Michael sighed. “I don’t know.”
Baker frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.”
It didn’t.
“I know.”
Being apart was hard. After thinking he might lose him, all Michael had wanted was to follow him back to Devon and shut out the rest of the world. But he had responsibilities.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. Baker hadn’t come to hear about his problems, though. They had enough to sort out as it was. “What’s up, anyway? Did you need me?”
Baker eyed him thoughtfully, then looked around the office. It used to be Baker’s old one. Michael hadn’t felt right taking his own back. Not when he was no longer the McKillan pack alpha. Not that they’d talked about what would happen now he was back. It was the one topic they’d avoided.
“Do you want me to step down as alpha?”
Oh, until now, apparently.
Michael opened his mouth, but no words came. Did he want him to step down? “I don’t know,” he said, knowing Baker deserved his honesty. “When we were planning to take control of the council, I figured I’d come home and take my place as alpha again.”
Baker didn’t seem surprised at that. “And now?”
Michael looked at him.Reallylooked. Baker had an air of confidence about him that came with being an alpha. It suited him. Over the last two weeks, with Simon gone and a new joint council in the making, Baker had flourished. The pack looked up to him. He listened to their concerns, was quick to reassure them, and was honest with them in a way Michael had never been.
Because I couldn’t.
But do I really want to take all that away from him?
“Do you want to know what I think?” Baker said, closing the office door and taking the seat opposite him.
Michael raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway.” Baker grinned. “I think you’ve left your heart in Devon. Your sense of loyalty and responsibility is what’s keeping you here, but if you were honest with yourself, leaving the McKillan pack was the best thing you ever did, and you want nothing more than to join Isaac and never come back here.”
“I...” Michael was speechless. Then he shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. “I forgot how well you know me.”
Baker smiled. “Apart from Isaac, I think I probably know you better than anyone.” His eyes turned sad. “And I’m going to fucking miss you.”
“Miss me?” Michael frowned. “We have so much left to do here.” There was no way he could leave. The packs were only just starting to sort themselves out. In some cases, a whole new hierarchy was needed, not to mention dealing with those who had fought against them. Council members were still being discussed. Trying to find the right balance of shifter and human was a delicate negotiation that couldn’t be rushed. “I can’t—”
“Do it all yourself.” Baker finished for him. “Like you’ve been trying to. As though it’s some sort of penance.”
Michael closed his eyes on a sigh because Baker was right. He was so fucking right, and Michael felt too open and vulnerable. Tooexposed. “I can’t leave you to deal with all this on your own. Not again,” he whispered.
He felt more than heard Baker move, and when he opened his eyes again, Baker leant against the desk in front of him.
“Michael.” His voice held enough alpha power in it to make Michael’s skin prickle, and a wave of pride hit him square in the chest. “I need you to listen to me and believe what I’m telling you is the truth, because we’ve always,alwaysbeen honest with each other.”
“Okay.”
“I don’tblameyou for escaping London when you did. There was no other option, and if anything, it was long overdue. Nor do I blame you for putting me in the hospital. Anything less and Simon would have had me arrested for treason. We both agreed to that plan, and it was a fucking good one.” He tugged Michael to his feet and set a warm, rough palm at the base of his throat. “And you didn’t leave me here to deal with your mess. You left to carry out the next part of our plan, and I stayed here to do the same.” He drew Michael to him, their foreheads pressed together. “I love you like a brother, and I’ll miss you more than you can imagine, but you’ve sacrificed enough over the last five years. It’s time to start living your life and let the rest of us take some of the weight for a change.” His hand slid around to the back of Michael’s neck and gave it a squeeze. “Go home.”
