Page 84

FRIENDLY LITTLE BREAK IN

NATE

The door’sbarely closed when I throw the punch. Connor’s not expecting it, too busy staring at the wood like he didn’t think Daphne would leave. He drops like a sack of rocks. Dumb as one, too.

“Damn it, Nate.” Dez stomps between us, hands up like he’s ready for battle. Alphas aren’t weak, regardless of their size, but Dez takes weightlifting seriously, boxing with Jace and the others at the gym sometimes. While I can bench press Connor with little effort, I’m not as confident that I can take him down.

Not that he’d fight me. Dez is just as upset as I am.

“How the fuck am I the one in trouble when Connor just pushed Daphne away like it was his job?”

After a dinner that felt like the start of a new life, I had to watch my omega walk out the door, devastated and alone. I’m already crawling out of my skin without her. These alpha instincts may be new, but waves of her sadness permeate through the walls and it’s amping me up. Telling me tofight, protect, defend.Even againsthim.

My finger jabs toward Connor’s bleeding face, and I snarl. “Seriously, man. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

He rolls his eyes, prodding his split cheek with a grunt. Good. He deserves the pain. Fucking prick. “I can admit I overreacted, but you saw the text.”

“Yeah, and instead of lashing out, I let Daphne explain.”

Dez nods, happy to let us sort this out ourselves as long as we aren’t making each other bleed.

“She’s lying.” Connor’s expression flickers with unease, his protest sounding less sure than before.

“How do you know that?”

“How can you not?”

Trying hard for patience, I force myself to breathe. His trauma is rearing its ugly, box-dyed head. This isn’t my brother. “Look, I know that shit with Shelby was bad, but?—”

“No, you don’t.” Connor’s eyes flash and he’s off the ground and in my face. “You weren’t here, Nate. You were in school and then you were grieving. You didn’t see the shit she pulled and even if you did, you didn’t care.”

“Sorry for mourning my fucking family,” I snap, skin hot and hands aching to punch him all over again. My friend is struggling, so I don’t, but I won’t let him hurt any of us because of his demons. Especially not our omega. “Explain why your bitch of an ex-wife means you get to treat a woman like that. You jumped down Daphne’s throat, Con. She didn’t get a chance to explain before you decided she was guilty, but that wasn’t your call to make alone.”

“I’m the pack lead.”

“We’re still a fucking pack!” Dropping my head into my hands, I growl, trying to rein my frustration in. “You don’t get to decide how we interact with Daphne or whether we do at all.”

“She’s practically married, Nate.”

“So were you.”

“It’s not the same thing,” he protests.

“Maybe not. She’s trying to get out, and you stayed until the bitter end. Does Daph know you’re divorced? That you had an omega foryears?” Connor swallows, looking away, and I go for the kill. “I didn’t think so. The difference here is, she was willing to wait for your truth and you couldn’t even attempt to earn hers.”

Silence follows, long and painful. These men have been my brothers since I was a kid. They kept me alive after my family died, brought me into their homes and hearths to keep me warm. Dez’s mom literally housed me for the last year of high school. They’re an integral part of me, but they aren’t the only ones anymore.

The moment I saw Daphne, my world shifted, and she became the center of it. The trust will come; love can be built and fought for. Who cares how long it takes, as long as she’s waiting at the end?

Even if I have to find my way alone.

It’s the first time I’ve thought about it, but I know in my gut it’s true. Daphne deserves better than she’s been given, and I’m the one who’s going to prove it—with or without my brothers.

Connor’s voice is soft. Scared. “What if she’s lying?”

“Read the court file.” We both turn to Dez, who shrugs. “If you’re that concerned, read the file. She said you could.”

Yeah, while she was pissed. We all know she wouldn’t have agreed otherwise.