“We can try long distance. Set up a group chat for the three of us. Video calls could work. Something that gives us the opportunity to see where this might lead.”
Monty, as if sensing his agitation, rolled to face him, tucking his head closer to his chest, a thigh slipping over Rue’s. His lungs tightened, and he kept still, unwilling to have this conversationwith Monty when he felt vulnerable and exposed, despite the darkness.
“What happened to you?” Kendrick asked instead, sounding much more alert, even while he kept his voice low. “In your past, that makes it hard to trust your feelings?”
Rue shuddered at how Kendrick had surmised so easily that there was something he hid from.
Monty murmured in his sleep, his lips pressing against his hot skin, a hand clutching him tighter. Yet Rue didn’t think it was a conscious move, and that made an ache form at the back of his eyes.
“I…” Can’t or won’t talk about it? He couldn’t decide, when both fit. “It’s not the time. But the rest, the long distance stuff, maybe we could try?” he murmured.
“I’ll be here when it’s the right time.” Kendrick increased his hold until Rue became sandwiched so tightly between the two men, he didn’t know where he started, and they ended.
It wasn’t that which drew a sob unwillingly from Rue; it was the depth of sincerity, something he’d rarely experienced outside of his family.
Because really, how could Kendrick say that?
How?
They didn’t know what Rue had done—not done—to save his family. It would change everything if they discovered his secret, of that he was sure. Blood tainted his soul, and nothing and no one could change that.
A loud pinging gave him the excuse to move, to escape.
Alphaholes
Jupiter:Why am I only hearing about the shit that’s gone down at Drinkwater since we’ve been on the ranch secondhand? You gotta stop fucking sugar coating it for me, Silas!
Silas:What are you talking about? The only people who know are Dad, Popi and Oakland and those in Drinkwater.
Booker:What happened in Drinkwater?
Silas:The shit hit the fan epically. I wasn’t going to say anything until we got back to Hazardville. Four of the omegas went into heat, and it was a catastrophe. One is okay. The other three are those who have chosen not to go back to the factory and didn’t want to talk about their heats. Y’all know we decided not to pressure them or force them to do anything against their will. It backfired. Oakland warned it would, and he was right to worry. One poor bastard trapped himself in the heating vent in the ceiling, terrified someone would touch him. The other two fared little better when they couldn’t put the hotel in lockdown to prevent alphas from registering as guests on the floors below.
Taylin:Dear gods!
Silas:Yeah, that and a whole fucking heap of fucks. I spoke to Dad. We are going to bring the omegas up to the ranch. It’s going to take a bit of sorting, and Oakland needs to agree, but it is the safest place I could think of for them while they figure out what they want.
Booker:Makes sense. But won’t one of us need to be here too? It’s gonna take a lot of negotiations, isn’t it?
Silas:I haven’t gotten that far yet. As I said, I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone as we don’t know the full extent of the fallout. If Jupiter has heard, that means it’s leaked out, unless Popi or Dad told you? Which if not, then that is another fucking minefield to work through.
Jupiter:It doesn’t matter who told me.
Silas:Yes, it bloody does when we might have someone speaking out of turn to fuck knows who besides you.
Jupiter:Oakland told me.
Laken:What? Why would you have contact with Oakland? You barely know him.
Dad:Leave it, Laken. We will talk about this when y’all are home.
Rue rubbed at his bleary eyes, reading as Kendrick moved quietly around the coffee-scented kitchen, having gotten up with him. Rue had been surprised at such a move, but he kept it to himself.
Kendrick placed bowls and boxes of cereal on the counter, looking all kinds of charming. “I can fry up some bacon, eggs and mushrooms, if you’ve time?”
Rue shook his head, offering a smile that he couldn’t do justice to when ice had formed in his gut at what he’d read.
“Coffee is fine, I’ll grab something in the bunkhouse later,” he muttered distractedly, his thoughts on how much of a mess everything was.
