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END OF AN ERA

CONNOR

May 15,nine years ago

The last place I want to be after a long day and an even longer year is a fucking lawyer’s office. Winter may be a friend, but I’m still paying out the nose for his expertise.

Once his assistant brings us something to drink, Win settles that no bullshit look on me. “Are the boys coming?”

“Nope.” I hope that’s enough, but when he doesn’t continue, I know it’s not. “They don’t need to be here.”

Maddie, our beta accountant, sets her tea carefully on the edge of Winter’s desk with a furtive glance at the imposing alpha. “We really should wait until you’re all together, Connor. This involves the whole pack?—”

“I said no,” I growl, a little of my alpha bark slipping in. Her mouth snaps shut with a flinch, and I’ve never felt worse.

Maddie’s a sweetheart. Shy andverysensitive. It’s not right for me to snap at her, and leveraging my alpha traits against others isn’t who I am.

Then again, I haven’t felt like myself in a while.

My thumb rubs over the empty ring finger absently, and I force myself to speak gently. “I’m sorry, Maddie. That was uncalled for.”

She forgives me easily, smiling in that kind way that makes my stomach hurt. “You’re under a lot of stress.”

“That doesn’t mean he can disrespect you,” Winter says firmly, exactly as I knew he would. If there’s anything he won’t tolerate, it’s alphas abusing their strengths to cow others. “Watch yourself, Connor. I won’t be so tolerant next time.”

The weight of his dominance pushes at me, and I almost fight it, but this is Win’s territory. Not only would I lose the battle, I’d lose someone I care about. Definitely not worth it.

“It won’t happen again, but I don’t want my pack here.” There’s no chance in hell I’d invite them to see just how badly I fucked things up for us. Nate’s barely getting out of bed, and Dez hasn’t painted in months. Not sinceher.

“Of course, hon. Whatever’s easiest for you.” Maddie reaches to pat my hand, but I shift away.

Part of it is habit. For so long, I refused to go home with other scents on me. Now, I can’t stand being touched at all. Can’t fathom getting to a point where I’ll actually want it from anyone but my pack. Even with them, we’ve lost that casual affection I took for granted. Hugs, high fives, cuddles when we’re stressed were the norm almost the entirety of my twenty-one years, but everything’s changed now.

My scent turns, cold twisting to something biting and deadly. Maddie coughs, hiding her nose in her shirt and I curse myself for not wearing descenter.

Winter casually bumps up the fans to air the room out before sliding a stack of papers across the table. I don’t flip through them. I’ve read each one a million times since I walked away from my wife.

“The divorce and dissolution are complete,” he says carefully. “Pack Morgan has no ties to Shelby Mercer, so you have nothing to worry about. If you choose to bond someone else, she has no claim to you or the pack. Though if youdocourt?—”

“I won’t.”

“You should set up a pre-bond,” Winter continues as if I haven’t spoken.

Bonds are forever. Because there’s no way to end things once a bite has occurred, a pre-bond is a prenuptial agreement on steroids. But, like scent-sympathy, a mark doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after. The paperwork protects assets in case a bonding goes sour.

For so long, it bothered me that Shelby never asked for a bond. Now, I’m grateful for it.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m not planning to bond.”

Not now, not ever.

Win nods, happy to move on now that he’s covered his bases. He’s never wanted an omega and told his pack as much before they even formed. Dude’s fully prepared to be roommates while everyone else bites in. Guess I should get used to that idea too.

He runs through the rest of our court case rapid fire and then it’s time for the real shit. Money.

It’s my job to keep our finances in check and I haven’t done a great job. Now, I need to fix things before my brothers find out just how much I’ve been hiding.

Facing Maddie, I brace for the worst. “Lay it on me.”