"Only you know that."
"He wouldn't have survived prison."
"No," Arden says. "He wouldn't have."
"Then it was right." I look up through the canopy. "But my pack doesn't deserve to lose this.Veedoesn't deserve to lose this. And Rhys—" My voice goes rough. "He was never given a fair chance. But he got there. He got there and she's part of why."
Arden says my name.
"It would work," I say. "If I break the bonds, Malcolm leads. He's ready. The flag stays with me but it's no longer attached to a pack lead. The registry has no grounds to keep Vee from staying with them."
Silence.
"They'll be okay," I say. "I'm lead, so there's no bond sickness.”
"Youwon't be fine," Arden says. "Not emotionally."
"No. But I'll manage."
He's quiet for a long moment. Then: "You've always been the steadiest person I know, Alex Castillo. I want you to know that."
I hold that. Let it be what it is.
"Take care of Rhys," I say. "If he needs you."
"I will. Take care of yourself."
I hang up.
I think about the door. The hours on the floor outside it, her fingers in the gap underneath. The circles I traced on her palm because it was the only thing I could give her.
Then I push off the tree and walk back.
They're in the kitchen.
All four of them in the same space because the space helps. They're quiet… exhausted.
I stand in the doorway and I look at them. I take my time with it. Malcolm who loves without asking permission. Finn who showed up for a broken alpha and just talked, for weeks, without expecting anything back. Rhys, who survived things that should have destroyed him and came out the other side still capable of this—of being gentle, of making himself smaller, of holding on.
And Vee, who chose us anyway.
After everything we did wrong. After all of it. She still chose us.
Malcolm looks up and reads my face.
"No," he says.
He's on his feet before the word is out. Finn looks between us. Rhys straightens.
Vee turns.
Our eyes meet.
I'm sorry, I think.I'm sorry I can't be the one who gets to keep you.
I reach into my chest and pull.
The alpha bonds go at once. They wisp away so easily compared to the years of brotherhood we put into forming them.
