Irrationality is clearly not my friend today, but as my memories of Raney’s ordeal assault me, I choose violence.
Adrenaline makes me faster than normal and perhaps because the Alphas thought I was going to react differently, noone stops me when I lunge at the newcomer and shove him in the chest. “You asshole! People died out there and you ruined Raney’s day, for what? For fucking what!”
He says nothing as he stares at me. Instead of moving a muscle or getting in my face, he stands there and takes the brunt of my anger. But that doesn’t mean the others stay still. Tyson’s presence gingerly reaches out for the back of my shirt and pulls me away.
“Tristan, I’m not making excuses for him,” he says gently.
“Then there better not be a but coming out your mouth,” I retort, turning to face him.
“In a minute there might be, but first let’s get you a little more like yourself.” Tyson catches my hand as he talks, and I cling to him, soaking in his calming nature. His sweet lemony scent really does settle me, exactly like it did at the hospital.
“How you doing?” Tyson asks after a few minutes.
I roll my eyes. “You know, much like last time.”
The smile that breaks over his lips is one of those that only people you’ve been intimate with can share with you. And it makes me blush and preen a little.
“Doctors’ orders still stand,” he says suggestively.
I shrug and swallow the laughter bubbling up. Honestly, how none of these Alphas haven’t had me certified yet is surprising.
“You ready for that ‘but’ now?” he asks calmly, and the way he acts has every cell in my body relaxing.
I shrug, hoping I am ready. “Sure.”
“Steel is my brother. I wouldn’t change that for the world but that means Rex Larking is my father too. I use a different name because I want nothing to do with Rex.” Tyson’s eyes are locked on my face before they bounce over to King who’s taken an obvious step forward and dropped his hands on my hips. Tyson’s attention stays on King. “I share the same deep-seated hatredit looks like you do towards Rex, but Steel is in with the club deeper than Maverick, or me.”
King scoffs and it’s ugly and full of derision. “So, push comes to shove, where’s your brother’s loyalties gonna fucking lie, huh? Cause once you’re in you’re in for fucking life.”
“Steel’s loyalty is to me because we are pack. I trust him.”
“Good to know, but see I’ve still got big fuck off issues with you, since you fucking rejected Tris’ bite.” And then King swings his fury towards Maverick, “And pretty sure I heard you confessing she was your scent-matched mate but then you stand her up with barely an apology before you decide to mark her with your fucking spunk after a fight?”
There’s a vacuum of noise when King stares at Tyson, daring him to argue. But the sudden lack of noise comes from Maverick and Steel being stunned by King’s big reveal about Tyson and me. But King isn’t finished yet.
“Shit, my bad, didn’t realise you BOTH hadn’t been truthful about Tristan to your pack! Makes your bullshit comment about trust even more bullshit, huh?”
“King!” I admonish, and I’m unsurprised at the fury I see painted over his face. This man has always had my best interest and safety as his priority but it’s a bit shit if he’s throwing shade at Tyson considering our own path to each other has been so long and complicated.
“No, Tristan,” he warns before reaching in and plucking me off my feet and turning his back on the drama.
King stomps his way to the cabin and up the stairs, dropping my butt on to the veranda railing. The look in his eyes has my heart racing—it’s feral need and possession mixed with pure frustration. “Killer, I’m so fucking sorry these cunts ruined our special time. I’ll make it up to you,” he promises before wrapping his hands around my face and kissing the absolute bejesus out of me.
Chapter
Thirty-One
STEEL
Fuck my life.
My own brother not telling me about her is bad enough. But Mav?
Fuck. Them.
And. Fuck. My. Life.
Chapter
