“I thought you didn’t accept men like this,” Emerson said. “There have been a lot of mixed messages coming from you.”
“I don’t care if you’re with Dash,” Randall said. He shook his head. “Actually, Idocare.”
Dash stiffened.
“I’ve seen how dangerous it can be for an alpha like you,” Randall said. “And I don’t want to find my big brother dead or add his name to my file of those missing.”
Emerson and Randall stared at one another.
“All those alphas you spoke of—the ones with no family? Most had families once. Families who probably loved them. Yet after they were outed, they were cast out. Backs were turned. Jobs and careers lost. They ended up alone, many selling their bodies to get enough food or a bed for a night—or one more hit so they could forget all they’d lost.”
Randall held Emerson’s gaze, quiet.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life terrified I’d end up like them. It was safer to hide who I was and not lose all of you in the process.”
“But you did lose us—to an extent,” Randall said. “You’re rarely around and even when you do show up, you’re barely there. You come late and leave early. You’ve missed more than you’ve been at. Trust me, I’m not the only one who’s noticed, either.” Randall shook his head. “And then to find out it’s all been doneonpurpose?Because you didn’t trust any of us. You’re damned right I’m angry.”
Brother or not, Randall needed to watch his tone.
“You wouldn’t see him at all if he landed in prison for gross indecency,” Dash snapped, irritated.
Randall’s angry gaze flew to his. But it quickly softened, the furrow at his brow smoothing.
“At least this province doesn’t have the death penalty for being alpha-attracted like some of the others do,” Dash added.
Randall leaned back in the booth, his gaze falling to the top of the table.
“I don’t spend as much time with my family as I’d like, either,” Dash said, his voice low to hide the shakiness in his throat. “They think I’m a workaholic and, well, they’re not exactly wrong. I am. But work is my cover. I use it to put walls between me and them.” Dash took a ragged, shaky breath. He wasn’t accustomed to sharing intimate details about himself or his family, especially not to a man who was a stranger. But if it helped Randall understand what Emerson had done, so be it. “I spend as little time with them as I can in fear they’ll see something I don’twantthem to see.” He slipped his hand into Emerson’s under the table and eyed the man for a few seconds before turning back to Randall. “It’s not some excuse. It’s a shield we put up to protect ourselves.”
“Which means there was a total lack of trust he had in us.” Randall scowled before he moved his gaze to Emerson. “What have Ieversaid or done to make you think I’d turn my back on you?”
“Fear of rejection is a powerful thing and not always logical,” Dash told Randall. “It’s not a personal attack.”
“How many years did I lose because he didn’t feel safe with me?” Randall asked. Tears shone in his eyes as he turned his focus on Emerson.
“It wasn’t you, Rand,” Emerson said. “I didn’t trustanyone.”
“You felt safe with him,” Randall said, pointing at Dash. “He’s not even family yet he seems to know you better than I do.”
“He is family,” Emerson said. “He’s my mate.”
The second Emerson said that, Dash felt the rightness of it soul deep. Emerson’s gaze drifted to his, the hand on his tightening.
“Your mate? But he’s an alpha,” Randall said, frowning.
Dash noted Randall’s confusion. He felt it, too. How could they be mates? It made no sense.
He glanced back at Emerson, who stared at him with an intensity that left him breathless. It made no sense, yet it also madeallthe sense in the world.
Emerson’s gaze whipped back to Randall’s. “I told you we shared something I didn’t understand. Even though it’s impossible, it’s the only thing that makes sense.” He turned back to Dash. “You feel it… don’t you?”
“I don’t know,”Dash whispered, scared to admit it. “Maybe.”
Emerson nodded, offering a small smile. “More than maybe.”
Dash stared at Emerson, a denial rising to his lips. He couldn’t speak it. Even if they were mates, what did that change? They couldn’t be together in the real world.
Emerson leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss to Dash’s lips.
