Page 181 of Alphas Like Us

Grandmother Calloway scoffs at me, like I just lied under oath. But believe me, if Maximoff had actually blown me under the water, she would’ve fuckingknown.

Lo makes a face at me. “It doesn’t matter what you were doing or not doing. You’re fine.” He narrows in on the grandmother. “What did you say to myson?”

“I told him the truth,” she says irritably. “I offered to raise him in my home while Lily recovered from sex addiction, and you both rejected that offer. He can’t be blamed for how he’s turnedout—”

“Jesus Christ, you’re going to break her goddamn heart,” Lo says, shaking his head in disbelief with the same shocked disappointment that struckMaximoff.

“Like I told Max—” shestarts.

“You’re off the damn boat,” Lo snaps. “This family has no room for your hate or judgment. I’ve told you that before. Go straight down to the rib: it’s the smaller boat that’ll take you to the city. I’ll have a stewardess pack your bags.” He’s about to leave but then he stops and turns back. “If you try to talk to Lily before you go, I will make sure your tombstone readshere lies Samantha Calloway, the worst goddamn mother in all of the century.And don’t fucking kid yourself, I will doit.”

Her neck flushes red. “My daughters will be more upset that you’re throwing me out likegarbage.”

Lo flashes a bitter smile. “Decades later, and you still don’t know your owndaughters.”

She scowls before strutting away to thesaloon.

Maximoff watches her leave, and I draw circles on his neck with my thumb. He leans some of his weight against myhand.

“Thanks, Dad,” hesays.

Lo searches his son for signs of breakage. Right now, he’s one-hundred percent stoic, jaw set sharp and eyes carrying little to no emotion. But I know Maximoff will only show more in front ofme.

His dad opens his mouth, but Maximoff beats him to speak. “Can you just go be with Mom?” heasks.

Lo nods. “Yeah,” he sighs. “I’m sorry, bud.” He focuses on me. “Whatever Samantha said to you, her opinions are light-years away from ours.” I’m positive “ours”encompasses all thefamilies.

“I know,” Isay.

After another short goodbye, Lo leaves. And Maximoff and I turn to each other, water lapping around us, especially with the yacht cruising through thesea.

I sheath his cheek with my hand, his emotion fighting to break through. Fuck, I just want to hold him. Love him. Be there for him when his aristocratic grandmother turnsheel.

“What are you thinking?” Ibreathe.

He pulls my chest closer to his chest in the pool. His buff arms around my shoulders, hands riding up my neck. His forest-greens start to stroke my eyes. Like hot caresses flooded with comfort and warmth. “It feels like every time I try to come up for air, someone else shits on you or me or us, and the only time I can breathe is when I’m looking atyou.”

My chest swells, feeling his words before my lips slowly rise. “If that were true, wolf scout, you would’ve died from asphyxiation every time I left theroom.”

He groans out his irritation, but then he breaks into deeplaughter.

“I made him laugh,” I say matter-of-factly, and fuck, that sound is gorgeous. He looks surprised that the noise left his lips. That unannounced visit at the villa is still raw for me too. And I don’t regret stripping our clothesoutside.

I don’t regret one thing wedid.

I always take risks. I always live by my actions, not other people’s fucked-up ones. And out of everything, it just fucking rips me apart that the full frontal was of him and not me. So easily, it could’ve been me, and I would’ve done absolutely anything to change that, to protect him, to savehim.

And I know I fell short thistime.

34

MAXIMOFF HALE

“You what?”I still can’t believe what Farrow justsaid.

We’re on one of the sleek couches that surround the glowing pool. Stars shine in the pitch black night, lanterns on the main deck illuminating the yacht. My siblings and cousins are spread out: some reading on chairs, others soaking in the hot tub. Upstairs in the sky lounge, all of our parents are having a “meeting” to discuss Grandmother Calloway’s abruptdeparture.

Out of all my siblings and cousins, I have the least contact with our grandmother. That’s my mom’s doing. I understand why, and I love her for protecting me. But I wish I could protect her from hurt. From thatpain.