Page 187 of Alphas Like Us

No.

No.

“Moffy?” Luna peeks her head out, concern and fear wobbling her voice. I’m not sure how much my siblings heard, but I have one mission now: shield them from thisdoomsday.

“I’m okay. Go back inside.” I move towards her, stoic and unbending. Rowin—I feel him lingering in the hall, closer to me than I fuckinglike.

But I reach my sister’s cabin, and I notice Kinney and Xander right behind Luna, their eyes huge like saucers. Uncertain of what to do andscared.

“I’m okay,” I say strongly. My eyes have to be bloodshot because they stare at them like it’s the only evidence that I’m not. “I’m okay. You’re all safe, and I’m going to shut thisdoor—”

“No, Moffy!” all three shout like I’m exiting a bomb shelter to face certain death. The intensity of their reaction startles me a bit, and I try to think back on what they could’veheard:

Can you not dothat?

What the fuck are youdoing?

Comeon.

Stay the fuck away fromme.

I like you and you’re intome.

No, I fucking hate you. You come near me, and I’ll break both yourkneecaps.

Comeon.

Fucking Christ. That’s it, that’s all they couldknow.

Luna grabs my hand, looking from me to Rowin. He’s in my peripheral, and I don’t acknowledge him or curse him out. Because I’m trying not to frighten mysiblings.

I guide her further into the small cabin, a nautical comforter on two single beds. Luna drifts backwards with Xander and Kinney, and I slip further inside, shutting and locking the door behindme.

“I’m not in any danger,” I tell them. “You don’t need to panic. Alright, Kinney.Kinney.” I force out her name; my thirteen-year-old sister has buried her face in her hands. “I’mokay.”

My harsh tone pops up her head, and she scrutinizesme.

“I’m okay,” Irepeat.

“Then stay,” Kinney snaps at me, her voice cracking in a briefsob.

I can’t.I need to get Rowin off this fucking yacht. She can tell that I’m planning to go back out, and she wails at me like I’m being reckless with my life and throws a pillow at myface.

“Kinney.” I smack the pillow away. “I’ll beback.”

She gears up to chuck anotherpillow.

“Stop, Kinney,” Xander cuts in, his cheeks blotchy and tear-streaked. His face is flooding with remorse and pain. “Moffy has been beaten down enough tonight from me, you don’t need to do thattoo—”

“Summers,” I say with the shake of my head. “You could tell me to rot in hell, and I’d still overwhelming, unconditionally be there for you and love you—there is nothing you can do to push me down.Alright?”

Xander rakes his hand over his face, hot tears pouring out. “I’m sorry. I’m fucking sorry. I didn’t mean what I said earlier. I love you, you know I love you,right?”

I didn’t think I needed to hear that, but maybe some part of me did. I breathe more, and I nod. “Yeah,” I say. “In everyuniverse.”

I wrap my arms around my brother’s shoulders. Same height, he hooks an arm around mine, his head hung while he rubs hiseyes.

He murmurs, “I can’t live withoutyou…”