhail because he wasn’t sure he would be able to pick himself up this time if the same thing happened again.
What if it doesn’t though?a small voice whispered.
Ten
Mikhail
Mik hadn’t gone home for a while. He’d shifted and gone on a long run to tire himself out and then he’d finally made his way back to his house without even bothering to return and pick up his clothes. He didn’t even bother attending the family dinner for Christmas Eve, not wanting to explain to his brothers what had happened and definitely not feeling the holiday spirit.
He must have fallen asleep once his ass hit the sofa because the next morning he was woken by the TV.
Mikhail felt around for the remote without opening his eyes, but he couldn’t find it, and the volume was getting louder somehow.
“Wakey, wakey.” Mik didn’t even have to open his eyes to know who that voice belonged to—Malachi.
“Go away.” He groaned and used his arm to cover his eyes.
