“But what aboutyou?” he asks, bringing tears to my eyes as I blink rapidly to escape the tears making it impossible to see. Why are there two alphas in my kitchen? “Doesn’t your happiness matter?”
“I mean…” I shrug, because there were days in my life where I didn’t know if I’d survive.
Luke and Brad would dump me in my bed bruised and bleeding. It was almost a blessing when I became an omega because I could take more damage.
Sad but true. It simply brought a host of other difficulties since Luke decided to get greedy and go after my sister.
Fucker.
“You don’t think it matters, do you?” Kyren presses, eyes wide as tears slide down my face.
“That’s a bit dramatic,” I deflect, breathing deeply as I hide behind my coffee mug.
“No it’s not. Your screams were traumatizing for me to listen to,” he growls.
“I’m not your problem,” I reply. “I’m not. Let me make this easy for you. I’ll talk to the girls about taking on the mansion and Gideon’s organization.”
Internally, I curse. I’ve been trying so damn hard not to say his name. I can see Kyren filing it away, and I attempt to stay focused.
“We’ll decide if we’re in a position to take him on, and move forward without you. Then, in good conscience, your team can leave Widows Peak.”
“I have a feeling we won’t be leaving,” he drawls. “Aiden and Sloane have taken an interest in your sister, maybe even scent matches, who knows. We’re pretty co-dependent that way. You’re stuck with us. This isn’t about Gideon anymore. It’s about the eyes of a sad girl in a photo Harlan saw that is still sad.”
“I’m not sad,” I deny, dashing away my tears with the hand not holding my coffee. “Kind of broken, but I’m not sad. Everyone is moving on, and we have good lives. It’s everything we’ve ever wanted.”
Kyren ignores me, pushing up the sleeves of his hoodie. I eye him suspiciously, incredibly distrustful.
“That’s not what I mean. You all live in separate houses, and I assume you’re figuring out what you each want. So what do you want?” he asks. As I stare at him because I never allow myselfto self reflect like this, he sighs. “Syrus looks like he makes you happy.”
“He does,” I say, smiling as I think about him.
“Damn,” Kyren says. “You didn’t pause at all. Okay, my new mission in life is to make you smile like that for me.”
“Kyren,” I groan. “I thought we were just establishing that I’m no one to you. Remember? Please keep up.”
“Nah, Princess. I’ve moved on from thinking that. You keep up,” he says, smiling innocently. He’s fucking infuriating. “Now, you’re mine, you just don’t want to accept it. That’s okay. I'll just keep working at it.”
“I belong to myself,” I growl, wondering if a judge would find me guilty if I stabbed him once or twice. “Alphas tend to take, and I don’t want to live like that.”
“I didn’t say that I was going to take anything you aren’t willing to give me,” Kyren reframes. “I said that I plan to change your view of me so you can agree that I deserve to be your alpha.”
I slump against the counter and whine, processing his words. Kyren looks pained as he gazes at me, forcing himself to keep his space.
“I really wanted to dislike you,” he mutters. “I had this idea in my head that you were someone who was selfish, but you’re not. I knew this on some level, and Izzy came back to our room singing your praises. He says that he shared his secret with you.”
“He did,” I whisper. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“I know you won’t,” Kyren says. “You see through the masks we wear, and call us on our shit. We’re comfortable with our daily lives, and need someone to shake things up. Be prepared and know that we go hard. Izzy meant it when he said he was going to come fix up your house. While I’m on the topic, why don’t you have a fence?”
“I like the wildlife that comes into my yard,” I say, frowning. “I don’t need a fence. Donotbuild me one! Consent, remember?”
“I don’t like it,” he grumbles. I’m not sure if he’s talking about how adamant I am about the fence, or the part about consent. “What about a security system?”
“I have one,” I sigh. “I haven’t had enough sleep for twenty questions, Kyren.”
“Ooh. Okay, I like the way you say my name. Even if you are annoyed with me. You should sleep,” he says, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think that you’d sleep better with someone?”
“I have no idea,” I say, drinking the rest of my coffee. “I don’t like for anyone to know how bad my sleep gets. I’ll try to nap in my nest later, and will throw on extra concealer. I should buy stock in it.”
